From a new SoCal casino resort to an ultra-glam VIP way to play and Las Vegas’ ever-expanding restaurant scene, there’s always something happening in the dynamic casino world. Here’s what you need to know beyond San Diego.
Soboba Casino Resort debuts
Earlier this year, Soboba transformed from its humble roots as a bingo parlor-turned-tent casino into a full-on luxury resort.
After a two-year development project, Soboba Casino Resort — in San Jacinto, north of Hemet — opened with a six-story, 200-room hotel, a pool with cabanas, a redesigned PGA-rated golf course, new fine dining and casual restaurants, an event center and a gleaming, chandelier-lined 81,747-square-foot casino floor — which is larger than the entire previous facility.
“You’d be hard-pressed to find so many exciting activities in one place,” said Jason Cozart, Soboba’s assistant general manager.
Highlights of the new casino resort include:
- An elegant, expansive casino floor with 2,000 slot machines and 36 table games.
- The 200 hotel rooms come in four different configurations — executive, studio, and junior suites, and deluxe king and queen rooms — most with mountain or golf course views. Rooms start at $115 per night. The 1,800-square-foot presidential suites feature marble accents throughout, a living room, wet bar, butler’s pantry, dining room, a king bedroom, a separate guest room, a walk-in closet and an oversize bathroom with double vanities, a sunken soaking tub and a walk-in shower.
- A large pool, adjacent to the golf course’s streams and waterfall features, with 10 cabanas and a pool bar.
- Holes 13 through 16 of the Soboba Springs Gold Course have been fully redesigned; hole 15 is now considered the fourth longest par on the PGA tour, at 641 yards from the Tournament Tees.
- High-end dining at The Canyons, pan-Asian cuisine at The Noodle Bar, breakfast lunch and dinner fare overlooking the golf course at Fairway Café, a 24-hour cafe and fried chicken, pizza, Mexican and craftbrew and pub food at the Restaurant Row food court.
- Banquet facilities, a cabaret lounge and a cocktail bar.
23333 Soboba Road, San Jacinto. (866) 476-2622. soboba.com
San Manuel Casino opens luxury high-limit ‘vault’
San Manuel keeps upping the gambling ante. The Highland (San Bernardino) casino is undergoing a $550 million expansion that includes a new hotel and already has the most slot machines in California, with about 4,800. And this summer, it also opened The Vault Gaming & Provisions, a unique high-limit gaming parlor that’s part hipster steampunk club, part plush, private casino.
Past the massive, industrial machine-like entryway of the The Vault is an 18,000-square-foot space with 185 high-limit slots, with denominations of up to $500, and eight tables with limits up to $10,000. And within that VIP area is yet an even more exclusive gaming salon that can be sub-divided into two rooms for further privacy; table games there have limits up to $15,000. High rollers are treated to such amenities as private lockers, sumptuous seating areas, a specially created menu and high-end cocktails. Players can also sip on rare and limited production spirits, like the Balvenie 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch, which can retail around $40,000 a bottle.
777 San Manuel Blvd., Highland. (800) 359-2464. sanmanuel.com
What’s new in Las Vegas
Bachelorette party alert: Groups of up to 11 engers traveling between McCarran International Airport, The Strip, the Las Vegas Convention Center, downtown and the south Strip can now hail a new, on-demand, rideshare shuttle service called Trip to Strip. Offered by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, the 24/7 service is available by app (see triptostriplv.com) and offers vehicles with WiFi and USB ports. Fares start at $6 depending on the destination and the number in your party, and, unlike other rideshare services, there is no surge pricing. Enter the promo code FIRSTRIDE to get 15 percent off, you guessed it, your first ride.
Sin City icon is back: The SLS Las Vegas will be going through a lot changes in the next few years as part of a $150 million renovation, perhaps none as familiar as a return of its old name — Sahara Las Vegas. The back-in-time rebranding 67 years after the iconic casino resort first opened as the Sahara was announced by owner Alex Meruelo, who bought the property last year.
Select restaurant openings
The Crack Shack: San Diego’s fried chicken haven from chef Richard Blais has opened in front of the Park MGM. We’re thinking the lines will only be longer here, but the cheeky, giant rooster should fit right in on The Strip. 3770 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. (702) 820-5991. crackshack.com/location/las-vegas
Trustworthy Brewing Co. & BBQ: A small-batch brewery and barbecue spot at the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian sports a chef from Momofuku, Lloyd Bansil. Ribs, brisket, burgers and prime rib all get the smoke or ‘cue treatment. Brewery tours are also offered. 3377 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. (702) 607-2337. venetian.com/restaurants/trustworthy-brewing-company.html
Ambra Italian Kitchen + Bar: Offering accessible, shareable Italian fare and craft cocktails, this eatery at the MGM Grand has a speakeasy named Privata and updated classics like Wagyu meatballs and chocolate cherry flambé, torched tableside. 3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. (702) 891-7600. mgmgrand.mgmresorts.com/en/restaurants/ambra.html
Hello Kitty Cafe: This super cute former pop-up is now semi-permanent at The Park adjacent to the T-Mobile Arena, between the Park MGM and New York-New York. Hello Kitty merch rules here, but the multi-colored sweets (macarons, tarts, cookies, cakes, doughnuts and more) are also a treat. 3782 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. sanrio.com/pages/hellokittycafe-locations
Frites Las Vegas: This new french fry food truck in Vegas prompts the question: When is one opening in San Diego? Original and truffle frites can be topped with everything from bacon, cheddar and sour cream to nacho fixings. For dessert, crinkle-cut sweet potato fries are served with a — what? — whipped malted Nutella cream. At the Excalibur food court. 3850 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. (702) 795-4112. friteslasvegsandiegouniontribune.noticiasalagoanas.com