The Sahara Hotel-Casino opened in 1952 and closed in 2011. It reopened as the SLS a couple years later after a nearly $500 million renovation, with 1,600 rooms, a remodeled casino, two nightclubs, and a number of new restaurants, including Jose Andres' Bazaar Meat, which has become one of the top eateries in the city.
The SLS was sold in 2018 to the Meruelo Group, which also owns the Grand Sierra in Reno, and invested another $100 million in renovating the casino and restaurants. It was re-renamed the Sahara in August 2019.
Restaurants include Beers and Bets, which doubles as the sports book, the Italian-American Bella Bistro, Una Mas Street Tacos, and a 24/7 coffee shop/Chinese joint.
The Lux Tower is all suites, designed by Philippe Starck, while World Tower rooms have two doubles and Story Tower rooms offer kings. The pool has been redone twice since 2013, the Amina Spa has 10 treatment rooms and a couples massage suite, the fitness center is included in the resort fee, and the Las Vegas Monorail stops right behind the property, where parking is free.
The Sahara is an adequate middle-market hotel-casino that has long been exiled at the far north Strip, but is coming more into the mainstream as Resorts World, the Las Vegas Convention Center, and the Drew arrive in the immediate vicinity and Circus Circus is renovated by its new owner. For now, though, every time we're there and look for something compelling, we come up blank.
