I love the Gold Lounge advertising playing on the screen that you can see while driving on the I-15. That girl can really shake it. If the review is based on just that, it would be a lock for 5 stars from me.
But she was not at the Gold Lounge when we were there for the Yelp Viva Elvis pre-show and "surprised" birthday event for an Elite member. The place was fairly crowded and has a surprising mix of clienteles (not the decked out clubbing crowds). But maybe that is because it is still early and most of the people inside were there to wait for the Viva Elvis show.
The food menu is very limited and on the pricey side, but Aria is a casino concept that aims to cater to the affluent segment of the market. So if you are an average joe on vacation or a local that is hanging out on the Strip, the cost of entertainment can seem on the high side. But it is what it is.
The lounge is nicely decorated, and is supposed to be a place that El;vis would enjoy hanging out at. So maybe that explains the big old horse lamp just inside the door. The lounge seatings for the most part are comfy. But overall it is just a decent size room without any partitions to segment the room, unless you count the bar that is centrally located and kind of splits the room in half.
Waitresses clad in tight gold color outfits checks up on you for your orders. They are friendly and not pushy. And we were respectful and not intoxicated, yet.
I would totally recommend the Gold Lounge for refreshments and light snack while you wait for the Viva Elvis Show. And if you don't finish your drinks before the show, you can bring it with you into the theater. As long as you swap your glasses for the plastic cups they have out near the theater entrances.
Just a quick note, The Gold Lounge is a venture operated by The Light Group in conjunction with Cirque du Soleil.