Earlier this year it was announced that a Hamptons for Hipsters was about to take shape in Atlantic City, courtesy of the Beatrice Inn boys Paul Sevigny and Matt Abramcyk. The two have taken their aesthetic and transferred it over to The Chelsea's 5th floor, which houses a game room, several lounges, a pool, patios and a restaurant. But you know what they say: you can't take the New Jersey out of Atlantic City.
We recently visited the first non-gaming boutique hotel to open in the area since the 1960's, and while nice n' quiet during the off-season daytime hours, the night brought locals and overpriced drinks (which can be avoided by procuring one's own alcohol and pouring it up in the hotel room). But the 5th floor is so spacious, with so many nooks, that the local takeover is hardly a downside. The restaurant on the floor, however, Stephen Starr's Chelsea Prime, may be the hotel's biggest downside. Our lobster bisque was crunchy with shells, not to mention bitter, and the caprese salad was comprised of mushy tomato chunks and approximately one cube of mozzarella. Inedible and overpriced, the establishment will hopefully work to improve this over the course of their inaugural year. To the staff's credit, they picked up the uneaten plates quickly, apologized, and took them off the bill.
There are plenty of upsides to the place (though one recent visitor complained of the off-season state of things). The decor is gorgeous, the staff is very friendly and accommodating, and the view is great. While the peak season prices can be a bit high, off-season prices start at $109/night. If you want to test the waters outside of NYC during the holidays, they've got not only a Christmas special, but also a New Year's Eve bash planned, with a variety of packages offered. CityRoom reported earlier today that a new luxury train will start running direct from New York to Atlantic City in February.
