Found in Palm Beach County, Boca Raton is considered the Beverly Hills of Florida. The second largest city in the Palm Beaches, it sprung up in the Mediterranean Revival style. A number of celebrities, such as Bon Jovi and Adam Sandler have homes here, and it’s the city in which Ariana Grande grew up. Boca (as it’s known by locals) boasts five miles of gorgeous beaches, 47 parks, a Museum of Art, the Mizner Park Amphitheater and shopping plaza and the annual Festival of the Arts BOCA. If you want to go sailing, play golf, try snorkelling along the coastline, or fine dine, Boca has you covered.
Royal Blues Hotel Relais & Chateaux
Perched on Deerfield Beach, this hotel was the first Relais and Chateaux property in Florida. Originally the work of film and theatre producer Edward Walson, it now welcomes guests in its 12 polished bedrooms, each with balconies and Nespresso machines and displaying Walson’s own curated collection of original art. The Royal Blues’ Chanson restaurant is something very special indeed, with fine food prepared using local ingredients, served beside wide open ocean views and a huge overhead saltwater aquarium. Beside this is a wine lounge, with an extensive array of wines and a tapas tasting menu.
The Ray Hotel Delray Beach, Curio Collection by Hilton
This recently opened design-forward property is found in the palm-flanked Pineapple Grove Arts District. The tropically inspired building by González Architects is accented with living walls, huge sculptures and a “floating glass cube” function space/yoga studio. Indeed glass plays an intrinsic part in its makeup, creating allowing the outside in. The Rosewood Rooftop houses a bar, restaurant and pool; Stingers is the coffee shop, Ember Grill serves US-style food and there’s a Japanese restaurant, Akira Back, led by a Michelin-starred chef. Bedroom interiors are by Virserius Studio and art installations are found throughout the public spaces.
Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center
Two rows of underlit palm trees line the walkway to the Marriott’s entrance in a frontage that’s typically Sunshine State. The hotel is located in the downtown area of Boca Raton and boasts a gorgeous walled outdoor pool area with a hot tub and chic cabanas accented by vibrant cushions and loungers. Neutral bedrooms also have pops of colour in the form a wave-style blue wall panel calls to the nearby coast. The Marriott’s restaurants, Sonrisa and Drift, serve the brand’s own take on Caribbean food, described as “Floribbean”. There’s also a fitness centre and a wealth of amenities on the doorstep.