First Look: Caesars Republic Scottsdale — the first nongaming hotel for the brand

If you’ve been to Las Vegas, you probably associate the sound of slot machines with hotels — like the famous Caesars Palace — on the Las Vegas Strip. You likely also know that you might need a compass and a map to find your way out of the maze that’s designed to keep you inside gambling at most Las Vegas hotels.

So, you better believe I was curious when Caesars announced it was opening its first nongaming hotel in the U.S. near me in Scottsdale, Arizona. Here are the details from my recent visit.

How to book

Travelers can book directly through the hotel’s website, and Caesars Rewards members can book exclusive rates at this property (and up to 50 other U.S. properties). Summer rates start from $189 per night.

The property is also in the American Express Travel portal, meaning guests can earn 5 points per dollar spent on bookings when using The Platinum Card® from American Express. Travelers can book using Amex Membership Rewards points as well, with rates starting at 25,000 points per night.

Chase Travel℠ lists the property, too, with bookings starting at $189 per night in summer. Depending on which Chase card you hold, you could apply your annual $50 hotel credit from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or your annual $300 travel credit from the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

For my stay, I chose to go the Amex Travel route and book through the portal. However, since the hotel is not a member of American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection, my annual $200 hotel benefit did not apply.

How to get there

The hotel is in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, just north of Macy’s at Scottsdale Fashion Square off Goldwater Boulevard. It is 8 miles north of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and 9 miles south of Scottsdale Airport (SCF).

Ride-hailing options in the area include Uber, Lyft, taxis and Waymo autonomous vehicles. The hotel can also arrange a car service to bring you to the hotel. If renting a car, the PHX Sky Train now connects the airport terminals to the 24th Street rental car facility.

Overnight valet parking is available at the hotel for $40, and self-parking in the Scottsdale Fashion Square parking garage next door is available for $28 per night. Electric vehicle charging stations are also available.

The spacious, modern lobby is decorated with neutral tones and modern photography. When you walk inside, you’ll be greeted by water features, multiple seating areas for drinks or chatting, a fireplace feature and floor-to-ceiling windows, making the space bright and inviting.

The front desk staff warmly greeted me and then provided a quick and efficient check-in experience while relaying information about the hotel.

As I walked to the elevator after checking in, I noticed a hologram following me on the wood floor. It was a wolf walking alongside me, followed by footprints after the elusive hologram vanished. I had to get the story behind that.

Modern and slightly edgy guest rooms

It’s not often you get to be one of the first guests to stay in a hotel room, but I’m pretty sure I was in this case. Have you ever smelled that new hotel smell? It’s the best. Upon walking into Room 532, I was immediately struck by that brand-new scent and the eclectic mix of modern, edgy and luxurious furnishings.

The first things I noticed (after the spacious bathroom with a glass shower) were the bronze serpent handles on the wardrobe. Talk about funky and fun. The wardrobe held a brand-new wrapped cushy robe, slippers and a steamer (so much better than an iron, in my opinion).

Flanking the black granite-topped work area is an open-concept, fully lit minibar etagere displaying full bottles of some of the best (and most expensive) liquors. I found Colonel EH Taylor small-batch bourbon for $550, Clase Azul reposado tequila for $450 and Chopin Family Reserve vodka for $300.

Other minibar items sit atop the high-gloss dresser and include the expected snacks such as pretzels, chips and M&Ms. The space also had one of the most intriguing items I have ever seen on a minibar list: a “walk of shame kit” for $100. What does one get for $100? A cab home? A change of clothes? It piqued my curiosity, so I inquired about it later. The hotel manager told me it includes a change of clothes — a pair of sandals, sweatpants, a hat and a shirt — all branded.

My room offered views of modern condos and greenery-draped patios to the north and iconic Camelback Mountain to the west.

In front of the floor-to-ceiling window was a loveseat upholstered in a navy fabric with a zebra print back. A coffee table and a side laptop table made it a great spot for working. (There was also a dedicated workspace built in under the 55-inch flat-screen TV.)

Next to the loveseat was a wingback chair upholstered in the same navy fabric. Above the bedside table, I found a blackout shade I could activate with a touch of a button.

The king-size bed with a leather headboard was comfortable thanks to feather pillows and a down comforter. Charging ports are built into the headboard (indicated with a card that says “unleash the charge”) and can accommodate wall plugs and USB-A and USB-C smartphone plugs.

The signature wolf icon was featured on the throw pillows on the bed and loveseat. Apparently, the wolf is a symbol from the ancient Roman myth of twin brothers Remus and Romulus, who were saved from the Tiber River and raised by a she-wolf. The brothers would go on to found the city of Rome.

The bathroom featured a single sink, allowing for ample counter space for travel and toiletry bags; an open shelf below the counter held the hair dryer.

The shower was the real feature here — it was large enough to fit up to six people with glass directly into the bedroom. A button on the wall next to the shower door activated a shade for privacy and would block the bathroom light from the bedroom. The showerhead allowed for four different water settings. Refillable pump bottles on the wall held Acca Kappa brand shower gel, shampoo and conditioner.

The only thing missing from the room during my stay was a coffee maker or water kettle (but I am told it’s coming). As someone who prefers coffee before conversation in the mornings, I didn’t love changing out of my pajamas and trekking downstairs for coffee.

Caesars was offering black coffee for no charge in Pronto by Giada (which serves breakfast and lunch) starting at 5 a.m. The Pronto cafe opens at 6 a.m. if you prefer a barista.

Spacious suites

Caesars Republic Scottsdale features 256 guest rooms, including 28 suites and five luxury suites.

I was able to tour the largest penthouse suite, which measures 2,300 square feet and sits on the 11th floor. Dubbed the Camelback Suite, the space offers unobstructed views of the mountain and epic Arizona sunsets.

The suites are all similar in size. Each features two bedrooms, large walk-in closets, two bathrooms, a full kitchen with stainless steel appliances and marble countertops, a living and dining room, and a balcony. The Caesars Suite offers similar square footage but also includes a billiards table. (Rates start at $3,999 per night.)

For guests looking to stay active while on the road, request a Boynton Canyon Suite. This option offers personal Peloton bikes in the room upon request, based on availability. (Summer rates start at $279 per night.)

Dining options

Like the Las Vegas property, Caesars Republic Scottsdale features two signature restaurants by award-winning celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis. Pronto serves fast-casual coffee, breakfast and lunch, while Luna by Giada serves Italian cuisine in a gorgeous indoor-outdoor dining space off the main lobby.

Grab-and-go at Pronto

Pronto is on the ground floor next to the Cleopatra’s Pool. From the main lobby, you can walk down the meeting space hallway to reach it or enter from the outside walkway that wraps from the front drive to the back of the hotel. Serving fast-casual breakfast and lunch in a modern space, this cafe offers indoor and outdoor seating.

The menu includes fresh pastries, granola parfaits, breakfast wraps, sandwiches and salads. Plus, the service is friendly and prompt. I opted to take my delicious breakfast wrap and eat outside on the pool patio to enjoy the morning sun.

Dining in Luna by Giada

Luna by Giada is only open for dinner and serves some of Giada’s famous dishes and Italian comfort food. An impressive open bar and wall-to-wall wine cellar draw guests into the space. An open kitchen and a Ferrari red pizza oven complete the upscale modern design.

The menu offers a selection of starters, pizzas, pasta and entrees, such as a Mediterranean branzino and pork chop saltimbocca. The signature dish is Giada’s famous lemon spaghetti — I knew we had to order it.

Everything sounded delicious, so we let our server, Amanda, send out her favorite starters. She didn’t steer us wrong. We ate fresh-baked Sicilian focaccia accompanied by lemon mascarpone butter, basil pesto and olive oil ($14); crab arancini with a spicy pomodoro dipping sauce ($24); and bacon-wrapped Medjool dates filled with spicy Italian sausage and a gorgonzola crema ($21).

While sipping refreshing prosecco cocktails named Vaguely Virgil (made with Fiorente elderflower, carpano bianco, lemon juice and club soda for $21), we perused the menu, trying to decide on entrees.

Lemon really is the workhorse of the kitchen, and the chefs use it in everything from marinades and dressings to entrees and desserts. The theme shines through in dishes like the lemon pizza with garlic creme sauce.

For our entrees, we decided to dine family style. We ordered the famous lemon spaghetti with gigantic U-10 shrimp, mascarpone cheese, basil and crispy capers for $39, and it was amazing. The mezzi rigatoni with porcini mushroom and vegetable Bolognese ($38) was both savory and filling.

We also tried a special that wasn’t on the printed menu: a 22-ounce ribeye perfectly seasoned and presliced for $64. A side of lemon smashed potatoes ($17) paired well with the entrees and balanced out the citrus and savory flavors of the meal.

Dessert gave us a chance to try a few different options. The limoncello souffle ($16) was hot from the oven with a blueberry anglaise and candid lemon biscotti. We also tried a mascarpone brownie cheesecake ($19) and freshly baked cookies — lemon ricotta and caramel chocolate chunk with sea salt ($16). Each dessert had its own amazing qualities, and it was difficult to choose a favorite. For me, lemon wins over chocolate, but the cheesecake was amazing.

The meal was fantastic, from the atmosphere to the service and food. I would recommend this restaurant to friends and family, whether they are locals or visitors. It’s perfect for an upscale night out.

Additional dining options

Aside from Giada’s two dining concepts, the hotel has a seventh-floor pool bar and lounge dubbed Seven. It is open for lunch, dinner and late-night cocktails. Seven is an indoor-outdoor concept that allows the cool evening breeze to waft through the bar area. The indoor area offers a sports-viewing experience with 20 flat-screen TVs and access to Caesars Sportsbook.

Tables on the outdoor patio surround a fire pit, and the pool (where you can reserve cabanas and order food) is just beyond a glass wall, offering views of Camelback Mountain.

Fitness center and pools

The fitness center is on the seventh floor across the hall from Seven’s pool bar and the rooftop pool. It offers ample space for a hotel of this size, and it provides two Pelotons, one StairMaster, three treadmills and weight machines. A selection of free weights, yoga mats and kettlebells complete the setup.

Rooftop yoga on the Camelback veranda on the eighth floor is complimentary for guests and is regularly scheduled for Saturday mornings.

The summer pool series at Cleopatra’s Pool on the ground level is just heating up. On Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m., guests can expect DJ-spun tunes and cabana service. VIP reservations are required, and resort passes are available on the hotel’s website.

There is no on-site spa, but there are nearby options to choose from. Squeeze Massage (a chain started by Drybar) is across the street, and The Phoenician, a member of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, is within a five-minute drive.

Meeting and event space

The property features 20,000 square feet of state-of-the-art event space that can accommodate groups of up to 900 attendees just in the main Romulus Ballroom. It’s a 7,000-square-foot ballroom on the ground floor that opens onto Cleopatra’s Pool & Bar.

The eighth-floor Camelback Veranda — which stretches across 3,000 square feet and features unobstructed views of Camelback Mountain, making it a favorite for weddings and parties — provides another outdoor space for up to 200 attendees. Guests can enjoy the nearly year-round amazing weather that makes Arizona such a magnet for meetings and events.

Bottom line

Caesars Republic is a fantastic new addition to the Scottsdale hotel scene with plentiful dining options, multiple pools and easy access to all the shopping, dining and nightlife Old Town Scottsdale offers. Midweek summer rates start at $189 per night, and high season (January to May) rates start from $499 per night.

While the real Caesar doesn’t live here, I bet he would if he could.

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