Experiences at Encore

A trip to Encore Boston Harbor isn’t a visit as much as it is an experience, as the $2.6 billion luxe mega-resort that opened June 23 has brought a new level of high-end indulgence to the East Coast’s casino universe.

Located in Everett, Mass. on 33 acres of long-vacant land just across the Mystic River from downtown Boston (think Camden/Philadelphia), Encore is not for those with limited budgets. But whether for a few hours or a few days, a visit is absolutely recommended.

The “we’re-not-in-Kansas-anymore” effect is evident as soon as guests enter the atrium lobby where they are greeted by a full-size carousel created from 83,000 flowers and 11,000 jewels — an installation that sets the visual tone, as the property has a garden theme throughout.

On the far side of the merry-go-round sit two additional eye-catchers: curved escalators leading to the mezzanine.

The dark-brown, 24-story hotel tower (a clone of owner Wynn Resorts’ two Las Vegas-Strip properties) houses 671 “standard” rooms and suites. Quotation marks are required, because there is little that is “standard” about them.

For starters, they measure a well-above-average 650 square feet (the bathrooms are almost as large as some Manhattan hotel rooms I’ve stayed in). And they’re totally teched-out: Functions including room temperature, lighting, TV and even the drapes can be controlled either with a tablet or by commanding Alexa.

And no detail is too small. For instance, Encore isn’t content with providing a few packets of coffee and accoutrements. Here, an entire dresser drawer is filled with everything needed for that cup of Joe, including various, high-end blends. And the bathrooms come stocked with a thoughtful collection of items such as makeup and stain removers and shoe polish.

Dining and drinking are, logically, a major part of Encore. In all, there are 15 food-and-beverage options, including two Italian rooms, Fratelli and Sinatra. During a recent three-night stay, we sampled two gourmet rooms and the buffet. All were superb.

Rare, the steakhouse, is a sleek space done in white and light earth tones, with two huge windows offering a river view. Our meal was impeccable, from the service to the presentation to the food itself, which was perfectly prepared (my New York strip was as good as any casino steak I’ve ever eaten). If you happen to hit a jackpot or two, Rare serves what is known as A5 Kobe steak at $220 for a four-ounce serving (add $55 for each additional ounce).

Sinatra is a more traditionally formal space, complete with round, gold columns. The richly appointed dining room is fronted by a spacious bar that screens Frank Sinatra movies on a large flat-screen TV over the bar. And, of course, the songs of Ol’ Blue Eyes provide a soundtrack for patrons.

Nonetheless, the real culinary revelation may be The Buffet, which takes all-you-can-eating to new heights. The $42-per-person fee is definitely high-end, but the quality and variety of the fare justify the price.

The sprawling, posh casino floor offers all the popular slot machines and table games, but here, again, a hefty wallet is required: On a Tuesday afternoon the four craps tables in operation all required $25 minimum bets (unheard of at that time of day in Atlantic City or Pennsylvania). The attractive, high-ceilinged gaming parlor is adorned with numerous red-glass chandeliers and is ringed by the mezzanine, which contains high-limit gaming rooms. That the casino is a completely no-smoking facility is a bonus.

The mezzanine also contains a state-of-the-art, 88-table poker room that is more richly appointed than any card parlor we’ve ever seen.

For the exercise-minded the Fitness Center offers 11 weight stations and 12 walking/biking machines, as well as a full array of free weights. The Spa at Encore is a vacation within a vacation, providing numerous exotic treatments (including a “four-hand” massage). Suffice it to say my 80-minute (one-person) rub down—including hot stones — was likely the best I’ve ever had.

But wait, as they say on TV infomercials, there’s more. Encore’s riverside grounds are exquisitely landscaped with gardens, and a stroll there is a must, weather permitting. For $7, a waiting water taxi will zip you to downtown Boston (not a bad idea given the city’s miserable traffic).

The building wing that frames one side of the Harborwalk houses a sculpture of Popeye the Sailor (by acclaimed artist Jeff Koons) that boasts a $28 million price tag (according to Encore CEO Robert DeSalvio, the venerable spinach-glomming cartoon hero is perfect for the property’s nautical setting).

Interestingly, Encore doesn’t have a performance space (although superstar DJs frequent the Memoire dance club). That, explained DeSalvio, is because the casino chose to accommodate premium players with tickets to shows at many of Boston’s existing venues rather than compete with them for headliners. But that hardly keeps Encore Boston Harbor from being the new gold standard of East Coast casinos-hotels.

For more information visit: encorebostonharbor.com.