An Emerald Oasis - The M Resort Spa Casino in Las Vegas

A few weeks ago Edible Skinny was lucky enough to spend a night at the delightful emerald oasis that is the M Resort Spa Casino in Las Vegas. Now I will confess, I had driven by the M Resort for over a year on our multiple sojourns between Sin City and the City of Angeles, never stopping to consider it at all. So when I walked into this shelter for Vegas Locals and those not interested in the craziness of the strip, I was stunned by its elegance. Infused with originality, quality, and value in every amenity, this resort is committed to providing a total guest experience. The M is dedicated to the art of a well-crafted getaway.

A Forbes Travel Guide Four Star and AAA Four Diamond resort, the M Resort Spa Casino spans more than 90 acres. Driven by an innovative function meets pleasure aesthetic, progressive architectural style, and a balance of luxurious offerings, this resort allows guests to experience the South Strip like never before. The property boasts a premium location, situated 400 feet higher in elevation than the resort-casinos on the Strip. It's a shimmery refuge in the rough desert wild of Vegas; echoed by their sparkly M Resort pens of which I now possess almost half a dozen ;-)

The resort is a dedication to the art of detail. Our inviting 15th floor room's view housed floor-to-ceiling windows; BTWs all the 351 rooms and 39 suites on property have this amenity, allowing for views of the spectacular pool (more on that later) and the Las Vegas skyline. Uniquely designed, more than 70 percent of the rooms at M Resort provide views of the world famous Las Vegas skyline. All resort rooms and suites feature automatic lighting controls for energy efficiency measured through your keycard (so don't forget it when you leave your room like I did!).

After settling into our room, I waltzed down to Spa Mio, the Forbes Four Star award winning spa at M Resort Spa Casino, to indulge in some relaxation and rejuvenation. The 23,000 square foot, full service spa and salon features 16 luxurious Men's and Women's treatment rooms and offers a variety of treatments including massage therapy, facials and body treatments.

I indulged in the Mio Signature Massage with Melissa, which turned out to be one of the best bodywork experiences of my life. Melissa has amazing healer hands that transported me to another plane. The massage table was custom built so it is 25% larger than a normal massage table. It is also layered Princess and Pea style with numerous heating pads and memory foams for layer upon layer of lavishness.

The restful Spa Mio also offers a wet area with two whirlpool hot tubs, a steam room and sauna (that includes LED rainbow lightings for a more vibrant experience). As I relaxed under the kaleidoscope of colors, I delighted in fresh cucumber available for my puffy eyes while sipping on a cucumber and lemon water refreshment. Elegant locker areas with plush robes and slippers and a luxurious vanity stocked with grooming essentials including Moroccan Oil hair products were also available. Day passes are available for purchase for Vegas Locals wanting a quick getaway and allow access to the spa and M Pool fitness center.

After a delightful detox, I headed down to dine at Anthony's Prime Steak and Seafood. The restaurant was a recipient of Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence in 2016, and it definitely deserved its accolades. This classic casual steakhouse was hopping for a Monday night, perhaps it's because hospitality sits at the head of the table here. During my dining experience I conversed with multiple locals who noted this was their favorite steakhouse in Vegas. I was celebrating a birthday, so my waiter Mario greeted me a glass of champagne. The bubbles were tiny (the best kind according to Don Ho and anyone who doesn't want a hangover).

I commenced my meal with an appetizer of Calamari; Bell Peppers, Lemon, Remoulade Sauce, and Fried Capers balanced the lightly battered squid perfectly! I continued with a glass of the amazing Trilogy Cabernet from the Flora Springs Winery in Napa, California. This was paired with a Surf and Turf of a 10oz. Australian Lobster Tail (which my server deboned tableside) and a 9oz. Wet Aged Filet Mignon. Both were succulently crafted to perfection. Even though the restaurant was bustling, manager Anthony came over to make sure I was having a fantastic dinner. I reassured him and that the meal and hospitality exceeded my expectations.

The next day I spent a few hours delighting at the M Pool, the showstopper of the M Resort Spa Casino's grounds. The pool is an ideal destination to soak up the sun, boasting over 100,000 square feet of pool and entertainment space with a capacity of 6,500. The M Pool is a luminous oasis featuring two, 5,460 square foot infinity edge pools, whirlpool hot tubs surrounded by fire torches and luxurious cabanas and day beds that offer guests a relaxing environment with a variety of unique features and amenities. Both infinity edge pools are three and a half feet deep and feature a nine inch wading depth pool on each side. In the summer this area becomes Tropicalé on Friday evenings when it transforms into a Tiki Bar imparting beachy vibes and island libations. It also perfect for large scale concert events like the upcoming Kesha performance there is on September 16th.

After hanging a few hours poolside, I slide inside to Burgers and Brews for a late morning brunch at the countertop. My Southern classic meal of Chicken and Waffles was comprised of fluffy super sweet waffles, piping hot honey breaded chicken, whipped butter, and maple syrup. Balanced with a bottomless cup of coffee, it was the perfect Tuesday morning hooky playing pleasure food.

And M Resort Spa Casino has new experiences a-coming! Opening in September is their 16th floor bar that will dispense whiskeys via enomatic wine dispenser machines. This is similar to M Resort's Hostile Grape Wine Cellar and Tasting Room which is the largest enomatic wine bar location in the world. Offering 160 wines by the glass this way, the space is a popular Vegas watering hole for those looking to sample many different vinos in a night. The yet to be named whiskey version of this concept harbors a top floor terraced patio primed for cigar smoking opportunities.

So whether you're a Vegas Local or a tourist avoiding the Strip, The M Resort is the perfect place for those looking for a spot dedicated to the art of the well-crafted getaway. It is truly an emerald oasis in the rough desert wild.

Kat Thomas is the Editor in Chief of Edible Skinny, a site dedicated to making your life postcard worthy. She is also the CEO of the creative media company This Way Adventures. You can find more about both brands at http://www.thiswayadventures.com