Iconic Rio Hotel & Casino Set For A Bold Comeback: Major Renovations Revitalize Las Vegas Landmark

What’s old is new again!

A significant renovation is underway at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas that’s aimed at revitalizing and upgrading the property and its offerings. Dreamscape Companies, who took over the 34-year-old resort from Caesars Entertainment in late 2023, is spearheading the project with a vision to modernize the iconic off-Strip resort.

The longstanding hotel/casino that’s located on the corner of Valley View Blvd and Flamingo Rd, just off of the world-famous Strip, is getting a facelift to bring it back to the vibrant life it once had when it first opened. 

The newly updated Rio isn’t exactly the Rio of the past, but it’s also not unrecognizable. Everything visitors loved about the property lives on, just bigger and better. 

“October 1, 2023, is when Dreamscape operations official took over from Caesars. So that’s really when construction started. And we hit the ground running,” Andrew Kerzmann, Vice President of Hospitality for the Rio told The Blast exclusively. 

“We have another section of the resort, the Masquerade Tower, which is another 1,000 guest rooms that have yet to be renovated, as well as the casino floor and public spaces of that area of the resort. Currently, we don’t have a hard timeline as to when that work will begin. That’s our next phase, our second phase. But by the end of this year, the majority of our initial phase of renovations will be complete.” 

By the end of the year, there will be an all-new Ipanema Tower resort experience for the Rio. 

"We are also very proud to still offer free parking here, which makes it a great resort for locals who want to have a staycation or want to have a daycation and our visitors that come and stay overnight," he said.

One thing that’sstaying the same is the beloved entertainment that brings many to the Rio for a good time. 

“We’re very proud to be the host property for Penn & Teller for a very long time. They’ve had their residence show here for 25 years or more, which is a very strong brand and likeness that we really enjoy having on property,” Kerzmann said. “We still have Chippendales, ‘WOW - The Vegas Spectacular’ and Comedy Cellar.”

Comedy Cellar features a variety of comedians and is an exact replica of the infamous New York comedy club of the same name. Known for launching the careers of some well-known comedians, such as Dave Chapelle, Amy Schumer, and Ray Romano, the Comedy Cellar is a popular spot in the Rio for belly laughs and great memories.

“Another element of our entertainment profile for the resort is just adding some live music on the weekends. So we’ve got a live instrumentalist at our Lapa Lounge on Friday and Saturdays, we have a live instrumentalist at the Wine Cellar on Saturdays, and a live band on the Masquerade Stage on Saturday evenings,” Kerzmann said. “And those are free experiences for guests.”

Dining options are aplenty at the Rio. Some old and new options will make it easy to stop hunger in its tracks while visiting the resort. And with the variety of different food options, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

“Our food and beverage program is very dynamic. We’ve got cuisine from all over the world,” Kerzmann told The Blast. “We’ve got a great Korean barbecue restaurant. And the Canteen Food Hall offers six unique, different types of food that keep things fresh and something for every day for a guest at our property.” 

The Canteen Food Hall opened in January of 2024, featuring a dynamic lineup of affordable Vegas favorites. Restaurants in the casino floor food hall include Attaboy Burger, Nama Nama, Tony Luke’s Shogun Ramen, Tender Crush, and Southland Burrito Co. 

Other restaurants located on the property include Guy Fieri’s El Burro Borracho, KJ Dim Sum & Seafood, Luckley Tavern & Grill, Hash House A Go Go, Royal India Buffet, Kang’s Kitchen, Smashburger, Starbucks, and VooDoo Steak. 

Whether you're a wine connoisseur or not, a visit to The Wine Cellar is an experience not to be missed when at the Rio.

During a Saturday night visit before heading up to the 51st floor for dinner at VooDoo Steak, The Blast got the chance to enjoy a custom wine tasting curated by wine manager Hung Nguyen. He put together six different wines to taste and it didn't disappoint.

When you arrive at The Wine Cellar, you take the beautiful winding staircase down to what feels like you've entered a secret portal that transports you to Tuscany with beautiful brick, stone, wine barrels and more amazing decor. The ambiance just screams top tier, vibrant, and memorable moments.

The Wine Cellar offers many varieties of wine and spirits, including rare wines, sparkling wines, tequila, whiskey, and more. You can also enjoy a charcuterie board with your wine for the full experience.

VooDoo Steak is open for dinner service on Fridays and Saturdays. While waiting for your table or after dinner, a picture-perfect view awaits to become the backdrop for some memorable photos.

"The patio is obviously a great place for people to go and capture photos pre-dinner or post-dinner. They're certainly allowed and encouraged to hang out as long as they want, grab an additional drink, etc," Kerzmann said. "VooDoo View, the 51st floor, the lounge, that area is one area we are looking forward to reintroducing in some fashion here in the short-term window as a nightlife opportunity for our guests so they can dine at VooDoo Steak or anywhere on property and then have a night venue to go to. So we're hoping for that to be something our guests can enjoy by the end of October."

The Blast enjoyed dinner with an amazing view at VooDoo Steak and what an experience it was! From the friendly staff to the perfect views to the delicious food, there's nothing about the experience that should be changed. The outside patio gives a view of the entire city, and at night with all the lights, it's unforgettable and the perfect backdrop for photos.

When in Vegas, either as a visitor or a local, a visit to the Rio is a must. And be sure to bring your appetite for world class food, entertainment, and more!