Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club

Twenty minutes north of Miami Beach by car on a beautiful stretch of sandy coastline, Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club offers a winning blend of top-notch service and fresh, modern accommodations. It’s a 21st century reimagining—and expansion—of the historic 1930s Surf Club, which welcomed Old Hollywood royalty and world leaders in its heyday. Reopening as a Four Seasons in 2017, the hotel has reestablished itself as one of the region’s leading destinations for leisure. In the 77 rooms and public spaces, Paris-based designer Joseph Dirand’s soothing palette of white marble, soft blues and light greens evokes the changing colors of the Florida sea and sky. Those, of course, are also easily on view outside as well, either along the beach or at one of the hotel’s three pools.

**The Standout:**The 900 feet of beachfront, along with three pools

**Don't Miss:**The buzzy restaurants and nightlife nearby in Miami

• The intimate spa, which uses the cult French brand Biologique Recherche
• The excellent dining options at Thomas Keller’s Michelin-starred Surf Club Restaurant— and at the indoor-outdoor Lido Restaurant
• The sophisticated atmosphere, which is perfect for families, couples and friends

The holy trinity of luxury, style and elegance has officially arrived in South Florida. That may not be entirely fair to say given that The Surf Club, situated on nine acres of the Atlantic Ocean, was once a famous social club and the holiday haunt of Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill, among others. Its latest incarnation (the hotel reopened in 2017) hits all the right notes for travelers seeking relaxation, delicious culinary options and lush surroundings.

Pulling up to the 77-room Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, guests feel like they are entering into a secret club thanks to the hotel’s minimal, discreet signs. The renovation has kept many of the original elements of the 1930s Art Deco design, including the famous arches and Peacock Alley, which derived its name from when members of The Surf Club used to walk down it and strut their stuff. Mixing old and new, modernist architect Richard Meier designed the glass towers that sit on top of the original structure. Bold contemporary art pieces are also part of the eclectic, but expertly curated, design elements in the hotel’s public spaces.

The rooms are sleek without being cold, a hallmark of Joseph Dirand, the French designer who conceived the interiors. Dirand infused just the right amount of opulence into the six categories of rooms, but without overshadowing the real star of the show: panoramic views of the ocean that give the impression you could see all the way to Portugal. (One-, two-, three- and four-bedroom suites with kitchens are also available, the largest and most exclusive suite being the three-bedroom Marybelle Penthouse Suite.)

The ambience of the hotel has much of the original spirit of The Surf Club, which in its heyday was known for its lively, sometimes over-the-top parties, where drinks were always flowing and people’s creative impulses were unleashed and nurtured. The bar, located in a former ballroom with soaring ceilings, is now the heart of the hotel and home to the largest selection of Champagne in South Florida.

For well-conceived beach fare, think red snapper ceviche, mini lobster rolls and crispy Mahi Mahi tacos, the Pool Restaurant and Bar serves food pool- and sand-side from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The third restaurant, The Surf Club Restaurant, is an elegant eatery by famed chef Thomas Keller (the genius behind Per Se and The French Laundry) that serves classic cuisine like roasted chicken for two and lobster thermidor in a beautiful Art Deco dining room.

The retail offerings at The Surf Club are the opposite of cookie-cutter hotel boutiques. There’s Le Atelier Courbet, which curates unique design pieces from all the over world. Haremlique, the Turkish linen brand, chose The Surf Club for its first stand-alone U.S. store.

The Surf Club strikes the right balance between being kid-friendly and a retreat for those looking for a child-free vacation. There’s both a family and adult pool, with chairs available on a first come, first served basis (plus tot-sized lounge chairs). The Kids Club, where you can drop kids over the age of five for an entire day of programming, has a dedicated space that is reminiscent of a highly stimulating classroom, complete with a pet rabbit.

For guests looking for a more secluded experience, the hotel has five cabana studios with lanais, as well as their own dedicated pool. The Surf Club’s intimate spa has six treatment rooms and draws on global influences but with a European bent. They are the only Four Seasons in the U.S. to carry and use the cult French brand Biologique Recherche. The spa, which includes a traditional hammam, offers treatments ranging from micro-puncture to an Indian-based Ayervedic massage that focuses on the seven chakras.

Couples looking for a stylish romantic getaway; families wanting a sophisticated resort with amenities for kids