“Should we go to Atlantic City for a night?” I texted my friend Kristin. Her response came in seconds. “I’m down.” This 130-mile getaway from New York City would be short and sweet — 24 hours — and it of course did not prevent us from packing a suitcase’s worth of potential outfits and hair tools. Atlantic City is known for beaches, the mob, the boardwalk, and, most importantly for us, casinos. I wasn’t sure if I’d want to wear my black low-cut sleeveless bodysuit with my high-waisted camel-colored J Brand jeans or my wide-legged Ramy Brook jeans, but I knew options were important. Kristin packed a few choices, all black, and supplies to dial up the hair and makeup for our big night out. I expected glammed-up women (and men) and perhaps cheesy vibes, too, and wanted to fit right in. The key is being open-minded to this Jersey experience.
Atlantic City isn’t on the level of Vegas, but it is a much more affordable option and an easy trip from the city. Kristin and I were psyched to do it up in a way we hadn’t since…well, too long. Maybe we’d stay out until 4 a.m. dancing or maybe we’d win big at the blackjack table and buy a round for the entire bar. Maybe we’d even find a reason to look at each other and agree “Whatever happens in Atlantic City stays in Atlantic City.”
Friday 12 p.m.
Hoping to avoid more traffic than necessary, we departed my apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn at around noon with plans to hit the road for the return trip at a reasonable time on Saturday. The drive wasn’t terribly interesting, but at least it moved quickly, and it wasn’t long before the Atlantic City skyline came into view. It was bigger than I remembered, and I was surprised by how spread out the city seemed once we’d arrived.
Friday 2:30 p.m.
We’re HERE. We walked past a statue of a neon-lined, super-sized Gibson guitar and into The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, formerly Trump Taj Mahal. The hotel had our non-smoking room with two queen beds in the South Tower ready upon arrival. Outside, the foggy, overcast day didn’t do the boardwalk views any favors, but I didn’t mind the slightly gloomy feel. The room itself was spacious and included a flat-screen TV and coffee maker, but I was glad we planned to spend the majority of our time outside of the room.
Friday 3:30 p.m.
With a couple of hours to spare before our spa treatments, we decided to ditch our bags and headed to the famous boardwalk. I’m here for the saltwater taffy — Fralinger’s Original Salt Water Taffy, in particular. Salt Water Taffy has been a part of the Atlantic City scene since the 1880s, so the excursion for taffy can be considered historical preservation, in a way. The one-pound boxes of assorted flavors is still a popular and delicious souvenir in 2024. If salt water taffy isn’t your thing, you can try Steel’s Fudge and if you don’t like fudge or taffy, I feel sad for you. Steel’s Fudge dessert and candy shop has been around since 1919, and in addition to rich, nutty fudge, Steel’s makes a mighty fine macaroon.
Friday 4:30 p.m.
After taffy, pretzels and chips we were finally ready for the Rock Spa. I’d heard it was one of the state’s largest full-service spas, and in addition to the hot stone spa treatment I’d booked (aptly named We Will Rock You), I was eager to sweat it out in the sauna and steam room. A complaint I often have with spa and gym steam rooms is that they aren’t steamy enough, but this one is in overdrive when I sit down. I’m in there for 10 or so detoxifying minutes (my skin looked better than ever!) To get the most bang for your buck with a hotel spa treatment, leave ample time to enjoy the facilities either before or after your service — or both.
Friday 6:30 p.m.
AC’s a drinking town and there are a million places to get a cocktail before dinner. I really wanted to check out the Carousel Bar at Bally’s Atlantic City on the recommendation of a friend who’d recently visited for a birthday. Like me, she’s a bit of a cocktail snob, so I trusted her judgment, and the bar didn’t disappoint. All cocktails, from The 1870 (Angel’s Envy bourbon, Remy Martin VSOP, benedictine, sweet vermouth, bitters, luxardo cherry) to the Seaside Spritz (Mionetto Prosecco, Don Julio Blanco Tequila, dry vermouth, passionfruit, lemon) are $15, a steal for anyone used to sipping drinks in your New Yorks and Chicagos and L.A.s. A bourbon drinker myself, I loved the Angel’s Envy, but am glad I stopped at just one because that baby delivered a strong punch and I was definitely feeling a little buzzed by the time we showed up for our dinner reservation.
Friday 8:00 p.m.
Atlantic City’s restaurant scene is dynamic and varied, but with so many choices within the walls of Hard Rock alone, the choice for dinner — Kura for sushi? Il Mulino for Italian? Council Oak for fine dining surf and turf? — wasn’t easy. We ultimately went with steak and seafood. Council Oak’s open kitchen concept reminded me of restaurants in New York, and as someone who spent many years working in restaurants, I easily recognized a restaurant staff busting their asses during a busy dinner service. This was it. The food was excellent, the service gracious. Splurge on the seafood tower — briny East Coast oysters, shrimp cocktail with just the right bite, toothsome crab legs and a sweet lobster tail — if you can. From there, it was on. The table ordered steak, done medium-rare, with a side of red wine demi-glace, and a side of French green beans with brown butter and Marcona almonds. Kristin consulted with the guy she was dating — a sommelier at a high-end restaurant in Manhattan — by sending him a few pictures of the wine list and soliciting his recommendation. After snarkily commenting on the menu’s lamination, he texted us what wine to order, and reader, it was so good I have forgotten the name, but I know it was a red. For dessert, take it from us and skip the overly sweet espresso martini, but not the creamy creme brulee.
Friday 10:30 p.m.
Being in Hard Rock’s bar and casino is not unlike being on a large cruise ship. There’s a quasi you-do-you, uninhibited vibe that’s easy to pick up in a sea of strangers and myriad drinking and dancing options. Why fight it? A friend recommended we venture out to the Borgata Hotel & Casino, but with the weather not cooperating, the gravity of the Hard Rock Lobby Bar was too much to overcome. Unsurprisingly, there was a large contingent of New Yorkers here including a group of middle-aged guys from Brooklyn on their annual trip who expressed curiosity over our relationship statuses. A group of women from Long Island, who were dressed to the nines in sparkly tops with spaghetti straps and stilettos were there celebrating a 50th birthday, and a few twenty-something members of a bachelorette party said they’d chosen Atlantic City over Las Vegas in part because it was the more affordable option.
There’s something about casino culture that encourages friendly banter, perhaps especially when you’re not seated at the actual blackjack table trying to win the next hand. Of course, if hanging at one of the many drinking establishments inside the hotel isn’t up to the level of entertainment you had in mind for your night out in Atlantic City, know there’s always something going on at the Hard Rock Cafe’s Dueling Pianos, where singing along is not only encouraged but practically mandatory.
Whatever accommodation you choose as your home base (outside of say, an Airbnb, which we don’t recommend for this trip), you’re bound to find some live music (Anchor Rock Club’s lineup is varied and entry is often free), comedy show (check out Atlantic City Comedy Club at Tropicana), or dance number (Billets Atlantic City Ballet came to Caesars in June) to keep you up after dark — and way past your bedtime if you’re open to it. I called it a night before Kristin and had no trouble crashing back at the room. Was it the hotel’s Sleep Like a Rock bedding that lulled me into a deep, sonorous sleep or just the fact that by 1 a.m., sheer exhaustion had taken over my entire being?
Saturday 9 a.m.
With venti-sized red-eyes — that’s a brewed coffee with a shot of espresso — procured from the hotel’s Starbucks, it was time for a substantial breakfast at Kelsey & Kim’s Southern Cafe on Melrose Avenue, an easy five-minute ride by car from Hard Rock. Featured in Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, its soul food classics include waffles with your choice of toppings and catfish nuggets. It lives up to the hype. Trust.
Saturday 10 a.m.
Thank god Kristin had suggested we bring our bathing suits, “just in case.” We’d needed them at the Hard Rock Spa (the co-ed section’s hot tubs were too inviting to pass up), and we got to put them to use a second time on the trip at Showboat’s Island Waterpark. A lazy river and a handful of water slide rides later, and it was time to close the chapter on the Atlantic City escapade.
