Atlantic City Is Reclaiming Its Spotlight—And Everyone's Invited

Forbes

15-07-2025

Atlantic City, NJ: An aerial performer takes the stage during The HOOK by Spiegelworld, Atlantic ... More City's first-ever permanent live show, located inside the historic Warner Theater at Caesars.
From provocative new shows and a major tourism boom, the East Coast's comeback city is reclaiming its spotlight—and culture lovers should take note.
Is Atlantic City becoming the ultimate weekend escape for New Yorkers?
Google search trends suggest it's already happening. Search interest in travel is at a five-year high, with 'travel near me' searched three times more than 'travel abroad' in the past 30 days. For travelers craving quick access, big vibes, and culturally rich experiences, Atlantic City is rising to the top of the list.
It's more than a convenient getaway—it's a renaissance.
Once a crown jewel of East Coast entertainment, Atlantic City is returning to its roots with bold new energy, blending the past and future into something electric. Today's AC is no longer just about casinos and boardwalk fries—it's about performance, storytelling, and cultural revival. And no experience captures that better than The HOOK, a boundary-pushing, adults-only live show from Spiegelworld, the creative minds behind Las Vegas hits Absinthe and OPM.
ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY - JULY 21: Entertainers are seen performing live on stage as ... More Spiegelworld's 'The Hook' premieres at the new Warner Theater at Caesars Atlantic City opening on July 21, 2023 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by)
Set inside the newly restored, 96-year-old Warner Theater, The HOOK is a sexy, jaw-dropping spectacle that unfolds—quite literally—right in front of your eyes. Hosted by Australian comedian Asher Treleaven as Dick Marlin and supported by a chorus line of exotic lobsters (yes, lobsters), it's a 75-minute riptide of acrobatics, irreverent comedy, and 'did-that-just-happen?' moments designed for those 18 and up.
'The HOOK is a wild homage to Atlantic City's Golden Age—it's sexy, chaotic, and fun,' said a Spiegelworld team member. 'We wanted to create something this city has never seen before—and it's working.'
But to understand the magic of today's AC, you have to acknowledge the cultural foundation it's built on.
For decades, Atlantic City was a stage for excellence in music and performance. From the 1930s through the 1960s, icons like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Duke Ellington lit up legendary venues like Club Harlem—a nightlife staple known as the 'Black Copacabana'—where Black entertainers could headline and thrive despite segregation elsewhere. These stages weren't just performance spaces—they were acts of resistance, joy, and visibility.
The HOOk in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, on November 7, 2023. The HOOK is a comedic, captivating ... More and gravity-defying show.
That legacy is what makes Atlantic City's current moment so meaningful. Today's shows, dining experiences, and nightlife offerings are channeling that same sense of spectacle and boundary-breaking artistry.
'You're literally backstage at the theater,' said one team member at Superfrico. 'There's even a door in the restaurant that opens right onto the stage. The whole venue is immersive—it's not dinner and a show. It's a world you step intosd.'
Cultural curiosity is clearly driving travel decisions. Search interest in Atlantic City spikes every July, and in the past 30 days alone, 'Atlantic City tickets' searches have surged, with top trending concerts including Fisher, Stevie Nicks, and Lil Wayne. That blend of mainstream and alternative energy mirrors the city itself—unexpected, diverse, and full of flavor.
And outside of The HOOK, the reinvention continues—under one roof.
Superfrico, a psychedelic Italian-American restaurant, turns dining into a multisensory performance, serving dishes like lobster francaise and tableside-melted mozzarella.
'We opened Superfrico in the summer of 2023 alongside The HOOK,' the team shared. 'This isn't just a restaurant—it's a vibe.
Superfrico Atlantic City, located inside Caesars, offers a theatrical dining experience with ... More psychedelic Italian-American cuisine—blending immersive design with elevated hospitality as part of the city's entertainment renaissance.
'Each room is curated to feel like a different part of a theater,' they explained. 'We're sitting in the dressing room, which has vintage mirrors from the 1940s Miss America pageants. In the prop room, we host private dinners. You never know what you'll see next—and that's the charm," The Hook team.
Horse Dive Bar, a cheeky cocktail den inspired by boardwalk nostalgia, mixes inventive drinks like the Red Lips (tequila, spicy Aperol, passion fruit) and Happy Jack (Tito's, coffee liqueur, caramel, peanut).
Horse Dive Bar at Caesars Atlantic City reimagines classic boardwalk cocktail culture with a bold, ... More modern twist—delivering inventive drinks and nostalgic ambiance as part of the city's evolving hospitality scene.
'We wanted the drinks to reflect the city's history—fun, a little gritty, but elevated.'
All of this—The HOOK, Superfrico, and Horse Dive Bar—is located inside the iconic Caesars Atlantic City, making it a one-stop destination for immersive entertainment, theatrical dining, and unforgettable nights.
'We're incredibly fortunate to have the support of Caesars,' they added. 'They've helped us get the word out, and more importantly, helped us build something that Atlantic City has never had before.'
Atlantic City's return isn't just about tourism—it's about reclaiming a story. One where culture leads, art provokes, and legacy is honored while new legends are born. Whether you're a music lover, a foodie, a nightlife explorer, or simply someone craving something real—Atlantic City is ready for you.
And this summer? It might just be the best-kept not-so-secret on the East Coast.