The Chelsea in Atlantic City

Atlantic City's first boutique hotel, The Chelsea occupies territory formerly held by the down-at-the-heels Howard Johnson's and Holiday Inn motels. But you won't find a hint of those old fleabags here. Completely redone in an updated retro style, The Chelsea is attracting a hip, young, sexy crowd. Steps from the Atlantic City Boardwalk, the beach, and the Atlantic Ocean, the hotel has an easy-going attitude with plenty of lounge space, two swimming pools, cabanas, and a superior restaurant (Chelsea Prime). What doesn't it have? A casino -- but those towers of temptation are close by.Accommodations at The Chelsea are sleek and modern with a retro edge that pays homage to Atlantic City's kitschy ambiance. Beds are sheathed in white linens under a regal black headboard; chairs are upholstered in animal prints. Although rooms are on the small side, those with views of the beach and Atlantic beyond more than compensate. We especially liked the Penthouse Suite, with its balcony overlooking the ocean, large flatscreen TV positioned over a gas fireplace, and bathtub made for two. The only thing that gave us pause were stains on its cotton velvet couch, remnants of an overexcited previous guest.The Chelsea contains two distinctive restaurants that give Atlantic City's dining scene a big boost. (It's grown impressively in the last few years; the first Restaurant Week included 64 eateries.) Teplitzky's, named after a legendary family-run restaurant that closed a while back, has been reborn as a 24/7 diner. The place to go for dinner is Chelsea Prime, on the hotel's fifth floor. This dramatically designed restaurant offers a gorgeous Atlantic Ocean view, stylish bar, and outdoor smoking lounge. Start with cheddar-topped sliders or a tasty chopped salad with avocado, shrimp, and green goddess dressing.There are two stylish swimming areas at The Chelsea. The rooftop pool, which has its own bar, is surrounded by lounge chairs, upholstered couches, a conversation area, and private cabanas. The ground-floor saltwater pool, also outdoors and heated, is close by the spa and Teplitzky's. Since guests are within spitting distance of the beach and the Atlantic, the hotel also has cabanas to rent on the beach. Or borrow one of the house bikes and explore this shore town on two wheels.The Sea Spa at The Chelsea is designed to wash away stress with saltwater-inspired treatments. Next door is a fitness center with TVs attached to equipment to help distract users from the tedium of workouts. The hotel also contains the Crystal Room, a 4,400-square-foot indoor event space with an outdoor terrace. Fitting up to 300 guests, it's an imaginative place to host a destination wedding, and the area can be subdivided into two smaller rooms. Wi-fi is available throughout the hotel, including guest rooms, and there is no charge to use it.The short line at check-in revealed a group of young, fun-loving couples and pairs of friends arriving. From the design, layout, and amenities here, it's clear The Chelsea is not a hotel for Atlantic City's traditional grey-haired, "Where's the bus?" nickel-slot-playing, my-grandchildren-are-everything-to-me demographic. Instead, The Chelsea is drawing those who come to the city by the sea to unwind, eat well, hang with friends, hit the clubs at night, and perhaps get in a little gambling.There's direct access to the Atlantic City Boardwalk and the beach from The Chelsea. The Boardwalk is a combination of vast casinos, fast-food joints, and cheesy stores. The welcome exception to the latter, and one likely to draw guests of The Chelsea, is The Pier Shops at Caesars, an upscale mall shaped like a cruise liner jutting into the Atlantic. Across from Caesars Atlantic City, it features the city's only Apple store. Coach, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Scoop NYC, and Michael Kors all have boutiques here. On the third floor, visitors can dine at trendy sushi and seafood restaurants, among others.If you want a sociable weekend in Atlantic City close to the center of action, The Chelsea is likely to provide a setting you'll enjoy. The hotel has been designed with a generous amount of lounge space, so you will find areas to curl up in front of a fireplace, shoot a game of pool, sit outdoors, and hang out with old or meet new friends. All this, and with one of the town's best new restaurants to stoke your appetite for fun.

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The Chelsea
111 South Chelsea Avenue
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
800-548-3030

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