The 48-story hotel tower includes 2,034 rooms, and the resort also offers 72,000 sq ft (6,700 m2) of gaming space, as well as the Encore Esplanade retail area.

The property includes the Encore Theater, originally built for Wynn Las Vegas and now located in between the two resorts.

The last remaining hotel structures of the Desert Inn – the Palms and St. Andrews towers – were imploded in November 2004, making way for Encore.

[6][7] It was originally planned only as a hotel tower with a boutique casino, although the strength of the economy prompted Wynn to expand the project,[8][9][10] adding restaurants and convention space, among other features.

[10] A nine-story Desert Inn parking garage, the last remainder of the resort's structures, was imploded on March 6, 2007, as construction progressed on Encore.

[19] As with the original resort, Steve Wynn starred in a commercial for Encore featuring him on the roof of the new hotel's tower.

[29] During the design phase, Wynn Resorts consulted with Forbes Travel Guide in hopes of attaining its five-star rating.

[30] Encore was designed to attract an upper-class clientele,[26] competing with other upcoming luxury resort projects such as CityCenter and Cosmopolitan.

[31] Jerry Beale, senior vice president of design, described Encore as "the flirty younger sister" of Wynn Las Vegas.

[38] Like Wynn Las Vegas, Encore also features natural lighting in certain areas of the resort,[26][39] an uncommon trait for casinos.

[35] Other notable design elements include red chandeliers above the casino floor,[32][33] which contains 72,000 sq ft (6,700 m2) of gaming space.

[13][41] Designed by Dan Barteluce, the Encore Esplanade consists of an indoor walkway connecting to Wynn Las Vegas, with lattice ceilings providing natural lighting.

[43] A French restaurant, Switch, featured a rotating decor; walls would retract into the ceiling every 30 minutes, allowing for a new one to descend.

[44] Other dining establishments included Society Cafe, and the Asian restaurant Wazuzu, the latter overseen by chef Jet Tila.

Casa Playa is led by executive chef Sarah Thompson and offers a tequila and mezcal selection.

[75] In a 2009 review for The New York Times, Brooks Barnes wrote, "Until the economy improves, the opulent hotel will come across a bit like a boom-times relic.

The magazine praised Encore's natural lighting and indoor plant life, stating that both features make the expansive public spaces feel "downright cozy".

[81] In 2017, readers of Condé Nast Traveler named Wynn Las Vegas and Encore as the best hotel property in the city, noting the high level of luxury.