Caesars’ Octavius Tower in its Las Vegas casino is fairly new—only a few months old—but the “hotel within a hotel” seems to balance classic Vegas extravagance and modern style with admirable skill.
I arrived at Caesars for the annual US Airways Vacations Las Vegas Scavenger Hunt after a delayed flight, so I haven’t had a chance to properly explore all that the tower has to offer, but it’s already made a good impression: Instead of just an armchair, the room has a full curving sofa so that guests at the hotel can invite up guests of their own. The bathroom is huge and has a Jacuzzi tub (will try that as soon as possible), and the towels are some of the softest I’ve ever felt. The desk has a built-in power strip with USB ports for charging various peripherals—a nice touch for working guests. Good to know: Internet access in the rooms is $14 per day per item (that is to say, a laptop and an iPod Touch can’t share a signal), and the cost goes up if you want to take the items out of the rooms.
Downstairs, I met my group at Old Homestead Steakhouse, and due to the late arrival missed the main portion of the meal. Instead, I was served a sampler of what the steakhouse has to offer: fork-tender lamb, a rich porterhouse and delicate fillets of Dover sole that just melted in my mouth. Oh, yes, and the broccoli, which I would ordinarily avoid like…well, like broccoli, was served in a cheddar cheese cream sauce so rich that I may just be tempted to eat my vegetables if I can have more of it. A selection of desserts was also brought out, and while I may lose my New York street cred if I say the cheesecake was magnificent (it was), it’s safe to say that the chocolate chip cookie cooked in a cast-iron skillet and served with ice cream was a lovely experience.
The steakhouse is just across the hall from a big sign that says NOBU—but it’s not referring to a new restaurant. Instead, chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa is partnering with longtime partners Meir Teper and actor Robert De Niro to launch a new tower at Caesars’s Centurion Tower. The new tower should open late this year.