On November 12, 2009, the New York Times (
visit link) ran the following review:
"Hotel Review: The Encore in Las Vegas
By BROOKS BARNES
Published: November 12, 2009
If Steve Wynn’s last two Sin City resorts — Wynn Las Vegas in 2005 and the Bellagio in 1998 — were about bringing a whiff of Park Avenue to the Strip, the Encore is about the hotelier’s loosening his pearls and swinging a little. Encore, which opened in December, is meant to be younger and hipper — “boutique,” as much as a 2,034-room megahotel with an estimated price tag of $2.3 billion can be considered as such. The smallish casino, lit up like a carnival by dozens of cherry-red chandeliers, overlooks the pool. No strollers allowed. Elevators have black alligator-skin detailing. The shopping? More Rock & Republic, less Oscar de la Renta.
LOCATION
The rust-colored hotel arcs next to the similarly shaped Wynn; together they resemble a pair of Richard Serra sculptures. Across the street is the sprawling Fashion Show Mall. It feels quiet on this part of the Strip, perhaps because Encore is not surrounded by casinos, for now. A church is a neighbor to the north, while a nearby parcel of land awaits the Plaza Las Vegas, an $8 billion, seven-tower behemoth that has been delayed by the recession.
THE ROOM
Chaotic but calming. One wall of my “resort suite,” the hotel’s standard room, was covered in a vertigo-inducing hound’s-tooth; another was entirely mirrored. Millwork was either white sycamore or high-gloss black. The artwork ranged from classic modern (a reproduction of a Matisse lithograph) to contemporary (a canvas of spectral yellow rings). Somehow it all worked, but calling the room a suite was a stretch. A partial wall — essentially a counter with a 42-inch flat-screen television on it — separated the bedroom from the sitting area. I appreciated the fancy control panel next to the bed when it came to closing the drapes, but never did figure out the buttons for lighting.
THE BATHROOM
Roomy but routine. Twin sinks dominated one wall, the tub and a separate (glass-enclosed) shower the other. The toilet was hidden in an alcove with a door. The flat-screen television was nice, but a couple of conveniently placed towel hooks would have been nicer.
AMENITIES
Fax machine? Check. An iPod alarm clock? Check. Champagne in the minibar? Check. Downstairs, there are eight bars and five restaurants (the fanciest of which is Sinatra, where fish entrees start at $41). There’s a spa with 37 treatment rooms. (The signature “Good Luck Ritual” treatment combines a Thai herbal massage, a peppermint foot rub and “wild lime” scalp salve; 80 minutes, $250.) There is no buffet, but The Las Vegas Review-Journal recently rated the one at the Wynn, accessible through a short shopping esplanade, as the city’s best.
ROOM SERVICE
It started out poorly: An attendant told us there was “zero chance” of getting a newspaper, local or otherwise, delivered with breakfast. The food arrived a short 17 minutes later. A fruit plate was pricey at $22, but the assortment was perfectly ripe. An $18 breakfast sandwich — two dainty croissants with ham and melted cheese — was delicious if greasy. A large pot of coffee ($14) came in two small French presses.
BOTTOM LINE
Until the economy improves, the opulent hotel will come across a bit like a boom-times relic. But there’s always a market for quality, and Encore offers that in spades. Rooms start at $179 during the week.
Encore Las Vegas, 3121 Las Vegas Boulevard; (702) 770-8000; www.encorelasvegas.com."