Travel - Caesars Palace: The Eternal Empire of Entertainment and Excess on the Las Vegas Strip

By Mulder, Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, 28 march 2025

There are hotels in Las Vegas, and then there's Caesars Palace. Even among the grandeur and artificial splendor of Sin City, Caesars stands in a class entirely its own—a Greco-Roman temple of decadence, dreams, and high-stakes drama that has not only hosted some of the most memorable spectacles in American entertainment history but has also become a symbol of Las Vegas itself. Originally conceived as a living fantasy of Roman imperial opulence by Jay Sarno and Stanley Mallin, the resort opened in 1966 with a $10 million loan and a vision to transport its guests into a world where everyone could feel like a Caesar. That philosophy still pulses through every marble corridor, gold-trimmed fixture, and high-limit poker room. It’s a place where art deco meets ancient empire, where Celine Dion redefined residencies, and where history is not preserved but flamboyantly reenacted night after night.

Wandering through Caesars Palace today is a sensory overload carefully orchestrated as theater. The architecture is simultaneously kitsch and spectacular—Roman columns, heroic-sized statues, frescoed ceilings, and fountains rivaling Bernini’s best—yet somehow it works. At every turn, guests encounter nods to classical mythology and the Vegas pantheon alike. The ceiling of the new lobby, painted by Las Vegas muralist Melanie Stimmell, welcomes visitors with a celestial drama worthy of a Vatican dome, while beneath it, modern luxury oozes from every surface. The guestrooms across six towers—Julius, Augustus, Octavius, Nobu, Palace, and Forum—offer not just a bed but a retreat styled for gods. Amenities are seamless: flat-screen TVs, marble bathrooms, 24-hour room service, and access to seven pools modeled after ancient Roman baths, where one can sip cocktails while basking in the desert sun beneath a towering statue of David.

No discussion of Caesars Palace is complete without a deep dive into its entertainment pedigree. The Colosseum, custom-built for Celine Dion’s legendary A New Day... residency, rewrote the playbook for what a Vegas show could be. That 4,296-seat amphitheater with its massive 22,000-square-foot stage has since hosted legends like Elton John, Adele, Rod Stewart, Bette Midler, and Reba McEntire, drawing nightly crowds that fill the air with the kind of expectation usually reserved for royal coronations. Even U.S. Presidents have graced its stage—Barack Obama once held a fundraising performance there in a one-night show alongside Sheryl Crow and Rita Rudner. It’s fitting for a palace that has been home to champions of every variety: musicians, boxers, comedians, and now, influencers capturing their version of glory against its ornate backdrops.

The casino itself remains one of the most expansive and iconic in the city, not only in size but in spirit. Designed initially to be the most expensive and lively casino in the world, it delivered from the start. Where else could you find Frank Sinatra in a late-night baccarat tantrum demanding $16,000 hands, an argument that ended with a gun being pulled? That anecdote, as wild as it sounds, is only one of many that have come to define Caesars’ notorious charm. In a town built on stories and spectacle, Caesars always gave the best ones. The cocktail waitresses, still clad in white mini-tunics and Roman sandals, are reminders that even as the city changes, some icons remain eternal. From slot machines that range from a penny to $500 to the race and sportsbook room with USB charging stations and constant action, Caesars’ gaming floor is a blend of old-school bravado and high-tech ease.

What truly sets Caesars Palace apart, however, is its enduring ability to evolve while keeping its mythology intact. Its restaurant offerings read like a who’s who of culinary royalty: Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, Guy Savoy’s Michelin-starred fine dining, Nobu’s sophisticated Japanese cuisine, Dominique Ansel’s bakery housing the famed Cronut, and Brasserie B, Bobby Flay’s latest French venture. Even the long-standing Bacchanal Buffet—serving 500 dishes from across the globe—got a $2.4 million upgrade in 2021, ensuring it remains the buffet to beat. There’s even a chocolate clock at Payard Pâtisserie that drops truffles every quarter hour, proving Caesars doesn’t just cater to hunger—it satisfies wonder.

The Forum Shops at Caesars, often referred to as the Shopping Wonder of the World, continue to rank among the highest grossing retail spaces in America. It’s not just about buying luxury goods here—though one can browse Dior, Chanel, Gucci, and Cartier—it’s about the experience. Animatronic statues come to life in the Fall of Atlantis fountain show. Spiral escalators defy physics. Every detail is crafted to make you feel not like a shopper, but a participant in a grand myth. And in Vegas, mythology is big business.

Historically, Caesars has also been a crucible for sports and spectacle. From hosting boxing legends like Muhammad Ali, Marvin Hagler, and Evander Holyfield, to the ill-fated but memorable Caesars Palace Grand Prix, the hotel has often transformed its parking lot into a global arena. The image of Evel Knievel attempting—and spectacularly failing—a jump over the fountains in 1967 is one of Vegas’ most enduring memories. Knievel’s son would later complete the stunt, adding a generational twist to a tale already dripping with adrenaline and lore.

Of course, not every moment at Caesars has been triumphal. The property has weathered fires, federal investigations into organized crime, economic recessions, and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. But like the empire it emulates, Caesars adapts, renovates, and rises anew. Recent renovations—from the original Roman Tower’s transformation into the Julius Tower, to the multimillion-dollar entrance revamp—have cemented its place as the beating heart of the Strip. Even old haunts like Cleopatra’s Barge have evolved, with the floating lounge now replaced by Caspian’s, a posh cocktail and caviar bar that retains the aura of exclusivity.

And if Caesars Palace sometimes seems like a movie set, it’s because it has been one—many times over. From Rain Man to The Hangover, Iron Man to Ocean’s Eleven, the hotel has played both itself and other fictional spaces in countless films and TV shows. It’s even been parodied in video games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, proving its image is part of the American subconscious. When guests enter its grand halls, they aren’t just checking into a hotel—they’re stepping onto a stage, one where they too can play Caesar for a night.

Whether you're lounging by the Garden of the Gods pools, dining like an emperor, or placing a bet under the watchful gaze of Augustus himself, Caesars Palace remains a theatrical spectacle wrapped in luxury. It is the ultimate intersection of fantasy and reality, where past glories are constantly reborn and where, despite the ever-shifting sands of Las Vegas, the empire shows no signs of falling.

Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino
Adress : 3570 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Strip, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Rooms : Around 3,960 rooms and suites across six towers: Julius, Palace, Augustus, Octavius, Forum, and Nobu
Website: caesars.com/caesars-palace
Booking :  https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/harrah-s-caesars-palace.fr.html

Photos : Boris Colletier / Mulderville