Key Points:
- Downtown Grand is an oft-overlooked, budget traveler’s dream – There’s a lot of value.
- Rooms in their new Gallery Tower start at around $110/nt after fees. I paid $121 for my stay.
- Cheap eats, cheap gambling, cheap entertainment, and a great location make this a great home base.
All you see nowadays in Las Vegas social media circles is a chorus of incessant whining about deteriorating value.
I get it. I’m guilty of it too. But my God… it gets old. (Vegas can still be a tremendous bargain, btw).
That’s why I continue to be amazed that Downtown Grand, a resort offering the type of value the “never coming back to Vegas” crowd says they crave, isn’t packed to the gills.
Allow me to share why Downtown Grand’s Gallery Tower has become a “go-to” hotel of mine on Fremont Street.
Room & Cost
Rooms in the new Gallery Tower are a quality & price step above Downtown Grand’s cheapest rooms in their original 2 towers (pictured below), which are usually 20%-30% cheaper.
It’s been almost a decade, but I’ve experienced their cheapest rooms in the OG towers, and they’re “fine”, but I prefer the Gallery Tower.
For this stay, I booked a Gallery Tower Deluxe King Room for $122.38, which includes fees and tax.
In my experience, checking in at Downtown Grand is a breeze. There’s rarely a line.
I attempted to check in at 10am, and was disappointed to learn they charge a $35 early check in fee before 1pm, when it becomes free.
That fee is waived for members of the “I Prefer Hotel Rewards” program, which you can sign up for (for free) during the booking process. A nice perk!
Gallery Tower Deluxe King Room
Rooms in Downtown Grand’s Gallery tower have a modern vibe for downtown Las Vegas, which is known, on the whole, for having a more dated, less polished room product than what you’d find on the Strip.
Gallery Tower Deluxe rooms range in size from 300-340 square feet, but my room felt bigger than that, in part because the furnishings don’t take up much space.
The bench has a nested table, or extra seat, that stacks on top of it when not in use, and the chair has a little desk that fits neatly above it.
The furniture definitely has an “Ikea-like” look and feel, but that’s expected at a budget property, and I liked the aesthetic of it all, especially the little therapist couch thing in the corner.
The TV was modern, displayed the weather forecast, and natively connected to YouTube.
Right next to the TV was a coffee maker with complimentary coffee – A nice touch, although there wasn’t an empty fridge, disappointingly.
The carpet was clean, complemented the room’s decor, and the nightstand offered an absolute abundance of bedside charging options.
The king bed mattress was sunk into the bed stand and provided a great night of sleep, but honestly, the air conditioning was the real hero, both keeping the room crisp and offering a constant source of white noise.
It was like sleeping in a cool wind tunnel. Amazing.
My biggest knock against the room was how plain the walls were, which could be dialed in by hanging something… anything, especially above the bed. Gotta break up the nothingness a bit!
The bathroom was an extension of the modern, no-frills vibe.
But guys. We need to stop with the half-glass shower setups. Always a disaster.
The view from my room was pretty cool, too!
What’s Not To Like?
When I review hotels, I don’t just share the good, I aim to give you the whole story so that you can make a more informed decision.
While this was a solid room in totality, there were some flaws scattered about that included:
There was a chipped tile in the shower.
Like my previous stay in the Gallery Tower, the walls were scuffed in a few spots.
The corners of the bathroom were a smidge dusty.
The most glaring issue was a bizarre sagging section of paint above the armoire that had to be water-related.
Downtown Grand Resort Experience
Location & Nearby Attractions
Let’s shift focus to the broader resort experience, starting with location which, according to the website, is 500 feet from the Fremont Street Experience.
The perfect distance, as you’re a 2-minute walk away, but far enough that the noise is less prevalent.
While I’ve heard some rooms suffer from noise pollution, my rooms in the Gallery Tower have been quiet.
You’re also surrounded by cool spots like The Mob Museum, which educates visitors on organized crime and its impact on society.
The exhibits and artifacts on display are fascinating. It’s well worth the $35 price of admission, as it’ll take a couple of hours to get through it if you take the time to absorb everything.
There is something new around every corner, and it doesn’t get boring. At all.
Whether you hit the museum or not, make time to hit the Underground Speakeasy.
The entrance is a green door on the back corner of the museum building marked with a wooden barrel.
The password of the day can be retrieved on The Underground’s Instagram page.
The speakeasy is an extension of the museum, with informational placards scattered about, and their method of serving an old fashioned had my brother pretty perplexed.
Citrus Pool Deck
The rooftop Cirtus Pool deck isn’t impressive when compared to Strip resorts, but it’s adequate by Fremont Street standards, spanning 35,000 square feet, and offering nice views of Downtown Las Vegas.
The pool itself is tiny; you won’t be swimming laps, but it offers a nice reprieve from the heat, and the sun-soaked deck is a great spot to hang out in general, even offering a number of yard games in addition to plenty of loungers.
I’ve now stayed at Downtown Grand 4 or 5 times and have never struggled to find an open seat.
I hadn’t realized that they upgraded their cabanas recently, and they look solid for the rental price, which starts at $179, all in, for a full day.
Split that among your group of up to 8, and you have a pretty cheap home base to watch a game, etc.
Food & Drink
Despite the resort’s small footprint, there are some solid dining options.
The first, Pizza Rock, sells the best pizza by the slice in Las Vegas. This was my $7.75 slice of pepperoni, which makes for a great light lunch.
Nobody talks about it, but Hot n Juicy Crawfish is one of my favorite cheap bites downtown, with several menu items hovering at or near a $15 price point.
This was my spicy shrimp basket, which I enjoyed at their location on the Strip. The fries have an addicting seasoning, and the shrimp are best described as “meaty”. So good!
While not inexpensive, Triple George Grill is an upscale steakhouse, and their happy hour (I keep the details updated on the linked page) is one I’ve made a habit of hitting over the years.
I’m typically too cheap to eat at a spot like this, but my brother and I recently stopped in and enjoyed their fried calamari ($19), chicken parm ($42), and chicken pot pie ($38).
On the backside of the property is a newer live music venue, Fat Cat, which hosts a daily happy hour from 5-8pm that features $3 draft beer and $5 well drinks.
If you stick around for a live Jazz show later, the cover is typically $5. Reasonable.
The morning after, I stopped into Art Bar, a coffee shop with a fun decor strategy that included paintings on the ceiling, zero line to order, $5 large coffees, and seating with a view outside.
It’s a pretty chill scene that enticed me to order a second cup of coffee.
Beats waiting in a line 30 deep to order a black coffee on the Strip!
While it’s pretty well known at this point, there’s also a snack bar counter on the casino floor that’ll sell you a dog and a can of PBR for just $3, or a brat & a beer for $5.
The Casino
Where Downtown Grand really shines for budget-conscious folks is the casino. During my stay, they were offering $1 even-money blackjack, $5 3:2 blackjack, $5 roulette, and $5 craps, which escalated to $10 at night.
I spent my time bellied up to their Furnace bar unsuccessfully chasing video poker progressives. Fortunately, my quest for Coors Light after Coors Light was more fruitful.
This is one of my favorite spots to post up in town – Love the progressives, the look, and the typical lack of crowds. I like a little elbow room.
The rest of the gaming floor is pretty small, but they have a solid selection of slots and electronic table games. I even tried my luck in their dedicated Huff & Puff slot room. I found my way into a bonus, but gave it all back.
Back by Freedom Beat is a smaller smoke-free slot section, and the Sportsbook isn’t massive, but it seems like a chill spot to catch a game.
Verdict: Is Downtown Grand’s Gallery Tower Legit?
I love Downtown Grand, have stayed there multiple times over the years, and will continue to do so.
The Gallery Tower is affordable, modern, and quiet, and the resort delivers value, even if the masses are still looking the other way.
I think people like to complain about value erosion much more than they want to embrace those who are trying.
That said, I selfishly hope the masses continue to steer clear as I enjoy the relative quiet and emptiness of the place. The resort’s small footprint is also a huge win, as a 2-mile trek isn’t needed to get to your room.
The dog-and-a-beer deal is great, Pizza Rock is my favorite, and Fat Cat offers a great daily happy hour in a cool setting.
We all complain about rising prices in Vegas. Let’s reward the resorts that are responding to those complaints.
Downtown Grand is legit.
Related Fremont Street Hotel Reviews:
Downtown Grand Gallery Tower Deluxe 2 Queen Room
Main Street Station Deluxe King Room
Watch this review on our YouTube channel!
I’m a former software salesman turned Vegas aficionado. While the craps table is my preferred habitat, I pull myself away to explore new attractions, shows, restaurants, and outdoor activities around Las Vegas with the intent of sharing my experiences.
Ultimately, I just want to help folks plan a better trip and save a few bucks in the process.