El Cortez Casino

El Cortez Hotel & Casino has been a cherished landmark in downtown Las Vegas since 1941. The renovation project marked the continuation of the revitalization of East Fremont Street to create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly entertainment district.

The property-wide expansion added a high limit lounge, two bars, and a restaurant. Taking great care to preserve the vintage appeal of the city’s longest continuously running hotel and casino, the design of each new venue was meticulously crafted to reflect the vibrant energy and allure of El Cortez. 

The remodeling project expanded the historic casino’s footprint by converting 9,000 square feet of underutilized and unused space while also renovating 9,000 square feet of the existing casino floor from the inside out to enhance the guest experience. 

A new high limit lounge offers guests seclusion and an elevated experience. The property debuted two themed cocktail bars – the Roulette Bar and the Show Bar – both circular in shape and each featuring a nod to Las Vegas’ entertainment history. The Show Bar features a 20 ft. by 10 ft. screen that shows black and white films and live sports action, while also serving as a stage for live music and entertainment. The project also created space to add Hot Noods, an upbeat Asian noodle restaurant. 

Improvements to update the property also included renovations to adjacent service bar and back-of-house kitchen areas, refresh the parking structure exterior with paint and new signage, added windows for natural light and visibility from Fremont Street, and signage additions. All work was completed while the casino remained fully operational.