The Meathead’s Guide to Atlantic City, New Jersey

8 min readMeathead’s Guides are Men’s Health’s field manuals for doing a city right—where to train, what to eat, and when to go all out. Built around workouts, great meals, and local intel, these guides are for anyone who’s looking to do more than see the sights and pose for pics. Come hungry, bring decent shoes, and consider this a full-body itinerary.“THE DAYS OF debauchery have gone by the wayside,” says Sal Spena, 56, owner of the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in the Orange Loop section of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Once upon a tide, the seaside town formerly known as the “Nation’s Playground” was best known for boozing, betting, and beaching.Born and raised in AC, Spena says he’s been through “the bad, the ugly, and the indifferent.” Still, he can’t help but love this island where he and other longtime locals are ushering in a new era, aiming to appeal to younger beachgoers who care less about bottle service and more about bike rides and piglet yoga.You don’t have to be a “gorilla juice head” from Jersey Shore to feel at home at CrossFit RDT or Island Gym. Heck, you don’t even have to be a “meathead” to enjoy the “Hungry Man” breakfast from Gilchrist Restaurant or a famous Italian hoagie from White House Subs. From PGA-level golf to nighttime volleyball, these days the active traveler is likely to be pleasantly surprised by all the hangover-free options available in Atlantic City and its surrounding areas.Courtesy of Lindsay GellerFUEL UPGilchrist RestaurantSkip the standard hotel-casino breakfast buffet and start your day at Gilchrist, a beloved bayside breakfast spot frequented by locals and in-the-know tourists. It’s famous for its light and airy blueberry pancakes, the recipe for which Spena jokes he’s been “trying to steal for years.” (Can confirm they are addictively delicious.) Local lifeguard Christopher Pozza, 19, says his go-to order is the Hungry Man, a customizable combo of eggs, pancakes, choice of meat, plus optional home fries or grits and toast—all for $12.95.RISE AND GRINDCafé Con Amor Mexican Coffee Truck Yoga teacher Michell Joga, 30, loves what she calls “gourmet Mexican coffee on the go.” Just make sure to check their Instagram before you go down to the shore to see where they’ll be posted up each week. The mobile espresso trailer frequents farmers markets, food festivals, and local parks. For a brick-and-mortar source of caffeine, Joga also likes Beat the Daily Grind, while other locals recommend HeyDay Coffee.Getty ImagesWALK IT OUTHit the Boardwalk It may be the obvious item to put on your to-do list, but locals swear a stroll on AC’s historic five-mile boardwalk (the first in the country, FYI) remains a can’t-miss part of anyone’s AC stay.“I hate running, but I love running on the boardwalk,” says Joga. “The boardwalk makes it worth it for me, especially in the summer.”Don’t wanna do five miles on foot? Rent a beach cruiser and ride along the boardwalk. While summer might seem like peak seaside biking season, fall is actually the best time to ride. From September 16 through May 14, bicycles are permitted on the boardwalk 24/7. (In summer, you can only ride from 6 a.m. to noon.)There are multiple beachside bike shops, but locals love North Beach Mini Golf & Bike Rentals. Hourly rentals start at $18 for beach cruisers and $40 for 1920s-style surreys. (North Beach also offers a Putt & Ride special, where you can play a round of mini golf before or after your ride for $5 off.) Pedal through Ventnor to Margate and, while you’re there, make a pit stop at Lucy the Elephant. The 65-foot-high wooden elephant used to be a speakeasy, but is now a National Historic Landmark. (Only in AC, baby!)GET IN, SWEAT OUTIsland Gym Many beachfront hotels offer state-of-the-art gyms, but if you’re renting a house and still want to GLT (“gym, tan, laundry” for the non-Jersey Shore fans), head to Island Gym. Located in Ventnor, DiCioccio describes it as a “very small community gym.” But don’t let the hometown feel fool you. The facility boasts “the largest selection of fitness equipment in South Jersey,” offers free fitness coaching from trainers, and is open 24/7. Plus, the price to join can’t be beat—you can snag a one-day pass for $15 and a one-week pass for $35. All group fitness classes, from traditional strength training to cardio-focused boot camp, are included in that price (the only exception is boxing classes, which cost an extra $10).Ray NunziFLEX APPEALLeadership StudioJoga recommends Leadership Studio for a sweat and stretch that won’t break the bank (especially good news if your wallet is hurting after a night at the casino). This nonprofit studio offers pay-what-you-can heated power and yin yoga classes starting at $10, as well as free outdoor yoga classes at the historic Absecon Lighthouse. In partnership with Angels in Motion Atlantic City, a nonprofit organization that helps people with substance use disorder, Leadership Studio offers free weekly Yoga for Recovery classes. These sessions are open to anyone in recovery from all addictions, as well as those who would simply benefit from a mindful practice.RIDE WITH THE TIDEScenic Bike PathsHigh school chemistry teacher Alex Brigden, 49, recommends biking around the Brigantine Island Loop, a flat, 12.8-mile route along the Brigantine Seawall, about a 15-minute drive north of the Atlantic City boardwalk. It’s a smooth path with benches where you can pause and take in ocean views. Joga also likes the Pleasantville to Somers Point Bike Path, an 8.2-mile paved multiuse trail that runs mostly along an old railroad track through Pleasantville, Northfield, Linwood, and Somers Point, about a 10-minute drive inland from the AC boardwalk.WOD’S UP?CrossFit RDT​“People that do CrossFit will do CrossFit on vacation,” says Joga, who frequents this locally owned gym in May’s Landing. Sound like you? Expect a warm welcome from the RDT regulars. “They're a really great group if you’re looking for some kind of fitness community,” says Joga. “We've had people come from all over. If they're on vacation, they're still doing CrossFit.”During the workweek, the gym offers up to 10 daily classes that each last an hour, so you can schedule a $20 drop-in class whenever is convenient for you. A typical coach-led session might include classic strength training exercises like barbell squats and kettlebell swings, as well as some Olympic lifts. Other classes might focus on simple and effective bodyweight movements (pushups, sit-ups, pullups, etc.), or cardiovascular conditioning on rowers and bikes. For the weekend warrior, Saturdays offer three morning classes from 7 to 10 a.m. followed by open gym hours starting at 10:30 a.m., and Sundays are full open gym days. The cost to drop in during open gym hours is also $20, and there’s always a coach on site who can help you get set up.Courtesy of Hamilton Trails Golf ClubBIG SWING Seaview Golf Club“A lot of people don't realize we have tons of golf courses in or around the AC area,” says DiCiccio. He, Spena, and Brigden all recommend Seaview Golf Club in Galloway (about a 20-minute ride from Atlantic City proper). It has two 18-hole courses—a “Bay Course” and “Pines Course”—each with a differing terrain that offers a unique challenge.For a 9-hole course, beach equipment attendant Sean Burke, 17, recommends Hamilton Trails Golf Club in May’s Landing. During the summer, the club offers “Glow Golf” (essentially, normal golf but with a ball that lights up) on Friday and Saturday nights.GAME ONLucky Snake Arcade For a family-friendly—and refreshingly smoke-free—alternative to another night at the casino, Brigden recommends the Lucky Snake at Showboat. But it’s not just for kids. Adults can grab a bev at the sports bar before taking advantage of classic arcade amusements like pinball and “the world’s largest” Pac-Man game. While you can also drive like Dom Torretto in plenty of racing games, you may want to satisfy your real need for speed zipping around the IRL go-kart track out back.REEL ‘EM IN Go Fishing Most locals fish off the jetties, according to Burke, but if the ocean dwellers aren’t biting, you can always try your luck bayside. In Gardner’s Basin, Highroller Fishing offers family-friendly back bay trips twice daily in the summer.Come fall, those in the know participate in the Pat Erdman Memorial Atlantic County Surf Fishing Derby, the longest-running public fishing tournament in New Jersey. During the tournament, you’re allowed to drive on the beach and fish, says Nicholas DiCioccio, 30, the marketing manager for Visit AC, with prizes given out for specific species. The 2026 event began on September 28. Stripers, tog, kingfish, and sheepshead were the name of the game.SURF THE STRIPSurf the Atlantic Find where the sand meets New Hampshire Avenue for “the most beautiful beach in AC,” according to lifeguard Adam Bailey, 21. He recommends the northernmost part of the shoreline for surfing because it’s less crowded than the casino-front beach areas, and it has free parking and showers. Seasoned surfer DiCioccio also likes a beach break called Crystals located near New Hampshire Ave. and the boardwalk, adjacent to the inlet. But he says that at South Carolina Ave., the beach is “particularly good” for catching waves, and Ventnor Pier is another convenient surfing spot.NET GAINS Ventnor Beach Volleyball League Open Play Night​Channel your inner Top Gun-era Tom Cruise at weekly beach volleyball open play in Ventnor. From May to August, the Ventnor Volleyball League hosts the event every Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. “You play pickup games all night,” says Joga. “You can bring your kids, your coolers with your drinks, and it's fun.” But the fun doesn’t stop in the fall. From October to April, the league heads indoors and hosts open play nights every Friday from 6 to 10 p.m.. All year round, the cost to play is only $5 per person per night.Courtesy of Lindsay GellerCHEAT MEAL Tennessee Beer Hall AC may be nightclub central, but if you’re looking for a more low-key way to spend your evening, head to the Orange Loop. Just a few blocks from the boardwalk, this up-and-coming part of AC is home to multiple bars and restaurants, including Tennessee Beer Hall. With a big backyard, this classic South Jersey sports bar is home to oversized Jenga, Connect Four, cornhole, and live music every Friday and Saturday night. But it’s not all fun and games—there are some legit (and yeah, still fun) fitness opps here, too. TBH recently hosted a piglet yoga brunch that owner Spena says sold out in less than a day. The enthusiastic response from patrons has him eyeing up potential future fitness-related events.Courtesy of Lindsay GellerAN ITALIAN JOBWhite House SubsBailey says the Italian sub is a must-order from this institution in the heart of Ducktown—AC’s historic “Little Italy” district. White House Subs has been serving fully-loaded hoagies to longtime regulars and visiting celebs for nearly 80 years—and they’ve got the pics to prove it. The small sub shop is covered in wall-to-wall photos of professional athletes, A-list entertainers, and notable politicians.Emily RepiciPROTEINMAXX Dock’s Oyster House ​Another Ducktown staple is Dock’s Oyster House, which boasts the best happy hour in the city, according to Brigden. Every day from 4 to 6 p.m. at the bar, you can get $1.50 oysters on the half shell, as well as $1.75 broiled or fried oysters.Even if you miss happy hour, you won’t be disappointed. DiCiccio says he usually starts with a corn and crab chowder appetizer, then orders filet mignon or potato-crusted flounder as his entrée. Heck yeah.Courtesy of Ocean Casino ResortREST DAYGet a Massage at Exhale Spa ​However you spend your stay in AC, there’s no better way to end your trip than with a recovery day at this award-winning spa in the Ocean Casino Resort. Spa director Nikki DeMarco, 34, says that men typically get the deep tissue massage, but she also recommends the athletic recovery massage. The spa also offers a specific facial for men that past clients have apparently called “life-changing.”If you can’t get enough of the beach, you can always experience one of the spa’s “aquatic immersion experiences,” says DeMarco, such as a sea holistic massage and sea body scrub.Lindsay Geller is the Lifestyle Director at Women’s Health, where she oversees the Life, Sex & Love, and Relationships sections on WomensHealthMag.com and the Mind section of Women's Health magazine. When she's not writing or editing articles about the latest dating trends and pop culture phenomenons, she's usually watching reality TV or playing with her dog, Lucille (Go Fetch That) Ball.