Last year I wrote a review of The Golden Nugget that offered cautious optimism over new owners Landry’s Restaurants and the hope that they would turn what had become a faded glory hotel back into the show property it deserved to be. I even offered my services for free, imploring the Landry’s folks to call me if they needed some advice on how to do it (or at least not mess it up).

Turns out they didn’t need my help.

The Golden Nugget has undergone a dramatic rejuvenation that has not only put it back on top of the Downtown Las Vegas hotel scene, but has turned it into a property that could compete on just about every level with the grand palaces on The Strip.

Virtually the entirety of the public areas of the hotel has gotten a facelift, from the front desk to the casino to the spa and beyond. New restaurants have been added, old ones have been remodeled, entertainment venues have been expanded, and a dramatic new pool area is officially one of the nicest (albeit smallest) in town.

The sometimes stark white and gold French Riviera feeling has been replaced by a richer color scheme of earth tones – deep browns, creamy whites, glowing oranges offset by vibrant splashes of green and red here and there. Although the footprint of the main floor is roughly the same, you really won’t recognize the place because the difference is just that dramatic with new carpets, wall-treatments, lighting fixtures, and more contributing to a sense of freshness and newness that you rarely see in Downtown Las Vegas.

The casino has received this treatment along with a revision of the layout of the gambling areas to give it a feeling of more space – something that was desperately needed considered how cramped the place felt before. New machines and tables combine with the new décor scheme to turn this into a genuinely enjoyable place in which to lose your life savings.

The showroom was gutted and redone, transforming a converted ballroom with uncomfortable banquet chairs into a full-blown theater with comfy seats and plenty of legroom. The spa was also overhauled with a light and bright look.

Since Landry’s is first and foremost a restaurant chain, it’s no great surprise that they added new eateries to the mix. The buffet has been completely redone (and is quite good), while new entries include their trademark Vic and Anthony’s, a lovely and intimate space serving up traditional steakhouse fare, and the Grotto, an Italian joint, open and airy to the new pool area.

That pool area is, by the way, the centerpiece of the transformation of The Golden Nugget. Surrounded by three sides on glass facing into the hotel, a recreation deck surrounds a deep (although not particularly large) pool, a giant aquarium, and a bar. Overlooking the whole thing is a second level with cabanas and the start of a water slide that actually passes through that giant aquarium on its way to splashdown.

The suites have gotten a much needed overhaul as well, but the standard rooms, which were redone just a few years ago, are pretty much the same. That’s not a bad thing since they are among the largest and most well-appointed in the area. The décor scheme is muted floral and light woods and comes with comfy beds and seating, high-speed Internet access, hair dryers, irons and boards, room service, televisions with in-room movies, and more. The bathrooms are small by just about any standard, but put them up next to what most have gotten used to on The Strip and they seem microscopic. But hey – if you’re spending that much time in the bathroom while you’re in Vegas something is wrong.

The Downtown area has always been known for having friendlier staff members and dealers than The Strip and that tradition continues here. Everyone I dealt with was cheerful, helpful, and efficient.

Despite all of the money thrown at the place, they are not apparently asking you to pay for it through increased room rates. You can still get a room here during the week for as low as $59 (although $89 is more common) and on the weekends for as low as $129. That’s a great bargain for a hotel as good as this one.

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