Those in the mood for big-time partying might feel a show in Las Vegas or Mardi Gras in New Orleans are their only options. Although San Francisco has a healthy nightlife, the city is too small to hold the kind of lavish, over-the-top raves and parties one might find on the Vegas strip or during the Mardi Gras parades. The solution? Enter Graton Resort and Casino, the newly opened 320,000-square-foot property with 144 gaming tables, 3,000 slot machines and 5,500 guest parking spaces. You have to see Graton to believe it.
The floor at Graton Casino — Photo courtesy of Facebook
As with any casino, the way to measure Graton is by its games. The 144 table games include Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, and Baccarat, a live poker room and VIP gaming salons. As with everything in Graton, it's all brand new, with cutting edge technology that only a casino near the Bay Area and Silicon Valley can offer. (That's for you to chew on, Vegas.)
And the 3,000 slot machines offer more bells and whistles than anyone's ears could even keep up with. The 10,000-square-foot Events Center might not yet offer the big-names of Vegas, but with the draw of the wine country all around, that might just be a matter of time.
2014 New Year's celebration at Graton Casino — Photo courtesy of Facebook
What really sets Graton apart from most casinos, however, is its vicinity to the world-class cuisine of the Bay Area. On its opening day in November, it wasn't just the slot machines and gaming tables that were packed: it was the fine dining restaurants of Tony's, 630 Park Steakhouse, M.Y. China and The Daily Grill. These four names are Bay Area institutions, and the chefs at these restaurants took great pains to ensure the menu selections at the casino are just as delectable as the original. And now that the November buzz has worn-off, Graton might be the better choice to enjoy these eateries, as opposed to the always congested San Francisco dining scene.
If you need something quicker than the sit-down dining of the "Big Four" establishments, then take a walk through Marketplace, which features nine simple eateries with everything from pizza to sandwiches to gourmet wings. Grab a few hand-rolled sushi rolls and you'll be back at your video poker spot in no time.
So if that undeniable urge to party with no bounds hits you, don't jump on the next flight to Vegas. Head to Graton Casino - maybe even taking in a wine country tour on the side - and gamble Northern California-style.
Graton Casino Bus Program — Photo courtesy of Facebook
