I spent $600 to stay at Ocean Casino Resort, Atlantic City’s sleekest hotel. It’s proof that the beach town wants to change its image.

When you think of Atlantic City, you might not immediately think of a luxe locale.

And I’ll admit, I was skeptical of spending multiple days in the New Jersey beachside city. I’d heard the usual criticisms — that it was run-down, eerily empty, a pale imitation of glitzier gambling destinations like Las Vegas or Miami.

But as soon as I stepped into the soaring glass lobby of Ocean Casino Resort, the salty ocean breeze still clinging to my hair, my doubts began to fade.

I had booked a four-night stay at the seaside resort, and within hours, I found myself wondering if I’d ever want to leave.

Floor-to-ceiling windows in the lobby framed panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, casting the light marble floors in a soft, coastal glow. Inside the casino, the sound of slot machines chimed against the background thrum of conversation, while waitstaff weaved between players carrying trays of cocktails.

The resort boasts everything you would expect from a pricey casino hotel: a nightclub, an expansive casino floor, bars with live music, restaurants, ocean-view dining and accommodations, beachfront access, and a helipad. And it’s a prime example of how Atlantic City is trying to evolve into a more luxurious destination.

Ocean Casino Resort opened in 2018 after a renovation of the former Revel Casino, which had closed four years earlier. It already had good bones for a resort: a casino floor, hotel rooms, and plenty of space to expand. But in 2025, during my stay, every inch felt as though it had been curated for a luxury experience.

Whether it was the hushed tones of high-rollers at the gaming tables, the hum of music coming from Nola’s bar and lounge, or the rhythmic crashing of waves just beyond the resort’s glass walls, Ocean made me believe that the tides in Atlantic City are changing.

Here’s what it was like to spend four nights at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

I arrived at Ocean Casino Resort around midday. It was the height of the summer, and the resort was packed with people.

I booked my stay for four nights in July. When I looked to reserve a room a few months ago, prices ranged between $400 and $800, depending on how far in advance I wanted to book.

When looking at future rates in August for other casino resorts in the area, most hovered around $700 a night, though some cost as much as $1,300 per night when booked a week in advance.

I received a media rate for my stay, which reduced my total cost to around $600 for the entire trip.

Clear signage pointed toward the casino, restaurants, and hotel lobby.

The casino floors and restaurants are completely open to the public — you don’t have to be a guest of the hotel to walk around the property. However, the spa is available by appointment only, and the pools are only open to hotel guests.

The resort has 1,860 guest rooms and suites spread across 20 acres of beachfront property.

In April, the resort announced it would invest an additional $50 million in property-wide capital this year as part of its seven-year plan to transform the casino resort into a high-end travel destination. The total cost of the transformation will reach $270 million, it said.

The lobby was bright, clean, and spacious.

As I entered the hotel lobby, I was hit with the smell of cleaning products mixed with sunscreen and what can only be described as a tropical breeze — strange considering we were in New Jersey.

The hotel’s design was bright and modern. Unlike older casinos I’ve been to, which can feel dark and a little outdated, Ocean felt like a breath of fresh air.

There were plenty of seating areas in the lobby to relax and enjoy the surrounding ocean views.

The Atlantic Ocean was visible from practically everywhere you stood inside the lobby.

Though some of the seating areas were quiet, the lobby as a whole was busier than I expected for a Wednesday afternoon, even though it was the middle of July.

The lobby was abuzz with kids running around, people trekking chairs and umbrellas from the nearby beach, and folks lounging in seats.

The resort took advantage of its beachfront location with plenty of outdoor space.

The lawn, where I ended up catching the resort’s Friday night fireworks and drone show, was well-manicured and had plenty of space for sitting down or lounging by one of the fire pits.

If you wanted to start the party early, the hotel lobby had a fully stocked bar.

The bar opens at noon and stays open until 2 a.m. I found the bar to be a great meeting spot during my stay, and I thought the cocktails were delicious and well-priced, especially for a casino hotel that can capitalize on convenience.

The guest elevators were only accessible using your room key card.

The pool is also only accessible through the guest elevators, which were separated depending on which floor your room was on.

This extra level of security made me feel more comfortable during my stay.

My room was on the 34th floor of the hotel tower.

Two queen-sized beds were made up with crisp white linens, and I also had a large desk, mini-fridge, and a comfortable sitting chair.

However, what really blew me away was the view.

The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a stunning view of the ocean.

The room looked over the ocean, boardwalk, and the rest of the resort. It was the most stunning view I’ve ever had from a hotel room.

A representative for Ocean Casino Resort said about 70% of the resort’s rooms have a view of the ocean. The remaining rooms overlook the bay, so there are water views in all of the rooms.

Ocean Casino Resort has one hotel tower, but general manager Bill Callahan told Business Insider that the property plans to expand.

Revel started building a second tower, but construction was halted when the original casino filed for bankruptcy and closed in 2014.

Callahan said that $2.4 billion was invested in the property when the building was constructed in 2011 and 2012. However, when Revel closed, 12 floors were left unfinished.

“We spent another $100 million finishing those,” Callahan said. “It’s a lot of money. It should be a good property, but you’re sprawled out over 4 million square feet. So there’s a lot to it.”

The hotel linens felt luxurious and comfortable.

The room was clean, with crisp white bedding I wanted to fall into immediately upon my arrival, and it had a fresh, airy feel that instantly put me at ease after a long day of traveling.

The soothing neutral tones throughout the room gave it a modern yet relaxing vibe. It was a serene retreat high above the boardwalk.

The room had all the usual amenities, such as a charging station built into the bedside lamp, an alarm clock, and a phone.

The room was big enough to fit four guests comfortably without feeling cramped.

I was only traveling with one other person, and we both noted how relaxed we felt in the space and how we had plenty of room to move around.

The room had a large TV that advertised some of the resort’s events and amenities.

When I turned on the TV, one of the first things I saw was an ad for a DJ set by influencer Alix Earle at HQ2 Beachclub, the resort’s lively, poolside venue.

When I checked it out during my stay, it felt like a clear sign that Ocean is positioning itself as both a trendy hot spot for younger visitors and a polished playground for high-end clientele.

Kelly Burke, Ocean’s chief marketing officer, said that while the resort offers promotions for the masses, one of its main focuses is offering “experiences for the higher-end market, whether they’re from New York or Pennsylvania or out of the tri-state area.”

The bathroom was located off the bedroom through a sliding door.

I don’t typically like sliding doors, but it did make the room easier to move around in, and the smaller room containing the toilet was separate.

The closet across from the bathroom also contained an iron and ironing board, a suitcase holder, and a safe.

The bathroom was spacious, with a large vanity and a walk-in shower.

The shower had a bench along the wall inside, and the vanity had two large sinks with space for toiletries.

After getting settled in my room, I went to explore the rest of the resort.

I was pleasantly surprised that from practically every window across the property, you could see ocean views. The resort certainly lived up to its name.

I was given a private tour of some of the resort’s most exclusive accommodations, including this invite-only suite.

To see how the resort is transforming into a higher-end destination, I was given a private tour of the resort’s invite-only high roller suite.

You have to be invited to stay in this “priceless” suite, Callahan said. It spans two floors and features two bedrooms, a large living room with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the boardwalk, a dining room, bar area, and more luxe amenities like a soaking tub. From the suite, you could also see the resort’s helipad.

The room is set aside for casino gamblers and can’t be booked by regular guests.

“[Spending] the money made sense because the clientele we’re going after was luxury,” Callahan said.

Guests in these suites also have access to a butler, can bring their own catering to the room, and enjoy what Callahan and Burke called Ocean’s commitment to “five-star service.”

There’s also a private gaming room for high-end clients.

For the more private high-roller gambler or a celebrity, I could see this private gaming room being a major incentive to stay at Ocean.

Back with the rest of the hotel’s guests, I checked out the pool area.

Ocean has multiple pools, including a boardwalk pool, the Eclipse indoor and outdoor pool, a cabana area, and the HQ2 Beachclub.

The Eclipse outdoor pool was very busy when I arrived.

There were hordes of people sprawled out on pool chairs or lounging in the pool. I managed to grab a chair and sat by the Eclipse pool for a while, taking in the ocean breeze and taking a dip in the lukewarm water.

There was also a hot tub if that’s more your speed, though it looked like it could get crowded at times.

There was also a pool bar with frozen cocktails and soft drinks.

This is when I truly started to feel like I was on vacation. I slurped down one of the frozen cocktails sold at the pool bar while I lounged in the pool.

The resort also has a private cabana area with a pool and a hot tub available for guests.

The cabanas are available for guests 21 and older to rent for certain time slots, during which time you can also order food and beverages to be delivered.

The crown jewel of Ocean Casino Resort was — of course — the casino itself.

Ocean’s casino floor has a large main area and a second level that houses several sleek bars and the resort’s high-energy HQ nightclub.

The main floor is dominated by rows of slot machines, which blinked, buzzed, and chimed in a colorful chorus as I made my way through.

I also spotted lively table games, from blackjack to roulette, as well as more exclusive areas, including high-limit table games and a separate high-limit slot section for serious gamblers.

The atmosphere was electric, but also strangely relaxing.

High-energy music played at a low volume, meaning it was easy to chat among ourselves.

I’m no major gambler, but I had fun playing on some of the slot machines, even though I walked out empty-handed every night I played.

There was also a large circular bar in the heart of the casino.

Screens around the bar meant that wherever you sat, you could take in sports games.

I stopped by Nola’s Bar and Lounge, located right on the casino floor, to catch some live music and dance the night away.

What surprised me most about my stay at Ocean was how it changed my perceptions of Atlantic City.

Driving through town, I saw some of the empty storefronts and worn-down streets I’d heard about. Hurricane Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as factors including declining tourism numbers and competition from other casino destinations, have impacted Atlantic City’s reputation as a struggling locale.

Combined with higher-than-average unemployment and crime rates, the overall image paints a less-than-sunny picture of the beachside city.

The resort, however, felt like a different world.

Everything I wanted — entertainment, nightlife, gambling, relaxation, and easy access to the beach — was just steps away. I barely had to leave the property to feel like I was on a full-blown vacation.

Ocean Casino Resort, which has a charitable branch called Ocean Cares, is involved in community support programs in Atlantic City, such as providing donations to revitalization projects and anti-poverty efforts.

Dining is one area where Ocean is continuing to invest.

When I asked Burke what the resort’s biggest focus is for the next five years, she said the property plans to invest heavily in its restaurant portfolio.

Ocean Casino Resort has four fine-dining experiences, including an Italian restaurant and a steakhouse, as well as more casual restaurants like a gastropub and a food court for quick late-night bites.

During my visit, the resort had just debuted two restaurants from restaurateur Stephen Starr: Sunny’s, a brunch spot, and Chez Frites, a French eatery. Starr is primarily known for helping to transform Philadelphia’s dining scene.

I ate at a few of the resort’s restaurants during my stay — I even ended up eating at Sunny’s twice.

The lobby also houses the 24-hour Cafféccino, which is more of a grab-and-go breakfast and lunch spot with bagels, pastries, snacks, and salads.

However, as a huge fan of brunch, I had to check out Sunny’s during my stay.

The atmosphere was bright and inviting.

I was able to grab a bar seat on the first morning I dined there, and a table for two the next time I did.

The waitstaff were friendly and engaging, and I was seated and served quickly.

I enjoyed all of the dishes I tried at Sunny’s.

The first time I dined there, I had the eggs Benedict ($23), which was perfectly cooked and filled me up for a morning of sand and sea at the nearby beach.

On another morning, I tried the avocado toast ($17), which I thought was flavorful yet a little too simple to write home about.

I also dined at Amada, the resort’s tapas restaurant.

The restaurant is helmed by Chef Jose Garces, a James Beard Award winner and “Iron Chef” winner.

I was impressed by the food and the wide selection of options on the menu. They ranged from sautéed Galician octopus ($18) to bacon-wrapped dates ($15), charcuterie ($10-$35), and other small bites.

My stay at Ocean Casino Resort showed me how Atlantic City is embracing luxury experiences.

From the elevated dining experiences and sweeping ocean views to my comfortable hotel room and vibrant energy of the casino floor, my stay at Ocean Casino Resort was indulgent from start to finish.

The tides appear to be turning in this beachside city, and Ocean is charting a new course. With its polished atmosphere and upscale amenities, it’s positioning itself as an elevated retreat for big-time gamers, wealthy tourists, and even celebrities.

In my opinion, it’s only a matter of time before the clientele Ocean hopes to attract are fully reeled in.

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