My Latest Vegas Stay: The Waldorf Astoria Experience


My Latest Vegas Stay: The Waldorf Astoria Experience


During my recent trip to Las Vegas, I stayed at the Waldorf Astoria and explored several standout experiences across the Strip, including the Sphere’s Wizard of Oz show, Beauty & Essex happy hour, Hardshake’s nightlife scene, and brunch at Salt & Ivy. This guide brings together everything I enjoyed, along with helpful tips for anyone planning a visit.


The Room: Spacious, Calm, and That Bathroom…

The room was big, open, and peaceful — but the bathroom was the real star. The soaking tub was massive (truly could fit three people), and the whole space felt like a private spa. If you’re someone who loves a long bath after walking the Strip, this is a dream.

The living room space for the King room with Strip view is oddly shaped, like a triangle, and the furniture is lacking and placed in inconvenient ways. It is like they just gave up designing the space. The rooms are newly remodeled, but the fringe sofas and oddly shaped couches undermine the room's aesthetics. Sell that furniture to a senior retirement home in Florida and get some new furniture that is worthy for Vegas.

The Hotel Car: Useful… But Don’t Count On It

The Waldorf advertises a complimentary house car, but here's the truth: it's extremely elusive and comes with rules. I was there six days and never caught the car. The one time I did was because one of the resident let me jump in on their ride.

⭐ Tip: Request the house car the day before — or at minimum early that morning — if you need it later that evening.

A few things to know:

  • Even though we had two separate rooms and didn’t mind riding together, they still wouldn't drop us off at two different places.

  • The “three‑mile radius” depends on how busy the area is perceived to be — it’s not guaranteed.

  • They are strict about where they will and won’t go and where they will drop you off.

If you’re someone who likes guaranteed transportation, this may not be the perk you expect.

Afternoon Tea at Peacock: Elegant & Worth Dressing Up For

I booked the afternoon tea at Peacock, and really enjoyed it. The vibe is dressy and includes families, girls' outings, and solo guests like me. I even saw someone working from his laptop.

Tea service is around $75, and bottomless bellinis/mimosas are about $35. The warm scones were the best part.

⭐ Tip: The Afternoon tea is a special menu selection and not available Monday and Tuesday, and has three seating times.

Even though they offer multiple bellini flavors, you’ll be required to stick to one flavor the entire time. A little odd, but still a fun experience. Besides the afternoon tea, they have a regular menu of teas, foods, etc that you can order from every day.


Hardshake Bar: Great Views, Good Drinks & Weekend Crowds

Hardshake has beautiful views of Vegas and a classy, elevated atmosphere. People came dressed to impress, so you’ll definitely want to match the vibe — think chic, polished, and weekend‑ready.

I mainly had drinks here, and they were pretty good — definitely worth stopping in for a cocktail. I also ordered the Waldorf Club, which came with fries. The sandwich itself was okay, but the fries weren’t my favorite — maybe old grease, maybe just not seasoned well. Nothing to brag about.

Location: Walkable & Convenient

One thing I appreciated: the Waldorf’s location. You can walk directly to Aria and The Cosmopolitan, which makes exploring easy.

And for late‑night cravings? There’s a Whataburger right next door (yesssss), plus a daiquiri bar nearby.

Airport Transportation

A car service from the airport to the hotel runs about $120. Convenient, but pricey.

Vegas Days and Nights

Rideshare vs Taxi: Know Before You Go

The rideshare pickup area is located inside a parking garage, and it can get very hot, muggy, and uncomfortable — especially in Vegas heat.

⭐ Tip: If you’re sensitive to heat or carrying a lot of luggage, grabbing a taxi may be more comfortable.

⭐ Tip: If you prefer Uber/Lyft, book your ride ahead of time — especially during heavy‑traffic weekends or events.

Pre‑scheduling helps your driver sync with your flight arrival, which saved me a lot of stress.

Happy Hour at Beauty & Essex (Cosmopolitan): Speakeasy Vibes & Great Bites

I also stopped by Beauty & Essex at the Cosmopolitan for happy hour, and the whole experience gives a speakeasy vibe. The front looks like a jewelry store — and honestly, had I not Googled the place beforehand, I wouldn’t have known it was a restaurant at all.

Once you walk through the door to the left of the jewelry case, you enter a dark, intimate bar with a moody, upscale atmosphere. I was hungry and focused on getting a happy hour spot, so I didn’t even think about taking pictures.

⭐ Tip: Beauty & Essex looks like a jewelry store from the outside — don’t be fooled. The restaurant entrance is hidden behind the display case.

⭐ Tip: Happy hour fills up fast, so arrive early.  

For food, I ordered the empanadas and the grilled cheese dumplings. The grilled cheese dumplings are great!!!! You get about six dumplings, and while you could share them with someone else, you might not want to. Happy hour food items are around $10, and the menu has several options.

I also had the Hot Tropics cocktail — tequila‑based, refreshing, really good and on happy hour.

Seeing The Sphere: Wizard of Oz Experience

I went to The Sphere to see The Wizard of Oz*, and the venue itself is stunning — immersive, futuristic, and worth seeing at least once.

⭐ Tip (Major): DO NOT be late. They supposedly will not let you in.

I was worried about timing, so I actually purchased my ticket as I stepped out of the taxi. I ended up getting a great seat for cheaper by waiting until the last minute — Section 200 for $115.

The theater didn’t look packed, so the last‑minute strategy worked.

The show was cool — a fun experience — but I probably wouldn’t do it again. After the movie, they do a short interactive skit, which was a nice touch.

There’s also a catwalk that connects The Sphere to The Venetian, which is super convenient if you’re staying there or want to grab food afterward.

Since I was in town for a conference, this was the main entertainment I squeezed in — and it was worth it for the experience.

Sunday Brunch at Salt & Ivy

For brunch, I ate at Salt & Ivy at Aria. I ordered the biscuits and gravy — the biscuit itself was really good, and the portion was big enough that I could only finish one.

⭐ Tip: Make reservations. The restaurant is popular and was extremely busy.

They also close at a specific time and are strict about it — TVs off, staff moving quickly, everything shutting down right on schedule.

Closing Thoughts

Vegas always delivers something unexpected, and this trip was no different. From the quiet luxury of the Waldorf Astoria to the immersive Sphere experience, intimate happy hours, and dressed‑to‑impress nightlife, I got a little taste of everything. If you’re planning your own visit, I hope these tips help you navigate the city with a bit more ease — and maybe even save you some time, money, and stress along the way. Until the next adventure.

*Site contains affiliate links.

Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA

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