It might be named for the Golden State but it’s all about Hawaiian flair at the California Hotel (or The Cal as we locals like to call it). The hotel has become kind of a mecca for visitors from Hawaii. Staff members don Hawaiian shirts, island hospitality is ever present and you can feast on the flavors of Hawaii at Aloha Specialties.
The Cal is conveniently located about a block from the Fremont Street Experience. It’s also connected to Main Street Station hotel via a walkway so you can take advantage of things like their Triple 7 Brewpub, which we highly recommend you do. You can also easily walk to downtown attractions like The Mob Museum, or take a short ride over to the Las Vegas Premium Outlets – North.
Besides Hawaiian food, The Cal offers everything from fast food to fine dining. The Redwood Steakhouse has a table for you in its Old Vegas-style dining room if you’re in the mood for steak. For American classics served 24 hours daily, there’s the Market Street Cafe. Be sure to try their legendary oxtail soup. If it’s a drink you’re looking for, grab one at the easygoing San Francisco Pub or the elegant Main Street Bar. Or enjoy catching up on the day’s games at Dave’s Bar, located next to Cal’s Sports Book on the second floor.
Test your luck in the 36,000-square-foot casino, where you’ll discover more than 1,100 slot and video poker machines and 28 different table games. For a bit of luck, swing past the California’s giant Buddha statue, placed just off the lobby near the elevators, and give its belly a rub. Guests who want to venture outside of downtown can take a complimentary shuttle to Sam’s Town on Boulder Highway and from Sam’s Town to the Strip.
For those who just want to stay at The Cal and relax there’s a small rooftop pool that guests can lounge around and take in the views of downtown Las Vegas and the surrounding mountains. Oh, and if you are crazy curious about how a hotel named after California became a mecca for all things Hawaiian, it’s all due to gaming pioneer Sam Boyd who tailored The Cal to appeal to Hawaiian tourists. You can read about it in the book “California Hotel and Casino: Hawai’i’s Home Away from Home.”
The hotel will be undergoing construction on the west hotel tower starting Sept. 6. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the front desk.
Hotel Type: Downtown Hotel
Hotel Category: Budget
Typical Price: 55
Book Hotel: California
