I stayed at SAHARA Las Vegas – Here’s My Honest Review

I just got back to Chicago from my trip to Las Vegas, and honestly, I’m a little sad to be back. I wish the experience could go on for longer – a three-night stay just didn’t feel long enough. That’s due in part to the hotel I stayed at while I was in Vegas: SAHARA Las Vegas.

I had a general idea about SAHARA Las Vegas from browsing their website, and I knew it would be a good fit for my personality and travel style. A hip boutique hotel that’s a little bit removed from the chaos of the Vegas Strip – that all sounded good to me.

If you’re planning your Vegas getaway and considering staying at SAHARA Las Vegas, my honest review should give you an idea of what to expect from your stay.

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Location, Location, Location

SAHARA Las Vegas sits right at the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, which was perfect for me. Staying here, I wasn’t surrounded by the bustle of the Las Vegas Strip, but I was a very short rideshare ride away from all that the Strip had to offer. It was easier to come and go from the hotel because I didn’t have to deal with the crazy traffic on the Strip, and best of all, the parking was free! Parking fees in Vegas get pretty crazy, so this was a nice perk.  

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Checking Into My Room

As soon as I arrived for check-in at SAHARA Las Vegas, I knew I was in for a pleasant stay. The lobby was luxurious and attractive, with gorgeous avant-garde lighting fixtures, marble floors, and gold accents everywhere I looked. I particularly loved the LED wall displays with the hotel’s logo on them – so beautifully designed, I took a photo of them.

The front desk agent who checked me in was friendly and welcoming despite my looking a bit disheveled after traveling all day. It didn’t take long at all to get checked in, and I headed for the elevators to take me up to my room in the Marra Tower, the newly remodeled tower of the hotel. The elevator was key-activated, and I liked the added security of that.

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My Guest Room

My room was a Marra King room, one of SAHARA Las Vegas’s recently remodeled guest rooms. When I walked into my room, I was impressed by the stylish, sleek décor. The style of the room tastefully mixed classic luxury with hip, modern touches. My room featured a comfy king-sized bed, a sitting area with two armchairs, a large work desk, and a large flat screen TV.

On one wall of the guest room, there was a huge LED-lit mirror, a stylish touch that made the room feel bigger. And out the window was one of the real highlights: I had a Downtown View room and the vista was really stunning, overlooking the lights of Downtown Las Vegas from high up.

The bathroom was compact but gorgeous, and designed in such a way that I felt like I had more than enough space. The rainfall shower head in the glass-enclosed shower was a real treat after a long day of traveling.

At first, I thought my room was a little small, but the attention to detail and luxurious touches made that thought disappear very quickly.

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Thoughtful, Luxurious Touches

The more I relaxed in my guest room, the more I noticed that there were above-and-beyond touches everywhere I looked. Here are some of the little inclusions that could have gone overlooked but which really impressed the heck out of me:

• The TV was a smart TV that I could hook up to my own Netflix account, so I could watch whatever I wanted instead of hit-or-miss cable television.
• The mattress was extremely comfortable and made up with premium quality bedding. It was hard getting out of bed!
• In the closet, I was delighted to find a luxurious, plush bathrobe and slippers, something I haven’t seen in a standard hotel room in decades.
• The bathroom amenities weren’t just limited to the basic shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel combo… There was also a dental hygiene kit with a toothbrush, a shaving kit, and even a small bottle of mouthwash.
• There were reading light fixtures on either side of the bed, and the fabulous vintage-style desk lamp had a dimmer, not just an on-off switch.

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Delicious Dining

Balla Italian Soul

I made reservations for me and one of my best Vegas friends to have dinner at Balla Italian Soul, SAHARA Hotel’s upscale Italian restaurant. This restaurant was created by Chef Shawn McClain, a James Beard Award-winning chef, so I knew it was going to be absolutely delicious and a special night out.

Our server, Casey B (I remembered her name because she impressed me so much), was very friendly and helpful. The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and pretty, with fairy lights on little hanging bird cages and climbing vines decorating the walls.

I knew exactly what I wanted to order because I had read reviews: we ordered a few different items from the menu to share. First, the Heirloom Tomatoes. I figured they must be some pretty good tomatoes to get rave reviews and to be a dish in themselves, so I had to try them for myself. And yes, I can’t explain how absolutely delicious they were!

Then we had the stuffed mushrooms, which were just as mouthwatering. The Casarecce was divine: handmade pasta with a basil and garlic tomato sauce. Overall, at this restaurant, we felt like we were royalty: the service, the level of skill put into the food’s preparation, and the ambiance made for a special night.

The Noodle Den

The second night staying at SAHARA Las Vegas, I took another dear friend to eat at The Noodle Den, the hotel’s Chinese restaurant specializing in hand-pulled noodles. I normally don’t really like Chinese food that much, but this place totally changed my outlook on that.

The restaurant had a more casual vibe, with a bustling, vibrant atmosphere, an open-view kitchen, and booth seating, but it still felt upscale with beautiful décor and attentive service. We ordered a selection of items from the menu, each of them more tasty than the last.

For appetizers, we ordered Egg Rolls and Hot and Sour Soup. The Hot and Sour Soup was so delicious it blew me away. My friend ordered Orange Chicken, and I ordered Vegetable Knife-Sliced Noodles as entrees. They were both flavorful, yummy, and served in such big portions that we had leftovers for later!

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Relaxation by the Pool

The Pool at SAHARA Las Vegas is free entry for hotel guests of all ages and locals 21+, which is rare to find in Vegas. The weather was still 100 degrees in September, so it was still very much pool season in Vegas during my stay. The pool was the perfect way to cool off from the desert heat.

For a more relaxing experience (and to get out of the direct sun), I would recommend reserving a daybed, or even a bungalow if you’re with a group of friends. Upbeat music, cool drinks, and a sparkling pool do a lot to refresh your senses after a day of exploring the Strip.

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A Luxury Stay at a Bargain Price

I felt like I was in the lap of luxury during my whole stay at SAHARA Las Vegas, and I couldn’t believe what I was getting for the affordable price. I will definitely be a returning guest after this experience. Now, back to work after one of the most relaxing weekends of my life!