Plaza Hotel & Casino anchors the western end of the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas, built on the site of the old Union Pacific rail depot. It opened as the Union Plaza on July 2, 1971, backed by downtown casino pioneers Sam Boyd and Jackie Gaughan, and has been owned by the London-based Tamares Group since 2005. Two towers hold 995 rooms and suites above an 80,000-square-foot casino floor.
The draw here is value and character rather than Strip glitz: a rooftop pool deck with 14 permanent pickleball courts plus a dedicated championship court (more than any other Las Vegas hotel-casino), downtown’s only fully smoke-free gaming area, and Oscar’s Steakhouse tucked inside the building’s landmark glass dome. It suits travelers who want walkable Fremont Street energy, live entertainment, and lower rates than Strip resorts charge for comparable rooms.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 1 Main Street, Downtown Las Vegas (west end of Fremont Street Experience)
- Operator: Tamares Group
- Opened: July 2, 1971 (as Union Plaza)
- Rooms: 995 rooms and suites in two towers
- Price tier: Budget to mid-range
- Casino: 80,000 sq ft, including downtown’s only smoke-free gaming area
- Signature attraction: Rooftop pool deck with 14 permanent pickleball courts plus 1 championship court
- Headline venue: Plaza Showroom (Miss Behave’s Mavericks residency)
Rooms, Pool and Casino
The Plaza’s 995 rooms and suites span two towers, the original 1971 building and a 526-room addition from 1983, with Fremont Street and mountain-view options at rates well below Strip norms. The rooftop pool deck is one of downtown’s largest, with cabanas, a wet deck, and 14 permanent pickleball courts plus a championship court used for tournaments like the Las Vegas Pickleball Open and USA Pickleball’s Golden Ticket stop. On the casino floor, table games and slots fill 80,000 square feet, including a dedicated 100% smoke-free gaming area with blackjack, baccarat, and European roulette — the only one of its kind in downtown Las Vegas.
Shows, Attractions and Dining
The Plaza Showroom hosts Miss Behave’s Mavericks, a variety show fronted by circus performer Amy Saunders that took up permanent residency in October 2024. Dining highlights include Oscar’s Steakhouse, set inside the hotel’s glass dome overlooking Fremont Street, along with all-day favorite Hash House A Go Go and Pop Up Pizza. The property also runs the CORE Arena equestrian center and regularly hosts pickleball tournaments and community events on its pool deck.
Location and Who Should Stay Here
Sitting at the head of the Fremont Street Experience canopy, the Plaza is fully walkable to downtown’s casinos, bars, and the Downtown Container Park, but it’s roughly four miles from the Las Vegas Strip, Sphere, and T-Mobile Arena — a rideshare or car is the practical way to reach Strip-side shows and Allegiant Stadium. It’s a strong fit for budget-conscious travelers, pickleball players, and anyone who prefers downtown’s retro Vegas atmosphere over Strip crowds; couples or families chasing Strip mega-resort pools and headline residencies elsewhere on the Strip should look closer to those venues instead.
Explore more: Compare more Las Vegas hotels on the Where to Stay hub, Tips for catching a Las Vegas residency show.
Plaza Hotel & Casino FAQs
What’s the resort fee and parking situation at the Plaza?
The Plaza charges a resort fee of about $39 per room, per night, which includes covered self-parking for hotel guests (up to two vehicles per reservation). Valet parking is no longer offered; non-hotel guests pay roughly $15 on weekdays and $30-$50 on weekends.
Is the Plaza Hotel & Casino walkable to the Strip or Sphere?
It’s walkable to everything on Fremont Street Experience, but it sits about four miles north of the Las Vegas Strip and Sphere, so getting to Strip-area venues like T-Mobile Arena or Allegiant Stadium requires a rideshare, taxi, or car.
What is the Plaza Hotel & Casino known for?
It’s known for its rooftop pool with 14 permanent pickleball courts plus a championship court, downtown’s only smoke-free casino floor, Oscar’s Steakhouse in its glass dome, and the Miss Behave’s Mavericks variety show at the Plaza Showroom.
Get More from Plaza Hotel & Casino
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Plaza Hotel & Casino, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Aesmaier / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.