ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: My husband and I arrived at check-in time for our two-night stay. We drove to the hotel, and valet service was fast and seamless. Our room featured VIP access, so we were able to take advantage of expedited check-in, a perk we greatly appreciated, as the line at the front desk was long. We were in our room in no time.

GUEST QUARTERS: Our king room faced The Wheel, a 227-foot Ferris wheel on the boardwalk, and featured floor-to-ceiling windows, making the view even better. It boasted all the standard guestroom amenities including a walk-in shower, complimentary WiFi, large desk, numerous outlets and flat-screen television. We appreciated the in- room refrigerator to keep our bottled water cold. While we spent much of our time exploring the property, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in our room the first morning of our stay. Service was speedy, and the meal was delicious.

SERVICES/AMENITIES: Ocean Casino Resort offers guests numerous restaurants and activities … so many, we barely scratched the surface during our visit.

Our first night we indulged in dinner at Dolce Mare, the property’s fine-dining Italian restaurant. We also enjoyed a tapas-inspired lunch at Amada by Chef Jose Garces, whom we met after the meal. For dinner our final night we enjoyed a classic steakhouse experience at American Cut. Casual dining options include Mexican fare from Distrito, award-winning brunch at Harper’s, Hawai‘ian cuisine at Makai, pub grub at Villain & Saint, noodles at Zhen Bang Noodle & Sushi and burgers at Wahlburgers.

PHOTO: © OCEAN CASINO RESORT

The property features several on-site pools including private cabanas, HQ2 Beachclub and Eclipse indoor/outdoor pool. We visited during the summer and took advantage of Eclipse’s pool. It was a nice day and all of the lounge chairs were occupied, so we didn’t stay too long. Instead, we grabbed cocktails from the lobby-level bar and made our way to The Park, a beautiful three- acre open green space with Adirondack chairs and views of the ocean. It proved a perfectly relaxing way to spend the afternoon.

Ocean Casino Resort is home to the largest TopGolf Swing Suite in the country. We didn’t have reservations, but luckily there was a space open, so we were able to practice our golf swings and play some other virtual games. We also tried our luck at the casino, which offers a variety of table games and slots. We didn’t have a chance to check out any live performances, but the resort hosts musical and comedy acts across its event venues nightly. Before checking out, we squeezed in a quick workout at the fitness center. Open daily, the fitness center offers cardio machines, weight machines and free weights.

With so many dining and entertainment options on site, we didn’t step foot off the property once during our stay. Ocean Casino Resort makes a great option for a luxurious stay in Atlantic City.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

• Grab a drink at the lobby-level bar to enjoy outside at The Park, an open-air green space.
• You can’t go wrong at any of the on-site restaurants. Amada and Dolce Mare are great options if you want a view with your meal.
• Visit Shops at the Row for retail therapy during your visit.

OCEAN CASINO RESORT
500 Boardwalk Atlantic City, NJ 08401
tel 609 783 8000
theoceanac.com