Stay & Play

Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Reno, Nevada

by Randy Mink

Exploring the public rooms and pool courtyard soon after my arrival at the Italy-themed Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, I was trying not to gawk. The place was so jaw-droppingly exquisite, however, that I couldn’t help myself. It was like stepping into a grand palazzo and a Tuscan village all at the same time.

The 1,621-room Peppermill combines the glitz of a Nevada casino hotel with nods to the Old World. Inside and out, the resort’s Italian flavor is always there to savor, from the rustic stonework and vast expanses of marble to statuary reminiscent of the Renaissance, from red-tile roofs and stately colonnades to murals of the idyllic countryside and great cities of Italy. The three-story Spa & Salon Toscana, with 24 treatment rooms and an indoor pool, draws inspiration from the lavish baths of ancient Rome. Indeed, there’s a sense of refinement not found at Reno’s other casino hotels.

One night at Romanza, the Peppermill’s Italian restaurant, I feasted on a decadently creamy chicken and gnocchi soup, a main course of meat-stuffed cannelloni smothered in cheese and bechamel sauce, and a basket of breads, all washed down by a bottle of house-made limoncello. Under a celestial ceiling of clouds and twinkly lights, a rotating ensemble of classical statues and a torch show every half hour created some drama. For dessert, I stopped at Biscotti’s Cafe for salted caramel gelato. The hotel has 10 restaurants, including the swank Bimini’s Steakhouse and the brand-new Sabroso taqueria, plus 16 bars and lounges.

Stunning videos on several thousand high-definition screens provide captivating touches to the restaurants, casino floor and other public areas. The Peppermill’s own videographers travel the globe to capture images of bucket-list destinations, including world capitals, African game reserves and North American national parks.

Travel photography also adorns the walls of guest rooms and hallways. Windows in my corner unit in the all-suite Tuscany Tower afforded views of both the pool deck and Sierra Nevada Mountains. Outfitted with marble-top furniture, plush floral carpeting and velvety brocade drapery, the spacious nest seemed more like a drawing room fit for an Italian countess than for a mere tourist like me.

www.peppermillreno.com