Since opening weekend back in April of 2012, Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic City has been a source of hedonistic pleasure for both New York and Philadelphia socialites looking for a getaway from their usual city scene. On Tuesday, September 2nd, the $2.4 billion resort has officially closed it doors at 6 a.m., leaving Revel fans in disbelief and the city curious about the future of this iconic landmark. In its final weekend, it was imperative to soak up the last hours of the Revel experience along with the last of the summer sun.
When Revel Resorts came onto the scene, it was a game changer; the entire design of the hotel was focused around the sensory enjoyment of its surrounding environment. When you step into Revel, you realized almost immediately that this isn’t a typical casino. Smoking isn’t allowed, the air is fresh, the sun streams through huge windows boasting incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean, and the cosmopolitan vibe is on par with any of the top luxury Vegas hotels.
From the incredible dining options (including three Jose Garces restaurants alone), luxxe Exhale Spa, incredible entertainment choices at HQ Nightclub, Ivan Kane’s Royal Jelly Burlesque Club and two live music venues, Social and Ovation. (Who could forget Beyonce’s visit to Revel!?) HQ Beach Club certainly went out with a bang with a stellar lineup of DJ’s spinning all Labor Day Weekend including R3hab, Afrojack and Steve Aoki.
During our last supper at Revel, we visited Amada to savor their delicious Spanish tapas for a final time. Somewhere between the delish cocktails, the shishito peppers in all their spicy perfection and the salty-sweet boquerones full of anchovy goodness, we started to feel a startling pang of sadness saying goodbye to a place that has brought us all so much happiness with their incredible dining experiences, late nights, and foggy mornings… until the Iberico pork a la plancha was delivered still sizzling from the grill. Then we realized Revel won’t be gone for long. Who could let all of this fabulousness just fade into oblivion?
Stay tuned, Philadelphia.
