Since opening in 1941, the iconic El Cortez Hotel & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas has maintained its vintage charm and rich history that dates back to the time when mobsters ruled the streets of the Las Vegas Strip.
The historic landmark has just completed a $3 million renovation project of its 47 original rooms, which are located above the casino floor and only accessible by a wooden staircase. As the final piece of the hotel’s $28 million property renovation that began in 2020, the room upgrades will elevate the guest experience with modern conveniences while still preserving the historic appeal that has transported visitors to Vegas’s vintage days for so many years.
The hotel’s original 47 rooms were originally used for boarding and meeting rooms when the notorious mobsters Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Gus Greenbaum and Moe Sedway once famously owned El Cortez. Now, they serve as a step back in time to the thriving ’40s.
Stylized after Havana, Cuba as a nod to the Mob’s first major venture into gambling before buying El Cortez, the rooms feature seafoam green walls with green fawn wallpaper and brass bed frames that seamlessly match their surroundings. Blue tufted pillows and mid-century couches paired with marble and brass accent furniture keep the vintage spirit alive while offering modern comfort.
Today, guests can choose from over 364 rooms and enjoy access to the fitness center and other complimentary amenities. El Cortez offers extensive accommodations for every style and budget, from its Tower Premium Rooms and Cabana Suites to its luxurious Jackie Gaughan Suite.
Named after the casino legend and longtime El Cortez owner, the penthouse suite features ’80s-style features, a dining room with a white marble table, full kitchen and wet bar area, two master bedrooms and bathrooms, a “romper” room filled with shag pillows, four balconies and original hand-carved wooden doors with brass handles molded into Gaughan’s initials.
As the city’s longest continuously running hotel and casino, as well as the only casino listed on the National Register of Historic Places, El Cortez is also launching an onsite Vegas History Hallway in partnership with the infamous Mob Museum. The hallway will feature authentic images and information plaques that will give guests an additional glimpse into the history of El Cortez and those who played a role in it.
El Cortez is also offering a special “Mob Boss” hotel package. Guests who purchase a minimum two-night stay in an Original 47 room can add on two $30 tickets to the Mob Museum and save $20 off museum walkup pricing.
Click here for more information and to book a stay.
Photos courtesy El Cortez Hotel & Casino
