For a dose of Las Vegas glitz and glam on the East Coast, Encore Boston Harbor, a Wynn Resorts property, is the answer. Like its Vegas sibling, the casino playground offers all sorts of games of chance, but there are many other ways to stay entertained, including stellar dining establishments, exciting nightlife and a luxurious spa you’ll never want to leave.
Here are the top six reasons to visit the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel right now:
Why Not Stay In?
Since Encore boasts some of Boston’s largest hotel rooms, you may just want to stay in for the night. Enjoy a minimum of 670 square feet of comfort with floor-to-ceiling windows, marble bathrooms with soaking tubs and inviting Wynn Dream Beds.
Speaking of which, you don’t even need to get out of bed to control the lights, temperature, drapes and entertainment system, thanks to tech, namely voice-activated Alexa. Handy iPads also allow you to change the room settings, order room service, make reservations and stream shows.
Or Have A Rare Night Out
Begin your evening at Encore’s new Rare Lounge, adjacent to its Rare Steakhouse. Both are helmed by chef Megan Vaughan, who comes from Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak in Seattle, where she served as executive chef.
Rare Lounge is a sleek little place, where you can indulge in oysters and lobster from the raw bar or simply sip a pre-dinner cocktail like the fruity Lucky Streak, made with Hendrick’s Gin, Soho lychee liqueur, Hakutsuru sake, plum wine, strawberry pink peppercorn, lemon and egg white. Or if you want to keep your head for betting later, try a mocktail. You’d swear the In the Moment — made with Dhōs Gin Free, elderflower, tonic and botanicals — is the real deal. Then make your way next door to the Four-Star steakhouse for wagyu beef, prime steaks and chops, classic sides and a 700-bottle wine list.
The Spa
It’s hard not to feel transported far from your cares once you step through the doors of the Five-Star spa, where you can relax in separate men’s and women’s areas, complete with saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs and comfortable areas to sit and relax.
Treatments range from the signature Good Luck Ritual (massages for the body, face and scalp along with an exfoliation, cleansing and lotion application to your hands and feet to help open you up to prosperity) to interesting options like the soothing CBD Dead Sea Salt Scrub and Balancing Massage. You can also head to the salon for haircuts, manis and pedis and makeup services.
Dance the Night Away
Big-name DJs entertain the crowds at Mémoire, which is operated by Big Night Entertainment Group, the same team that runs popular The Grand at Boston’s Seaport. The nightclub accommodates up to 650 people, but you can make it more exclusive with one of just 20 VIP tables and signature bottle service. The vibe is quite glamorous, with lots of gold, twinkling chandeliers, plush leather accents and state-of-the-art video and sound systems.
Cheese Meet Wine
Evoking a brasserie, Cheese Meet Wine is a cheery spot to sip and snack on items like the Rustic Farmer’s Board, with country truffle pâté, bourbon bacon salami, aged Gouda, Harbison spruce Brie and a pimento cheese jar. Design your own board, mixing and matching with a variety of cheeses and sides. Or indulge in a traditional Alpine-style fondue with Emmental and Gruyère, white wine, garlic, kirsch and nutmeg. It’s served with apples, baguette, gherkins and potatoes for dipping. Whatever you order, pair it with wine — the top-notch list holds dozens of selections.
Get in on the Action
If you don’t want to miss a moment of your favorite sport, chances are you’ll be in luck at WynnBET Sportsbook, which features a 10-foot-high, 123-foot-wide video wall and more than 70 TVs.
To put your money on your team, visit the 10 live betting windows and more than 120 sports betting kiosks. There’s also the Express Sportsbook on the first floor of the self-parking garage with 20 kiosks and a 15-minute parking limit for drive-by sports bettors.
When not watching the game or betting, check out the collection of trophies, an installation of sports accessories and a collage of historical images of local sports heroes and events.
