Get a glimpse of Las Vegas penthouse living — PHOTOS

That’s where lofty penthouses are found.

Filling the highest levels of the gleaming towers that line the Strip from north to south are glittering homes. They are some of the most enviable, desirable and popular residences in the valley.

Lee M. Medick, a veteran local Realtor and partner with Luxe Estates & Lifestyles, has observed the modern Las Vegas penthouse market for more than a decade. She calls them “vertical jewels.”

“I think they’re one of the hottest tickets in town,” Medick said.

She identifies a number of different Las Vegas penthouse buyer profiles. Some people purchase units for second homes. Some purchase penthouses when first moving to Nevada. Increasingly, however, she has observed that clients are buying penthouses for primary residences.

“They’re saying, ‘This is it, this is going to be my new home,’ ” she said.

Medick also says that buyers are attracted to their central locations, built-in security and turnkey nature of penthouses.

Barry Shulman is a firsthand Las Vegas expert on penthouse living. He and his wife, Allyn, have owned the top three floors of the Metropolis, a residential tower astride the Wynn Golf Course, since 2003.

They claimed their perch in Metropolis “before it came came out of the ground,” Shulman said. “My wife and I were looking around for the right place to live in Las Vegas.”

Shulman says that he was already a fan of high-rise living, but his wife was not. She signed on when they could claim abundant outdoor space.

They were also able to have the interior designed to their own tastes, which takes cues from Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles.

“It’s very unusual for Las Vegas. It’s the kind of thing you’d see in New York,” he said.

The home is opulently decorated with an ornate, winding iron and marble staircase, 18-carat gold detailing, a huge Italian crystal chandelier and candle-lit crystal wall sconces. The bedrooms are luxurious and en-suite, with bathrooms featuring technology such as a Toto toilet with a heated seat and a bidet. The kitchen is gourmet-level, replete with Viking appliances. In the recreation department, the penthouse’s gigantic patio has a barbecue area and a whirlpool.

The 5,467-square-foot, three bedroom home is listed for $4.8 million with Kristen Routh-Silberman of Synergy Sotheby’s International Realty.

Overlooking CityCenter from a western vantage point is The Martin, a sheer and futuristic tower that holds a sleek 4,300-square-foot penthouse. The residence has five bedrooms and four bathrooms.

The open entertaining and dining core of the home is a showcase befitting a movie set. A foyer lined with glowing artisanal glass panels gives way to a modern kitchen with Sub-Zero, Wolf and Asko appliances. It is sided with a long island that can accommodate six diners. Nearby, the dining room space is in a window-cornered nook with stunning views.

It is on the market for $3.9 million and is also listed by Routh-Silberman.

Overlooking CityCenter from the west are Panorama Towers. There, atop the curving high-rise is a stunning 3,414-square-foot luxury residence. It takes full advantage of its aerial location with retractable glass walls for enjoying the Mojave Desert weather. Interior aesthetic flourishes include a built-in aquarium next to a gorgeous in-wall fireplace. The master bedroom has custom Italian closets and motorized drapery. The master bathroom has an amazing walk-through shower and raised tub with a breathtaking view.

“It’s a true custom beauty,” said Cristine Rosa Jensen, also with Synergy Sotheby’s International Realty. “The uniqueness of the retractable glass walls, fireplace and aquarium makes this penthouse level a one-of-a-kind.”

It is listed at $2.2 million.

At Hughes Center to the east of the glowing High Roller observation wheel on the Strip lies one of the lesser known but most posh residential developments in Las Vegas: Park Towers.

There a 6,779-square-foot elevated palace is on the market for $5.8 million. It has four bedrooms and six bathrooms. Along with private balconies, it is packed with amenities such as a home theater, oversized den, professional-level kitchen, floor-to-ceiling windows. In addition, Park Towers features a spa, fitness center, pool with cabanas, tennis, an outdoor kitchen, ballroom, library and gardens.

The residence is also listed by Rosa Jensen.

Directly on the Strip at CityCenter, the Residences at Mandarin Oriental are some of the most prominent luxury properties in the western United States. Listed at $4.75 million, the 3,922-square-foot penthouse is ready for its next resident, whether full or part time. The turnkey property home has three bedrooms and four bathrooms. It boasts amenities such as a formal dining room and immense walk-in closets in the bedroom suites.

“It’s a little bit Asian-inspired,” said Dale Thornburgh of Synergy Sotheby’s International Realty, the listed broker on the penthouse. “It’s decorated beautifully.”

With its setting in the Forbes triple five-star-awarded luxury hotel, the penthouse is just a private elevator away from top-notch restaurants such Twist by Pierre Gagnaire and MOzen Bistro.

Additionally, the hotel has lavish spa that offers a wide menu of pampering treatments and exhilarating fitness classes, including yoga and Pilates. Because of these handy amenities, the penthouse is particularly well suited for the part-time resident, especially from abroad.

“I would think it’s going to be somebody that comes in internationally,” said Thornburgh of the penthouse’s next owner. “Someone who wants the best of the best.”

Nearby, also in CityCenter, the penthouse stock at Veer Towers has recently sold out.

One of the marquee penthouses in Las Vegas is atop the Palms Place tower. Located on the 59th floor, the Founder’s Penthouse is the tallest residence in Nevada and rivals what can be found in Los Angeles. Fitting its setting, the penthouse, which is owned by business mogul Phil Maloof, is a marvel in entertaining. It has a pool with a grotto, a 20-person whirlpool, 26 HDTV screens, a 30-foot-wide outdoor projection screen, DJ booth, putting green and custom bar. For everyday living, it has three bedrooms and six bathrooms, as well as a full gym and an office. It comes decorated with a Picasso painting, as well as one by Dali.

It is listed at $29 million with Lisa S. Sutton of Sutton & Chase, an affiliate of Synergy Sotheby’s International Realty.

Also available in Palms Place is a 3,300-square-foot penthouse with two bedrooms and three bathrooms. It comes with an upscale kitchen with Sub-Zero appliances, flat-screen TVs in every room, fireplace, whirlpool and a billiard table.

The home is listed with Myra Hatten of Coldwell Banker Premier Realty. It is going for $2.5 million.

For an “only-in-Las-Vegas” penthouse purchase, buyers should look to the golden-toned Trump International Hotel. Three layouts are available on its top floors: one-bedroom units are 1,561-square-feet; two-bedroom units are 1,764-square-feet and three-bedroom units are 3,080-square-feet.

All penthouses include floor-to-ceiling windows and European-style kitchens with Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances. Bathrooms come with Italian marble double sinks and whirlpool tubs. Residents live above impressive offerings including DJT restaurant and lounge, a state-of-the-art health club and concierge services.

Plus, penthouse buyers receive an exclusive ride with Maverick Helicopters as a treat upon closing.

“It’s wonderful,” said Nicole Milner-Breen, a broker and vice-president with Trump International Realty. “We send them with a bottle of our Champagne in a Trump car all the way down to Maverick.”

After a picturesque terrestrial trip down the Strip to the heliport, new owners experience a flying tour of this shining neon metropolis’ skyline. Following the tour, they are returned to the luxury of their Trump-branded penthouse by town car.

Finally, to echo broker Medick’s appraisal of the Las Vegas penthouse market as a hot ticket, the largest high-rise residence in town closed last week. It was the 24,000-square-foot estate known as the Crown Penthouse at One Queensridge Place. It was listed at $9.9 million by Char Luxury.