North Beach, the quieter end of Atlantic City's Boardwalk

The Boardwalk from Steel Pier to the Showboat

The Atlantic City Boardwalk (Steel Pier north to Showboat) was laid in 1870 as the world's first boardwalk, and the North Beach stretch is its quieter, newer-feeling half. The planking is herringbone-laid timber raised above the sand, with railings, dune grass and the Absecon Lighthouse in view inland at the northern end. Walking it is free, unticketed and fine at any party size. Hand-pushed wicker rolling chairs seat two to three, so a party of six travels in convoy.

Heading north you pass Resorts' twin towers, then Hard Rock, then Ocean, and the timber runs out at the Showboat.

Steel Pier (Boardwalk opposite Hard Rock) has stood on the Boardwalk since 1898 and runs 1,000 feet out over the open Atlantic, the water showing through the gaps underfoot. The 227-foot Observation Wheel is climate-controlled and enclosed, and it turns March to December, Monday to Friday 2 p.m. to midnight and Saturday to Sunday noon to 1 a.m. The full amusement park, with its vintage carousel, go-kart track and funnel-cake stands on wet planking, is a spring-to-autumn affair. Rides are sold on pay-per-ride wristbands, and the pier takes group ride packages and private buyouts.

Absecon Lighthouse at Pacific and Rhode Island

Absecon Lighthouse (Pacific Avenue at Rhode Island Avenue) is New Jersey's tallest, a 165-foot brick tower banded red and white that rises straight out of a small city park, with the white keeper's cottage at its base. The 1857 lens is still in place, glass prisms and all. Off-season hours are Thursday to Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; in July and August it opens daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The stairwell is single-file, and large parties are released up it in waves. Group and school rates are booked by phone on (609) 449-1360.

Gardner's Basin at the top of the island

Atlantic City Aquarium (Historic Gardner's Basin) reopened in March 2025 after a five-year refit, a low waterfront building on a working marina with fishing boats and the lighthouse in view. Inside are a 25,000-gallon open-topped Atlantic tank and a touch tank of rays and small sharks; the seal pool is outdoors. It is the best wet-weather hour in the inlet for families, though visitors in 2026 still report upper-floor galleries closed off, and a $2.3 million works programme at Gardner's Basin runs until summer 2027. School parties are taken, with group rates by phone.

Back Bay Ale House (800 N New Hampshire Avenue) sits on the same basin, a weathered timber deck straight onto the water with fishing boats moored feet away. The seafood is bay-side, the drinks arrive in oversized mason jars under string lights, and the deck toasts the sunset over the back bay every evening. It opens from 11 a.m. daily and runs to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Dogs are welcome, the picnic tables are shaded, and walk-ins work for a larger party.

Euclid Avenue mini golf and the Showboat waterpark

North Beach Mini Golf & Bike Rentals (120 Euclid Avenue) lays 18 Atlantic City-themed holes on open ground where the Boardwalk meets the inlet, the lighthouse and the Absecon Inlet channel framed behind the back nine. It opens daily, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Out front are racks of beach cruisers and four-seat canopied surreys, which seat four to six. The Putt & Ride combo gives you half-price golf with a bike ($).

Island Waterpark at Showboat (Boardwalk's northern tip) is billed as the world's largest beachfront indoor waterpark, 103,000 square feet bolted onto the Showboat's Mardi Gras riverboat facade. The retractable glass roof opens to the sky over palm trees, and eleven slides, a surf simulator and a lazy river run year-round with the ocean on the other side of the glass. The Showboat carries no casino now, and under-21s are welcome throughout. The same ticket desk sells the Lucky Snake Arcade, the indoor go-kart raceway and glow mini golf. Day passes, cabana hire and birthday packages are all bookable ($$$).

The three casino hotels

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Boardwalk at Virginia Avenue) rebranded the old Trump Taj Mahal in 2018 and kept its onion-domed white-and-gold Mughal silhouette under the new signage. An enormous illuminated guitar stands out front on the Boardwalk, directly across from Steel Pier, and glass cases of rock memorabilia line the interior walkways. Most of the district's big-name music lands here, split between the Sound Waves theatre and the 7,000-capacity Hard Rock Live arena at Etess Arena. Group rates and conference space come with the multiple room towers ($$$).

Ocean Casino Resort (500 Boardwalk) is the former Revel, a blue mirrored-glass wave-shaped tower and the tallest building in Atlantic City. Every guest room faces the Atlantic through floor-to-ceiling glass. The glass-walled Eclipse pool deck runs indoors and out high above the beach, and the outdoor lounge terrace is called The Park. The Summer 2026 programme added new openings and an expanded private-jet service. Group dining is bookable across Amada, Distrito and Ocean Steak ($$$).

Resorts Casino Hotel (1133 Boardwalk) opened on 26 May 1978 as the first legal casino in America outside Nevada. Two older towers sit over an 80,000-square-foot casino floor, with 1920s Haddon Hall masonry detail kept at street level and Roaring Twenties styling inside. It is the cheaper and friendlier stay of the three North Beach casinos, with 942 rooms and suites ($$). Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville and LandShark Bar & Grille spill onto the beach outside, and the LandShark deck takes large parties.

Dinner at Resorts and Hard Rock

Dougherty's Steakhouse & Raw Bar (1133 Boardwalk) occupies a dark clubby room on the Resorts dining level, leather banquettes under low brass lighting, archive black-and-white Atlantic City photographs on the panelling. Oysters and chilled seafood come up on a crushed-ice tower. The name comes from the old Dougherty's that fed Atlantic City for most of the 20th century. Service runs Sunday to Thursday 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday to 10 p.m., with raw-bar lunch noon to 4 p.m. at weekends. Reserve for anything above six ($$$$).

Kuro (1000 Boardwalk, inside Hard Rock) does the most ambitious cooking in the district, contemporary Japanese with fish flown in from Japan and worked at a long counter in front of you. The room is low-lit black timber, woven-bamboo lanterns hanging over black lacquer surfaces, graphic Japanese screens on the walls. The diary is narrow: Thursday to Sunday from 5 p.m., to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, dark Monday to Wednesday. Reservations are essential and the room is small. Book well ahead for six or more ($$$$).

Tony Boloney's on Oriental Avenue

Tony Boloney's (300 Oriental Avenue) is the non-casino cult favourite, a scruffy corner shop a block off the inlet beach with hand-painted signage and stickers over every surface. Taco pizza and absurdly overstuffed hoagies are handed across a short counter. Seating is a handful of stools. Order whole pies and carry them to the beach, and call a large order ahead. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday ($$).

South Tennessee Avenue in the Orange Loop

Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall (133 S Tennessee Avenue) is two blocks south of Steel Pier and counts as part of North Beach. The hall is narrow and double-height, exposed brick with long communal wooden tables and benches, and a wall-mounted bank of more than 100 beers on tap and in bottle. Rotating local art hangs above the bar, and the kitchen does lobster tater tots. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. daily, 11 a.m. at weekends, and Sunday brunch runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those communal tables make it the easiest room here for a group, and set three-course dinners are arranged for parties. It stays family-tolerant despite the name ($$).

Bar 32 Chocolate & Cocktails (121 S Tennessee Avenue) makes chocolate bean to bar on the premises, the equipment visible behind the counter and the handmade bon bons under spotlights in a glass case. Cocktails come garnished with cocoa nibs, under bare bulbs, in a small dim room hung with local art. The world's first bean-to-bar bon bon inspired by Dubai chocolate came out of this kitchen. Take it as the late dessert-and-a-drink stop of the district. Four to six people fit comfortably and anything larger gets awkward; go early or expect to wait. Small-group chocolate tastings can be arranged ($$).

HQ2 inside Ocean Casino

HQ2 Nightclub & Beachclub (500 Boardwalk) is Atlantic City's biggest nightclub, two levels with an LED wall wrapping the main room and the DJ booth set above a sunken dancefloor. Bottle-service banquettes arrive with sparklers. It runs Friday and Saturday from 11 p.m., and the 2026 headliners include Steve Aoki, Loud Luxury and Two Friends. The outdoor Beachclub half, an open-air pool deck straight onto the sand, operates in summer only. The door is strict and upscale-fashionable, with no hats, shorts, trainers, sportswear, hoodies or sandals, and entry at management's discretion. Guest list, table and bottle-service packages cover birthdays and bachelor or bachelorette parties ($$$$).

Before you go

Off-season the lighthouse closes Tuesday and Wednesday, Kuro is dark Monday to Wednesday, and HQ2 opens on Friday and Saturday only. Reserve Kuro ahead, reserve Dougherty's for a party above six, and expect works at Gardner's Basin until summer 2027.

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