Of all the Las Vegas hotels, the Golden Gate is the oldest. That is an incredible accolade and one worth celebrating.
Golden Gate, then called Miller Hotel but also known as Hotel Nevada, opened its doors in 1906 and it is still going strong more than a century later. In fact, it is better than it has ever been before.
It is also one of the smallest and nowhere makes a mockery of the ‘good things come in small packages’ rule like Las Vegas does, but Golden Gate more than holds its own.
Golden Gate overview
Location: Downtown
Opened: January 1906
Last renovated: 2017
Number of rooms: 122
Gaming space: 30,000 sq. ft
Operator: Derek Stevens
Permanent shows: None
Nearby attractions: Fremont Street Experience, dancing dealers
Price guide: $
Location
Golden Gate has a prime location in Downtown Las Vegas, combining with Plaza and Circa at the west entrance to the Fremont Street Experience.
That places it in the liveliest part of the what is probably the best attraction in Las Vegas, and I’d call that a pretty good location.
That does, though, mean things can get loud for guests, and that is something worth bearing in mind when you book.
Getting around
Getting around from Golden Gate is incredibly easy with everything you’d want to see Downtown within walking distance.
El Cortez, the Mob Museum and Container Park are probably the furthest you’ll want to go, and all can be reached comfortably within ten minutes.
The Las Vegas Strip is a lot further way, though, so jump in a taxi or take the Deuce Bus.
Golden Gate Rooms and Amenities
The rooms at Golden Gate are on the small side, but that is one of the compromises you make for staying at such a historic hotel, and it is a small price to pay.
That is especially true given how nice the rooms are. Yes, it’s the oldest of all the Las Vegas hotels, but you wouldn’t know it from the conditions of the rooms.
There is an option to upgrade to one of the suites too, and they are much more in line with what you would expect from Las Vegas. The décor is really nice too.
If you are lucky enough to get one of the penthouse suites, meanwhile, you will be staying in absolute luxury.
Golden Gate is, understandably, short on amenities, although guests are free to use those of sister property The D, and that gets you access to a fitness centre and a pool.
RELATED READING: Golden Gate casino guide
Food and Drink
Golden Gate does not have any dining options of its own, but there are plenty of great places to eat around the Fremont Experience so you won’t be going hungry.
They excel at bars, though. The OneBar is an outdoor frozen cocktail bar on the exterior of the building beneath its neon. There are bikini-clad dancers on the bar itself, so you can’t really miss it.
Meanwhile, Bar Prohibition offers a (slightly) quieter and more upscale cocktail bar experience.
Shows and Attractions
There are no shows at the Golden Gate, but that is not unusual for Downtown Las Vegas Hotels.
It does, of course, share the incredible Fremont Street Experience and it is located at the liveliest part of it.
One attraction that is relatively unique to Golden Gate are dancing dealers. Sister property The D has them too, and they bring a real party vide to the casino.
Golden Gate Pool
Golden Gate does not have a pool of its own, which is certainly not unusual for Downtown properties. Remember we are talking about the oldest of all the Las Vegas hotels here.
Guests will have access to one though, as they are free to use the pool at The D. That is down the other end of Fremont Street, the east end of it, but it is only a two-minute walk away.
The D pool is a decent enough size with a modern feel, and is one of the best in Downtown.
Conclusion
There are a lot of Las Vegas hotels that can offer you a lot of different things, but only the Golden Gate can offer you the chance to stay at the oldest hotel in Vegas.
It has a relatively modern feel now though after being updated with the usual Derek Stevens finesse.
Pros: Unrivalled history, perfect location and a vibrant fun vibe. It’s very affordable too.
Cons: It’s very small compared to other properties and light on amenities.