Look, we love Las Vegas (okay, some of us more than others), but Sin City has been in the spotlight for far too long. As East Coasters, there’s another destination that is very close to our hearts for its casinos, restaurants and iconic boardwalk: Atlantic City. Because it’s much smaller than Vegas, it has a more intimate, less overwhelming atmosphere. But it also has that very special, “if you don’t leave the casino you’ll have no idea what time it is” feel, which is one of the great charms of this particular type of party town. Atlantic City is a magical place, and in our opinion, it’s one of the best destinations for a bachelor party or any other kind of epic celebration.
Because some of the best advice we can give you is to take it from a woman, five female InsideHook editors recently took the city by storm to bring you this expertly curated guide. During our weekend trip, we ate, drank, danced and relaxed at some of AC’s finest establishments, and we’re here to remind you that it’s one of the East Coast’s most glittering jewels. Here’s how to have the ultimate bachelor party — or any party, for that matter — in Atlantic City right now.
What to Do
Rock Spa & Salon
Listen, if you’re like us, you’re probably not treating your body very well over the course of a bachelor (or bachelorette) weekend. But after a few days of heavy drinking, indulgent eating and fretting over how much money you lost at the casino, you deserve a little pampering to make you feel human again. The Rock Spa & Salon boasts 31 beautifully designed treatment rooms, including 20 dedicated massage rooms, four facial rooms, two couples’ suites, three body treatment rooms and two Rhythm & Motion rooms. Treating yourself to a soothing massage or relaxing in the sauna is the perfect way to end your weekend of partying, and with a full-service salon and barbershop, you can ensure you’re not headed home looking too haggard. — Bonnie Stiernberg
The Hook
The restored Warner Theater for The Hook makes you feel like you’re stepping back into Atlantic City’s golden age of live entertainment. The show has everything you could want, complete with a charming host, Dick Marlin, and (of course) dancing lobsters. As you watch the performances, you start to wonder if they can’t sustain the level of entertainment, but they do — every single act is either laugh-out-loud hilarious, jaw-dropping or both. I was on the edge of my seat, clutching my pearls for the entire 75-minute show. It’s a brilliant fusion of circus, cabaret and comedy, all wrapped up into a truly captivating experience. After The Hook, you’ll feel like you can run through a brick wall, making it a great spot to kick of an evening on the town. — Elisabeth Chambry
Ocean’s 18 Mini Golf & Bar
If you need a break from the slots, a round of mini golf at Ocean’s 18 is just the thing. You can choose from a game of nine or 18 holes with fun designs (think themes like Skee-Ball and a mini bowling alley), all played under festive black lights. The best part — you can get a drink to go from the front bar to bring along while you play. — Amanda Gabriele
Where to Eat
Kuro
Kuro, an elegant restaurant inside the Hard Rock Hotel, has some of the best sushi and sashimi you’ll ever have. Led by brilliant Executive Chef Leslie Daniel, it also offers premium A5 Japanese Wagyu beef and robatayaki grilled skewers. Start with the tuna crispy rice and the lobster dumplings, and wash it all down with a hand-crafted cocktail from a drinks menu that’s sorted into five separate sections based on taste — sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami. — BS
Chez Frites
It really doesn’t get better than a meal of cold Martinis, juicy steak and crispy fries, and that’s exactly the point at chef Stephen Starr’s Chez Frites, one of Ocean Casino Resort’s newest restaurants. During a recent dine, a round of Vespers for the table was made perfectly, as were starters like brie en croûte and crispy artichokes with garlic aioli. The prime New York strip, served perfectly rare and with unlimited fries, was heavenly, especially when dressed with peppercorn sauce or chimichurri. And do not sleep on the wine list — the bar team at Chez Frites really knows their stuff. — AG
Amada
There are few better dishes to feed a crowd than paella, and chef Jose Garces’s Amada at Ocean Casino Resort makes two excellent versions to try: Paella Valenciana with chicken, chorizo, mussels and saffron aioli, and Paella Mariscos, packed with sumptuous shellfish, fava bean salad and paprika aioli. The Andalusian Spanish restaurant is also known for its cheese and charcuterie spreads and tapas, featuring classic dishes like pan con tomate, tortilla Española and pulpo. Pair everything with a pitcher of Sangria, or customize a cocktail from the Gin and Tonic bar. — AG
The Journey Awards
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Council Oak Steaks & Seafood
Council Oak serves the most spectacular brunch in AC. I admit I’m not even a brunch person — call me old-fashioned, but lunch is far superior — but if I had this affair at my fingertips every week, I’d be a changed woman. Council Oak’s dining room is light-filled and plush, exactly what you need to nurse yourself after a weekend of partying. The morning we sat down for our meal, a solo guitarist was doing his thing, and it was the perfect backdrop for sipping Bloody Marys and Mimosas. And then there’s the food: a spectacular raw bar with oysters, prawns, tuna tartare and smoked salmon; a salad bar with all the fixings; sushi; a carving station with 28-day dry-aged steak and a rack of pork; and everything you could possibly want for breakfast like bacon, brioche French toast and made-to-order omelets. Don’t sleep on the a la carte menu, which has an excellent crab cake Benedict that’s a must-order for the table. — AG
LaScala’s Fire
You wouldn’t think sushi would be at home on an Italian American restaurant menu. But at LaScala’s Fire, the combination of pizza and spicy tuna rolls somehow works. You can’t go wrong with classics like fried calamari, chicken Caesar salad or the Margherita pizza, but the house rolls are also excellent (we loved the sweet potato tempura, served with a sweet and savory katsu sauce). — AG
Where to Party
Boogie Nights
As a Philadelphia native, Atlantic City was just a hop, skip and a jump away for me and my friends each summer. I was the last of the group to turn 21, and for my big celebration, all I wanted to do was stay at the Borgata and go to Boogie Nights, a nightclub at the Tropicana I had seen advertised on a billboard along the AC expressway. But this isn’t just any nightclub. This is a time machine to the good ol’ ‘70s. There are go-go dancers, a giant disco ball and an elevated dance floor that changes colors. You’ll have your own Saturday Night Fever fever dream, dancing all night long to the Bee-Gees, ABBA, Whitney Houston and the rest of those iconic, groovy artists under the beautiful lights of a massive mirrorball. Safe to say, my friends and I had the time of our lives then, and five years later, had the time of my life yet again. Boogie Nights was exactly how I remembered it — good vibes, good people and good tunes. — Logan Mahan
The Pool After Dark
When I was 24 and broke, I was charged with planning a bachelorette party for one of my oldest friends and the first of our group to get engaged. I selected AC for our rendezvous as it was, at the time, within driving distance for all. We stayed at Harrahs and so The Pool After Dark — effectively a massive late night, poolside party — was all but a requisite itinerary item. We had so much fun that we canceled our plans for the following night to go back. Admittedly I had reservations about returning as a 32-year old, mostly because my nightclub days are in the rearview. But if I am a moth, The Pool After Dark is the flame. It was every bit as fun eight years later. Think cabanas, hot tubs and a DJ all positioned around a 3,500 square-foot, 86,000-gallon pool. It is, perhaps, the single greatest place on Earth. — LR
Nola’s Bar & Lounge
If you want to turn up with some live music in a more intimate setting, Nola’s Bar & Lounge in Ocean Casino Resort is a perfect venue. The last time I visited, one of the best cover bands I’ve ever heard took the stage, and the entire place was dancing. The Spicy Margarita here is excellent, and Nola’s also offers bottle service if that’s the vibe you’re into. — AG
Borgata Pool
“Sunbathe, swim or party” — we did all three at the Borgata outdoor pool. You don’t have to stay at the premiere hotel and casino to enjoy this 3,200-square-foot Roman-style outdoor pool, either. While you can post up at one of the many lounge chairs, we’d recommend renting a VIP cabana for the afternoon. On top of receiving convenient table service, these spacious private areas include canopy coverage, comfortable wooden furniture for up to 10 people, TV and two lounge chairs. Each canopy also comes with a refrigerator stocked with non-alcoholic beverages, water spritzers and sunscreen. — LM
Where to Stay
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
Located right in the heart of the action on Atlantic City’s boardwalk, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is perfectly situated for an AC adventure. The casino floor is electric, with thousands of slots and 130 table games at which to try your luck. The property houses two of our favorite restaurants in town (see above), and there’s always something happening at Dueling Pianos and the lobby bar, where you’ll often see crowds drinking and dancing to the live music du jour.
The rooms are spacious and comfortable, perfect for spreading out after a day at the beach or pool and to rest up after a night at the club. As noted above, Rock Spa is one of the best we’ve been to, and it even features private rooms where you and your party can sip Champagne before or after your treatments.
As with all Hard Rock establishments, music is the main focus, and the memorabilia around the property is quite simply amazing — think costumes from Kurt Cobain, Beyonce and Prince, Elvis Presley’s Rolls Royce Phantom V, Slash’s Harley Davidson, and scores of instruments belonging to famous musicians. You can also catch your favorite band, comedian and even magician come through at one of Hard Rock’s two venues, Etess Arena and Sound Waves. Atlantic City is definitely a rock and roll kinda place, and Hard Rock Hotel captures that vibe perfectly. — AG
Ocean Casino Resort
As freshly turned 21-year-olds, my friends and I would pool our money together and decide which Atlantic City hotel casino we could affordably spend a weekend at (typically Harrah’s or Tropicana). There is nothing wrong with these budget-friendly options, but now, as a 28-year-old with an adult income, I can treat myself to the more premier options on the boardwalk, namely Ocean Casino Resort.
With sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, plush bedding and spa-like bathrooms (this is the biggest sell IMO), the contemporary guest rooms and suites are easily the best accommodations in AC. The hotel also offers a host of restaurants, bars, entertainment and other experiences, including a pool bar at the HQ2 Beachclub, a nightclub and top-rated spa. You’re also just a stone’s throw away from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. But the real reason I prefer to stay at Ocean is the casino floor.
We like to gamble and have made our way through just about every casino in Atlantic City. However, we always find ourselves headed back to Ocean. The Gallery Bar at the center of the recently renovated Fanatics Sportsbook is one of our favorite spots to grab a Martini. No matter the time of day, even at peak weekend hours, we never have a problem getting on a table (this can’t be said for virtually any other AC casino floor), and the minimums are surprisingly reasonable. A couple of months ago, our group of eight comfortably took over a near-empty craps table on a Saturday night. Practically unheard of! — LM
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