California Hotel & Casino

Vegas - or I guess I should say The Strip has become elitist over the past 10 years or so - $62 resort fee at Vdara, Cosmo and Bellagio after tax and a parking spot at the Sphere for a couple hours is $100+ If your not in favor of the way things are going on The Strip you might love California Hotel. Yes, welcome to The Hotel California. I'm not sure why but this has always been a favorite among people from Hawaii - bundle air and hotel tickets? I'm not sure - but the crowd has always been great. Low key and polite. It's one block away from The Fremont Street Experience and honestly - that is close enough. Its still so close that if you want quiet at night be sure and mention that to the hotel check in. There are plenty of room options and two hotel towers with window views that are wildly different from one another. If you don't like Railroad noise mention that too - especially if you are getting a room low to the ground floor. Main Street is across the street and the all new Circa is across the street - sort of their back side. I think those are two great neighbors to have. If you want some upscale eats - you can go there - something older Plaza + Golden Gate will quench your thirst for nostalgia. I could compare this place dollars and cents wise to maybe the Excalibur - at both places your going to get a good value - but I'd tell you to consider MGM's resort fees and the direct neighbors of both. I'd like to emphasize that value is ever harder to get. Even the El Cortez these days has slowly turned snobby with their $14 bowl of oatmeal. If your very sensitive to the latest and the greatest and huge bathrooms - this might not be for you... but if you appreciate a good value don't hesitate.

Please renovate. So I've been here a couple of times and I really like the hotel. The hotel/casino is far enough from Fremont street but close enough to walk to other casinos. First: the elevators remind me of Sam's club escalators, they all don't work at the same time. Again one out of three elevators didn't work. The whole time I stayed there, there's a line to get to the upper floors. Second: we know why casinos use dark carpets with patterns. It's to hide stains. A good steam cleaning can do wonders in all the rooms and hallways. Third: the towels are like sandpaper. Ooh wait I meant to write the toilet paper, wait I mean both. So why give them three stars with all those issues? Well the hospitality, maid service was always pleasant to interact with. Check in quick and easy plus based on your status you can get free food coupons. Sadly they do get busy that asking for a last checkout seems to not exist here. Parking is free for guest and there is always a stall available. The plus side is the elevators always work in the parking garage. Lastly, it's where the "locals" hang out. Funny it's the same people I get in the place with. Overall three stars. I really like this place and a renovation of a couple of rooms over the next few months would do wonders. Come and stay here. The people are great M

Our family has been coming here for over 30 years and has enjoyed our stays. Understandably, The Cal has undergone many changes during those years. We took a five-year pause due to COVID. We were sad to see that the sports book, TVs, and bar on the mezzanine removed. That was always a small oasis to have a beer and catch up on a game. The check-in process was simple and efficient. The self-parking garage makes getting in and out very convenient. To get to the elevators, you must traverse the casino. That is where the problems start. The smell of cigarette smoke was overwhelming. It seems that whatever they were using in the past to recirculate the air is no longer working. It was so bad that we went to other casinos to gamble. Once you get to the elevators, brace yourself for a long wait. Of the three elevators, only one was working during our four-day stay. This meant there would be several people waiting for the one elevator to arrive. So many people that you had to wait for the elevator to return. With one elevator, it meant a slow ride to your floor since it stopped on nearly every floor on the way up. If you were on a lower floor, the elevator would always be full on the way down. It is best if you take the stairs. Is this a new issue? Take a look at reviews going back a year. The elevators were still a problem. If you have stayed at The Cal, you know that the Main Street casino is a short walk across a covered walkway from The Cal. When you get to the casino, you notice two things: you can take the escalator down, but the up escalator is closed. What was once a bustling casino is now a ghost town. Just a handful of people are in the casino now. Only 3-4 tables were operating and were only available Friday through Sunday. The 777 restaurant has always been a favorite of ours and there has always been a short wait to get a table. This was a Saturday night and only three tables were occupied. Sadly, that will be our last stay at The Cal. If they would invest the necessary funds to repair the infrastructure to have clean air, running elevators, and consistently hot water on the higher floors, we would probably return.

It's been a few years since I stopped inside the California Hotel & Casino to eat at Laperts. While I was down at Fremont street for the Santa 5K race on a Saturday morning, I ended up going inside the California Hotel & Casino. It's located next to the outdoor parking lot and Ogden street. The California Hotel & Casino is quite unique. It feels like you're in Hawaii! If you stay at this hotel, there are a lot of gaming activities inside the casino and plenty of dining experiences! Aloha SpecialtiesCalifornia Noodle HouseEthel M ChocolatesLapperts Ice Cream ShopMarket Street CaféRedwood SteakhouseIf you're looking to book a hotel room at the California Hotel & Casino, there are a few different room sizes such as Deluxe King, Premium King, and even a Parlor Suite! Make sure to check their website before booking because sometimes there are promos running! Right now, there is a brunch package promo for booking 1 night and getting 2 brunch buffets! Lapperts Ice Cream Shop is one of my favorite ice cream shops and it's located inside the California Hotel & Casino! This is a must visit hotel & casino if you're looking for some good Hawaiian food at Fremont Street!

We are here now on March 2. Only one out of three elevators have been working. And now the power to every single guest room has gone out. We're on the 17th floor. The hotel has given us absolutely no explanation, no phone calls, no text messages about what's going on.

09/2024! A much improved experience this time. Check in went smoothly and I was given an unexpected complimentary upgrade to a suite. This is the first time we stayed in the older section of the California Hotel. It was a nice surprise. We walked by the lucky Buddha on our way to the elevator. As we exited the elevator, the corridor was dimly lit. The room was located close and that was a nice. The room was very large! There was a kitchen/bar and refrigerator. The closet was large and the tv lounge area was spacious and comfortable. We had a nice window view of Fremont Street. Everything looked clean and fresh. AC worked very well in the 100 plus degree weather. Extra towels were brought up quickly upon request. The shower head was removable and easy to use. Ambiance: 4/5 starsService: 4/5 stars

We had a very nice stay here for a week in September.The people here were all very nice and it was a very easy check in. I know it depends on what time of day it is, but there was no line to check in and it only took a few minutes. The room itself was a little cramped, but I knew it wasn't going to be very big. The only issue I had was that the AC unit was very old and needed to be replaced, it made a loud bang just before it turned on. But, the bed was comfortable and we had a nice stay. This is a Hawaiian themed hotel and the food and decor reflects that.Obviously, it's very close to the Fremont Street Experience and easy to walk to it. You can hear the noise from Fremont Street at night, especially when there is a band playing at one of the two stages. The noise can last until about 2 or 3 in the morning, so be aware. There are a few places to eat here and a lot to choose from nearby, so there is no problem with that. This is a very convenient place to stay in downtown.

Time to update this review as the last time was in 2017.This time around I have stayed at the Cal. During my previous visits they were mainly for table top gaming and some slots. I've always enjoyed this casino due to the feel of being home and decent minimum bets. (plus luck is usually on my side) Staying at the Cal was a different experience than just visiting. The rooms were decent, there are plenty of places to hang out, play, and eat. I feel the food options are very good for a chill and very relaxing vacation experience. The only thing I have against staying at the Cal is the elevator experience. There are three cars, one of them is not working, and many people are using them to either get to their rooms from check in or getting to the mez or casino floor. Going up takes a long time just to get in the elevator. Once in the elevator it feels as the car stops at every floor before you reach your destination. There are times that I would get into a car that was going up while I wanted to go down just to ensure I was headed in the right direction rather than waiting and seeing people loaded up forcing myself to wait for the next car to arrive. Sometimes while in the car it will stop at a floor with no one entertain. I think they do the same thing I've just explained. Overall I did enjoy my stay. My slot machine and table gaming is located at this casino. It is a good thing, but my rule is also not to play at home base. (for luck reasons)VERDICT: Rinse and repeat

California Hotel truly embraces the spirit of Aloha. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by vibrant Hawaiian décor that instantly transported me to the islands, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.The hotel boasts four onsite restaurants, offering a delightful variety of dining options. This time around, I didn't get the famous oxtail because we had dinner plans instead. But it's truly a must-get when you come here; it's rich in flavor and a comforting nod to Hawaiian cuisine. For dessert lovers, there's also an ice cream bar and a chocolate bar, providing sweet indulgences that are hard to resist.As for the gaming experience, the slots were a bit tight, but that's all part of the Vegas experience--sometimes luck just doesn't swing your way!I stayed in a double queen room for one night. While it was a bit snug, especially the bathroom, the overall value for the price I paid made it well worth it. The California Hotel may not have the lavishness of some other resorts, but its Aloha spirit and friendly atmosphere make it a charming place to stay.Missing star - Pool only held less than 10 ppl, very small gym.

Pit boss, Praph, was very hospitable. He took care of me and my family during our short stay. Honestly, he made the experience much more enjoyable for us and wish some of the other workers had his attitude.