We visited Pala for my mom's birthday, and she had a blast! The drive in on Highway 76 is pretty winding and curvy (east of interstate 15), but completely worth it. There's plenty of eateries and bars with live entertainment, even a gift shop. The casino itself is modern, clean, and has spotless restrooms. We started with a hearty breakfast and coffee at Pala Cafe, which was awesome. The staff here is super friendly and stepped in to help whenever we looked lost. A hotel guest even went out of her way to tell us how much she loved her room stay. Game-wise, they have a good variety from penny slots to high rollers, plus a great mix of classic machines. Like any casino, the slots are hit-or-miss; some pay out a bit, others are tight. Although there's a smoke-free area, the smell lingers so I did see some people wearing masks due to the smell. We loved the outdoor patio with umbrella tables for a quick breather. Overall, we had a fun experience and will definitely be back! read more

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Posting this as a warning to anyone visiting Pala. We stayed over Memorial Day weekend and were incorrectly charged over $800 at the pool. It took more than a week to get the issue resolved. Unfortunately, my family visited again this past weekend (June 4-7, 2026) and experienced another problem. This time, we were charged at a restaurant and sports bar that we never visited. As of today, no one from the casino has contacted us to apologize or make things right. We've spent hours on the phone with both our bank and the casino, with no meaningful resolution other than having to cancel our credit cards ourselves to prevent the charges from going through. We are extremely disappointed. Our family has been coming to Pala for more than 25 years, and it's upsetting to experience these issues. If these unauthorized charges are happening to other patrons as well, that is very concerning. What a shame to see a place we've enjoyed for so many years leave us feeling this way. read more

Tried the bus service for the first time from Irvine to PALA Given the price of gas there's definitely a benefit to the service The bus is a little dated and could use a cleaning I'd try it again in a pinch read more

Just stayed Saturday to Sunday. The hotel is nice and clean. I really liked the decor and the checkin staff were great. I'd give it 5/5! It was too cold to use the pool but it looked nice. The reviews on the casino are valid. It's really bad with all the smoke I really didn't enjoy gambling here and went to my favorite casino up the road. The band was good. Always a fun time with live music. 3/5. read more

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Hotel security near room elevator is great. Noodles Asian food restaurant has temporarily move to the new Asian food court. The following is not a reflection of noodles but rather of the food ordered in the food court in general. Sweet and sour chicken tasted as if it was frozen and not fried enough as it was not crispy. the sauce, however, was a traditional, sweet and sour sauce. I would not order it again. The Shanghai Pan fried pork buns were about 2.5 inches in diameter. The bread was dry and not fluffy and the bottom was charred to the point where it tasted burnt I would not order this item again. The combination lo mein was fine. This portion was small for the price and the noodles went cold fast. read more

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Nice casino.. EV Chargers not working!!. Saw multiple drivers looking for chargers. Probably about 30 taped off. Some not taped off . Just didnt work read more

Yes, Pala is a cool place to visit and the hotel room my wife and I got was great. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The food was pretty good at the spots we hit. We did want to have dinner at the fancy restaurant, Elementa, which is amazing. We had a late reservation however the group we were with got hungry and we needed to move the time up and were told there was nothing sooner available. If you go and are told no reservations are available don't trust that... Go to the restaurant and check as that's what happened to us only we didn't double check and ended up getting just a meal at an average spot which was okay. Then after we ate we happened to walk past Elementa and saw nearly all the tables empty. So, we went back later and got drinks and desert. I also order a scallop dish to share with the group and it was amazing. The deserts we got were to die for. Can't wait to go back for a full dinner and dessert. We're not fans of the smoke from the cigarettes but it wasn't too bad. If you wear a mask it's helpful for those who just hate cigarette smoke. We don't really gamble so we just watched. Oh, they do have bands playing on a raised stage and one of the groups we saw was really good doing 80's covers. The pool area was closed as it turns out they close it for winter months. So double check if it's open if that's something you plane to hit when you go. From what we could see it was pretty nice. If you go good luck at the tables. read more

Pala Casino Spa Resort - Some cool lighting out near the pool area. It looked better in person. - Casinos Near Me - Pala, California

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I thought I had more photos but I guess I didn't take any lol I've stayed here before and the rooms are always clean, the beds are always comfortable but the pillows are too soft (aren't they always though). The bar is a great place to hang out when there's a live band but sadly we found out there's nothing happening on Monday nights in the bar area. Was also disappointed because the pool was closed and that's one of the things we had been looking forward to the most. The food at the Chinese restaurant is the best, the cafe is decent kind of like being at a Dennys or IHOP. The check-in desk was slow to go because there was only 1 guest service representative checking in guests. Overall the stay was good: read more

Pala Casino Spa Resort - Bar area - Casinos Near Me - Pala, California

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Pala Casino management and Tribal Council, Please take heed in what I have to say. I've been an outstanding contributor to Pala Casino's former success since before 2011. Assign hosts when people change jobs and players need a new host. Make a magical moment for each guest. That includes birthdays! Please make your food less salty and don't just cater to the people you bring on luxury motor coaches. If you bring in pensioners, then create a win for them. Their diet is something different. Add selections that are palatable for them. Let them win at something. Make it enjoyable. Address the ventilation in the casino. The air is thick with smoke. Music needs to be heard even during the construction period. Please bring the former glory back. We enjoyed headliner acts and famous comedians. We love the outdoor venue, Starlight Amphitheater. Let's keep the music playing and vibrations high! Happy Holidays! Michelle Z Special mention to the star employees that always are kind and greet me... Annie - cocktail server Joel - foodserver (Noodles) Sara - slot attendant Letty - housekeeping Artyvas - slot attendant Maryam - host (Bar Meets Grill) Behrouz - foodserver (Bar Meets Grill) Luis - foodserver (Pala Cafe) Joshua - host (Elementa) Annemarie - foodserver (Elementa) read more

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The casino is enjoyable, especially with the live cover band performances, but it's quite smoky. The machines at the main bar, where the music takes place, are outdated. Their buttons often malfunction, causing bets to fail or be placed incorrectly. The machines are also dirty and frequently unavailable. A complete renovation of the main bar is badly needed. Regarding the food, Bar Meets Grill is excessively overpriced. While we don't object to the price point, the portions have shrunk dramatically. For instance, a 6oz fillet costs over $100 and comes with only one carrot, four green beans, and a small portion of mashed potatoes. The food quality and portion sizes need significant improvement. read more

Rude. Mean. Nasty employees all through the Entire establishment! There definitely a problem at this Casino. Never Again read more

had a great time, slots were loose and we won quite happily, staff were friendly, great non smoking area, bathrooms very mod con! We will definitely return! read more

I would like to add... we paid $400 for one night. We were comped $50 and an extended check out. However when 11 o'clock normal check out time. We were locked out of are room!!! My fiancé had to go to bathroom terribly. Lucky no accidents on the carpet. I just feel for the amount of money spent it definitely was not worth the stay. read more

I used to love coming here, but the spa has been closed since covid. Wish they would remove "Spa" from the name if it's never going to reopen. That's why I would go there.. not anymore.. read more

Just amending previous review. We just finished a 5-day stay at nearby Pechanga RV resort and can only tell you it's 1,000% different. We will never stay at second-rate Pala again but will return to Pechanga over and over. The RV resort is cleaner and so is the casino. Service is awesome and there are lots of restaurants to choose from. Why spend $ at Pala when Pechanga exists? read more

Pala Casino Spa Resort - The cafe was nice - Casinos Near Me - Pala, California

Came here last week on the 23rd to celebrate my mothers Birthday! The last time I came here was in 2018! The drive was a bit long coming from Los Angeles but it was a great time! We got there around noon and gambled for 3 hours. The staff is very friendly. The casino is clean! And the drinks were really good I recommend this place to everyone! Come and have a good time read more

Pala Casino Spa Resort - An old fashion - Casinos Near Me - Pala, California

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We attended a wedding nearby, so we booked a room at Pala Casino Spa Resort. Pros: Large room with the best black-out curtains, great pool area, friendly staff, super-fast elevators, live music. As an aside: The pool area is large and fantastic. Comprised of several lounging pools. No actual swimming pools, no lazy river. Fire pits, cabanas for rent, plenty of lounge chairs. No super loud bumping music. Cons: Restaurants don't open until late afternoon, $9 pints of beer, found slow service at several places, Players Club card does not get you any discounts at the bars or restaurants (unlike Sycuan's which are good for 10% discount). Cons+: They gouge $35 for early check-in. The room is either ready, or it isn't. It wasn't ready any faster because I gave you $35. After coughing up the $35 we were able to check in a little after noon. Ruvi at the front desk was super nice. They have a security guy at the elevator entrance, so your room key card is not required to access your floor. The room was great. Very large room with a lot of floor space. There was so much more room for activities! A really comfortable king bed was the centerpiece. There were a nice couch and ottoman and a little table in front of the window. A nightstand on either side of the bed. I appreciated the old school digital alarm clock. I like to be able to see the time at night without grabbing my phone. A decent sized closet and desk/dresser rounded out the room. There were no suitcase stands, so I put our luggage on the ironing board - improvise! In-room coffee and mini fridge are always appreciated. The bathroom was very large with a separate bathtub and shower stall. The commode was in its own little room inside the bathroom. We loved the huge bay window. The view was of the parking garage with the mountains in the distance. The black-out curtains were phenomenal. We slept until 9:00, which never happens. Not the greatest casino, but the hotel was solid. read more

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Customer service is exceptional. Rooms are super clean and spacious. Celebrated brother's birthday by the pools. Gambeled and danced throughout the Casino with live band. Such a blast. Highly recommend and affordable on weekdays read more

Pala Casino Spa Resort - Pala Casino - Casinos Near Me - Pala, California

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We have been to a number of concerts at all of the different southern California casinos. Have to say that the staff at Pala was probably the most polite and friendly of all of them. Not just by a little bit, but buy a great deal. Went to see Jefferson Starship this last month in May. Was a little shocked when we walked up and saw that we were outside. It made no mention of this when we were purchasing the tickets. Had a little bit of reservations going into it, but have to say that they're outside. Summer concert series is pretty fabulous. The venue is very nice. Sound was outstanding and the view spectacular. If you're going to eat at bar meets Grill, make sure you make reservations. They seem to be a very popular place. We ended up eating at the café and the food was marvelous. Overall was extremely impressed. Some of the other Southern California casinos could learn a thing or two from how polite every single employee here is. Great job! read more

Pala Casino Spa Resort - Casinos Near Me - Pala, California

This lounge is perfect for the arena. There's lots of room at the bar and tons of seating available. It's usually booked as a VIP Experience with access to the patio and balcony seats within the arena. Prices are reasonable. Service is excellent and most importantly, it's new! read more

Pala Casino Spa Resort - Beautiful view - Casinos Near Me - Pala, California

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The room was great! Highly recommend trying their Chinese food there! It's pricey but delicious and comes with A LOT of food. I do NOT however recommend this place for families with kids as children aren't allowed in the pools. Also, when going to the pool make sure you bring your ID as you have to sign in to use it. read more

Pala Casino Review - A Fun First-Time Visit for My Boyfriend's Birthday I visited Pala Casino for the first time to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday, and overall, it was a great experience! We went mainly to gamble and see what the casino had to offer, and I can say it was a fun, welcoming, and clean environment. One of the perks right off the bat was the free parking, which made getting in and out easy. As new members, we also got $20 in free slot play when we signed up for a players card--definitely a nice bonus to start. The casino layout is one open square floor, with table games in the center and a food and sports bar right in the middle, which made it convenient to grab a bite or a drink without having to wander too far. There's also a smoking and non-smoking area, so it's good for all types of players. Since we were celebrating a birthday, we took a birthday photo, which was a nice touch to commemorate our time there. While I can only speak for my first-time visit and mainly going to play, the experience was enjoyable, and the staff was friendly. read more

Pala Casino Spa Resort - Casinos Near Me - Pala, California

Don't go there if you are with a family! They false advertise as a family resort! They are not kid- friendly and they made cancelation a very difficult task! read more

It asks for too many extras. Umm like room service.... Seriously. Every thing was an extra charge. Restaurants not open until 4pm... really?! And talk about a montey eater!! We almost always at least walk away even.. this place a definitely a money loser!!! read more

UPDATE: I actually received a phone call from the general manager at Pala casino!!! After telling her about my experience, and the lack of follow thru, lack of customer service/support, she listened and made it right!!!! She had no idea that this happened to me, and refunded my $400 bogus charge for room damage (supposed curtain damage)! She went above e and beyond making it right! I would like to thank her, for listening, understanding the issue at hand, and making it right!! I always loved going to Pala casino.... , me and my brothers....! She really understood the problem and resolved it!! We will be enjoying the casino once again !! Many thx!!! read more

I've enjoyed this lil casino. I appreciate the snow free rooms the best. They hosted a conference recently and the food and snacks were great. Lots of options. The temperature was great too. No issues with technical or speakers. When I've come for concerts- it's always been a good time, ambiance is great. No notes. read more

Pala Casino Spa Resort - The 3rd annual MMIP summit 2025 - Casinos Near Me - Pala, California

The Best part of Pala Casino is the Stage in the center of the Casino. They had a fun energetic band playing that gave the casino an good energy. Weekends are a good time to go. The casino has ALL the usual slots, machines that try and convince you $15 is a BIG WIN!!!! It's not. I would HIGHLY recommend NOT SIGNING UP for the players card that offers hardly ANYTHING and they want your email and phone number. I can't take Casino seriously when a poor quality players club doesn't seem to appreciate its players. It feels like they just want your data. Pass on Recommending. If they had off track betting, I absolutely go back. I do appreciate when management responds to feedback. That shows me that they care. read more

I spent one night here over the summer, and I thought the hotel was lovely. The room was comfortable and clean and check-in was easy. I spent a couple hours at the pool the next day, and it was just a great afternoon. I didn't gamble, so I can't comment on all that, but I don't understand the poor reviews because I enjoyed my stay. read more

Little casino in the middle of no where. We drove through a pass from Temecula to get here. The casino is nicely built similar to the larger one nearby. Inside looked nice enough but what made me really uncomfortable is the SMOkiNG!!! Few casinos allow smoking inside but this one does. Even the non-smoking area reeked of cigarettes. Parking is confusing. You should be able to get to the upper levels if level one is full but you have to exit outside to access the upper levels. They were having a concert so we couldn't check out the pool & spa area. Their food area looked tasty and I would try it if I was hungry. I did get a hello kitty mochi but they charged me $10 for it which is a bit pricey. There was live music in front of the card tables which was nice. The musicians played the guitar well but singing could be improved. Blackjack was ok. Husband enjoyed it more than me. I wanted out because of all the smoke. Their hotel looked nice from the reception area but I couldn't stay at this place with my kids with all the smoke. No thanks! read more

We stayed at Pala for the first time to attend the Pala Spring Festival Gala celebrating Lunar New Year, and it was such a wonderful experience from start to finish. Check-in with Naomi was smooth and welcoming, and Felicidad made checkout just as pleasant. Throughout the entire day, every staff member we encountered -- from security to the ushers at the show -- was kind, patient, and helpful. We brought our elderly mom with us, and she wasn't feeling well. The line was long, and my sister kindly reached out to one of the staff members to see if there was any way to help. She was incredibly compassionate and helped get us seated so our mom wouldn't have to stand and wait. That small act of kindness meant so much to our family and helped make our experience even better! During the Chinese New Year event, CEO Fred Buro spoke and brought his staff on stage to wish everyone a Happy New Year. It felt personal and heartfelt. You can tell leadership is doing something right because it reflects in the staff's warmth, professionalism, and the overall cleanliness of the property. Our room was clean and comfortable. Sergio at the Pala Café was attentive and friendly, and we felt the food and event pricing offered great value. The only downside was the smoke in the casino area, which at times felt overwhelming. Aside from that, everything else -- the hospitality, cleanliness, and overall experience -- was excellent. We'll definitely be back. read more

Pala Casino Spa Resort - Casinos Near Me - Pala, California

Easy check in but get there before 4pm there will be a line after 4pm Rooms are clean read more

I went around the lobby and read about the bones game played outdoors and the history of the schools... I found an entrance to a hiking trail and I was elated, maybe I could see the same nature of the photos in lobby. I ran back inside for a key but No key was provided because the trail not well maintained? What is the point of having a trail and not maintaining it!?!! Then still wanting to get some walking in I asked the front desk girl where the fitness room was? Closed. Also not maintained! I asked for anywhere safe to walk? No sidewalks for me to safely walk? All there is a smoke filled casino with the most sad looking staff. Makes me wonder where else in this establishment is not maintaining. Food safety? Cleanliness? That was a rather disappointing experience. read more

Nice hotel! I wouldn't really call it a resort, a resort has a spa and gym (as advertised). Well they don't have either. They should stop advertising that they do. The restaurant choices are not very good. Pala cafe has gone down hill. Boy Meets Grill is just ok. But very pricey for what you get.i have been to much better steakhouses that are not that pricy for a steak. The wine choices are slim, they do not carry any New Zealand Sauv blanc only 2 choices. They do have outdoor concerts in the summer which we enjoy.The slot machines are a bit tight!! Beware! Otherwise its ok for a weekend. I would give it more stars if it had a gym! read more

We made reservations at the Pala Hotel & Casino because we were attending a wedding nearby. We arrived around 12:30 PM after a long drive and noticed that both the hotel and parking lot seemed very empty. Our room was already available, but the front desk insisted that we pay an early check-in fee. I politely explained that we were there for a wedding and asked if the fee could be waived given the circumstances, but she refused. She told us we would need to check in at 4pm and the wedding was at 3pm. What made the experience especially disappointing was that friends of ours who arrived shortly after us were allowed to check in early at no additional charge. The inconsistency and rudeness in how guests were treated left a bad impression and made us feel undervalued as customers. A little flexibility and fairness would have gone a long way. read more

Let me get this review in before 2024 ends. We stayed here overnight and happy that we did. Everyone that works here, bartenders, servers, room service, front desk, valet, etc exceeded our expectations. The casino is fun and the rooms are beautiful. We had dinner at Elementa upscale restaurant located in the casino and WOW - they had my favorite, squid ink pasta. I'm not much of a table player but I like sitting at the bar and playing my black jack. I did win a few times which was great. The bartender was fun and my view from my bar was the live band! It was so much fun since they were playing old school rnb and eveyrone was just having a great time. DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED AND CANNOT WAIT TO GO BACK! read more

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I come here alot. Too much to have had the experience we just did. The bartender David is very rude. He made us feel unseen and disrespected. I told upper management but I'm not sure if they'll do anything. Makes me not want to come back and spend my money here. read more

I've been here multiple times and had a great time every time. The person I spoke with in the phone Nicole had great energy and she's a wonderful employee! Looking forward to the pool and hitting the jackpot! It's inevitable read more

We stay at the Pala Casino for 2 nights stay. We book a suit and wanted to book a Spa visit but was told after paying for our stay that the Spa and the gym is under construction. We found out that it has been in construction since 2019. We had to book at Pechanga for the Spa what a shame. The gym was not available also. The pool attendent told us we need 2 Ids to get into the pool we had problems getting into our room one of the security guards told us that we needed to show Id and that our room card somone could have gave us that card. Where by another show artist went by not showing her card. Both of them went up to their room. He did not even check them. Low activity as far as the guess are concerned Too much to write and complaint. Find another hotel. I am goning to black twetter and write my review. bad experience. read more

I still like the atmosphere here it's pretty laid back i like listening to Live music on Wednesday thru Friday read more

Pala Casino Spa Resort - System is down completely smh - Casinos Near Me - Pala, California

Pala is and always have been one of my favorite casinos, I visit Pala at least twice a month, as a matter of fact I already booked my 3 night stay for the end of the month, can't wait. The rooms are spacious. I always enjoy my stay there. Nice thing about the rooms they come with a coffee pot and refrigerator, I always get a good sleep there. Very friendly staff. I am looking forward to their new restaurants opening soon and after I try them then I'll give them five stars cause I know that will be good just like the other ones. They have a few pools to pick from, it's a nice place to relax and catch some sun. Win or loose on the casino floor I always have a good time. read more