In short… The brand-new Beach Club at this sprawling, century-old resort makes a strong case for a quick getaway to the southern shores of Palm Beach County.
The background… The Boca Raton first opened in 1926 as a 100-room inn, expanding along with the city until it became a sort of mini-city of its own. Today, the resort has five distinct hotels and 17 restaurants across a 200-acre property split between Harborside and Beachside, connected by water taxis and an amphibious pink Fiat 500 shuttling guests across lake Boca Raton in between. No matter which hotel you stay at, you have full access to the entire resort—and since it’s closed to the public, it never feels swamped.
Over the past few years, The Boca Raton has undergone a $375 million transformation, with the first phase (completed in 2023) revamping much of the Harborside, including the Tower hotel and twelve restaurants, several of which are plush Major Food Group (the team behind Carbone) outposts. The second phase focused on the Beach Club, and I checked in just after its $130 million renovation, when it still felt so new I could practically smell the fresh paint.
The surroundings… The Boca Raton sits on the southern shores of Palm Beach County, just a 40 minute drive from both FLL or PBI airports—each less than a three-hour flight from NYC. I left New York mid-morning and made it there in time to have lunch with a soundtrack of crashing waves.
The vibe… I have to admit, before this trip I’d thought of Boca Raton as largely a retirement community—not exactly a hotspot for chic Floridians and snowbirds. And while sure, this would be a dream of a private club to join if you did retire in Boca Raton, I saw far more young, Birkin-toting women casually plopping their bags onto the stone floor at the poolside restaurant, Onda, than retirees playing croquet.
The rooms… The interiors, designed by Miami-based Urban Robot Associates, have a sort of lounge-y, muted ‘80s Miami Vice aesthetic—think soft corals and beachy neutrals instead of neon, but with that same signature glow. I stayed in a King Room framed by a wall of windows overlooking the ocean, furnished in soothing beige and white tones and natural textures—sculptural, cloud-like ecru chairs, blonde wood millwork, and subtle pops of pink, like a muted coral couch, and a rose-tinted surf print. I kept the large window open basically the whole time I was in my room, letting in dappled light and a soft breeze through wispy linen curtains. The room was very spacious, with a small coffee/kitchenette station and cozy sitting area.
Best of all, the bathroom felt like it was designed by a woman—there was a well-placed shelf in the shower, a really good hair dryer, nice lighting, deep soaking tub and separate shower, plenty of counter space, and full-sized Acqua di Parma toiletries.
The food… The Beach Club has two main restaurants—Marisol, a Mediterranean-inspired indoor-outdoor spot, and Onda, an entirely outdoor (and adults-only) bistro that spotlights a different chef each season. This winter, Onda partnered with Chef Adriano Venturini of Eden Roc Cap Cana on a Dominican-inspired menu that was seriously so good. The bread with coconut butter was unreal, and the chicharrónes and tuna crudo were just as memorable. Both restaurants had really fresh dishes with a mix of healthier and more-indulgent options, and nothing felt overly fussy.
And, of course, you also have access to the dozen or so restaurants on the Harborside, including Sadelle’s, a sushi spot, a steakhouse, and Principessa—their Italian restaurant—where you can eat Mario Carbone’s signature rigatoni while watching school-bus-sized yachts drift in and out of the Yacht Club next door.
The wellness… I’m a runner, so I was happy to jog on the beach and hit up the gym at the Beach Club, which has all brand new Technogym equipment, but if I had stayed longer I might have scoped out a bit more of what was going on at Harborside. The Harborside gym has dozens of fitness classes listed: reformer and mat pilates, yoga, Tai Chi, barre, strength-training and HIIT, plus they have tennis and pickleball courts, an 18-hole golf course, and even a wave simulator.
The Palmera Spa, also on the Harborside, is a massive 50,000-square-foot wellness complex with 44 treatment rooms, where I had a wonderful massage—preceded by one of the most unique bathing experiences I’ve ever had. It went something like this: in a large, ornately tiled communal room reminiscent of a Moroccan hammam, a woman named Maria led me to a soaking tub—big enough for a cocker spaniel to swim laps in—that had a little sign with my name on it. She handed me a scrub and a mitt to start exfoliating, and for a while, I completely forgot I was in Florida. That is, until she reappeared a few minutes later and plopped some fresh orange slices into my tub. Next, Maria passed me a bowl of cold passionfruit sorbet to eat in the warm tub—a surprisingly refreshing combo. From there, I was ushered into a shower that I can only describe as a human car wash, with jets shooting at me from every angle. Then came another plunge pool, this one cooler and deep enough to stand in. As I climbed down the short ladder, I noticed a button at eye-level labeled DELUGE. Sure enough, I looked up and saw a massive hose above my head. Maria came over and pressed the button, and a powerful stream of water pelted my back and shoulders before I moved on to the final stage, the jacuzzi, where she brought over more orange slices and a freezing cold towel for my face. It was a very fun, slightly theatrical, and overall very pleasant experience. I also poked around the spa shop afterwards, which had a great edit of everything from Eres pajamas to C.O. Bigelow toothbrushes and every skin/hair product you could ever want.
The service… At a new hotel, you kind of expect a hiccup or two as they find their stride—but this wasn’t the case here. Everyone I encountered across all departments was not only on the same page, but also genuinely friendly. After an early morning beach run, I made small talk with a housekeeper in the elevator, who mentioned the hotel sets up a coffee station for early beach strollers in case I had missed it and wanted one. I had—and I definitely wanted one!
Extra tip… Goes to Stephen, the general manager of the Living Room bar, who noticed us lingering with our suitcases before heading to the airport and brought over the freshest sparkling limeade in to-go cups (with an orchid garnish, no less). I thought that was such a thoughtful send off!
Be sure to… Use the sunscreen machine at the pool! It’s the most genius invention I’ve ever seen. Just select your preferred SPF level and your height, step onto the rotating plate, and let the machine gently mist you with sunscreen. It’s great for kids (or anyone, really), and I never want to apply sunscreen any other way.
Parting words… While I wasn’t fully “Boca-fied” (as Elena Corsano, the Director of Community Relations and a former steely New Yorker, joked she had been), I definitely got the appeal of this place. Between the fun restaurants, warm service, and, obviously, the weather, it’s easy to see why people keep coming back. And less than three hours from New York? I take back anything bad I ever said about Boca Raton.
Dates of stay… February 1-3, 2035
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