The Strat Las Vegas Review for March 2025

The Strat, formerly known as The Stratosphere, is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Las Vegas. That’s a big statement. A landmark in Las Vegas has to be more than that, though, it has to be a great casino resort too.

And that’s a funny thing about The Strat. People see a huge eye-catching observation tower but they often don’t realise it’s a casino resort as well. 

In fact, I would say that of all the casino resorts in Las Vegas, generally speaking the one people are most misinformed about is The Strat. 

So, let’s attempt to put that right here, shall we? 

The Las Vegas Strip has countless instantly recognisable buildings and you don’t have to be much of an expert to be able to identify them. 

We all know the black Pyramid is Luxor and the white fairytale castle is Excalibur. The big gold one is Mandalay Bay. The fountains one is Bellagio and the Roman one, Caesars Palace. All you need is very basic geography knowledge to identify New York-New York, Paris, or Venetian. 

However, if you have seen a photo of the Las Vegas Strip where any of these icons stand, chances are that somewhere in the background is the Strat. You can’t really miss it. It’s the giant tower – the second-tallest observation tower in the Western Hemisphere actually. 

It looks a little bit like the famous Space Needle in Seattle, but it’s nearly twice as tall as it. And as well as the fabulous views, it also has some of the most unique and thrilling experiences you will find anywhere in the world on its summit. 

The name, on the other hand, is much less recognisable. I’d like to say that is because it changed from Stratosphere a few years ago, but it’s not. In fact, the first time I went to Vegas there was a show I wanted to see there, and I’d never heard of the place. 

Incidentally, they only changed the name because even when it was The Stratosphere, no one bothered to call it that. It’s been ‘The Strat’ pretty much since it opened back in 1996, so really it’s impressive they resisted just officially renaming it for nearly a quarter of a century. 

Anyway… 

Location

I am going to start here by getting a real bugbear off my chest here if you don’t mind. It’ll make me feel better, no question, but the reason I’m doing it is in the hope that it saves someone’s Las Vegas vacation. 

Technically, technically, The Strat is on the Las Vegas Strip. But in reality, it really isn’t. 

Now, I don’t want to accuse The Strat of being deceitful here. My problem is unquestionably more with travel agents than the property itself. However, it is marketed as being on the Strip and within walking distance of iconic properties, and it’s just not true. 

That highly misleading information, coupled with what would be very low prices for a casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip, has set a trap that many a Las Vegas novice has fallen into. 

To be clear, The Strat is located at the very north end and is basically in between the Strip and Downtown Las Vegas. It’s closest neighbour is The Sahara, and it is relatively close to Resorts World, Fontainebleau, and Circus Circus, but you won’t really be able to walk any further in comfort. 

And neither, in all honesty, would you really feel you would be walking that far in safety, especially at night. 

The north end of the Las Vegas Strip is the least developed and, to put it nicely, the streets around there are a little bit dodgy. In all my trips to Las Vegas, I have always felt completely safe on the streets – except up there.

Staying there is still fine, of course, you just need to use taxis, public transport and rideshares to get around, which, let’s face it, drives up the cost of your vacation. 

My personal opinion is that if you’re going to be paying more in transport costs anyway, you’d might as well book yourself a more expensive hotel somewhere more central. Sorry Strat!

However, saying that, there are plenty of transport options available. This includes the free Downtown Loop shuttle bus which takes you back and forth to Downtown Las Vegas and attractions such as the Mob Museum and Fremont Street Experience. 

The Deuce bus also stops at The Strat and this takes you the full length of the Las Vegas Strip with plenty of stops. In fact there are so many stops that it takes ages to get anywhere. However, its only $6 for a single ride, or you can get day passes too, which allow you to hop on and off anytime you like.

The Strat’s casino is a decent size at 80,000 square feet and perfectly pleasant. There is nice, soothing blue ambient lighting emanating through the place that I really liked, and because the location isn’t ideal it is rarely overly busy. 

Remember how I said that not many people actually realised there was a whole casino and hotel beneath that huge observation tower? Well when The Strat was bought by Golden Entertainment in 2017, their market research uncovered that worrying reality. 

Their response, commendably, was to throw some money at it. They announced a $140million major renovation project to be completed in three phases. One of those phases gave the casino a new modern feel, which was needed with Resorts World and Fontainebleau about to open on their (distant) doorstep.

It was, in truth, adding a lot more style over substance, but there was probably enough substance there already. The new look and vibe definitely helped refresh it all.  

Table Games Selection

When it comes to gambling, The Strat offers a lot of value to table games players. With very little natural footfall in the casino, they have to give gamblers a reason to go there. 

They do that by offering some of the best blackjack odds in Las Vegas. Almost everywhere else, blackjack pays 6:5. At The Strat, they have stuck, mostly, to 3:2. They also offer double-deck blackjack on some tables, which again is nice to see given most and now six or eight-deck games. 

Roulette players haven’t been similarly looked after, and the dreaded triple zero game is at The Strat. Double zero is too, and there is the odd single zero European Roulette table. Expect large minimums if you want to play on those, though. 

There is no dedicated poker room either anymore. It closed in 2019. However, you can play poker variants such as Heads Up Texas Hold’em, Three Card Poker, and High Card Flush. 

Baccarat and Craps (and Crapless Craps) are available too. 

Table games:

• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Craps
• Baccarat
• Heads Up Texas Hold’em
• Three Card Poker
• High Card Flush

In terms of table minimums, again The Strat’s location and need to attract players helps here, and occasionally you will find $5 tables. Much more commonly, it will be $10-$15. 

Slots

There are around 1,200 slot machines on the casino floor of The Strat and generally it’s a good selection. The fact it was pretty quiet on my visit meant it was easy to find a machine I wanted to play that also had an empty chair. Never underestimate how difficult that can be in Las Vegas. 

The vast majority of machines were modern video slots, which suited me but fans of old-school low-volatility three-reel slots would probably be a little disappointed. 

I found the slots quite pleasant to play at The Strat, I must admit. There was plenty of room, the ambience of the casino was nice, and the staff friendly and knowledgeable. The same went for the dealers at the tables, by the way. I forgot to mention that. 

Some of the most popular games you can play at The Strat include:

• Dragon Link
• Wheel of Fortune
• Huff n More Puff
• Dancing Drums
• Lightning Link
• Buffalo
• Quick Hits
• Planet Moolah

Although I liked the slots at The Strat, I didn’t feel like they felt that same way about me. A few average bonuses was about the best it got for me.

Bar-Top Gaming

If you’re a fan of bar-top gaming, and why on earth wouldn’t you be, then The Strat has a couple of very nice spots to indulge yourself. 

The best of them is the View Lounge, which is on the casino floor overlooking the Sportsbook. 

The View Lounge closes at 3am, so if you want to do it after then then the Remix Bar is your destination. It’s open 24/7, is just off the casino floor, and has an impressive list of cocktails as well as live music. 

The general rule in Las Vegas is that if you are bar-top gaming, you should be getting comped drinks. How frequently you receive drinks will depend upon the system the bar uses, but if you feel you’re not being looked after then feel free to ask the bartender. Chances are they’ve just missed you or they’ll let you know if you haven’t spent enough yet. 

The Strat Sportsbook

One of the newer things The Strat can boast is a recently renovated William Hill Sports and Race Book. 

I’ll be honest: it’s not on the same kind of level as others you will find in Las Vegas, although in fairness the bar has been set very high now by the likes of Circa and Cosmopolitan. 

The Strat’s sportsbook is perfectly good though and better than a fair few others. In fact, I’d describe it as very average. However, bear in mind that what is average in Las Vegas is anywhere else’s spectacular. 

You can immerse yourself in the action on the big screens and place your bets at the desk or kiosks. 

Waitress Service 

I always find it quite difficult to judge a casino’s waitress service in Las Vegas. I remember trips where I’ve had great waitress service at, for example, Paris, and then the next day spoke to someone who said they couldn’t get a drink at the same property. 

I think I have learned, therefore, that no two days are the same and there are many factors that impact waitress service on the casino floor that I probably don’t understand.

That said, I never really had a problem at Strat. That could be because there were fewer gamblers than other casinos so waitresses were able to give more attentive service, but I couldn’t say for sure. 

All I know is that I didn’t really have to wait long to be asked if I wanted another drink, which was appreciated. 

The best advice I can give here is to make sure you tip your waitress. The drinks may be ‘free,’ but the service isn’t and the waitresses rely on tips to make their living. If you show your appreciation to them, they’ll make sure you get great value for it. 

High Limit Gaming at The Strat Casino  

The Strat has a high-limit slots room and it’s pretty standard fare in truth. It has a small selection of games but it’s enough to keep you entertained. 

Huff N’ More Puff is in there as well as Pinball and Double Top Dollar, so I was pretty content doing a few spins in there. The stakes have high limits, usually up to $250 per spin, but the majority of them start at $5, so the mid-level gambler should feel at home there. 

There is a high-limit table section too, but it’s nothing remarkable. I wasn’t brave enough to play there, and it didn’t look like anyone was either, as it was empty on my visit. 

Cash and Payment Options

Las Vegas is constantly modernising itself, but one thing that it is yet to really embrace is cashless gaming. 

The Strat is the same as the rest really in that cash is still king on the casino floor. There are ATMs if you need them, but I’d recommend you avoid them if you can. They come with large withdrawal fees of around $10, and it’s never fun to be charged to get your own money. 

You start your gambling session by handing over money, whether to a table dealer or into a slot machine. Slot machines use TITO (ticket in, ticket out) vouchers to dispense winnings and table games use chips. Take your TITO to the redemption machines or chips to the cashier’s cage to exchange back into cash. 

If you are desperate for some cashless gaming, then Resorts World next (distant) door offers it, and to my knowledge they are the only property in Las Vegas at the moment that does. 

You’d have to say that, on paper, The Strat is a great resort. Okay, so the location isn’t great, but it has a large casino, its own tower observation desk, one of the best restaurants in the US, thrill rides, a theatre, and a pool. 

It also has more than 2,400 rooms and suites and it’s pretty affordable for Las Vegas. 

Is there a catch here? And if so, what is it? Let’s take a closer look at the Strat as a resort rather than just a casino.

The Strat Rooms

The Strat has a wide variety of rooms but the truth is they are all on the small size. The rooms range from 320 square feet to 340 square feet, and they are a little bit basic. 

Many of them were very recently renovated, so they are trying to raise the bar a little bit in terms of quality and I acknowledge that. They’re just a bit uninspiring in truth. 

One thing no amount of room renovations will change either is the small windows in many rooms. It’s not a huge problem, but the whole thing does feel very low end for Las Vegas. 

My room was a Standard Queen, and it was decorated in browns, creams, and a small touch of a red accent colour on some of the furnishings. There was a wardrobe, drawers and a desk that looked a little old-fashioned in style and a red armchair close to the window. Unfortunately, I didn’t find the beds very comfortable to sleep in. 

The bathroom was medium in size, there was a single sink, some toiletries and a bath/shower combination. 

The suites are certainly nicer as you would expect, but they still lack that wow factor. Actually, I would exclude the Boulevard Suite from that. That one is certainly striking, enormous and, if you book for midweek, very reasonably priced too. 

All rooms have the basic amenities, such as a television and safe, and most have personal refrigerators too, which isn’t always the case in Vegas. 

Bars 

We’ve already discussed two of the best bars at The Strat in Remix Lounge and the View Lounge, but the real place to be is 108 Drinks. 

As its name suggests, 108 Drinks is located at the top of the observation tower on the 108^th floor. It’s pricey, but there is a happy hour Monday to Thursday 3pm to 7pm, and bottomless mimosas Saturday and Sunday 10am to 2pm. 

PT’s Wings and Sports, meanwhile, is where you’ll find your craft beers on tap. There is also a poolside bar on the eighth floor.

Buffets and Restaurants

Considering it’s relatively isolated location, The Strat really needs to deliver on food options and, in all fairness, it does. 

The absolute jewel in the crown is the Top of the World restaurant. It is at the top of the observation tower and rotates as you eat. Don’t worry, though, as it does it slowly. In fact it takes nearly an hour and a half to complete one rotation. 

What you do need to know about the Top of the World restaurant is that it is pricey. You are paying for the view, but there is a hidden sting to that as if you want to reserve a window table, you will have to pay an extra $25 per person. Ouch. The good news is that if you’re a hotel guest at The Strat, you get 20% off the bill. 

It’s certainly spectacular, though. In fact, I’d recommend it as something everyone should do at least once. 

If you’re not in the mood for expensive fine dining, then CHĪ Asian Kitchen is a good option. I’d say the same about McCall’s Heartland Grill too for your steak, fish, and pasta needs. Pizza lovers, meanwhile, will want to check out Nunzio's Pizzeria.

PT Wings and Sports is the local sports bar and a decent one at that. However, Top of the World restaurant aside, I wouldn’t expect to be blown away by any of the food options at The Strat. I have tried them all and they are perfectly fine, but nothing special. 

For quick eats, there is 108 Eats (on the 108^th floor), Strat Café and Starbucks. Plenty of choice, in other words. Oh, and there is the Quick Bites food court, which has a McDonalds. 

Shows and Entertainment 

As I mentioned before, due to its location, The Strat needs something to bring players into the property, and they certainly do that with their shows and entertainment. 

There is a very good theatre there, which I used when I went to see MJ Live years ago. That show is long gone from The Strat now, but the space has been filled by Vegas royalty Terry Fator. 

His puppet comedy show has had residencies at the likes of Mirage and New York-New York and it’s still highly popular today. 

For a more adult show, Rogue is a burlesque show that promises to excite, although I have never seen it myself. 

The real attraction at The Strat though has always been the observation tower and, more specifically, the thrill rides on the roof. When it opened there were four, including a rollercoaster believe it or not, but nowadays there are only two. 

The Big Shot is your standard freefall ride. You get strapped in and shot up a 160 tower at 45mph and allowed to drop – perfectly safely – back down again. At its height, you’ll be at a height of 1,081 feet. 

The second one is the X-Scream, and there is nothing like it anywhere in the world. Think of a rollercoaster car that dangles you off the edge of the tower and jiggles you around a bit and you are unbeknownst thinking about the X-Scream. 

For me, the true joy was making my partner, who is terrified of heights, do them. Funny. 

The X-Scream and Big Shot are child’s play compared to The Strat’s ultimate thrill ride, though – the SkyJump. And yes, it’s exactly what you’re thinking. 

It’s a 829 feet decelerator descent jump. That means you jump off the roof attached to a chord that slows you down towards the bottom and lands you safely after a descent at speeds topping 40mph. It holds the Guiness World Record for a ride of its type. 

Don’t worry if you’re not much of a thrill seeker, though The Strat also has Atomic Golf which is party style golf-based group entertainment. 

Pool 

There are some absolutely spectacular pool complexes in Las Vegas and, I have to say, The Strat’s is not one of them. It’s pretty decent though. 

For a start, it’s a rooftop pool – the roof of the eighth floor to be precise – and we all know rooftop pools are inherently cool. 

It has also been recently renovated and has an excellent poolside bar that also serves food. There are cabanas and daybeds for hire too.

There are two important considerations to keep in mind, though. Firstly, it’s a seasonal pool, so it’s only really open from mid-March to mid-October. Secondly, anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Spa

There is no spa at The Strat, so you will have to look elsewhere for your pamper day. 

However, there is a recently remodelled 24-hour fitness centre, which some people think is a bit like a spa in terms of it’s in the general wellness area.

To be absolutely clear, I am not one of those people. I think a fitness centre is literally the hellish opposite of a heavenly spa. Give me a spa any day. 

But, you know, if fitness centres are your thing then go have fun. 

The Strat is part of True Rewards and it has partnerships that mean you can earn and redeem points in 70 locations across the US.

Essentially it is no different to any other casino rewards programme, though. You register with your ID, get a players’ card, use your card any time you gamble or spend money at The Strat, and then accumulate points to climb the tiers. 

There are five tiers. They are True (<4,999 points), Loyal (5,000 points), Solid (30,000 points, Legit (60,000 points) and Epic (150,000 points).

The benefits range from basic comps and email offers to host services and signature dining experiences. 

If you are planning on playing a lot at The Strat anyway, I’d say it’s definitely worth getting. You can also accumulate points at partner casinos like Gold Town Casino, Lakeside Casinos, and Arizona Charlies Casinos. PT Taverns, Great American Pub and Sean Patrick’s Pub and Grill are also part of the programme, so it does have some reach. 

That said, I’m not sure The Strat really offers enough to chase tiers and points in truth. I’d say just play as much as you normally would and see where it gets you. 

The Strat is an absolutely fantastic casino resort – in theory and on paper. I mean, read the promotional material and you’ll have it described to you as an iconic part of the Las Vegas Strip, within walking distance of other resorts, with a unique observation tower attraction, thrill rides, arguably the best dining experience in town, established acts in a proven theatre and a spacious modern casino. 

The problem is, that the reality just doesn’t quite match the description because of the location. 

If I could pick up the whole property and put it down further south on the Las Vegas Strip, it would be up there with any of them I think. The potential of it and attractions are that good. 

However, it’s just too out of the way and isolated to make it worth repeat visits. Yes, it’s great to go and have a meal at the Top of the World restaurants and check out the thrill rides and view. I’d recommend it to anyone. Once. What would bring you back, though? Nothing really. 

Even if it stayed in its current location, if the rooms were fantastic or the pool complex brilliant, then it would be well worth staying there for a few nights I think. But, unfortunately, it all comes up just short there too. 

And that is the story of the Strat in many ways. Ironically, the casino resort with the tallest building and attraction in Las Vegas comes up short on the things that could make a real difference. 

If they continue to develop the north end of the Strip, it all starts to feel safer to walk around and you can immerse yourself more in neighbouring properties, The Strat could end up being a big winner. 

Look at Mandalay Bay for a comparison, which sits at the furthest south point of the Strip. You have Luxor, Excalibur, New York-New York, and MGM Grand within walking distance, it’s very safe, and there is a tram to help save your feet a bit. Those things, and a high-end hotel experience make it a truly fantastic property despite its location. 

The Strat, by comparison, just doesn’t have any of that, and that’s a huge shame. 

I’d certainly recommend a visit and it’s a nice casino to gamble in. I just can’t see any reason to stay there right now.