Nirvana Hotel located on South Las Vegas Blvd, has been a huge hit for visitors looking for a more quiet, yet still on the strip hotel. From pet friendly rooms to future private suites, they also have their own food truck located in the back of the hotel which offers daily breakfast and happy hour for their guests during their stay. Nirvana Hotel is owned by Sandy Hershkowitz and her husband, Eric Hershkowitz. Friday, April 14, 2023. Brian Ramos
Thursday, April 20, 2023 | 2 a.m.
Despite its location directly on the south Las Vegas Strip, with a stream of honking cars and loud groups of people passing by, the Nirvana Hotel is still somehow shrouded in peace and quiet.
The only consistent source of noise comes from the hotel’s Zen Garden, where water can be heard bubbling in a fountain at its center.
Sandy Hershkowitz — who owns and operates the 25-room property with her husband, Erik Hershkowitz — said her vision for the Nirvana Hotel as a peaceful getaway was motivated by her experience being an esthetician and diving into energy healing.
“That is my background, and that’s what I wanted to build — for people just to have that quiet haven,” she said. “Get away from the chaos.”
The couple already owned a souvenir store at the front of the property, which is directly across Las Vegas Boulevard from Mandalay Bay, before obtaining the hotel behind it in January. They renovated it for about two months before officially opening the Nirvana Hotel in late March.
The owners’ goals for the hotel were to clean up the one-acre property, which Sandy Hershkowitz said had become neglected over time, and to provide an alternative to traditional resorts. Unlike its neighbors on the Strip, the Nirvana Hotel has no gambling, smoking or resort and parking fees.
What it does have is a tranquility room with coffee and tea for guests, pet-friendly room options and outdoor areas, a daily happy hour and more, Sandy Hershkowitz said.
The hotel also serves an individual breakfast in ribbon-tied picnic baskets to each room daily. Many guests, Sandy Hershkowitz said, choose to enjoy their breakfast outside in the Zen Garden, where there are brick walkways, benches, quaint tables with cushioned seats and a sunny view of the Strip.
“It’s just really comforting,” said Sandy Hershkowitz, who added that the garden was a great place for guests to meditate. “Really, really pretty.”
Next to the Zen Garden is a food truck owned and operated by the Nirvana Hotel’s executive chef and Erik Hershkowitz’s brother, Alon Hershkowitz.
Alon Hershkowitz said he primarily serves Mediterranean and Israeli dishes, with guests so far favoring his shawarma sandwich or falafel wrap, which is a vegan option. He loves working with his family, Alon Hershkowitz said, and is excited to see the hotel grow.
“When you have a food truck, you have to drive around — (in) the city, you’re driving around,” Alon Hershkowitz said. “So, finally, when I got this location, and I got a permit to keep it here — it’s amazing.”
The hotel’s rooms vary in size and are outfitted with vintage bathrooms, Sandy Hershkowitz said, to retain the architecture of the nearly 70-year-old building. Each room also has a painting of a lotus flower, with different colors to represent different chakras, or energies, she said.
Future renovations for the hotel include the addition of two suites, Sandy Hershkowitz said, with a jacuzzi or spa in one and a bar in the other. She is also working on an outdoor lounge where guests can relax and sunbathe. The lounge will be filled with plants, a vending machine and possibly a shower.
“I kind of want to really work on making it really, really beautiful and welcoming,” she said, noting that a motto of the hotel is “Love Grows Here.”
The hotel has been booked every weekend since its opening, she added, and people have loved their experience. She and the staff take a hands-on approach with guests, Sandy Hershkowitz said, calling them by name and making them feel welcome. According to the hotel’s website, room prices range between $159 to $179 a night.
The hotel has its own events — with the latest an “Arabian Night” with decor, food and a DJ — and can also be booked for events like weddings.
Ultimately, Sandy Hershkowitz said, she hopes the Nirvana Hotel can serve as a sanctuary for people who need a getaway.
“Everyone … they actually feel it,” Sandy Hershkowitz said. “They’re like, ‘Oh my God, it’s so relaxing here.’”
