30A, FloridaSandestin
Hotel Effie Sandestin, Autograph Collection
Southern bayside resort
Sandestin   30A, Florida
Opened
2021
Price
$$$
Rated for
Wellness Resort SocialOutside the door
The house
MarriottSouthern bayside resort
The resort fronts Choctawhatchee Bay, pairing traditional Gulf Coast hospitality with an open-air rooftop pool deck.
What it’s good at
Listed
Spa Lilliana pairs restorative ocean botanical rituals by OSEA with private relaxation lounges.
Listed
Access to four championship golf courses, tennis courts, and Choctawhatchee Bay watersports.
What they say
Also in AFAR.
At Choctawhatchee Bay just north of Miramar Beach is Hotel Effie Sandestin, Autograph Collection, which has 250 rooms and a rooftop pool deck and lounge, Ara, with panoramic Gulf and Bay views.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Sandestin's sprawling grounds surround the property, and a resort shuttle reaches the Gulf beaches in five minutes.
The rooms
Simple, modern rooms make an easy landing spot between rounds of golf and trips to the beach.
The rooftop pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The heated swimming pool sits on the roof, ringed by private cabanas and daybeds overlooking Choctawhatchee Bay.
The spa
Ten treatment rooms host CBD stone massages and seaweed rituals, beside a co-ed relaxation lounge with plush chaises.
The gym
The gym is lined with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, Peloton bikes, TRX suspension gear, and free weights.
Restaurant
Ovide
The dining room sits beneath a painted floral ceiling, serving Gulf Coast seafood and refined Southern staples like gumbo.
At the table
Sweetbay Coffee pours morning espresso beside fresh pastries, and The Lobby Bar serves craft cocktails over an illuminated counter.
How it began
Owner Tom Becnel named the hotel after his grandmother, Effie Burns, whose portrait and rocking chairs sit in the lobby.
The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.