The Aria is the focus of the City Center project and had the aim of being a self-contained area of the City with everything you would need to live out your entire stay at the resort without ever having to leave the resort. For the most part, this is a success, even though very few people would ever want to do that, however one part they fall down on is entertainment. There isn’t really that much going on in the City Center area to keep you there outside of dining and the Casino.
In this guide on Things to do at the Aria, we take a look at what is available. They have the basics covered but there are n really attractions, shows, or events inside the Aria to keep you properly entertained. So you are going to need to look elsewhere. That does not mean there is nothing happening, there are lots of things to see and do, just less than at other resorts, and fear not, the excellent location means there is a host of fantastic attractions and shows right on your doorstep.
Let’s begin with the Obvious and then move to the More Nuanced…
Pool
One of the most glaring and obvious things to do at the Aria is NOTHING. Life is Hard and so is Vegas at times, so we all need that Downtime, and sitting by a pool in the sun, and sipping a cocktail is one of the best ways to unwind and relax. And the Pool Deck at the Aria is one of the best in the City.
This Oasis-themed deck is a little slice of heaven carved into the desert and is often quiet and very relaxed. There is a great blend of sun and shade and the pools are cool and refreshing. Whether you grab a cabana and chill for the day, or just grab a few hours in the sun to unwind, it’s the perfect spot to just wind down and relax.
We have our full guide to the Aria Pool Deck here, so won’t go into great detail now, But you have to check out the deck at some point during your stay.
Casino
- Average Table Wager – $15-$50
- Floor Size – 150,000 sqft
- Slot Machines – 2000+
- Games Available – 145+ Tables- Blackjack, Craps, Baccarat, Roulette, European Roulette, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow, Pai Gow Poker.
- Poker Rooms – 24
- Sports Book – 10,000sqft – 200sports – 90 screens
Another obvious one, this is Vegas after all and we all like to have a go at a little Gambling. The Casino at Aria is one of the best in the City. Its colossal size makes it one of the largest with a huge selection of slot machines. From the classic three reel types to top-of-the-line video slots with huge progressive jackpots there is something for everyone.
There is also a large selection of Table Games, although at peak times minimum bets can be pretty high. The large selection of games and pretty friendly atmosphere mean it’s a good place to give Black Jack, Roulette or Craps a go.
The Poker Room is one of the best in the City and attracts players of all abilities from across the world. The daily Poker tournaments are a good way to have some real fun with only a minimal Buy-In.
There are 3+ Bars dotted around the floor and we find drinks service is pretty fast and reliable, with cocktail servers active in most parts of the floor.
Overall the Casino at the Aria is one of our favorites in the City. The large size can make it a little tricky to navigate, but there really is something for every gambler and it’s a good atmosphere and fun crowd.
Park MGM Casino
Slightly less obvious, is our recommendation to use the Park MGM Casino. This is one of our favorite places to Gamble on the strip. The main reason is the No-Smoke policy. This is one of the only non-smoking Casinos in the City and it’s really a nice place to gamble. No dirty ashtrays at your machine, no stinky clothes once you get back to your room, just a fun and present environment to do a spot of gambling.
As the Park is literally just across the foyer from the Aria it’s just as easy to head over here to gamble as it is to stay in the Aria. It is a much smaller casino but we found most things we wanted and overall really enjoyed it.
Obviously, smokers will not find the no smoking rule agreeable, but you can just stay in the Aria casino instead.
Shopping – The Shops at Crystals
If there is one thing a city center needs it’s a large shopping area, and the City Center Project was built with this need in mind, and a large area of the site was designated for the Shops at Crystals. This large-story Shopping mall mainly caters to the wealthy with a sting of high-end luxury shops.
Brands include Bulgari, Cartier, Creed, Dior, Fendi, Armani, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Tag Huer, Tiffany&co, Tom Ford, and Versace to name just a few of the 50+ luxury brands. There is very little in the way of budget-friendly brand and bargain hunting going on here. These are all pure luxury brands.
We are going, to be honest, due to the fact it’s all high-end brands, We tend to use the Shops at Crystals as a cut-through to the strip more than a shopping center, but it’s still fun to window shop as we pass through to the strip. The design of the mall is stunning and it’s a nice break from the desert heat.
There are also several pop-up attractions found in the Mall. These change but at the time of writing there is an immersive Disney experience, featuring songs and scenes from your favorite Dinsey films, and there is the Van Gogh immersive experience, showing the amazing work of the artist in a way never seen before.
You will also find several Fine Art installations and Galleries along with a couple of good dining options. Overall it’s a fantastic place to spend an hour or two wandering around even if you do not plan on dropping the cash to make a purchase or two.
Best Shopping Mall in Las Vegas
Aria Spa
The Spa at the Aria is one of the best Spa’s in the City. The 80,000 sqft spa center is one of the biggest in the City and is filled with relaxation and rejuvenation. After a hard day exploring the City or maybe just a hard life outside your vacation, the Aria Spa is the perfect place to come to unwind.
Either just head in a enjoy the facilities including a Water Garden, Plunge pools, steam rooms, saunas, and a Balcony therapy pool overlooking the pool complex, or try out one of the many treatments such as Facials, Manicures, or Massages.
There is also a large Fitness center and Salon.
Finally, there is the brand-new Red light therapy room. This kind of treatment is completely new to us, but it’s the next big thing and if you are looking for a new way to look your best you could give Red-Light a go…At the very least the relaxing Zero-G bed will help the stress melt away.
If you are looking for some real me-time away from the madness of the City the Aria Spa is one of our favorites anywhere in Vegas. We feel Spas are often an afterthought and can be little more than a few treatment rooms with a fancy entrance. The Aria Spa is anything but and was designed from concept to be a 5-star Spa destination.
Night Life
With a host of great bars, two nightclubs, Ultra Lounge, and a bustling Casino there is a lot going on in terms of nightlife.
Bars
There are several great bars in the Aria including the really creative Cocktail bar Easy’s. Here you can grab some of the most innovative cocktails we have seen to date, and we have been to a lot of fancy Cocktail bars!
There are also 3 bars in the casino, including the excellent Lobby bar, one of our favorite Lobby Bars in Vegas, a Sports Bar which doubles as the Sports Book, and even a bar inside of the excellent food hall. You are also only a Stones Throw away from Park MGM which has a fantastic Bar scene including the incredible Mama Rabbit, Juniper Bar, and Beerhaus.
Wherever you go in the Resort area toy are never far away from a drink, whether that’s grabbing a free Martini while gambling, indulging in a fantasy cocktail, or just ending the night with a fantastic Old Fashioned at the Lobby, the Aria really has the drinks covered.
Ultra Lounge
Ultra Lounges are the new big thing in Night-Life. A cross between and nightclub and a bar, ultra-lounges are for those who want to party all night but are not quite up for a full-on nightclub. At the Aria, the Alibi takes care of the Ultra Lounge Duties.
The perfect spot to kick the night off or just a slightly more chilled evening, lots of people are leaning towards these kinds of venues nowadays. Slivk, Sofisitacated and fun the Alibi is a great place to spend the evening.
Jewel Night Club
However, if you really want to turn the heat up the Jewel Nightclub is one of the best Night spots in the City. From the stunning illuminated entrance staircase to the two floors of pumping dance music the Jewel attracts top DJs and full hose crowds most nights.
It’s not as big as some of the Super Clubs on the strip, but the slight intimacy makes for a great night out. Jewel is definitely one club to check out.
On The Record Night Club
However, Just across the Foyer is the Park MGM’s latest Nightspot, On The Record. This is a pretty unique night spot, feeling more like a 70’s disco club and filled with super cool londen-esque retro vibes.
Designed to be like a party in a record store, this club crossed with a speakeasy is a really interesting night out. With three separate spaces including an epic outdoor space featuring a London bus and views of the New York New York Skyline, this is one of Vegas’s newest and most interesting clubs… and it’s still within crawling distance of your hotel room.
Day Life
- Wed-Sun 11 am – 6 pm
- Entry – $20
If partying till 4 a.m. is not enough, then you can continue the party throughout the day with the Liquid Pool Lounge. This is one of Las Vegas’s legendary Pool Party Venues. These are essentially Night Club, at a pool, during the day.
Liquid tends to go more down the Route of an Ultra-Longe rather than a full-on Club vibe, similar to Drais, and less like Wet Republic and Tao. So the vibe is a little more chilled with good tunes, refreshing drinks and guests just relaxing by the pool. It gets a a little more rowdy as the day goes on and drinks get consumed, but it’s not as hardcore as some of the parties. You can decide for yourself if this is a good or bad thing.
Pool Parties are seriously fun, and if you are looking for a way to really extend the party right through the day they are a fantastic way to do this, with just enough time between the Club closing and the Pool party opening to grab some food and maybe a quick nap, before hitting the party again…then just a quick power nap before getting back to the Club!
We really like the Liquid Vibe as it’s more of a warm-up venue and fits perfectly with a daytime vibe. There is less pressure to get “stuck in” and you can just chill at the sidelines as much as you like, but things can and do get a little more energetic later on.
Read more here.
Art Collections and Installations
From Raucus Pool parties and Epic nightlife, the move to Art Collections feels pretty jarring, but here we are. The Aria is filled with interesting and ever-changing examples of fine art and sculpture. The very layout of the building has artistry permanently enshrined in the design.
As guests arrive, the Lumia Fountains welcome you in, and the curved walls of the arrival foyer feature Curve, a stunning curved water wall with cascading sheets of water flowing over 27ft of Indian stone. Orinatal Statues greet you as you enter the Lobby which features more sculptures created from solid silver behind the entrance doors and the check-in desk.
The Lobby is filled with a seasonal display that showcases various contemporary works reflecting the seasons and mood of the world. And this is all before you check in!
There are several fine works and pieces spread all around the Campus. East on Sunset by James Nares sits behind the Concierge desk. Silver River by Maya Lin behind the Check-in Desk. Jenny Holtzer has an LED installation at the Valet Arrivals along with many others. You will also find galleries and exhibits throughout the Crystal Shops and there are more pieces in the Vdara, worth heading over just for that if art is your thing.
It’s really clever how it’s done, You don’t even realize you are looking at art, it’s just throughout the building and you find yourself drawn to the pieces wanting to know more.
Even outside of Vegas, the Aria has an impact on Art. The Seven Magic Mountains Sculpture on the I-15 on the way into Vegas is sponsored by The Aria.
T Mobile Area
Not technically in the Aria but within a stone’s throw is the T-Mobile area. Home of the mighty Vegas Golden Knights it’s a short hike through the Park MGM to get to the Area to catch a game.
The Knights are a very popular feature of Las Vegas and catching a game is a real highlight. It creates a real buzz when the Knights are playing and the Aria is a perfect hotel for staying in to catch a game (along with Park MGM and New York New York)
Of course, this $400 Arena does not sit idle when the Knights are not playing at home and the Arena is used to host some of the biggest and glitziest events in the City. From the UFC to Music Award Ceromanys, World Championship Boxing of the highest level to some of the world’s best Music acts, WWE Wrestling, and Even professional Bull Riding, all have taken place in the Arena and it still books some of the biggest names and biggest events in the world.
When something big happens in Vegas, it is invariably at the T-Mobile Arena.
However, this is really a poor suggestion as a thing to do when staying at the Aria. These events are often sold out months in advance and it’s more a case of the Aria is a great place to stay IF you are headed to one of these events. Of course, Knights Tickets are often available right up until the game so that’s always worth Checking.
Dolby Live (formally Park Theater)
The Aria has not one, but two concert venues right on its doorstep, Again the Dolby Live is not strictly Aria, situated at the Park MGM, it’s a short walk from the Lobby and is part of the City Center Development.
The Dolby Live is very much a concert venue, whereas the T-Moble focuses more on sport with the odd mega-concert thrown in. While The Aria lacks any real Shows, the Dolby Live Theatre does host several Residences that perform regularly.
Currently, the Theater shows 3 Residencies on an alternating basis. First up is Lady Gaga. This is her Jazz & Piano Show. This is pretty far removed from Gaga’s pop persona and instead, she performs Jazz Classics from the Peak Vegas Era. Luck Be A Lady, Fly Me To The Moon, New York New York, and Mambo Italiano. This is accompanied by a few Gaga Classics, reworked, to fit the theme. This show has a full orchestra and is pretty spectacular. You don’t have to like Lady Gaga to Appreciate the show, and anyone who loves Classic American and Jazz Classics will love the fantastic Vocals and performance.
Next is Usher- My Way. This is more of a classic residency with Usher performing his own tracks in his own inimitable style. Usher really looks and sounds great at his Residency and feels like maybe a man born out of his time and would have been equally capable of performing alongside the Rat-Pack, a born showman.
And finally, Bruno Mars brings his own Bruno Mars residency to the Theater. Another true Showman, Bruno Mars is never happier than when on stage. For some Showbiz always seems a chore, something they endure, others like Bruno just look like they were born here.
This trio is a pretty formidable line-up and harks back to the yesteryear of Vegas while staying bang up to date. And on top of this there is a constantly changing roster of artists putting on shows so check the schedule here.
Nearby
While there is plenty to do at the Aria, there is still a lack of any early Attractions or Shows. The list is more of a list of the Hotel amenities. But being so Central there is still lots to see and do within a stone’s throw.
Shows
‘O’ by Cirque du Soleil – Bellagio
Opium Spigelworld – Cosmopolitan
Mad Apple by Cirque du Soleil – New York New York
V-Theater – Planet Hollywood
Bakkt Theater – Planet Hollywood
Criss Angel – Mind Freak Planet Hollywood
Attractions
Bellagio Fountains
Eifell Tower Observation Deck
New York New York Roller Coaster
Have Your Say
Let us know all the things you like doing when staying at the Aria Las Vegas. Are you here for the nightlife, the Knights, to relax at the pools or is this just a base to explore the whole city? Whatever you have to say just fire away in the comments and if you have any questions we would love to hear from you.