Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Features

An eat, play, stay guide to Borgata, Atlantic City

What it's like to stay in the "Las Vegas of the East Coast"

Borgota
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa

What I love most about Atlantic City is that there’s truly a resort for every traveler here. From vibrant party crowds to relaxed, leisurely travelers, there’s no bad hotel in the area. Rather, I believe each resort suits a different type of visitor. After my recent stay at Borgota, I discovered this hotel is the spot to stay in AC for the true foodie.

But the fun doesn’t stop there — I quickly discovered there’s so much to love about this luxurious Atlantic City hotel. It only took one stay here to see why many people call the Borgota the “Las Vegas of the East Coast”. If you’re thinking of staying here, here’s what you need to know — from dining to amenities and everything in between.

Top-tier dining options

With Angeline by Michael Symon, B Prime, Noodles and Old Homestead, there are so many amazing dining options that make Borgata a major foodie destination. While many hotels in Atlantic City have great dining options, Borgota feels like a true home for the visitor that values upscale, top-tier dining. During my stay, I had an amazing classic steakhouse dinner at the popular Old Homestead Steakhouse where I ordered the largest (and tastiest) prime rib I’ve ever had. If you love a classic steak meal with all the sides and fix-ins, Old Homestead is a must-visit for your stay at Borgota.

Recommended Videos

In between dining at the signature restaurants at Borgota, I also had the chance to explore the immense quick-service and food court options. Fast options like the Borgota Baking Company and the extensive Food Hall Eatery, great for grabbing a quick lunch, snack, or coffee in between gaming or before shows. I found the quick-service options here to be far more extensive than other Atlantic City hotels I’ve stayed at.

Even staying for just a weekend was not nearly enough time to try all of the restaurants on site I wanted to try — which only gives me the best excuse to return soon. On my next visit, I hope to try Borgota’s other top-tier steakhouse, B-Prime.

MGM Tower

During my stay at Borgota, it didn’t take long to realize just how massive this hotel is. If you’ve never stayed here before, you might also find yourself shocked at how spacious the casino floor is. When booking a room, you’ve got plenty of options, which include a room in the main Borgota towers or the recently renovated MGM tower.

I stayed in the MGM tower, which has a quieter, contemporary, and boutique-style feel to it. The room was comfortable, modern, and spacious, setting the tone for an excellent stay. Staying in the MGM tower gives you quick access to shopping and a separate check-in area from the rest of the Borgota hotel. Many rooms also face the marina for a nice waterfront view (as the Borgota is one of the Atlantic City hotels not located on the boardwalk). If you’re looking for a stay that feels a bit secluded from the vibrant atmosphere of the casino floor, I’d recommend booking the MGM tower.

Casino floor and entertainment

The atmosphere of the casino floor and common areas in a hotel can make a huge difference on how you feel during your stay. Unlike outdated casinos with a dark, dingy feel, Borgota has a vibrant, upscale, and luxurious atmosphere. The space around the casino floor is immaculate with plenty of lounge areas, open-air bars, and an overall inviting atmosphere.

Even though the hotel is massive, I never got too lost when following the signs located throughout the floor. During my stay, I felt much like I did at a stay at high-end hotels in Vegas like Fontainebleau Vegas — where everything you want and need is right within reach. From dining to entertainment to nightlife, Borgota appeals to the Atlantic City visitor that wants to do everything all in one place — eat, shop, stay, and play.

Emily is a Features Writer at The Manual, where she specializes in food, beverage, and travel content. She focuses on weaving… Read Full Bio
Cafe Charmant, The Corner Store Crew’s Latest, Puts Food Ahead of the Scene
Clothing, Long Sleeve, Sleeve

I’ll be honest. If I weren’t a writer, there is no way in hell I could have landed a 7:15 Saturday night reservation at Cafe Charmant just a mere four weeks after its opening. The most recent jewel in the buzzy Catch Hospitality Group’s crown, the glitzy eatery is the newest IT restaurant to hit the downtown scene, so chalk it up to one of the perks of the job that I could walk in, order a drink, and be ushered to a corner table for two in under 10 minutes.

Though the state of making prime reservations in New York City may not come as a surprise to many, I’m still not able to reconcile with the current velvet rope of so many of this city’s restaurants. Sure, the 90s and early 2000’s had their Indochine, Moomba (if you remember that one, we need to grab a drink). The Waverly Inn, but for the most part, you could easily make a reservation or even walk in and wait for a table with a cocktail in hand at most popular establishments. And, let’s be honest, half the people weren’t even eating, if you know what I mean.

Read more
A tasting guide to Livermore Valley, California’s friendliest wine country
Adult, Male, Man

Livermore Valley sits in Northern California’s East Bay, where the hustle and bustle of neighboring Oakland and San Francisco give way to grassy rolling hills, big open skies, and over 40 tasting rooms. The region is home to some of the best wines I’ve tasted in the state, without the pretense and rigidity I’ve come to expect from other tasting rooms in the region.

And thanks to the valley’s marine-influenced winds, varied climate, and diverse soils, I tasted an unusually broad range of wines. Crisp whites, structured reds, and everything in between seem to be able to find their footing here.

Read more
High Society, Low Alcohol: A Trip to the Hamptons with Heineken 0.0
Ball, Sport, Tennis

After a multi-year bender of back-to-back press trips, I decided to swear off travel this past summer. The old dog was tired, and I desperately wanted to reconnect with old friends, visit family, and continue wooing a lovely lady in New York. Oh, and I needed to find time to actually write the stories I had promised publicists in exchange for gallivanting around the globe on their dime. I am, after all, a professional.

As summer raced by, my inbox swelled with tantalizing invitations. I turned them down one after the next with Spartan fortitude. A junket to the Loire Valley to review wineries? Thank you for considering me, but for the next few weeks, I’m committed to rekindling my relationship with my bed. A sailboat cruise on the Amalfi Coast? I hear it’s beautiful this time of year, but sadly, I’m in the weeds bingeing Landman.

Read more