Resorts along the Las Vegas Strip have become exceedingly good at re-creating paradise. Yes, smack-dab in the middle of a desert, guests can spend the day lounging by cool waters and tropical Edens. A day spent at the pool has become a mini-vacation inside your vacation. And while the mega resorts offer acres upon acres of pool paradise, downtown hotels have upped their pool game and are worth adding to your itinerary.
First off, nowhere in Las Vegas can you plunge into a pool and spot sharks and schools of fish swimming next to you except at the Golden Nugget. The Tank pool complex features a 200,000-gallon shark tank aquarium and a waterslide through said tank. Book a private cabana, cool off on a submerged lounge chair or visit the 21-and-over private pool hang, The Hideout, which is equipped with its own cabanas, infinity edge pool and bar. There’s also the H2O bar, oversized Jacuzzis and outdoor gaming tables.
More games await at Downtown Grand’s Citrus Grand Pool Deck, including foosball, cornhole and table tennis. The rectangular pool has a backyard-type feel, complete with cabanas, fire pits, and grassy seating areas with umbrellas and daybeds. From Friday through Sunday, local DJs keep Citrus in party mode from noon to 6 p.m. For those 21 and over, keep the party train chugging by trying out one of Citrus’ signature cocktails like the Liquid Vacation. Available even in pitcher size, the cocktail is a blend of Cruzan rum, Ramazzotti Aperitivo Rosato liqueur, sweet and sour mix and Coconut Berry Red Bull. And Hell’s Kitchen winner and chef extraordinaire Scott Commings has put together an elevated menu of poolside bites that includes asada fries, summer vegetable flatbread, lobster and shrimp salad and corn on the cob grilled elote-style.
Citrus @ Downtown Grand
For more cool eats while you lounge by the cool waters, head to The Pool at The Plaza, where the property has set up a food truck poolside. Street tacos, salads, wraps and nachos are just a few of the choices, and you’ll also find the popular Impossible burger on the menu. The Pool has a vintage Palms Springs vibe, with cabanas surrounding sparkling waters and lounge chairs submerged in the shallow ends. The 70,000-square-foot deck has plenty of room for guests to relax, whether in a lounge chair half submerged in the waters, a lily pad daybed, or in one of the spacious cabanas, all while enjoying drink specials and live DJ sets. The pool also offers a 12-person hot tub, tennis and pickleball courts, blackjack tables and foosball, ping pong and cornhole games.
