
El Cortez Hotel and Casino
Best for travelers who want an authentic Old Las Vegas downtown experience and an adults-only hotel within steps of the Fremont Street Experience.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
El Cortez Hotel and Casino is a historic, adults-only downtown Las Vegas casino hotel for travelers who want vintage Fremont Street character and a compact gaming-focused stay. ARIA Resort & Casino is a modern luxury Strip casino resort in CityCenter for guests seeking contemporary rooms, multiple pools, many dining options and a full-service spa.
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Best for travelers who want an authentic Old Las Vegas downtown experience and an adults-only hotel within steps of the Fremont Street Experience.

Best for travelers who want modern Strip luxury: contemporary rooms, a large casino, multiple pools and an extensive restaurant list in CityCenter.
When El Cortez wins: choose El Cortez if you want a compact, historic downtown stay (21+ only), immediate access to Fremont Street, lower scale and retro character, and complimentary guest parking included in the amenity fee.
When ARIA wins: choose ARIA if you want a full-service modern resort on the Strip with many restaurants and bars (14 restaurants, 11 bars/lounges), a large spa, multiple pools and extensive meeting space.
Bottom line: El Cortez is the choice for adults seeking classic downtown Vegas atmosphere and a smaller, gambling-first property; ARIA is a very different proposition — a contemporary, large-scale Strip resort with more pools, dining variety and convention/meeting facilities.
| Category | El Cortez Hotel and Casino | ARIA Resort & Casino |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Vintage downtown Las Vegas, historic 1941 property with retro character | Contemporary luxury Strip resort, sleek CityCenter design |
| Location | 600 East Fremont Street — one block from the Fremont Street Experience (Downtown) | 3730 Las Vegas Blvd. South — CityCenter on the Las Vegas Strip |
| Size / rooms | About 362–364 rooms across multiple floors | 4002 guestrooms |
| Who can stay | Adults-only: 21 and older required for all guests | All ages welcome (not adults-only) |
| Pools | No on-site swimming pool | Three outdoor pools, three hot tubs, pool cabanas (surcharge) |
| Restaurants & bars | Multiple on-site venues including Siegel's 1941, Alex Prime Steakhouse, Hot Noods, Sushi Ichiban, Eureka! and several bars | 14 restaurants, 11 bars/lounges, 2 coffee shops/cafes including high-profile venues (e.g., Carbone) |
| Spa & wellness | NV Spa with 12 private treatment suites; spa services and 24-hour fitness center | Full-service spa, steam room, sauna and fitness facilities; reservations required for treatments |
| Casino & gaming | About 750 slot machines, 24 gaming tables and a sportsbook in a downtown casino footprint (~41,800–45,000 sq ft) | Casino floor ~150,000 sq ft with about 1,600 slot machines, 100 gaming tables and 2 VIP gaming rooms |
| Meetings & events | 3,200 sq ft of event space (Fiesta Room) and a few meeting/banquet options | 510,000 sq ft of conference/meeting space and 51 meeting rooms |
| Parking | Complimentary guest parking included with the daily amenity/resort fee (garage valet available) | Covered self parking and valet available for a surcharge |
El Cortez sits on East Fremont Street in the Fremont East Entertainment District, a short walk to the Fremont Street Experience.
Choose El Cortez to be in the middle of downtown nightlife, pedestrian canopy shows and Fremont Street attractions.
ARIA is on Las Vegas Boulevard in CityCenter, surrounded by Strip casinos, shopping and entertainment.
Pick ARIA for a central Strip location and easy access to major shows, restaurants and shopping.
El Cortez offers roughly 362–364 rooms in a mix of original and tower room types with a retro character.
El Cortez rooms suit travelers who want authentic downtown accommodations rather than large, modern suite layouts.
ARIA provides a broad set of contemporary room types and suites across thousands of guestrooms.
ARIA is for travelers who want modern, tech-savvy rooms and a wide selection of suite/upgrade options.
El Cortez focuses on a mix of retro and newly refreshed downtown restaurants and bars.
If you want classic downtown meals and a few notable chef-driven spots, El Cortez covers it in a compact footprint.
ARIA offers many dining outlets across cuisines and price points, including signature restaurants.
ARIA gives more variety if you plan to stay on property for multiple meals or want high-profile restaurant choices.
El Cortez does not have an on-site swimming pool.
Don’t expect a pool at El Cortez — choose a different hotel if pool time is a priority.
ARIA provides pool facilities with multiple outdoor pools, hot tubs and cabana options.
For swimming, lounging and poolside service, ARIA’s pool complex is the clear choice.
El Cortez pairs a downtown gaming floor with NV Spa and a 24-hour fitness center.
El Cortez provides straightforward spa and fitness services alongside intimate downtown gaming.
ARIA combines a large casino with an extensive full-service spa and broader nightlife/dining options.
ARIA fits travelers looking for a one-stop resort with spa treatments, larger-scale gaming and more nightlife choices.

Steps from the Fremont Street Experience and downtown nightlife.

Strict 21+ policy — suitable for adult-only groups and couples wanting an adults-focused environment.

Three outdoor pools, three hot tubs, cabanas and an expansive leisure program.

Fourteen restaurants and eleven bars across multiple cuisines and price points.
El Cortez is the clear choice — it’s one block from the Fremont Street Experience and embedded in downtown entertainment.
No. El Cortez is adults-only; all guests must be 21 or older. ARIA allows all ages.
ARIA has three outdoor pools and hot tubs; El Cortez does not have an on-site swimming pool.
Yes. El Cortez has NV Spa (12 treatment suites) and ARIA offers a full-service spa with steam and sauna facilities.
Explore how El Cortez Hotel and Casino stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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