Cosmopolitan’s Terrace Studio – Great & Getting Better (in 2027)

Key Points:

• My Terrace Studio cost $192.75 after fees, offered an impressive 730 sq. ft., and included a balcony.

• Cosmopolitan’s resort experience is impressive, boasting speakeasies, a ritzy casino, and 2 pool scenes.

• MGM Resorts will renovate all rooms at The Cosmopolitan as part of a 2027 project.

The Cosmopolitan is packed with “uniqueness” that extends beyond their elite hotel product (that’s getting renovated in 2027, btw).

The gaming floor is swanky AF, there are 2 distinct pool scenes, a handful of speakeasies, a hidden pizza joint, and one hell of a buffet.

I booked a stay for the first time in a decade, and … spoiler alert… didn’t leave disappointed.

Room & Cost

I booked 1 night in a Terrace Studio, which includes an outdoor balcony, for $192.75 after tax and fees.  

My rate was slightly discounted thanks to my play in the MGM Rewards loyalty program, but this room type commonly starts at around $300/nt.

The Terrace Studio is a rung above Cosmopolitan’s cheapest, baseline City Rooms, which start at around $200/nt, have less square footage, and no balcony. 

One hell of a first impression, The Cosmopolitan’s hotel lobby is one of my favorites in Vegas. It didn’t hurt that they gave me access to my room just after noon, well before their standard check-in time.

Cosmopolitan’s Terrace Studio

The Cosmopolitan has a “dark & mysterious” vibe that’s on display as you make your way to the room… It’s almost too dark.

The Terrace Studio offers a generous 730 square feet of space, which is used to provide a living area equipped with a sectional couch and coffee table, a work desk, and a TV, 1 of 2 in the room that were well-sized for the task at hand.  

A fun touch, there was a large, image-rich coffee table book detailing art installations around the world. Always nice to leave a hotel a bit more cultured than when you arrived.

As you’d expect of a higher-end property, there was a stocked dry and refrigerated mini-bar, but I was thrilled to find a separate, empty mini-fridge for personal use.

On the countertop next to the minibar was a tablet that could share local weather conditions, assist with guest service needs, and control room settings.

That said, mine wasn’t functioning… and I really didn’t care to “contact the administrator” to get it fixed. No biggie.  

The bedroom area was highlighted by the king bed, which was shoved up against a decorative accent wall, fashionably illuminated, and equipped with a bench at the end and a padded headboard, demonstrating Cosmopolitan’s commitment to concussion safety.  

The bed was pointed at the second of 2 TVs in the room.

A unique touch, the bed was also outfitted with pop-out reading lights, and there were both traditional outlets and USB ports bedside for charging devices.  

Even the closet felt luxurious, with pink-and-metallic wallpaper, and was home to a couple of robes and a safe.  

Aside from the extra space, the reason you pay up for the Terrace Studio is the balcony, which comes with seating and great views.

Disappointingly, I was on the Aria side of the tower vs. the side with a view of the Fountains of Bellagio.  

Still magical, and a worthy upgrade.  

Note that you can guarantee a fountain view by booking a terrace suite on Cosmo’s website labeled as such. Belos is my fountain view, circa 2014 A.D.

The bathroom matched the swagger level of the rest of the room, featuring a massive tile shower with a bench, a separate water closet with some pretty fun, differentiated wallpaper, a deep soaking tub, and a dual-sink vanity topped by 2 illuminated mirrors and a separate illuminated makeup mirror.  

Bath products were provided by Five Wits.  

What’s Not To Like?

When I review hotels, I aim to give the whole story, not just the “good”, so you can make a more informed decision.

This room was immaculately clean – No stains, splatter, dust, etc. That said, there were a few signs that Cosmopolitan is showing its age.  

There was wallpaper peeling away from the wall behind the toilet.

Joints and grout lines around the shower could use a refresh. Getting a little nasty.  

The entryway mirror was also pretty beat up, as was the trash can.

There was also a pretty dark scuff on the top of the divider wall between the bedroom and the living area.  

While they didn’t impact my stay, I think it’s fair to expect better at the price point that Cosmopolitan commands.  

The room was also really dark. That could certainly be intentional. But a little more light, especially in the living area, couldn’t hurt.  

Resort Experience

And there’s a lot of ground to cover here. Let’s start with Cosmopolitan’s location in the middle of the Strip.

It doesn’t get much better. You’re steps away from numerous resorts.  

Since Cosmopolitan is now part of the MGM Resorts fam, a new indoor walkway connects the property to both Vdara, Bellagio, and Aria, although reaching Aria does require you to take like 15 steps outside.

I trust you’ll survive.

The Pool(s)

Cosmopolitan has 2 separate pool decks: 

The first, their Boulevard Pool, is located on the rooftop on the Strip side of the property, offering some pretty sweet views.

It’s a beautiful scene, and easily ranks as one of my favorite pools to kick back at. 

The Boulevard Pool Deck also doubles as a theater on Monday nights throughout the summer, screening hits like “Jaws”, “Barbie”, “Black Widow”, and “Minions”, among others.

Hotel guests get in for free, but non-guests have to cough up $15.  

Food & Drink

When I say food and drink options at Cosmopolitan are wide-ranging, I’m not speaking in hyperbole.  

According to the website, there are currently 25+ food and drink options, ranging from inexpensive breakfast sandwiches at Eggslut to high-end steakhouses and celebrity chef restaurants.  

My go-tos over the years include:  

The Wicked Spoon Buffet, which is a Top-3 buffet on the Strip, ranked right behind Bacchanal at Caesars Palace and the Buffet at Wynn.  

Wicked Spoon is open daily for breakfast and brunch, specializing in higher-end food, plated individually, and with some visual appeal.  

My favorite items, aside from the obvious prime rib & crab legs, are the Shrimp & Grits and Angry Mac & Cheese, which has a spicy kick. 

Unfortunately, dinner service is no longer offered.  

Considering my level of frugality, I’m also drawn to the Block 16 Urban Food Hall, home to a variety of quick-serve options like fried chicken, donuts, rice bowls, sandwiches, and more at a comparatively inexpensive price point to sit-down options.

This was my recent meal at Hattie B’s in The Block 16 food hall, which set me back $21.50 before tax & tip. Not super cheap… but definitely super good.

Secret Pizza is best described as a speakeasy for pizza by the slice. It’s unmarked, but this record-lined hallway on the 3^rd floor between Blue Ribbon and Jaleo leads right to it.  

Cheap and effective. It’s not fancy, but I’ve found it completely acceptable for the price, at a resort not known for being cheap.

While I’ve never bellied up to the chandelier bar myself, I’ve spent plenty of time staring at and taking pictures of it.

It’s a stunner, and I feel empathy for the employee tasked with keeping everything dust-free.  

Ghost Donkey’s entrance is located on the back wall of the Block 16 Urban Food Hall. You’ll know you’re in the right spot if you see a white donkey on the door.

One inside, you’ll be treated to a small NYC Mezcal & Tequila bar that also serves nachos.  It’s a great spot.

The Barbershop’s entrance is located behind a door labeled “Janitor” in the back of this real-world functioning barbershop.

The lounge is gorgeous and offers live music or karaoke almost every night.   

My favorite speakeasy at Cosmopolitan, though, is The Ski Lodge, which is near the Wicked Spoon Buffet. The entrance is marked with a bronze skier.  

The bartenders are so much fun, and the old fashioneds are top-tier.

Speakeasies should be an instant vibe shift, and the door, mentioned above, acts as a portal, instantly transporting you from a swanky, modern resort to a snowy, almost divey mountain retreat.

The Casino

Cosmopolitan’s gaming floor is one of the prettiest in Las Vegas, with an almost over-the-top level of swankiness.  

While I’m a table games player, I’m not affluent enough to play at Cosmo, where the cheapest minimums I saw were $25 for Craps and Blackjack, and that only escalated in the evening.  

This relegated me to burn my cash on the slots, but I was amazed by how fast and furious the drinks were coming. I couldn’t even finish half a bottle of beer before they were back asking if I was ready for more. 

I always was.  

The sportsbook also isn’t the biggest in town, but I love it’s look – it punches above it’s weight.