Cipriani Punta del Este confirms December 2026 opening for ultra‑luxury casino in Uruguay
Cipriani Punta del Este confirms December 2026 opening for ultra‑luxury casino in Uruguay
The Cipriani development in Punta del Este has reached a new milestone, with promoters confirming that the Cipriani Resort, Residences & Casino Punta del Este is scheduled to open its doors in December 2026.
Rising on the beachfront site once occupied by the emblematic San Rafael hotel, demolished in 2019, the project represents an investment of roughly USD 700 million and will be the Cipriani brand’s first resort worldwide and its first venture in the southern hemisphere.
The development occupies a prime stretch of La Brava, and the promoters aim to anchor a new phase in Uruguay’s casino and hospitality offering at the ultra‑luxury end of the market.
The project combines a 64‑suite hotel, a casino equipped with modern slots and table games, and a broad array of food‑and‑beverage and leisure amenities. The hotel inventory is divided between classic and premium suites, complemented by large penthouses aimed at high‑net‑worth guests, while the casino will include VIP spaces, a private club and dedicated hospitality services in line with the glamour historically associated with the original San Rafael.
The design incorporates a reconstruction of that hotel’s distinctive silhouette and a Gothic Hall conceived as a multi‑purpose events venue, linking the new complex to a period when Punta del Este hosted diplomatic summits and high‑profile social gatherings.
Beyond the hotel and casino, the scheme includes three residential towers of up to 60 storeys, with the tallest due to reach around 320 metres and house both hotel floors and serviced residences. A significant portion of the residences has already been pre‑sold, including record‑priced penthouses marketed through international channels, signalling strong demand among affluent buyers for branded luxury property in Punta del Este.
After several years of advances and setbacks, changes in plans and investors, work began on the iconic San Rafael hotel after the department of Maldonado gave the final go-ahead to the project by businessman Giuseppe Cipriani back in in December 2022.
However local residents have been less than pleased with the development. In January locals living near the proposed site said they wanted it blocked via worldwide non-profit petition website Change.org.
Created under the headline “Let’s stop the 320-meter tower in San Rafael – Punta del Este” (Frenemos la torre de 320 metros en San Rafael – Punta del Este) the petition classified the project as “outrageous” and “absurd. ”
