Opening in 2010 at a cost of $3.9 billion, Cosmopolitan finds itself ranked among the most luxurious resorts in Las Vegas.
Emerging as a refreshing “Island of uniqueness” in a sea of corporate blandness, Cosmopolitan offers a diverse array of differentiated experiences and attractions.
Below, are some commonly sought-out things to do at and near Cosmopolitan besides gambling, many of which are hiding in plain sight!
Related: My ideal 3-day Las Vegas itinerary!
Cosmopolitan Activities & Attractions
Hidden speakeasies: My favorite reason to visit The Cosmopolitan is the 3 speakeasy bars that others don’t even realize exist.
The first, Ghost Donkey, is located at the back of the Block 16 Urban Food Hall and is marked by a nondescript door featuring a white donkey.
A small New York City-inspired bar with under 20 seats, Ghost Donkey serves Mezcal and Tequila cocktails.
After Ghost Donkey, head to Cosmopolitan’s other speakeasy experience, The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails.
While The Barbershop is an actual barbershop, there’s also a clandestine cocktail lounge hiding behind the front business.
To access the bar, find the white “Janitor” door and enter. Once in, you’ll be transported to a luxurious, prohibition-era bar that offers a wide selection of whiskeys.
Lastly, stop by The Ski Lodge, which is found on the second floor of the Chelsea Tower next to Superfrico. To get into the speakeasy, find the nondescript door with a metallic skier on it.
Inside, you’ll be instantly transported to a snowy mountain retreat.
A hidden slice of pizza: After the cocktails, you’ll likely have a hankering for a late-night slice of pizza. Fortunately, “Secret Pizza” offers quality pizza by the slice at a reasonable price point. The problem is, like the speakeasies above, there is no sign to indicate its presence.
To Find Secret Pizza, take the escalator near the Chandelier Bar to Level 3, then find a hallway lined with records and walk down it.
Get entertained over dinner at Superfico: Cosmopolitan is home to one of the more unique dinner shows on the Strip.
Superfrico is a Spiegelworld creation. Those are the folks behind the hit shows “Absinthe” at Caesars Palace and “Atomic Saloon” at The Venetian.
The food is described as “Italian American Psychedelic” and is served alongside a helping of outrageous acts.
Full disclosure: The entertainment isn’t exactly light jazz playing in the background. Be prepared for some raunchy.
A disguised restaurant: Keeping with Cosmopolitan’s theme of disguising food and drink offerings, Beauty and Essex appears to be a simple pawn shop storefront to oblivious passers-by.
Behind that false front, though, is a restaurant specializing in dishes like Grilled Cheese Dumplings, Tuna Poke Wonton Tacos, and Thai-Style Deep-Fried Shrimp.
A cocktail with buzz: The Verbena cocktail, served at The Chandelier Bar, is a destination beverage that has attracted a cult following.
Garnished with a Sichuan flower that enhances your ability to taste while providing a numbing sensation, the citrus Tequila Verbena cocktail is akin to a fireworks show in your mouth.
Although you won’t find the Verbena Cocktail on the menu, it remains popular among guests is available to be ordered.
Eat at Wicked Spoon: Commonly viewed as being among the best buffets on the Strip, Wicked Spoon is nothing like your neighborhood Golden Corral.
Instead of serving food in troughs, Wicked Spoon plates their items individually to create a more refined experience.
Food options are unique & spectacular.
In addition to the traditional prime rib, seafood, and meat options, Wicked serves items like “Shrimp Grits with Bacon, Chives, and Beer Blanc”, “Crispy Pork Poutine with Cheese Sauce”, “Four Cheese Truffle Mac”, “Wild Boar”, and “Bone Marrow with Mustard Cream”.
Wicked Spoon is a delicious option, even if you aren’t traditionally a “buffet person”.
Poolside movies: During the summer months, Cosmo plays movies on their marquee along the Strip overlooking the Boulevard Pool as part of their “Dive-in Movie” series.
Hotel guests at Cosmopolitan can attend for free, while non-guests can attend for a small fee of around $15 per person ($10 for locals with NV ID).
Grab a cheap breakfast: A substantial breakfast is a must in Las Vegas to aid in recovering from the previous night’s poor decisions, and fuel the day ahead.
For those who don’t want the hassle or expense of sitting down for breakfast, Eggslut is a great option, with breakfast sandwiches landing in the $9 – $12 price range.
Explore the arts: Cosmopolitan scatters notable works of art from well-known, and emerging artists across the resort including works by Rosemarie Fiore, Marilyn Minter, Sylvia Hommert, and Nicola Lopez, among others.
The hotel lobby is a work of art in and of itself.
Marquee day/night club: Cosmopolitan’s Pool Marquee serves as a day and night club environment for those looking for a more raucous atmosphere.
Things To Do Near The Cosmopolitan
Steps to the south, in between The Cosmopolitan and The Shops at Crystals, is the Museum of Illusions, an attraction packed with visual illusions (duh) and really cool photo ops that YOU get to be a part of.
I thought this would be lame, but it’s worth doing.
Steps away from the Museum of Illusions is Arte Museum, which I feel is a smidge overpriced, albeit home to some cool visuals that unite nature with the digital world.
While some of the visuals are incredible, others were “mailed in”.
Within the Shops at Crystals is “Immersive Van Gogh”, which brings Vincent’s paintings to life in an immersive room covered in projection screens.
Princess Diana: A Tribute Exhibition is also on the top level of Crystals and is home to over 700 artifacts from her life, including handwritten correspondence. It’s a fascinating museum attraction that I heard a real British person say, “Is really really good”.
Must be true.
Check out the free attractions next door at Bellagio, including the conservatory and the iconic Fountains of Bellagio.
For the culturally refined, Bellagio is also home to a Gallery of Fine Art with rotating displays. It isn’t a massive, time-consuming attraction, but it costs just $19 and is worthwhile to the right person.
The High Roller, across the street along the LINQ Promenade, is great, but upgrading to their $60-ish all-you-can drink package is a worthy upgrade for those who can tip ’em back. They’ll even give you a drink for the road at the end of the 30-minute rotation.
Across the street at Planet Hollywood, some of my favorite cheap food and happy hour deals can be found in the Miracle Mile Shops.
On the food side, Blondies offers a $5.99 breakfast deal, which isn’t huge… but neither is the pricetag.
Across the hallway, La Salsa Cantina also has a breakfast deal that costs $6.99 ($9.99 on the weekend).
Drink-wise, check out the all-you-can-drink deal at Blondies, which is offered from 3-6pm on weekdays for $20.
At Aria, explore the Fine Art Collection which is sprinkled about the property. A helpful brochure detailing the art on display can be found, here.
Finding stuff to do near The Cosmopolitan isn’t going to be a challenge. Whether you’re into clandestine cocktails, raunchy comedy, or fine dining, Cosmo could be the perfect place to find it!
For additional ideas, check out my property-by-property rundown of things to do on the Strip.
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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.