Celeste A.
Google
★★★★★ 5 stars — Golden Gate brought Vegas back for me.
Derek Stevens is bringing soul back to Vegas, baby. Downtown, that is.
The Strip is nothing but a fleece from gouging conglomerates fleecing patrons in sweatpants where “automated everything” has replaced the Vegas experience. After two days on the Strip, being stripped of my sanity, I thought Vegas would never come back for me.
But then Golden Gate was a total reset 🎊✨ I’m ALL IN!!
From the moment my son and I walked in, it was real HOSPITALITY—real smiles, real service… classic Vegas energy. We caught the “Night Starts Here” welcome and it was unapologetic hospitality insider fun: open bar + envelopes with Free Play so you can start gambling with house-money from the get. Old-school in every way.
Then Derek Stevens (the owner) grabbed the mic, introduced himself, and said that while this event usually kicks off the night, this time we’re kicking off the year… here… together. I was moved and compelled to thank him personally for bringing the human experience back. He was dressed in a suit, kind, and approachable.
I got back in line for our open-bar welcome cocktails but… I couldn’t help it. I went back and asked Derek if I could take a photo with him. He made me feel like his guest, not a transaction. I told him my younger son will be back in a couple weeks to celebrate his 21st birthday. Derek gave me his business card and told me to reach out so he could help make my son’s birthday special. Say what?! This is crazy (in the best way)! Classic LAS VEGAS.
I also met Devonia (Executive Casino Host) and she was genuinely lovely (omg) warm, present, and the definition of hospitality. She shared Derek Stevens’ vision of bringing back the human touch downtown, and you can feel it in how the Golden Gate runs.
If you’re tired of the Strip’s lines, kiosks, and “good luck figuring it out” customer service, GO DOWNTOWN.
We had the most incredible steak dinner at Triple George’s on New Year’s Day, and honestly, it was a ballet of hospitality. Everybody brought their best game to the table and delivered nothing but perfection and delight. The smiles, the warmth… even the staff at the Plaza felt unrivaled. Somehow we lucked out with a view of the Fremont experience, the Circa (which unbeknownst me, Derek Stevens owns as well) the pools, and the game. This is what Vegas is about.
Meanwhile on the Strip: I was stuck in the Caesar’s Horseshoe parking concourse for over an hour because their lane gates were frozen and only worked intermittently. I walked down four levels and literally directed traffic out. I was on the phone for 30 minutes trying to get help, but only AI was directing me to another agent who directed me back to AI. All I could think was: if there was an emergency, people could be compromised 👎🏽
We also had a $370 steak dinner at Jack Binions Steak House Horseshoe Las Vegas where we were (not the last ones to be) denied dessert because “the chef left.” What a joke 🤡
Downtown hospitality would never.
Golden Gate is the heart of Las Vegas vibes. 💯