Nobu at Caesars Palace – Nice… But Not Worth the Upgrade

Key Points:

• Nobu offers exclusive perks like free coffee & cocktails daily in the lobby.

• The room itself was upscale, with amenities rarely found elsewhere.

• My stay was fantastic, but I wouldn’t pay a premium to stay at Nobu again.

Nobu at Caesars Palace is a luxurious hotel within a hotel that feels separate from the rest of the resort. It has its own hotel lobby, elevators, and even offers complimentary coffee & cocktails daily.

One of the more expensive room types at Caesars Palace, Nobu has been on my “to stay” list for years, but I’ve had trouble checking it off, as it can carry a significant price tag.

Armed with a surprise complimentary upgrade, I finally got my chance.

I had a great stay, but I’m not sure Nobu is worth the extra money when compared to other room types within Caesars Palace.

Allow me to explain.

Room Cost & Check In

I originally booked a Colosseum Deluxe Room for $172.28 all-in after taxes and fees.  

I was jacked to stay in this specific room type as they were all touched as part of a 2023 renovation project, and I had yet to experience one.

Before checking in, I set aside some time to grab photos of the lobby that I’ve already photographed countless times. 

One of the most elegant in Las Vegas, and it still gets the endorphins flowing after all these years.

I hit the self-check in kiosk, which I estimate my lifetime success rate at to be 50%, and wasn’t surprised to see the dreaded “see an ambassador” message.  

Typical.  

My frustration dissipated quickly when the ambassador shared that I had received a complimentary upgrade to Nobu, which required me to head to their dedicated hotel lobby to check in.

Exciting, as Nobu rooms are often among the most expensive rooms at Caesars Palace, starting at around $175 after fees, but things can escalate significantly from there.  

I got turned around on my way and stumbled across the Colosseum Tower elevator lobby… which is what I originally booked, and my oh my, they did a nice job with it. I can’t wait to make it back & definitely felt some momentary FOMO.  

Anyway, I got to where I needed to be and had to snag an elevator up to Nobu’s hotel registration desk. The elevator lobby is a pretty damn cool introduction to the hotel. I was impressed.  

At the registration desk, I was informed of 2 exclusive offerings available only to NOBU guests. 

The first is free coffee and tea every morning from 7-10am in the lobby next to the hotel front desk, which I abused early and often.

The second is a daily Tanoshi Hour, during which guests are served complimentary cocktails from 5-6pm.  

I didn’t take advantage of the cocktail hour, but both are differentiated offerings that make you feel like a somebody.  

My Nobu Deluxe King Room

Stepping off onto my floor, the first impression had me pretty excited… but the hotel hallway leading to my room felt unremarkable. 

Nothing wrong with it. I just expected more wow factor, considering this is Nobu, a resort I’d built up in my mind to be among the best on the Strip.   

Stepping into the room, the first thing you notice is how small it is.

At 350 square feet, this is the smallest room type at Caesars Palace, and the same size as base rooms at LINQ and Flamingo (although this one is obviously of higher quality). 

Even with limited space, the Deluxe King room offered a TON of storage with drawers under the TV, and 2 separate closets, stocked with unique amenities like slippers, a yoga mat, and a clothing steamer. 

Atop the Dresser under the TV were some of the more unique minibar items I’ve seen, and a Keurig coffee maker… but no complimentary pods. There was even a tea kettle in a drawer.  

There was also a refrigerated minibar below that offered no room for personal items, which is a bummer. 

They even threaten a $75 charge for attempting to store personal items. Kinda rude.  

I LOVED the light fixtures in the room. Especially the cylindrical ones on either side of the couch, which was plump and had a disheveled, chaotic look.  

The carpet was also in great condition, and I thought it had an agreeable pattern that worked with the rest of the decor.  

The king bed was easily one of the most comfortable I’ve had in Las Vegas. Just spectacular, although I thought the absence of a bedside clock radio was weird.  

Bedside charging options were on point, though. 

The aesthetic of the bedroom area overall was solid. The artwork, furnishings, striped accent wall, and layout created a comfortable space with a feeling of quality. 

A solid room, but far from the “jaw dropper” I had expected.

My room had a partial Strip view, and the innards of Caesars Palace made up most of what I could see.  

Let’s make our way into the bathroom 

The first thing that caught my eye was the deep sink, which would make a suitable bathtub for babies and/or small toddlers.

The vanity was positioned directly next to the shower door, making for a cramped exit.  

Other highlights included a couple of robes, an illuminated mirror, and a spacious tiled shower.  

While it had some desirable features, I couldn’t really shake how plain and “vanilla” the bathroom was for one of the most expensive, desirable, luxurious standard rooms at Caesars Palace.  

Maybe too much empty wall space?  

The toilet looks so sad over there in the corner with no artwork, or color.  

Something felt missing… I couldn’t put my finger on it. Just didn’t seem as luxurious as I had built Nobu up to be in my mind.  

What’s Not To Like?

In any hotel review, I want to give you the whole story, not just the good, so that you can make a more informed decision.

These rooms were last renovated in 2021, and minor flaws are starting to emerge, including: 

A busted-up phone outlet.

Peeling wallpaper.

Disintegrating caulk around the toilet.

A TV input panel that is missing its inputs.

Peeling paint was visible from my window.

And several surfaces with water damage.   

Not a huge deal, but there shouldn’t be hard water stains on the showerhead in an upscale room.

The biggest drawback, however, is the room’s size for the price. 

Nobu has its perks, and this is a solid, comfortable room, but I’d be hard-pressed to say I’d pay more for this room than others at Caesars Palace that have significantly more space… Sometimes nearly double the square footage without a massive drop-off in quality.  

Lastly, this “do not disturb” tassel ended up on the floor every time I opened the door, which got annoying.  

Resort Experience

While I’ve said in the past that the hotel product at Caesars Palace is “trying” to be upmarket while falling short in some respects, the rest of the resort does a better job of living up to that label.  

Now, there are plenty of photo opportunities scattered around the resort, but nothing gets guests to pull out their cell phone cameras faster than their new entryway, which was completed in 2022 and boasts a 15-foot-tall statue of Augustus Caesar and a chandelier with 70,000 crystals.  

This is one of the best introductions to a property that exists in Las Vegas. 

Another upscale feature of the resort is the Garden of the Gods pool complex, situated between hotel towers, exuding the Roman theme for which Caesars Palace is known.  

The complex is comprised of 7 different pools, 5 swim-up blackjack tables, 1 sundial, 48 cabanas, 65 daybeds… and according to the website… “Infinite outdoor fun”… which is corny AF, but I’ll allow it.  

Connected to Caesars Palace are the Forum Shops, home to over 160 shopping outlets and restaurants.

While I don’t really care about the shops that have 15 handbags on display, the additional dining options found within the mall are an asset for those who appreciate options.  

Tucked in the back reaches of the shops is a 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium and the free Atlantis Show, which I wouldn’t describe as a “must see” as they do, but it’s a cute novelty if you’re in the area, featuring 400 moving parts, water, fire, and a cheesy storyline.  

The real reason to visit the Forum Shops: Visuals & photo opportunities. 

In addition to the 9 or so restaurants found in the Forum Shops, Caesars Palace has 20+ restaurants within the resort that range from the Celebrity Food Hall that has options like pizza, tacos, chicken, Korean Grub, burgers, and a Starbucks, to upscale options like Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, Nobu, Stanton Social Prime, Amalfi, and Brasserie B.  

I only had room for one meal at Caesars Palace, and hit up Chicken Guy in the Celebrity Food Hall.

The restaurant’s design was fun, and the little photo opp of Guy holding a chicken that he was about to turn into a sandwich was cute, but I was shocked to learn my sandwich and fries would cost $23.98 before tax.  

The meal was fine, but the stringy lettuce wasn’t my favorite.  

My biggest knock against the Caesars dining scene is the lack of budget options.

Before transitioning to a Celebrity Food Hall, the Forum Food Court had hearty, filling options that weren’t outrageously priced, but that’s in the past.  

Fortunately, there are numerous inexpensive restaurants at nearby resorts.

A weird side note.

I stumbled across a fun novelty at Dominique Ansel’s Bakery, which was a robotic milk shot machine that served shots of milk in a chocolate chip cookie cup for $8.99.  

It was doing brisk biz.  

Aside from restaurants, Caesars Palace also has a collection of lounges that are aesthetically impressive.

Highlighting that group is the Vanderpump cocktail lounge, which isn’t really my scene, but is admittedly gorgeous, and STADIA, a sports bar modeled after “old timey” football helmets, among others.  

The sprawling casino is one I still manage to get turned around in.  

When I visited Caesars Palace was dealing $50 3:2 BJ, $25 6:5 BJ, Craps & roulette, and $25 3CP and UTH.  

Some of my best memories involve standing in the back of this sportsbook and hearing the crowd roar during the opening weekend of March Madness, hanging on every shot. 

For my money, few activities beat posting up at the sportsbook bar, sipping free drinks while gambling on video poker, while also gambling on sports.

Is Nobu at Caesars Worth the Upgrade?

My experience at NOBU was great.

The exclusive nature of the hotel was cool, the free cocktails and coffee in the lobby were a nice touch, and I was satisfied with the room, considering the upgrade was complimentary.  

Pricing tends to be a bit erratic for NOBU rooms.

There are times one can be snagged for just a few bucks more than the cheapest options in Caesars Colosseum or Julius towers. If it’s close, I’d happily book Nobu again! It’s a great little room… Emphasis on the little.  

That said, Nobu can be significantly more expensive than other room types within Caesars that offer more space, sometimes a LOT more space, without a huge drop-off in amenities or quality.  

In those cases, I don’t feel NOBU is worth the premium it commands. It’s just not a big enough upgrade.  

Unless of course, you need a yoga mat.  

Related Las Vegas Hotel Reviews:

Octavius Premium Room at Caesars Palace

Palace Premium Room at Caesars Palace

Julius Studio Suite at Caesars Palace

Golden Nugget Rush Tower Review

Want to learn more about Nobu at Ceasars – See the video version!