As Las Vegas becomes more of a family-friendly destination, Circa Resort & Casino stands out for its strict adults-only policy, which is why I chose it for my Las Vegas hotel. Additionally, this was my third trip to Sin City, I wanted to explore a different area than The Strip, and Circa’s downtown location appealed to me.

When the massive 777-room Circa Resort opened in late 2020, it was the first time a brand new resort had been built in the downtown Las Vegas area since 1980. The resort’s sophisticated design appeals to an adult crowd, but it’s still a casino hotel. This is my honest review of the Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Stepping into the main lobby, I was instantly overwhelmed by the huge casino floor. Like most casinos, Circa allows smoking (although you can choose a non-smoking room for your stay) and the air filtration system can only do so much. The lingering smoke smell and casino lights can be a bit much if you’re checking in at 11 am as I was.

Check-in doesn’t open until 3 pm, and I was told the room type I had booked wasn’t available so I couldn’t get early access unless I wanted to upgrade to a more expensive room type. I declined the offer and took a seat in the lobby to try to figure out a way to kill time, but fortunately received a text within 15 minutes notifying me that my room was ready. After a long journey, I really appreciated the early access.

To access the elevators to the hotel room floors, guests had to swipe their room keys at an electronic turnstile, which helped me feel more secure. Select the floor you’re going to on a touchscreen, and you’ll be directed to an elevator that will go directly to your floor. This smart elevator system ensured there was never a long wait for the elevator, which can be a problem in bigger hotels.

Location

Looking for a different Las Vegas experience than staying on The Strip? Step outside the back entrance of Circa Resort & Casino and you’re instantly immersed in the technicolor Fremont Street Experience, downtown Las Vegas’ star attraction. This lively outdoor mall has a roof (perfect for keeping out sun and rain), free shows, street performers, bars, and restaurants.

Circa’s location is also well-positioned if you’re visiting the trendy Las Vegas Arts District or if you’re in town for a conference at the World Market Center, as the hotel is one of the closest options nearby.

If you’re looking for easy access to The Strip, however, note that Circa is about a 10-minute drive from the start of The Strip and approximately a 15-minute drive from the Bellagio. Taking an Uber to and from The Strip and Circa cost me about $20 every time.

Pros

Only adults-only hotel in Las Vegas
Windows in rooms are extremely soundproofed; my room overlooked the highway but I couldn’t hear any traffic noise
Spacious rooms
Comfortable beds
Lots of pillows and towels provided
Located right in the Fremont Street Experience
Guests get free access to Stadium Swim, the pool at Circa

Cons

No robes or slippers provided
Room wasn’t cleaned both nights I stayed despite requesting housekeeping each day
Folded sheets used in lieu of duvet cover
Everyone entering the hotel (even guests) have to show ID every time, even if you’re clearly over 21
Expensive resort fee
Bulk, refillable toiletries
Hallway noise filters into the rooms, you can clearly hear full conversations while inside the rooms
Small fitness center gets full during peak hours
Free WiFi is slow and limited
Far from The Strip
Blackout curtains don’t close all the way and let in a small amount of light

Circa Resort Fee

Circa charges a mandatory $44 per night resort fee. The daily resort fee includes WiFi for two devices (basic internet connection), fitness center access, and concierge services. Combined with Las Vegas’ citywide 13 percent occupancy tax, be prepared for your total bill to be significantly higher than the nightly advertised room rate.

Circa Resort Adults-Only

All guests at Circa Resort must be 21 or older. Anyone under 21 cannot even enter the hotel, casino, or restaurants—you’ll have to show your ID every time you enter, even as a hotel guest. I watched groups of grey-haired seniors get carded, so there really aren’t any exceptions.

Rooms

I stayed in a Single King room, the cheapest room category. The room was more than spacious (439 square feet) and featured a small loveseat and table, desk and chair, padded bench, armchair, and a mini-fridge.

The king-sized bed was very comfortable, with a Serta Prestige mattress that felt new. The bathroom was also oversized, with two vanity sinks and a small velvet stool and counter with a makeup mirror that’s perfect for getting ready. The large shower has a bench and rain showerhead.

I really loved the room’s smart lighting system, which features a bedside interactive display that clearly shows you what switches control which lights (no more hunting for a way to turn off the hall light when you’re already in bed) and allows you to set mood lighting. There’s also a very convenient power bank with USB and plug-outlets on the nightstand that make it easy to charge all your devices.

Circa Room View — *The view from the Circa Single King room*

My room overlooked the mountains in the distance, as well as downtown Las Vegas and the highway. I could also see the Neon Museum, which was really cool, especially when it lit up at night.

The room also had a clothing steamer, which was a nice touch, and ample towels. No robes or slippers were provided.

Other room types available include:

The Double King (with two beds)
The Flex King (one king bed and a sleeper couch)
ADA Standard King (ADA-accessible)

There are many different suites that you can book at Circa which are great for groups—there’s even a 1,300-square-foot bunk suite with four sets of bunk beds.

Restaurants

There are many dining options at Circa, from the high-end to the fast-casual.

Saginaw’s Delicatessen

Open 24/7, this classic New York deli-style eatery serves comfort food like sandwiches, onion rings, soup, etc. It also provides room service at the hotel.

Victory Burger

Another casual spot right off the casino floor, Victory Burger serves bar food staples including hamburgers and wings. My favorite menu item was the decadent milkshakes.

8 East

Inspired by the energy and flavors of metropolitan Asian food markets, 8 East offers diners a cutting-edge take on Pan-Asian cuisine courtesy of Chef Dan Coughlin. I recommend coming here with a group so you can sample a bunch of the shareable small plates like GaPow basil chicken pot stickers, dumplings, wontons, and skewers.

Jackpot Coffee

It’s nice to have a unique coffee shop option inside a Las Vegas hotel instead of the standard Starbucks. Jackpot serves up good, albeit pricey, coffee. A nitro cold brew costs $9, and a regular cold brew costs $8 (but was admittedly smooth and delicious). Lines were never long at Jackpot, which is rare for Las Vegas. Small snacks and espresso drinks are also available.

Legacy Club

The rooftop Legacy Club is one of the best-kept secrets in Vegas. This beautiful cocktail bar offers incredible views of the city, with an indoor and outdoor section. I came up hoping to get a drink by one of the firepits, but unfortunately, the outdoor terrace was closed due to wind, which apparently happens often.

Mega Bar

Mega Bar bills itself as the longest bar in the state, and it’s a fun place to get a drink and watch the charismatic bartenders mix cocktails with flair, Tom Cruise style.

Vegas Vickie’s

Tucked away next to the massive neon Vegas Vickie’s sign, this is a lively bar where you can take a break and watch the action on the casino floor.

Overhang Bar

Overhang Bar is one of the many bars clustered around the sportsbook, where you can get a drink and watch the games.

Circa Bar

Circa Bar doesn’t really feel connected to the hotel—it’s outside on Fremont Street. Even if you don’t want one of the 24 flavors of frozen cocktails served here, it’s still a fun stop as you wander around, thanks to the dancing bartenders.

Casino

Circa’s casino boasts the largest sportsbook in the world, and the whole property revolves around it. Sports enthusiasts revel in the three-story, amphitheater-style sportsbook, accommodating 1,000 spectators with stadium seating and private boxes to savor the action on the massive 78-million-pixel screen. There are cushy chairs with cupholders from which you can watch pretty much any live game you can think of.

The sportsbook is well-staffed, and I never had to wait in line to place a bet.

On the Thursday night that I was there, the casino was busy, and table dancers provided entertainment near the games.

Circa Pool: Stadium Swim

The sports focus continues at Stadium Swim, Circa’s popular pool party experience. To get there, you’ll take a super long escalator up to check-in (I just had to give my name and room number to get free entry as a hotel guest). You’ll then go through metal detectors and have your bag searched before getting access to the pool. Be warned that the bag search policy is strict, and they don’t allow any kind of medication (including over-the-counter), nose sprays, etc. The group in front of me got turned away for having an illegal item, but they were given the chance to go store it in a locker and come back. There’s also an amnesty box in case you want to get rid of anything illegal.

The rooftop poolscape features six pools on three different levels, all positioned in front of a giant 40-foot-tall LED screen that broadcasts the biggest sporting events of the day. More than 370 chairs line the pools, but for those looking for prime party position and a little space, lily pads, daybeds, and cabanas are available to reserve. The standout feature and one-of-a-kind in Las Vegas is the concept of the pool itself. Essentially, it’s a sportsbook with a massive screen, stadium-style seating, and swimming pools for fans to cool off in when the weather or the game gets too hot. Unlike most other Vegas pools, Stadium Swim is open year-round and the pools are heated to 98 degrees in the colder months. Be warned that there is no shade (unless you pay for a cabana) and the direct sunlight can be powerful, especially in the late afternoon.

Fitness Center

Circa’s fitness center, located on the fifth floor, is surprisingly small. I had assumed it would be empty (as Las Vegas is known more for early morning hangovers than workouts), but each morning when I went, it was packed. There are only three treadmills, and they fill up fast. There are also exercise bikes, ellipticals, free weights, and a handful of weight machines. There’s not a lot of floor space to do yoga or stretch. Towels are provided, as is a water bottle refill station.

Parking

Circa offers parking in its cleverly named Garage Mahal. This massive eight-story garage offers 982 parking spots and a Hertz Rental Car location. Valet and self-parking are available here, and rideshares and taxis will drop you off and pick you up. Self-parking costs $25 per day and includes in-and-out privileges.

Shopping

Looking for a new swimsuit to impress at Stadium Swim? Circa Collections is stocked with swimsuits, sunscreen, sunglasses, and other pool essentials.

For souvenirs, there’s a Lids store on-property selling sports gear.

If you need a snack or drink, there’s a small convenience store, Fuel, that sells a limited selection. However, Walgreens on Fremont Street is nearby and offers a wider selection at lower prices.

Price

I booked Circa Resort & Casino on Agoda, where I found the best deal, for $129 per night. After taxes and the resort fee, my room actually cost about $194 per night. (This is pretty typical for Las Vegas hotels, I didn’t find any that didn’t charge a crazy resort fee.)

Is Circa Resort & Casino Worth It?

I enjoyed my stay at Circa Resort & Casino and thought it was definitely the best place to stay in downtown Las Vegas near Fremont Street. The rooms feel new and are sparkling clean, and there’s plenty to do within the hotel. The free Stadium Swim access will save you a ton of money, and I think this perk is really what makes Circa worth it.

Circa Resort & Casino Las Vegas Review