Overview
Bellagio opened on the Las Vegas Strip in 1998 and is operated by MGM Resorts. It scores 9.2 overall on our seven criteria. The building is organised around the lake at its front, which the Fountains of Bellagio play across through the day and evening, and the interior sets a quieter register than most of its neighbours: a Chihuly glass ceiling in the lobby, the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens off the main corridor, and a gallery of fine art rather than an arcade.
It is the Strip property we would pick for a traveller who wants the scale of an integrated resort without the volume. The trade-off is price: rates and food costs sit at the top of the Strip range, and the resort fee is charged separately from the room.
The casino floor
The gaming floor runs roughly 156,000 square feet across the ground level. Table coverage is deep in blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette, and the high-limit salons are the property’s recognised strength. The poker room is separate from the main floor and runs a live cash game programme rather than only tournaments.
The minimum age for both gambling and entering the gaming floor is 21, in line with Nevada law. Photo ID is checked. Dress on the main floor is smart casual; the high-limit rooms and the fine-dining restaurants expect more.
Rooms
Around 3,900 rooms and suites sit in two towers, the Spa Tower and the main building. Standard Resort King rooms start near 510 square feet, which is generous for the Strip. Bathrooms are marble with separate tub and shower in most categories. Rooms facing the lake carry a premium and are the ones worth paying for; fountain views from higher floors are the reason most guests book here.
Dining and what else is on site
The restaurant line-up is the deepest on the Strip at this price level, including Picasso, Le Cirque, Prime Steakhouse and Lago, alongside the Bellagio buffet. Cirque du Soleil’s O has been the resident show in the purpose-built theatre since 1998. There is a spa and salon, five outdoor pools in a courtyard setting, and Via Bellagio for retail. The Strip tram and the Deuce bus put the rest of the central Strip within easy reach on foot or a short ride.