Open since 2005, the Wynn is one of Las Vegas’ finest jewels. Built by Steve Wynn, the same man who built the Bellagio and the Mirage, the Wynn has the most upscale aura in town and it feels as much like a mansion as a casino.
The main theme of Wynn casino is that it is simply gorgeous, using red as its primary color. Red is the color of the walls, slot chairs, tables and many of the staff uniforms. On top of the decor, the Wynn features numerous views of gardens, lakes, and waterfalls both inside and outside the casino.
Wynn and Encore offer guests a wide variety of slot machines to play. Guests may begin playing slots for as little as a penny or as much as $1,000 per game. Our slot machines offer guests the ability to choose denominations and game themes. Our machines accept cash and Ticket In Ticket Out vouchers, they do not take or pay out coins.
The Wynn draws in a ton of tourists that are either staying here or just want to see what the hype is all about. Given all the party options there are at Wynn, it can get pretty rowdy at night. It’s also one of the most preferred casinos for high limit gamblers, and because everything about the Wynn is top notch, plenty of locals hang out there too.
The Wynn is located on the Northern side of Las Vegas Blvd just across from Palazzo. As you go further north, it’s a bit of a walk till you reach the next casino. By the time you do, you’ll have passed a great spot to get some late night inexpensive chow in Tacos El Gordo, along with some souvenir stores and other local shopping. However, this area of town is a bit seedy. The areas to avoid in Las Vegas are the edges of the strip, and that’s kind of what this is because of the large gap between casinos.
The general rule is the further you go north the more seedy Las Vegas gets, and the Wynn is essentially the cutoff point to where the North begins. So, its location isn’t the best because even if you walk south towards the central part of the strip, while it’s only a short a while to get there it still requires that extra effort.
This is important to consider because the hotel, while it’s affordable, it is not exactly cheap. If your plan is to explore the strip and not spend much time in the room, then we advise staying at one of the many hotels smack in the middle of the action because several of them are relatively inexpensive. If you want to stay mainly in one fantastic casino with a majestic room then you can do no better than the Wynn.
Self-parking is accessed off the strip and valet is one block east of the strip on Sands Avenue. Each service charges based on how long you stay, but if you’ve gambled or played enough poker in the last year either or both services could be free. If you are new to the Wynn but are planning to gamble a lot, you can inquire about getting your parking validated.
Casino at Wynn
[table “” not found /]The gaming floor is a massive 189,000 square feet in which there are multiple pits. Smoke is controlled very well, and the floor is totally wide open and visible which is nice because some casino floors have all kinds of twists and turns. This can potentially cause you to finally stumble on the table you wanted after you thought you’d already seen them all.
As it is the standard for a top tier casino, most of the table minimum bets are at least $15 and they do not do you any favors with the payouts and odds.
Baccarat
You’ll have no problem finding a baccarat game as this game has its own large, dedicated section. Minimums were $100 for its Commission-Free game. This seemed a little high, but we were told $50 tables open at 8 PM.
Blackjack
Blackjack pays 6-5 for its $15 tables, but you can get 3-2 on its $100, $50, and $25 tables. The dealer must hit on soft 17 at all tables.
The 6-5 and 3-2 tables are separated in different pits, but we noticed something strange. We saw a $25 table in the 3-2 pit, and we also saw one in the 6-5 pit. The 3-2 allowed a $10,000 max and the 6-5 allowed only $5,000 but it still didn’t make any sense, so we asked. Normally that $25 table is a $15 table, hence the 6-5 payout. They moved the minimum up to $25 that particular day because all of its players sat down with $25 chips. So those players were unknowingly getting ripped off on the blackjack payout.
Seeing all this just goes to show how little casinos might care about its customers since they so willingly allowed these players to short themselves. The players certainly could have asked about a 3-2 payout, so it also speaks volumes as to how little some gamblers, know, care, or pay attention to what they are doing.
Nevertheless, if you are gambling you might as well get the biggest payout you are entitled to. And since this casino isn’t willing to tell you anything beneficial unless you ask, we advise you be careful.
Craps
We were happy to see craps could be played with $10 or $15 minimums but it only pays double odds, and this is the worst payout in town. The standard odds are 3-4-5, but you must play the $25 table to get them.
Roulette
Standard double zero roulette can be played for $15 or $25 minimums. There is also a virtual roulette game with a live wheel for $5 near the slots but know that it’s all in Chinese.
At nighttime the Wynn will also spin a triple zero roulette wheel for $15. The difference in adding the third zero is simple: The house has an even bigger edge. This begs the question then why offer triple zero roulette? For the same reason they raised limits on the 6-5 tables for the aforementioned blackjack players. To see if they’ll notice they’re scamming themselves.
In the case of roulette, there is nothing about the casino to criticize since triple zero roulette is a far newer concept than 6-5 blackjack. But players really should notice this difference and realize they’re needlessly burning extra money, but once again they either don’t know or don’t care. It’s really amazing that this is how it is, and that this freeroll experiment actually worked out for the house, but the Wynn is not the only casino to attempt this.
The only reason one should ever play triple zero roulette is if they want to bet the zeros which pays 11-1 (actual odds are 13-1). Otherwise it’s the definition of wasting money.
Other Wynn Table Games
– Casino War ($15 minimum)
– Three Card Poker ($15 minimum)
– Ultimate Texas Hold’em Progressive ($15, $25 or $100 minimum)
– Crazy 4 Poker Progressive ($25 minimum)
– Let It Ride ($10 minimum)
– High Card Flush ($15 minimum)
– Fortune Pai Gow Poker Progressive ($25 minimum)
– Pai Gow Tiles ($50 minimum)
– Big Wheel ($5 minimum**)
**The Big Wheel tables at Wynn have the highest minimum in town, you can usually find this for $1 or $2)
This is a solid mixed game selection, although none of them are challenging to find elsewhere except for War. Given how large the space is, there are always plenty of tables open.
High Limit Table Games Room at Wynn
The Wynn cares about its big gamblers, so it has a very large, quiet, and secluded room to accommodate them. There are many baccarat tables which start at $300 minimums. 6-deck blackjack has a $100 minimum in which the dealer must stand on all soft 17. There are two single zero roulette wheels for $100, and there is even a craps table but it is only available upon request.
Slots at Wynn
We don’t know the exact number of slots, but we estimate there are at least 2,000 machines. They begin at a penny slots and limits are available in all the standard denominations including $1, $2, $5, $10, $25, $100 and even higher. Their slot game selection is wide and include many of the most games along with some distinct ones. Some of there most popular titles include Top Dollar, Buffalo Gold, Cleopatra, Willy Wonka, Wheel of Fortune, Megabucks, Monopoly, Lock it Link and The Walking Dead.
High Limit Slots Room at Wynn
High limit slots players have a large quiet area that allows some light to shine in from the beautiful garden located right outside. By that window there is also a section to lounge around in with a big screen TV. There is a mix of new video slots along with the traditional machines like Cleopatra and Wheel of Fortune. Limits start at $5 and rise to $10, $25, $50, $100, $200, $500, and $1,000 a pull, but the highest limits are only offered on the traditional slot.
A view of the high limit slots room from our last visit:
While the high limit section is mostly slots, video poker players will still find a wide enough selection of games and limits of $1, $2, $5, $10, $25, $50, and $100.
Video Poker at Wynn
Along with the video poker games at bars which you can play for comped drinks, there are many sections of video poker all around the casino. You’ll find whatever game you want and limits often stay between a quarter and $1, but there are also many $2 and $5 machines along with some $10 and $25. Limits go as low as a nickel and many of the games give you the choice of 3-5 betting limits which you can change at any time, but other games may be exclusively for $5. Most bar video poker games are capped at $1 or $5, but some of the B Bar games allow you to bet up to $25.
Sportsbook at Wynn
One of its finest attractions, the newly renovated Wynn sportsbook is the very best on the strip. It will always be active and is guaranteed to fill up for big games. Unless you are sitting in the very back, it is away from casino noise, and the back is also the only area where you are allowed to smoke. There is a full video poker bar behind the sportsbook, and right behind that is Charlie’s Bar & Grill which also has a ton of TVs and will deliver food to the sportsbook.
Seating is comprised of dozens of premium red leather swivel chairs along with plenty of desk space seats that have granite countertops and their own TV. VIP seating is also available for either big bettors or those who will buy the one or two drink minimum. The VIP seats are in the back. They have their own roped off space made up of spacious chairs couches.
The sound quality is loud and clear and the picture quality for the many TVs, giant screen and small are great. Horse players are accommodated just as much as sports bettors, and the betting board is large and easy to read.
A view of the Wynn Sportsbook from our last visit:
Obtaining free drinks isn’t exactly cheap, but you can do a lot worse than the Wynn; you must wager at least $150 for sports or $20 for horses to receive a drink ticket. These hefty amounts reduce drinks to a mere throw-in, but this is now the norm.
If you’re going to be late or don’t have time to drop in on the sportsbook, you can open an account right inside the sportsbook for free and download the Wynn sports betting app. Here you’ve got access to all the lines, however, if you want to bet horse racing you need to create a separate account. Betting on games after they have started, known as live betting is still not available.
Hotel at Wynn
This magnificent 5-star hotel is sure to satisfy. There are over 2,700 rooms with its standard room starting at 640 square feet. Larger rooms with panoramic views of Las Vegas are also available as well as Bed & Breakfast. During the week these rooms start at $170 and get over $200, and they can double on the weekends. Sizable discounts are offered if you become a Wynn Insider.
In addition to the room rate is the tax inclusive $44.22 nightly and mandatory resort fee. This is the highest fee on the strip and doesn’t include anything worth talking about beyond Internet, fitness center, and pool access.
If you want a suite, they begin at over 900 square feet and get up to more than double that size. The price jumps are huge considering the space is only 2-4x larger, but that’s just the Wynn once again seeing how far it can stretch its boundaries. You still have to pay the resort fee, but the good news is you get $25 off each night and up to $250 for your trip.
If you are trying to stay in the palace like villas which are the size of large houses, prepare to spend in the thousands. Even if you are willing to do this, availability cannot be guaranteed as these are held in place for VIPs. If you are used to receiving comped rooms, this is not going to be an especially easy task at Wynn. You will certainly have to gamble a considerable amount, so make sure you make contact with a casino host before you begin.
Spa and Fitness Center
The first spa in Vegas to receive a Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award is open daily from 7 AM to 8 PM, with its salon opening at 9 AM. Day passes are $40 for hotel guests and drop-ins pay $75. This huge facility offers a huge menu with every massage, body treatment, facial, and any other service a spa goer could possibly think of.
The state-of-the-art fitness center opens at 5:30 AM and closes at 8 PM. In addition to its start of the art cardio and weight equipment are a wide variety of classes. They are all $30 or $100 if you want a private class. All classes must be made by appointment.
Restaurants at Wynn
It’s hard to find a cheap meal at the Wynn, but that is to be expected from any prestige casino. The café is open 24 hours, the buffet is one of the best in the world, and every restaurant has selections for vegetarians and vegans.
Some of what the Wynn considers casual dining would fall under fine dining at other casinos. Nevertheless, some of its diverse choices are Allegro which opens late afternoon and stays open all night. The Terrace Point Café is outdoors and open for breakfast and lunch, and Asian goers can go to Red 8 for lunch or dinner.
Fine Dining
Including what is at its connecting neighbor The Encore, the Wynn has eight choices for fine dining. You’ll have to ante up but from the SW Steakhouse to its seafood, to its Chinese, Japanese, America, and Italian options the Wynn will make you anything you want and pour you your favorite wine. Some of them, like Mizumi and SW are set within a stellar ambience of waterfalls and gardens, making the culinary experience memorably aesthetic.
One eating strategy you might want to consider is selecting mainly from the wide variety of appetizers and sides because in our experience, these tend to be a better value than the entrees.
Bars at Wynn
There are multiple 24 hour bars spread around the Wynn that tailor to the video poker player. Though at night it can get pretty noisy, these bars are small enough that serious video poker players should not be disturbed.
Of the several other bars and lounges, two of its noteworthy choices are Parasol Up and Parasol Down. Parasol Up is a cocktail lounge right near the Esplanade and overlooks the 40 foot waterfall for the Lake of Dreams. Parasol Down is downstairs right outside SW. Here you can also get cocktails, small plates, and enjoy the view of the Lake of Dreams from the bottom.
Nightclubs at Wynn
Nightlife is one of the Wynn’s specialties beginning with XS which has been ranked #1 in the U.S. for the last five years. There are bars and hangouts indoors and outdoors, and nightswims during the warmer months. The club is open Friday-Sundays with some of its popular music guests being The Chainsmokers, Skrillex, and David Guetta. You can get VIP table and bottle service on either the inside or at one of the cabanas surrounding the Encore pool if you would rather have some distance from the loudness.
Since this is the most successful club in Vegas, it is a pretty penny to enter and drink. The cover charge varies, but it will be no less than $59 for men and $39 for women, and that breakdown can get up to $141/$87 depending on what time of year you go, who the DJ is, or if it’s during a nightswim.
Wynn’s other nightclub is called Intrigue. It’s a lot smaller but is nothing to sneeze at. Its cover also varies but is no less than $55/$33 for men and women. VIP service is also available, and there is an outdoor patio with a closeup view of the waterfall and pyrotechnics.
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Wynn Slot Machine Total Wins
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INTRODUCTION
Steve Wynn had the vision to open the first Las Vegas style resort in Asia, and his vision paid off in spades. By any measure, the Wynn Macau is an unmitigated success. Opening on September 5th, 2006 to massive fanfare, the property expanded again in April 2010 with the addition of the 57-story Encore Tower, making it the biggest hotel casino on Macau island, surpassing the Lisboa in terms of room numbers 1014 to 972. With nothing but rave reviews online, including the Wizard's full endorsement, the Wynn has become THE hotel by which all others are judged on Macau island.
What’s next for Mr Wynn then but to conquer the Cotai Strip? The mammoth Wynn Cotai project is set to break ground any day now, just as soon as he receives government approval. To show they mean business, Wynn Resorts just spent 12.8 million dollars on a set of four porcelain Qing vases for the new hotel. I can't wait to check them out already, but that won't be until 2015 at least, when construction is completed.
LOCATION
Steve Wynn couldn't have put his hotel in a better place. Holding the ground between the Lisboa and MGM, it's the last call for gamers on the Western side of the Amizade strip.
WYNN CASINO
This may come as a surprise to a lot of people, but the Wynn Casino is easily the worst part of the Wynn Hotel. First off, I've been there at least twenty times, but still don't know where anything is, or even where I am when I'm inside. The problem is that every part of the casino looks exactly the same. All you see in every direction are identical looking mini sections, each divided by wooden partitions and decorated with grey curtains and big red chandeliers. And with no central area or focal point to key in on to get your bearings, walking around the place can be a very disorienting experience. Now I don’t mean that the floor arrangement doesn't look good, because it clearly does, I’m just saying that it's way too repetitive. When I'm in there, I'm lost all the time.
This of course leads to other problems. If you don't know where you are, you can't find the games and it doesn't help that the Wynn refuses to group games in their own areas. Instead they're scattered throughout the whole casino so quite often you have to search awhile or ask staff to direct you to the tables. When I was waiting at the membership desk, I heard no less than three people having to ask where various things were. On top of that, the mass gaming is all mixed together with the VIP, so even if you find what you're looking for, you might be politely told that those tables aren't for you.
The kicker is that despite its big name, the Wynn casino really isn't that big. All of the gaming is found on the ground floor, so getting around and finding things should be a lot easier. In all, the casino has around 230 tables with most of them $300 plus. (I had to take staff's word on the amount of tables, because I didn't even try to count them. I'd probably count the same one four times.) Slots number 375 with the cheapest machines 2 cents and the most expensive ones $10. Electronic versions of Sic Bo, Roulette, and Baccarat are also available for play among the slots.
How else to end this part of the review but with more issues? The drink service is beyond slow while the player card and casino promotions are also substandard. (If you can even find out what they are. Anyway, I'll get into that more below.) But I've saved my biggest complaint for last. It derives from something I saw firsthand there in September of 2010, the last time I took my business there to game.
MY OWN GAMBLING
Wynn Casino Slots Games
It was one of those nights when everything was going bad. I was playing Caribbean Stud Poker, and couldn't get a pair to save my life. After folding another hand, though, things got a lot worse. I was joined at the table by a bunch of guys you don't ever want sitting down beside you. All of them looked unsavory, especially the head thug, this real ugly, frog-faced boss man whose face had been through a thousand wars. For an Asian, he was one big mother, and even though he was in his fifties, he still looked like serious trouble. The other guys with him were his cronies, clear underlings, just there to light his smokes, laugh at his jokes, and give him face. Think of like meeting the Soprano crew in Macau.
So no sooner did they sit down did they begin to win, which irked me, because I was getting nothing. But as soon as the boss man lost a hand or two, he let his true colors show. He started telling the dealer F you, F that, F the poor guy's mother, and it didn't stop for three or four hands. He even let the female floor manager have it when she came over to tell him to stop touching his chips after the cards were dealt.
As I sat there listening to it, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. First I couldn't believe that that the poor dealer just stood there taking it, and didn't say a word. And then I couldn't believe that the Wynn casino let it continue. Of course, he should have been tossed ASAP, and at one point I really felt like stepping in and saying, 'On the contrary pal, why don't you go F your mother?', but I didn't want to start anything four against one. In mainland China, employees who work in the service industry get verbally abused like that all the time, but I didn't think such disgusting conduct would be tolerated in Macau in a place like the Wynn.
Eventually the only thing that made frog face stop was his cards. He got tired of losing and told his boys it was time to go. One of them who was on a huge run motioned toward his chips as if to say, 'Look man, I'm hot', but the boss man would have none of it. And since that night I've had no more of the Wynn. I can't frequent a place that won't defend their dealer against such abuse. Now maybe every place in Macau would do the same as the Wynn, and I'm picking on them unnecessarily, but I don't think so. Some casinos surely have spines.
GAMES
The game selection at the Wynn is little disappointing. At the very least, they should add Casino War and Three Card Baccarat.
- Baccarat
- Commission Free Baccarat — Players win 50% on a won banker 6 bet.
- EZ Baccarat — This commission free baccarat game is Macau's best, with a house advantage of 1.02% for the Banker. In exchange for not paying the 5% commission, banker bets push on won 3 card totals of 7. Also has a Dragon 7 side bet paying 40-1 if the banker does get a three card total of 7. House advantage on that bet is a far less palatable 7.61%.
- Blackjack
- Caribbean Stud Poker — Payout on a royal flush is 50-1.
- Craps — Table is 3-4-5 odds.
- Roulette
- Sic Bo — 7 different bets are available.
- Slot machines — 375 machines with minimums ranging from 2¢ to $10.
- Texas Hold Em — 11 poker tables, 3 of which are VIP. Blinds are $10/$25, $25/$50, $50/$100, $100/$200, $300/$600.
- Three Card Poker
- Video Poker — 8 $5 Game King machines with Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus Poker, and Deuces Wild.
PROMOTIONS
The Wynn promotions are poorly advertised and information related to their player card is not very forthcoming. I really don't think they want players to know what specials are on or how the player card works. Short of summoning the membership desk manager, gamers will be left completely in the dark.
Player Card
I talked to two different managers on two different days and got conflicting answers on how the player card works. It's completely ridiculous that a mega casino in Macau does not clearly state player card benefits and how to attain them. What is certain is that there are no gifts available for redemption through long term points accumulation at the tables. However, free rooms, boat tickets, and buffet coupons are handed out according to points earned. The result of my investigation is that for every $100 in average bet size per hour the player earns about $4 in comps. For example, a player with an average bet of $1,000 for 8 hours would earn 10×8×$4 = $320 in comps. There are also different rules for getting ferry and buffet tickets based on play in a single day. According to what I was told, which may or may not be correct, at an average bet of $1,000 it would take about 1.3 hours to earn a ferry ticket, and 2.6 hours to earn a buffet. Slot players meanwhile have a different system. They can accumulate points long term and redeem them for pretty uninspiring prizes. Some items displayed near the membership desk include:
Wynn Slot Gifts | |
---|---|
Gift | Points |
Magnet | 1300 |
Cards | 1500 |
Key chain | 1900 |
Pen | 3200 |
Sport bottle | 3200 |
Umbrella | 3500 |
Photo frame | 9700 |
Domino set | 13900 |
No staff could tell me the rate of point accumulation for the slots.
Casino Promotions
Mega casinos usually have at least one big promotion where one lucky gamer can win millions of Hong Kong dollars. The Wynn, on the other hand, does only small scale stuff. If some of the promotions aren't clearly explained, it's because that's all the information I have. Brochures were not available at the desk nor was the onsite staff very willing to elaborate.
- Rolling Fortune — One draw will be held daily at 5 pm. Table players can redeem one draw ticket for every point earned that day, for a maximum of 12 tickets. Slot players can exchange 100 slot points for every draw ticket, but may redeeem no more than 40 daily. 3 table winners and 3 slot winners will be selected and each player can roll a ball onto the fortune table and win prizes according to where the ball lands. Prizes include cash in the sum of $5000, $3000 and $2000.
Each winner can also participate in a second game. They roll three dice and if they roll three of the same number they'll win between $10,000 and $30,000 HKD.
- East West Dining — Slot players who earn 388 points are eligible to receive a $100 dining certificate eligible for use in Red 8, Cafe Esplanada, 99 Noodles or Cafe Encore. Points must be accumulated within a 24-hour period.
- Lucky Table — Daily at 3 pm and 10 pm, two random tables will be selected and players playing there will receive $500, $300 or $100 cash chips.
- Slot Bonanza — Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10 pm, 30 slot winners will be selected. I have no idea what they win.
- Rolling Treasure — 3 winners will be selected at 9 pm daily. I think it's similar to Rolling Fortune but this promotion is for Diamond Club players only.
VIP Gaming
There are probably around 10 private junkets in operation on the first floor of the Wynn Casino, all returning different rates. I went to about half of them and found the cash back percentage varies from 0.95% to 1.2%. 1.2% is about as high as VIP companies go in Macau, so congratulations to the Viva Club for giving that.
The Wynn also has their own dead chip program with the following commission structure:
Wynn Dead Chip Rebates | ||
---|---|---|
Buy In | Cash | Comps |
300000 | 0.50% | 0.10% |
1000000 | 0.60% | 0.15% |
3000000 | 0.70% | 0.15% |
5000000 | 0.70% | 0.20% |
8000000 | 0.80% | 0.20% |
I asked the staff why their numbers are so inferior to the private junkets and they responded that their service puts them over the top. They will satisfy all of their guest's requests, and that's a direct quote. When I heard that I immediately thought bad things but that only means booking rooms and arranging for cars and ferry tickets. For Wynn Club members who roll in the millions, I'm pretty confident that they get comped outright with free rooms and free food a lot of the time. The Sky Casino on top of the Encore Tower is their private playing ground, off limits to anyone who rolls under five million per month. I would have liked to have gone up there to have a look, but hey, maybe in the next life.
HOTEL
In terms of 5 star hotels on Macau island, it doesn't get any better than the Wynn. The Wizard is a huge fan of place, calling their customer service the best he's ever seen. And believe me, with his rock n roll lifestyle, he's a man who would know. Other objects of his praise include the size of the rooms and the excellent complimentary gifts found inside.
I'd like to add that even though the hotel is five years old, it still feels fresh and new. It also smells great, even on the outside, which shows the lengths they go to. Anyone can pump scented oxygen into a confined space and think they've done something, but it takes real wherewithal to battle the open air and achieve success.
The 24 floor Wynn hotel has 600 rooms and suites, while the 57-floor Encore Tower adds another 414 suites. Always sold out on the weekend, your only chance to snag an unused junket room is to call their reservation hotline at (853) 8986 9966. Don't expect to stay in the Two Bedroom Lake Suite though as it's been unavailable all year.
Prices including all tax and charges are as follows for Sunday to Thursday:
Wynn Room Prices Sunday-Thursday | |
---|---|
Room | Price |
Encore Palace Suite | $3,126 |
Encore Grand Salon Suite | $5,300 |
Deluxe Room City View | $2,160 |
Deluxe Room Lake View | $2,401 |
Grand Deluxe Room City View | $2,521 |
Grand Deluxe Room Lake View | $2,631 |
One Bedroom Suite City View | $4,695 |
One Bedroom Suite Lake View | $5,059 |
Two Bedroom Lake Suite | N/A |
Two Bedroom Sky Suite | $36,239 |
Rooms in the Wynn Hotel can be found between floors 5 to 24, while Encore Tower suites are located on floors 7 to 56.
POOL
I think I can only give half marks to the Wynn for it's beautiful outdoor pool. Sure it looks great, with the lush garden flora, palm trees and chic cabanas, but in the heat of summer, when they're at peak capacity, that pool isn't going to stand up to the demand. They probably should have put another pool somewhere in the Encore Tower, like right on the roof. That would have been a great idea.
Apart from that, the Wynn's outdoor pool is heated, so it's good to go 365 days a year. Jacuzzi fans need not worry either, because there's one of those too.
Pool hours are from 7 am to 8 pm.
RESTAURANTS
With eight restaurants in total, there's no shortage of fine or casual dining at the Wynn. They could use a bit more variety in the cuisine however, as only two places do non-Asian. Prices in the four high brow dining establishments are expectedly pricy, but not super exorbitant by any means.
Fine dining
- Golden Flower — Delicious Northern fare for your dining pleasure at the Golden Flower. Everybody says Canton food is so great, but I don't see it. Having lived in China for 6 years, I can tell you Northeastern food is where it's at. Beijing set menus go for $880, $1200 and $1380 while other delicacies are $600 to $1300. Seafood stays in the $200 to $400 range with standard meat and vegetable dishes between $100 and $200. The restaurant is on the western side of the building, accessible from Avenida 24 de Junho. Golden Flower is closed on Mondays. On weekend they serve lunch from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, and are open in the evening Tuesday to Sunday from 6 pm to 10:30 pm.
- Ristorante Il Teatro — Tucked in the lobby, Ristorante Il Teatro does high class Italian dining. Prices are pretty acceptable, with most dishes under $445. Specifically, salads are $88 to $188, pizza $118 to $148 and pasta $128 to $298. The most expensive dishes are seafood $268 to $328 and meat like steak, veal and lamb $228 to $445. If you prefer set meals, one goes for $788, while the other is $1220. Hours are 5:30 to 11:30 pm Tuesday to Sunday.
- Okada — Okada overlooks the pool and is Wynn's Japanese eatery. A few different set meals are $580, $880 and $1280 while sashami and sushi go for $40 to $380. Hot and cold appetizers are $45 to $280 while entrees like grilled salmon, abalone and Boston lobster are $180 to $380. Standard rice dishes finally are $65 to $280. Take care in the clothing department as the dress code prohibits patrons from wearing shorts. They will however lend you a pair of trousers if you need them. I don't know about you but wearing other people's pants just really isn't my thing. For larger groups, 2 private dining areas are also available, each seating 8 people. Okada is only open evenings from 5:30 pm to 11:30 pm Wednesday to Monday.
- Wing Lei — Wynn proudly calls Wing Lei their signature restaurant, serving food in Cantonese style. Set meals are either $888 or $1388, while abalone, shark's fin and bird nest run patrons $388 to $1288. Seafood specialties stay in the $128 to $528 range, while meat, barbecue and cold dishes are $98 to $488. The cheapest thing on the menu is rice and vegetable fare with most dishes $68 to $128.
Wing Lei is in the northeast corner of the building and can be reached via the casino or through the entrance on Praceta 24 de Junho. Lunch hours are 11:30 am to 3 pm Monday to Saturday and 10:30 am to 3:30 pm on Sundays and public holidays. Dinner is from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm nightly.
Casual dining
- Cafe Encore — General Chinese fare is the order of the day at Cafe Encore. Delicacies run $388 to $1388 while seafood is the second most expensive thing on the menu, costing between $68 to $208. Almost everything else, which includes rice, soup, meat and vegetables, is $68 to $138. Cafe Encore is located in the hallway that bridges the Wynn and Encore casinos. It stays open 24/7.
- Cafe Esplanada — Cafe Esplanada has quite a few tables outside beside the Wynn pool. As my notes say, 'it's a sick setup, very, very nice.' Styles run the gamut with Western and Asian both accounted for on the menu. Sandwiches are $70 to $120 while main courses meals like Norwegian salmon, fish and chips, and lamb chops go for $130 to $250. Steak is $260 to $315. For Asian lovers, Macaunese fare is $60 to $105, Korean $85 to $125, and noodles and rice $60 to $85. I hear the muesli comes highly recommended. They also have a buffet twice daily with breakfast prices $185/$88 for adults and children, and evening rates $238/$130. Cafe Esplanada is open daily from 6:30 am to midnight.
- Red 8 — Here's where we start to get a bit into the Wynn's fast food fare. Red 8 does a lot of basic Chinese dishes, and even takes a stab at seafood, birds nest and abalone, but they're not expensive, only going for $88 to $298. A lot of noodles dominate the menu with prices $42 to $78. Barbecue meat, barbecue rice, vegetables etc. stick to the $45 to $88 range. Red 8 can be found somewhere in the casino (don't ask me!) and never closes.
- 99 Noodles — 99 Noodles is in the Encore casino, and is open from 11 am to 1 am daily. Almost nothing on the menu exceeds $98, with soup, noodles, dumplings, and cold dishes all somewhere between $38 and $88. Rice plates are a little pricy though, costing between $88 and $188.
HEALTH CLUB/SPA
I'd say the Wynn's facilities are outstanding, but that would be selling them short. How about calling them the best in the city? No argument here, because they're the only hotel in Macau that boasts two spas and two fitness centres.
Both gyms are fantastic. Not only are they large, but they're locked and loaded with state of the art exercise machines, a full cardio complement and an advanced Kinesis wall (which, if nothing else, sounds very cool). Personal trainers are also available if you want some expert guidance on how to use the machines or tips on devising a suitable workout plan. While the gym at Wynn Spa is little better than the one at Encore spa, that doesn't matter because guests can use either one they want.
The Wynn spa and Encore spa serve different functions. The Encore spa consists of eight private treatment rooms equipped with a Jacuzzi, sauna, and shower room. Access to the rooms is available only via appointment and everyone must pay to use them, guests included. Most of the treatments offered are massage, with 60 minutes costing $1,000 and 90 minutes $1,500. On top of those times guests can stay another 30 minutes in the room to enjoy the facilities. Facials and body treatments are also available with prices a few hundred patacas higher than at Wynn spa. Many thanks to the absolutely charming beauty from the Phillipines, Leslie, who works the Encore front desk and broke it all down for me. In fact, I think I might have some follow up work to do with her in the near future.
The Wynn spa is the larger of the two spas and has a more extensive menu. This is the spa hotel guests want, because use of the sauna, steam room and jacuzzi is free for them. Non guests can also access them but must pay for a treatment in order to use them. The one I'm thinking about going for next time is the 15 minute waxing of the eyebrow or chin for $120. Yes, I'd sit back, take the pain, and then just not leave. I’d be all over the hot tub and steam room for the next six hours.
The Wynn spa treatment list is quite large, with selections including massage ($1000/ 90 mins), facials ($780-$1600), waxing ($120-$400), hydrotherapy ($300-$380), and six or seven extra treats ($350-$550). One VIP double suite is also available for couples, with two different 3 hour treatments that cost $3366 and $2388 respectively.
Both gyms are located next to the spas. The Wynn spa is found on the 1st floor while the Encore spa is also located on the first floor in Encore Tower. Hours for all of the spas and the gyms are the same, 6 am to 10:30 pm.
ENTERTAINMENT
There are two casinos in Macau trying to put on legitimate Las Vegas type entertainment, and they're both on the Cotai strip - the City of Dreams and the Venetian. Six other places, namely Galaxy, Grand Lisboa, Oceanus, Ponte 16, Sands, and Starworld, will put on singing or dancing shows. At the other 24 casinos, including the Wynn, the stage pretty much stays empty.
That's not to say that the Wynn doesn't do anything. The water show out front can turn heads sometimes, especially when it spurts fire at night, but if that's the headline of your show, then you don't have much of one.
They also say call The Tree of Prosperity and Dragon of Fortune 'entertainment', but come on. Both are lame five minute borefests. You get to watch a tree and a dragon emerge from a mysterious looking atlas sphere in the shopping arcade. Believe me, don't waste your time.
Finally just to show how hurting the Wynn is, they actually list the Moonfish Jelly Aquarium in Encore Tower as entertainment in their hotel brochure. I've attached a picture so you can check it out. I don't know, you tell me; that's entertainment!?
BARS
Bars are quite often a waste of time in China, as your normal everyday person doesn't have the time or money to frequent them. When Chinese go out to drink it's usually done in restaurants with food, and then after that, they might go to a KTV. That's why bars in Macau casinos are so often ignored. It's just not a very Chinese thing to do.
- Cinnebar — Cinnebar is located just to the right of the Wynn lobby and is trying more for the trendy coffeehouse/lounge feel with their comfy sofa and lamp decor. Drinks are a bit steep with beers $40, cocktails $70 and harder shots $40 to $85. Glasses of wine are around $100 while bottles go for $390 to $2400. If fine cigars are your thing, they can be had for $120 to $390. An added bonus is that some of the chairs are outside next to the pool, so you can be a part of all the sweet summer action. Cinnebar is open from 5 pm to 1 am Monday to Thursday, 3 pm to 2 am Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 pm to 1 am on Sundays.
- Cristal Bar — Prices aren't a whole lot different than Cinnebar's, although you'll find a lot more champagne at Cristal Bar, with prices that will knock your socks off. I saw quite a few bottles are priced in the $3300 to $15000 range. The centrepiece of the Cristal Bar is its impressive looking chandelier which is a bona fide 19th Century antique. Cristal Bar is the Encore Tower lobby bar and keeps hours from 2 pm to 1 am on Sunday to Thursday and from 2 pm to 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Wing Lei Lounge — Located in the casino, Wing Lei Lounge is open 24 hours. Prices and selection are pretty much the same as at Cinnebar although the Wing Lei Lounge has a lot more cognac. I don't even know what cognac is exactly, and with bottle prices $1000 to $2000, I don't think I'll ever find out.
SHOPPING
The Wynn will go down in history as the first hotel in Macau to offer a ton of high end luxury shops. It must have been a good idea, because every new mega property that's opened since then has followed suit, with the exception of the Grand Lisboa. While the size of the Wynn's shopping arcade can't compare to the behomoths down on Cotai Strip, 25 upmarket shops is still an appropriate number for the size of the hotel.
LV, Chanel, Gucci, Prade etc, if it's European and expensive, it's at the Wynn.
SUMMARY
The Wynn is the best 5-star hotel on Macau island. It's also the most expensive but it's still well worth dropping the extra one or two hundred patacas. Simply put if you're spending over $1,800 on a room in Macau, then you should be staying at the Wynn — end of story.
The casino is a whole other animal though. I can't throw it under the bus completely — as much as I'd like to — because it does have EZ Baccarat, the best Baccarat game in a city built on it. Getting a piece of the 1.02% house advantage on the Banker bet may be enough to make up for all of the casino's glaring deficiencies. Gaming houses, at the end of the day, are about gaming, and not about drink service, or promotions, or layout, or any other secondary consideration that has nothing to do with winning or losing money. They should keep the lowlifes out though.
QUICK FACTS
- Name: Wynn Hotel and Casino
- Address: Rua Cidade de Sintra NAPE, Macau
- Tel: (853) 2888 9966
- Fax: (853) 2832 9966
- Web site: www.wynnmacau.com
- No of tables: around 230
- No of slots: 375
- No of rooms & suites: 1014 (Wynn Hotel 600, Encore Tower 414)
Wynn Slot Machines
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