Historically, the Park MGM has been my go-to resort in Las Vegas. There are tons of reasons for this, not the least of which is that it’s probably the best bang for your buck on The Strip. As someone who spends as little time as possible in their room while visiting Las Vegas, the most important things to me are resort amenities, restaurants, and location. The Park MGM checks all the boxes, and while it’s not the most luxe hotel you can stay at in Vegas, it’s really got some top-notch amenities that keep me coming back year after year.

The Location

The Park is towards the southern end of the strip, although it is really close to a lot of other resorts and things you want to do while in Vegas. It’s connected to the Aria/Vdara and the Bellagio not only by tram, but also indoor passageways. It’s right next to New York New York and an easy walk to MGM Grand. Additionally, not only is the Dolby Theater connected to The Park, but T-Mobile Arena is right there too. It’s a bit of a hike if you need to get the Sphere or even Caesars, but still doable if it’s not 105 degrees out.

The Amenities

Park MGM has everything you need in its relatively small Vegas footprint. In the past, I’ve enjoyed the small-sih but very chill Spa, the pools are awesome, and, of course, the Dolby Theater, which is an excellent place to see a show.

There are several pools at The Park, and while they are pretty standard, not-too-splashy rectangular pools, the service here is some of the best we’ve experienced on The Strip, and the prices for reserve seating and cabanas are also some of best deals on The Strip as well. It’s low key here, and you don’t usually get large crowds of 20-somethings partying hard at these pools. There is one adults only pool here, which we hung out at one day on our last trip. I booked four reserved seating lounge chairs, which are super cushiony and comfortable, for only $150 total. You get umbrellas, amazing service, and free ice water throughout the day. The menu for drinks and food at the pool is extensive, and they recently added Dole Whips to the menu, which you can even make boozy if you want! I always have a great time at the Park MGM pools, and when the cabanas and reserved seating are so reasonably priced, booking is a no-brainer.

The Dolby Theater is a huge reason why you’d want to book a stay here at Park MGM. I’ve seen a few shows here, including Aerosmith where we sat in the upper balcony, and Lady Gaga’s Jazz and Piano show, where we sat in the 200 level. There are no bad seats here, and it’s easy to get in and out, grab drinks, and purchase merch. I’m hopeful that Lady Gaga revives her residency and continues to do the Jazz and Piano show once her current tour is over – it has to be one of the most entertaining concerts I’ve ever seen!

The Park MGM spa is relatively small compared to the epic spas at places like Aria and the Canyon Ranch spa at the Venetian, but it’s more than enough for a really great massage or facial. In the waiting room, they have these amazing anti-gravity recliners that are so soft and comfortable, I could’ve spent an hour just relaxing in these chairs.

Finally, the casino at Park MGM is small, but more than adequate for a little gaming if you’re into that. I love sitting at the bar in the middle of the casino to play so video poker with drinks flowing freely, literally. There are plenty of table games and slot machines, but the best part about this casino is that it’s non-smoking! While the air filtration has gotten really good at most of the casinos on The Strip, nothing beats a smoke-free casino.

The Room

The standard rooms at Park MGM are probably a bit smaller than many others on the strip, but they use the space really smartly, and the way the bathroom and closet are laid out, with a sliding barn door, is pretty brilliant. Housekeeping is really good, and the rooms are pretty quiet at night, although maybe not as quiet as some of the newer hotels. I never have a problem sleeping here.

The beds are super comfortable, and considering how small the room actually is, there is plenty of space for your stuff. I would say the last time we were there, in September of 2025, the carpets and furniture were starting to show some wear, and our blackout shades were busted. They were fine when closed, but on opening they were crooked as you can see in the photo above. The resort was renovated from the Monte Carlo to the Park MGM from 2016-2018 so it’s probably about time for a bit of a refresh.

The bathroom is relatively spacious with a large shower, and a set of shelves for your toiletries and towels. The only complaint I would have about the bathroom is that the sink is totally flat, so you really have to clean it out whenever you use it cuz stuff just doesn’t get down the drain very well.

The location of the rooms are right off the back of the casino, and close to the entry to the pools, so you don’t have to hike across the whole hotel to get to the pools like you have to at MGM Grand and The W, formerly The Delano.

The Restaurants and Bars

For being one of the smaller resorts on The Strip, The Park MGM has some really top-notch restaurants and bars. Coming into the resort, you can’t avoid walking through Eataly, which is such a pleasant, bright, open space. You can snag a snack, or a really great glass of wine here, or you can eat at one of the Eataly restaurants for something more substantial. They even offer wine classes if you’re into that sort of thing, about once a month.

Bavette’s is one of my favorite restaurants in all of Las Vegas, and my review of this place was one of my first articles on this website. You can’t go wrong with a steak and some carrot cake here, and I try to come here almost every time we come to Vegas no matter where we’re staying. Honestly, it’s easier to get a reservation here than it is in Chicago!

Park MGM offers other solid choices for food, including Primrose, a solid place for breakfast and lunch, La La Noodle, a very reasonably priced restaurant for asian-inspired fare, and Best Friend, for celebrity chef Roy Choi’s Korean cuisine in a funky atmosphere.

While I love sitting at the Circle Bar in the middle of the casino, especially for some day-drinking and video poker, for more of a high-end presentation, hang out at the Juniper lounge. Your drinks will be served in lead crystal glasses, and it’s a bit classier than the casino bar. On weekend nights, there’s often a DJ in there spinning some tunes that will please any Gen X’er!

The Vibe

The vibe at Park MGM is relaxed and sophisticated. It’s not cheesy like some of the hyper-themed resorts on the strip, but it’s also not ultra-luxe and snooty like some of the higher-end resorts. The Park MGM is a really great balance of chill and fun, and there are options to go cheap or posh here. The shows at Dolby Theater bring a lot of fun and interesting folks here for good people watching opportunities, but it’s also pretty quiet at times. There’s something here for everyone, but I think the resort mainly caters to folks looking for a chill time in Vegas that isn’t going to break the bank.

The Recommendation

I absolutely love staying at the Park MGM, and while I hope the rooms undergo a renovation within the next few years, I wouldn’t hesitate recommending a stay here. It’s my go-to hotel for the chill vibes, cheap reserved seating and amazing service at the low-key pool, high quality food and drinks, and fun video poker at the Circle casino bar. I’ve probably stayed here at least seven times in the last ten years, and I keep coming back for the same reasons. I love venturing out to other resorts on the strip, but half the time I find myself coming back to The Park MGM for some high quality wine at Eataly, or the best steak on The Strip at Bavette’s. If you’re worried about the low price of the rooms thinking that means they will be low-quality, take the chance and book anyway, this may end up being your favorite resort on the strip too!