For a fraction of the cost of a weekend Vegas trip, Barona Resort and Casino offers a fraction of the gluttony. Located 40 minutes east of La Jolla in not-so-scenic Lakeside, the casino fills a useful niche: on-demand, somewhat-classy entertainment.
The moment you drive onto the grounds, you’re greeted by a handful of smartly dressed employees in suits and name tags, ready to pull your car around to the free valet lot, lest you waste a moment of potential gambling time in the five-story parking garage.
One of the most alluring aspects of the place is the staggering amount of free swag you’re offered on arrival. More greeters still are tasked with arming gamblers mid-bet with complimentary bowls of chocolates, matches and wetnaps (all emblazoned with the Barona logo, of course).
At Barona, it pays to be under 21 — drinks of the non-alcoholic variety are also free. And here’s the clutch: Most ATMs have no withdrawal fees, so you don’t have to think twice before diving into your savings to claw out of blackjack debt.
Even with all the freebies, you don’t have to worry about your arms being too full to pick up the chips: Barona has picked up on chipless betting, so many of their minimum bet tables use electronic touch pads. Minimum bets for blackjack and certain poker games can run as low as five bucks, but if card games aren’t your style, there’s no shortage of slots.
In case the casino-standard, stroke-inducing supply of flashing lights didn’t already clue you in, slot machines fill every crevice of the torturously overwhelming building. Grannies, frat boys and the middle-aged sit side by side in front of the machines, engulfed in a perpetual cloud of cigarette smoke.
With an ever-expanding array of penny slots, Barona caters to the stingy gambler who enjoys losing five dollars a night to a flashing machine.
When you’re tired of losing money, head over to the surprisingly affordable food court, featuring the Pizza Place, Barona Coffee Co., Rubio’s and Feisty Kate’s Burgers & Malts. No one under 18 is allowed in the casino, but dining areas are fair game before 8 p.m.
Barona also features 11 formal restaurants (four of which serve alcohol) and a Vegas-style buffet, but skip them if you’re on a tight budget. The $20.99 Seasons Fresh Buffet doesn’t quite live up to its titular promise, though it’s the perfect place to find the equivalent of three Panda Express meals. Head over to the hot dog cart and Barona Coffee Co. for their gelato instead. A hot dog costs $1.50, and a small scoop of gelato is 50 cents. Coffee drinks and hot chocolate from Barona Coffee Co. sell for a dollar.
If you’re feeling swanky, most restaurants are open until 10 p.m. (midnight on weekends), but dine any later and you’ll be confined to food court fare. Barona also offers game-side dining for the addict, reasoning that, “When you’re at the top of your game, the last thing you want to do is take a time-out.”
And like your average flashy, smoke-filled casino, Barona knows that time is money.
Barona is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
