Atlantic City has always felt to me like America’s most misunderstood resort city. As a native New Yorker with a family that loves to gamble, I grew up coming here a few times a year, every year. Sometimes we booked months in advance, other times we decided we’d book our trip just the day before. “I’m going to AC this weekend,” I recall telling my friends at age 12. Obviously, I was too young to gamble—but even then, the spectacle was intoxicating. Long before I understood this city historically, I understood its seduction: the salt air mixing with perfume and cigarette smoke, the boardwalk glowing at night, the hypnotic ringing of slot machines at 2 a.m., gamblers of all ages carrying cocktails, lucky charms, and superstitions. Atlantic City feels like one of the last true adult playgrounds in America—though it still holds onto its wholesome, family-friendly moments too: bike rides on the boardwalk, dolphin cruises in the summer, arcade and funnel cake fun, beach days, and old-school candy shops.
But what many people forget is just how historic this city is. The world’s first boardwalk opened here in 1870, and by the early 20th century, Atlantic City had become one of America’s great leisure capitals, home to grand seaside hotels, beauty pageants, and supper clubs, frequented by legendary performers like Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, and The Beatles. It’s also where legal casino gambling first arrived on the East Coast, when Resorts International opened in 1978, bringing Vegas-style casino culture east. You’ll feel its iconic history at the old-school pubs in Ducktown, the weathered saltwater taffy shops, the Italian-American white-tablecloth dining rooms, and the casino tables with the same dealers who’ve worked them for decades.
Today, with casino gambling expanding closer to home for New Yorkers, including the 2026 debut of Resorts World New York City in Queens, Atlantic City no longer wins on proximity alone, which is why its legacy deserves to be taken more seriously. Visiting AC isn’t solely for gambling trips, but for stepping inside a city as steeped in history as in glamour—a place of old-school showmanship, beautiful chaos, and sensory overload that feels impossible to replicate. Nowhere captures that spirit more than the boardwalk itself: the oldest and longest of its kind in America, it’s a special stretch of Americana that feels especially resonant as the US approaches its 250th anniversary. This summer, its legacy continues to evolve with a wave of new investments and developments, from renovated hotels and beach clubs to expanded entertainment venues and restoration projects breathing new life into the AC experience.
To celebrate both its old and new, read on for all the reasons why you should take Atlantic City seriously—and where to eat, stay, and play on your next trip.
Where to eat
While some AC resorts have more-than-fabulous on-site dining options, start with the institutions: Knife & Fork Inn is pure AC history dressed in steakhouse form, with Prohibition-era bones, chandeliers, heavy pours, and a menu of steaks, chops, seafoods, and soups. For lunch, order the Kobe sliders, lobster spring rolls, lamb lollipops, and crab cake sandwich; they also have a stellar, three-course lunch prix fixe menu for just $23. Just down the road, Dock’s Oyster House is the city’s seafood cornerstone. Family-run since 1897, this joint has a menu that tastes delectable on sunny days, set in stone with a full raw bar.
For something more casual, but equally beloved, White House Subs is the pilgrimage for Italian "Submarines,” sandwiches named for their gigantic, up-to-24-inch size. Since 1946, the legendary haunt has drawn everyone from casino workers to celebrities and politicians, as you’ll see in the many framed photos that cover its walls. (Make sure to order the famous cheesesteak sub and classic Italian combo.) Along the marina, where cruise tours and local charters are based, Back Bay Ale House offers a more laid-back side of AC. Known for frozen cocktails, seafood baskets, and dockside seating, it’s especially prime for warm summer days by the water.
Inside the casino world, head to Kuro at the Hard Rock for a sleeker, more contemporary energy when it comes to dining. The Japanese-inspired menu leans upscale without feeling overly formal, and it’s a must-visit for tasty dinners, whether you’re a guest at the Hard Rock or not. At the Borgata, Old Homestead is a classic and buzzy steakhouse, and Noodles is an Asian-fusion restaurant that remains a longtime favorite for lunch and late-night meals after time on the casino floor. Sunroom Lounge is best for breakfast and poolside lunches in the MGM Tower. For drinks and light bites with a view, Vüe Rooftop and Bar Lounge overlooks both the ocean and the city skyline from the historic (non-casino) Claridge Hotel. Sunset is the best time to go, when the boardwalk lights begin to flicker below.
Where to stay
Where you should stay in Atlantic City really depends on what kind of trip you’re after. Most popular hotels fully lean into the casino energy, with late nights, restaurants, nightlife, and nonstop action. Others feel more design-forward, resort-like, or removed from the chaos of the boardwalk. Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa is where I’ve returned for most of my visits over the years—and for good reason. Tucked into the marina district away from the crowds, it's one of Atlantic City’s most complete resorts: sprawling casino floor, excellent dining picks, and lively nightlife, but also a spa, three pools (two indoor, one out), and loads of designer and gift shops to choose from. (Opt for a stay in the attached MGM Tower for more of an oasis-type feel; it's a bit further away from the casino.) Meanwhile, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City continues to draw weekend travelers looking for a livelier, nightlife-heavy atmosphere in the marina district. Its indoor pool and huge casino keep the property busy well after midnight. The Golden Nugget Atlantic City offers a slightly more low-key alternative to some of the larger casino resorts nearby. The property feels more intimate, particularly around its marina-facing rooms, outdoor pool, and waterfront dining areas.
On the boardwalk itself, Nobu Hotel Atlantic City inside Caesars brings a more refined atmosphere to the casino scene. The Japanese-inspired interiors feel intentionally serene compared to the energy downstairs, making it one of the more luxe-feeling escapes. Ocean Casino Resort remains one of the most well-known and visually striking properties on the boardwalk, largely thanks to its high concentration of floor-to-ceiling windows, where guests have sprawling ocean views. Given its more recent opening in 2018, the resort feels newer and brighter than many of AC’s legacy casinos, with an Exhale spa (rife with amenities), expansive rooftop pool deck, and one of the best beachfront locations in town. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City is an ever-buzzy property, constantly active with live entertainment, multiple bars, award-winning restaurants, and one of the more energetic casino floors in the area.
For travelers interested in surrounding themselves with AC nostalgia, Resorts Casino Hotel holds significance as the first legal casino hotel outside Nevada, having opened in the 1970s. While more classic in its feel, it's firmly connected to all of the action thanks to its location right off the boardwalk. For something newer, The Seahaus Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, just opened in 2025, and blends a more contemporary coastal design (with no casino) that keeps guests close to both the beach and the city’s classic attractions.
Where to play
For the most part, Atlantic City sits at the opposite end of the kind of travel I usually gravitate toward: nature, mountains, quiet. But there’s something so undeniably magnetic about this city—and beneath the neon excess is something pretty instinctual: the innate human need to let loose, escape, and connect. This is precisely where my attraction to glamorous, spectacle-driven travel began.
AC has always been a city built around play, and what makes it compelling is just how many forms that can take. The Boardwalk is where all of it comes together—stretching past beach entrances, arcades, saltwater taffy shops (the candy originated here in the 1880s), pizza counters, souvenir stores, and tram cars before leading directly into casino floors and hotel lobbies. Walking it feels like moving through different eras of Atlantic City at once—older stretches are lined with classic storefronts while newer resorts and beach club openings rise alongside them. In the summer, the space takes on a classic East Coast beach-town energy: families spending all day on the sand, kids running between the ocean and arcade games, music spilling out onto the boards, and the smell of sunscreen, fried food, and salt air everywhere. Steel Pier still anchors much of its amusement culture—stretching over the ocean, the historic site is filled with midway games, rides, carnival lights, and the Observation Wheel, which gives wide views over the shoreline, casinos, and boardwalk. Right nearby, Island Waterpark at Showboat has become one of the city’s biggest family attractions, with indoor waterslides, pools, surf simulators, bars, and cabanas under a retractable glass roof. Less than 15 minutes away from the boardwalk, visit the Absecon Lighthouse, which is the third-tallest lighthouse in the country; on your way in or out of town, get your pictures of Lucy the Elephant, a six-story elephant-shaped historic landmark constructed in 1882.
One of the best ways to actually understand the boardwalk—and the city itself—is the Boardwalk Tram Tour with AC Mike. Led by Mike Lopez, a longtime local radio host and unofficial Atlantic City historian, the tour covers everything from Monopoly lore and entertainment history to casino culture and how the shoreline has changed over time. But the real draw is Mike himself. He knows seemingly everyone on the boardwalk; locals constantly stop to wave or yell hello as the tram passes, and he delivers the entire thing with the kind of hyper-local knowledge and personality that makes Atlantic City feel far more layered and interesting than people expect. Out on the water, Atlantic City Cruises offers seasonal dolphin-spotting tours that completely shift your perspective of the city. Once you pass the inlet, Atlantic City shrinks into a narrow line of hotel towers along the shoreline, reminding you that beneath everything else, it’s still a barrier island shaped by tides. Dolphins are commonly seen, and if you don’t spot any, the company will give you a complimentary return ticket to try again.
At Caesars, The Hook produced by Spiegelworld mixes circus, comedy, cabaret, and theater into a fun and fast production that feels perfectly suited to AC. It’s over-the-top, self-aware, weird, glamorous, and very fun. Right outside The Hook's entrance is Horse Dive Bar, which references one of Atlantic City’s strangest historic attractions: the diving horse shows once held at Steel Pier beginning in the late 19th century. The bar pulls from that history with antique decor, horse imagery, casual cocktails, and just enough absurdity to make it work. Attached to these two spaces is Caesar's The West, a Wild West casino space. It's ever kitschy with slots alongside an old Western movie set backdrop. You'll often find live music here and, always, a full bar.
And then there’s Angeloni's Club Madrid, one of my favorite places in Atlantic City. Once an old-school Italian restaurant, the revamped space brings back the kind of classic supper-club atmosphere that once defined nights here, with tasteful vintage-inspired interiors, live entertainment, low lighting, and a dining room that feels pulled from another era of the city. Cocktails are stellar, the wood-fired pizzas and pastas are genuinely excellent, and the entire night naturally stretches longer than planned.
FAQ:
What are the best casinos to stay at in Atlantic City?
While the best casino hotel for you varies depending on what you’re looking for, in my opinion, the best casinos to stay at here are Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City, Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, and Ocean Casino Resort. Hard Rock sits directly on the boardwalk with a high-energy, music-driven atmosphere. Borgata is more removed in the marina district and home to a polished, upscale resort feel, strong dining, and nightlife. Ocean is modern and airy, also on the boardwalk, with ocean-facing rooms, a large pool deck, and a slightly more relaxed, design-forward vibe.
What was Frank Sinatra's favorite restaurant in Atlantic City?
It’s no secret that Frank Sinatra hopped all over AC, whether performing or opting in to all of the city’s indulgences during his off time. He is known to have loved Chef Vola’s, a legendary speakeasy-style hideaway for Italian dinners and, famously, its banana cream pie. White House Sub Shop was another spot he hit more than once—the iconic 1946 Italian sandwich spot still has his towel from his last performance in AC hung up on its wall, alongside those of many other famous folks who’ve passed by since.
What are the top family-friendly attractions in Atlantic City?
Top family-friendly attractions in Atlantic City include walking the boardwalk for arcades, salt water taffy, and casual beach access, plus classic rides and games at Steel Pier. Beach days are a major draw in warmer months, with easy access directly from the boardwalk. For something on the water, Atlantic City Cruises offers seasonal dolphin-spotting trips. Many resorts also have large pool decks, and nearby in Ventnor, Island Waterpark at Showboat is a major indoor waterpark with slides, surf simulators, and family-friendly play areas.