I spent 2 nights at Lisa Vanderpump's brand-new Las Vegas hotel. I think she's ready to become the Queen of Sin City.

Lisa Vanderpump's hotel is now open for business in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip.

Jacob Kepler for BI

• Lisa Vanderpump's first-ever hotel opened on the Las Vegas Strip in June.
• The Vanderpump Hotel features 188 rooms and suites, a casino, and a rooftop with three pools.
• I stayed at the hotel and was surprised it was as moody and sexy as it was bachelorette-friendly.

When Lisa Vanderpump pitched the name "Gigolo" for the cocktail bar in her new Las Vegas hotel, the executives at Caesars Entertainment were shocked. Even for Sin City, it seemed a little much.

"I was like, 'No, no, it's not a male escort,'" Vanderpump tells me, barely holding back a laugh. "They were like, 'Well, what is it then?' and I said, 'It's a little dog!'"

Vanderpump had already opened three successful Vegas ventures, building a mini empire on the Strip in less than a decade since leaving "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" in 2019. That track record made it easy to trust the British restaurateur's vision — even when it included a 5-foot-2 statue of her beloved Pomeranian.

The Vanderpump Hotel officially opened in June, the "Gigolo" name and statue intact at its casino cocktail bar. I flew to the desert to spend two nights at the boutique property, which is the only new hotel opening on the Strip this year. There were fresh flowers, sparkling chandeliers, and endless cocktails, but Vanderpump balances the kitschy and bachelorette-friendly details with a moody sexiness that feels fresh and exciting for Las Vegas.

Forget Beverly Hills. This "Real Housewife" is ready to become the Queen of Sin City.

The Vanderpump Hotel has replaced The Cromwell, which opened on the Las Vegas Strip in 2014.

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Before it bore her name, Vanderpump's hotel was known as The Cromwell, a small hotel that my friends and I only visited once to go to Drai's After Hours, the post-midnight club on its first floor. My friend Kayla, who came along with me to The Vanderpump Hotel, had stayed at The Cromwell once. Her only memory was not being able to sleep through the music of its rooftop club.

The Cromwell was due for a renovation in 2025, but Caesars Entertainment — which acquired the building in 2007 — opted for a complete rebrand instead. The hotel and casino conglomerate had already opened five restaurants and bars with Vanderpump, including three in Vegas, so launching a hotel together felt like the natural next step.

"The success we'd had with Lisa was super compelling; it really felt like we caught lightning in a bottle," Sean McBurney, the chief commercial officer and regional president for Caesars Entertainment, told me. "Launching a new hotel brand is a daunting task, but what's great about Lisa is that she already has her own design company. That allowed it to go so much faster."

Vanderpump had to overcome a unique set of obstacles as she and her longtime design partner, Nick Alain, revamped the building.

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The Cromwell's 40,000-square-foot casino remained open throughout construction, Bravo fans frequently came over to chat and ask for autographs, and camera crews were capturing everything for a future special called "Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Las Vegas."

"It was definitely challenging, but I'm up for a challenge," Vanderpump said. "When I show up there now and see my name on the side of the building, it's truly overwhelming."

Vanderpump's signature aesthetic is clear from the moment you step into her hotel.

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Anyone who has watched one of Vanderpump's shows knows that she loves three things: flowers, dogs, and beautiful light fixtures. As I walked through the hotel's entrance, I quickly checked off each.

Plopped between the check-in desk and gift shop — where you can buy shirts emblazoned with "Misbehave Accordingly," the hotel's motto, and foldable flip-flops — was an ornate vase bursting with pink flowers. Golden dog knockers hung from palatial doors that opened into the lobby, where two dome chandeliers illuminated the cheerful receptionists.

The Bravo star wanted her guests to feel like they were staying in her home, albeit one with 188 rooms and suites.

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"I wanted the branding to feel so specifically me that you would know it without seeing the name," Vanderpump said.

A regal purple sofa and red love seats beckoned guests to sit and admire the carefully placed decorations in the lobby, including a wall of fine teacups and saucers that paid tribute to Vanderpump's English roots. When I walked by, a fan named José was happily snapping pictures of everything.

"You just know this is Lisa Vanderpump," he told me.

A few "Instagram" spots feel made for bachelorettes and Bravo fans, but they don't overtake the hotel's atmosphere.

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There's some cheeky dog statues and photo-ready moments — like this red London telephone box and massive black-and-white portrait of Vanderpump — but it never gets too cheesy thanks to the moody lighting and steampunk furniture. The vibe reminded me a lot of TomTom, Vanderpump's long-running bar in West Hollywood.

"Nick and I always call it the 'industrial romantic,'" Vanderpump said of her trademark design sensibility. "It has that kind of feminine edge to it."

After walking through the casino, I made my way upstairs.

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A carpet decorated with roses on a trellis led me down the dark and hypnotic hallway, where skinny light fixtures framed each pair of rooms.

Vanderpump said she and Alain spent two months designing the carpet, which can also be seen in the casino. The colors were specifically selected to coordinate with the tables, chips, and staff uniforms.

The rooms, which start at $184 a night, have a completely different vibe from the rest of the hotel.

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With its lilac and sage-green color scheme, white marble, and gold accents — very millennial-coded — the atmosphere in my hotel room felt light and airy. Lamps added warmth to the space, while crystal knobs sparkled from the custom-made console and nightstands.

"We wanted the casino to be exciting, we wanted the hallway to feel dynamic, but we wanted you to breathe a sigh of relief as you walked into the rooms," Vanderpump said.

I did just that as I sank into the plush king bed, which was hand-selected by the Bravo star.

"I jumped up and down on a couple and laid on them," she said. "I probably tried about 20. We were buying more than 200 of them, so it wasn't something that we took lightly!"

I stayed in the standard "Vanderpump room," which measures 360 square feet, features a king bed, and offers a view of the Strip. Rates for standard rooms can reach $415 if you plan to bring your pet, while suites range from $739 to $2,959. Business Insider received a media rate for the two-night stay.

There's still some of Vanderpump's trademark cheekiness …

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Vanderpump's eyes winked back from mirrors tucked into the nightstands, a "For Your Pleasure" box sat on the console, and the traditional "Do Not Disturb" door sign had been replaced.

"I Like It Dirty," it read, before adding in fine print "(Please Come Back Later)."

… including the two-way shower mirror.

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The shower, retained from The Cromwell's original layout, is fully visible from the bedroom when the lights are turned off. The steamy detail feels fitting for a Vanderpump property — just keep the lights on during a girls' trip!

Covering the shower was a mosaic wall full of phrases that were especially encouraging in the thick of a Vegas trip. "Enjoy the good life," it instructed me. Why not order another Pumptini? "To win without risk is to triumph without glory." Maybe I can make it to the club if I just take a quick nap. (Spoiler alert: I did not.)

After relaxing in my room, I headed to lunch at Giada, the sole restaurant inside The Vanderpump Hotel.

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Giada by celebrity chef Giada de Laurentiis has been part of the property since 2014. Previously open only for dinner and weekend brunch at The Cromwell, Giada's hours have been expanded to include breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week.

With its warm earth tones and funky upholstered chairs, Giada felt like a '90s café. The crescent-shaped booths with red leather seats were particularly comfy and had a front-row seat to the Strip thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. At night, you can spot the famous Fountains of Bellagio show from your dinner table.

I tried a variety of dishes at Giada during my two-night stay, with mixed results.

Jacob Kepler for BI

Let's start with the highlights: The $22 rigatoni alla vodka tasted as good as it looked — rich, cheesy, and slightly sweet. It was definitely the "No. 1 guy in this group," as "Vanderpump Rules" star Jax Taylor once famously declared. The $11 orzo meatballs were soft, plump, and covered in a lovely tomato sauce, and the $34 salumi and formaggi was the perfect luxe room-service snack.

"I can't believe I just ate an entire wheel of Brie," my friend Kayla said after we wiped the dish clean of its meats, cheese, and pickled veggies.

But there were also some skips: The $40 "Brunch Tower Favorites" was forgettable save for the truffle-honey crostini; the $18 Italian chopped salad needed more salt, salami, and veggies; and the $25 cavatelli was our least favorite dish, thanks to some dry shrimp and an unappetizing presentation.

A Caesars representative declined to comment on the food at Giada.

After lunch, we headed to the rooftop for an afternoon dip.

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Soleia Beach, The Vanderpump Hotel's 65,000-square-foot adults-only rooftop, has its own special place in reality TV history. It's where season two of "Love Island USA" was filmed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was also previously used for Drai's beach club and nightclub at The Cromwell, both of which have since been closed to "make the rooftop more of a luxurious pool experience," said McBurney. Drai's After Hours, the longest-running nightclub in Vegas, remains open on the first floor.

The decision to close the outdoor club will no doubt be a relief for anyone staying on The Vanderpump Hotel's top floors.

It's rare to find a rooftop pool on the Strip, and we loved being able to float above Sin City.

Jacob Kepler for BI

The fire-engine-red loungers and cabanas reminded me of Encore Beach Club at the nearby Wynn, but Soleia Beach is clearly designed for a more relaxed vibe.

Its three pools were nearly empty during the day, with a few people quietly lounging on floaties in the water.

Then we made our way to Gigolo, my favorite part of The Vanderpump Hotel.

Jacob Kepler for BI

For a place inspired by a Pomeranian, Gigolo is surprisingly dark and seductive. Everything in the 50-seat cocktail bar is designed to tickle the senses, from the velvet banquettes to the fuzzy chairs. Red roses burst across the black carpet while a metal lattice wraps around the space, providing glimpses of the casino while still offering a retreat from its action.

"We want you to sit down and get handed a velvet menu and have staff present gorgeously curated cocktails," Vanderpump said. "You're not going to scan a QR code and pay on your phone. We want indulgence and decadence."

Vanderpump said it had always been her dream to open a bar inspired by her late dog, Gigolo, known to Bravo fans as "Giggy."

Jacob Kepler for BI

Sitting at the feet of Giggy's statue is a box full of secrets scribbled on paper slips, all added by guests who order the bar's $26 Hush Hush cocktail.

As we sipped on our nightcaps, Kayla gazed up at the towering dog before us.

"It's like seeing an Egyptian pyramid," she said.

All the cocktails were playful, colorful, and delicious.

Jacob Kepler for BI

The strawberry-forward Hush Hush had the delicate pink hue of a watermelon, disguising the punch of its jalapeño vodka. My favorite was the $25 Trophy Wife, a white-peach French 75 that sparkled with gold glitter, making it look like Belle's yellow dress in "Beauty and the Beast."

Each drink was delivered on small gold platters adorned with tiny spotlights, a cute touch that showcased the cocktails' beautiful shades. The $18 "Naughty but Nice" snack mix — which came with ridiculously delicious housemade ranch-dusted chips and boursin dip — is also a must-order.

Gigolo was packed almost every time I walked by the bar during my stay.

Jacob Kepler for BI

Vanderpump believes Vegas is everyone's playground, and her bar attracted every type of person you'd expect to see in Sin City. I spotted sisters vacationing together, a bachelorette party dressed in retro Malibu Barbie leotards, and plenty of couples.

The hotel still has some kinks to work out, but Vanderpump seems on track to have a hit on her hands.

Jacob Kepler for BI

There were a couple of issues that needed smoothing out in the first week, including a glaring sound that beeped every time you rode the elevator and front-desk confusion over questions about room service or the hotel's complimentary car service for trips on the Strip. Caesars declined to comment on the front-desk hiccups.

It was also a bummer that the rooftop pool closed at 5 p.m. — far too early in Vegas' desert heat! But Vanderpump's small touches of luxury go a long way, from the super-soft room towels to the daily complimentary cocktail hour.

"Not all of it's done," Vanderpump said. "It's definitely a work in progress. I just want to make sure that when people are coming, they know they're coming for a good time."

Vegas and Vanderpump seem like a perfect fit.

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Vanderpump has never been afraid of a reboot. When "Vanderpump Rules" was losing steam, she switched up the entire cast. When Los Angeles restaurants took hit after hit following the pandemic, she started opening spots in the desert instead.

Looking back, the tagline on her second-to-last season of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" feels more like a prophecy.

"The queen of diamonds always has an ace up her sleeve."

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