Golden Gate Hotel and Casino

Hailed as Las Vegas' "Most Historic Hotel," the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino in downtown has stood the test of time and then some.

Since opening as the Hotel Nevada in 1906, this cozy corner establishment has stood placidly at One Fremont Street while the city -- and the world -- changed around it. Most notably, Fremont Street Experience with free light shows and special events was built right outside its doors. 

In step with the revitalization spreading throughout downtown Las Vegas, the Golden Gate is undergoing its first major expansion in more than 50 years and guests are discovering plenty of changes here. A stunning new lobby now exhibits items from the hotel's notable past -- things like a Kellogg telephone and ledgers from 1907. There's a new high-limit gaming area in a nook just off the enlarged casino floor, which was also refurbished with new carpeting. The bathrooms have been redone, and silhouettes of either a gangster or flapper make them easy to find.

Also in the casino, guests will encounter the resort's signature "dancing dealers" from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. nightly The Main Bar is the place to go for a cocktail. With a classic speakeasy vibe, it boasts having once served Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. The One Bar with its bikini-clad bartenders and the Flair Bar are also great gathering spots located outside on Fremont Street.

Very little has changed to compromise the Golden Gate's old school charm. The new décor elements harken back to the Roaring '20s or the Rat Pack era, while the latest technology has been utilized to bring the hotel into modern times. The existing 106 rooms have all been updated and now include hip amenities like 32-inch flat-screen televisions, Keurig coffee makers, pillow-top mattresses and iHome clock radios.

Still under construction is a spectacular five-story tower that will be home to 16 luxury suites, including two penthouses that will cover the fifth floor. It's expected to open in July 2012 and will also feature a new porte cochère for valet parking. The hotel's exterior will be getting contemporary pinstripe lighting accents as well.

The Golden Gate's shrimp cocktail -- widely acknowledged as the first ever served in Las Vegas -- is as popular as the day it was introduced. It's currently being dished up in the home-style Du-par's Restaurant & Bakery because the Shrimp Bar & Deli has closed for remodeling (completion is scheduled for later this year).

The Golden Gate offers the best of both worlds. Guests can enjoy the intimate atmosphere of a historic boutique hotel and then step outside the front doors into the heart of the action in downtown Las Vegas.