Longboat Key, Florida
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort
Coastal lagoon playground
Longboat Key, Florida
Opened
2024
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Wellness Resort LuxeOutside the door
The house
MarriottCoastal lagoon playground
Eighteen beachfront acres run as an expansive aquatic resort, centering days around private quartz sands and living marine habitats.
“The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort distinguishes itself from most Florida beachfront hotels by operating as a true destination resort.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Sensorial snow showers and oceanfront vitality pools anchor the hydrothermal spa circuit.
Remarkable
A 500,000-gallon snorkeling reef lagoon with stingrays, beside a 475-foot winding lazy river.
Notable
Dedicated St. Regis butlers unpack luggage and deliver morning pastries from Caroline's on call.
What they say
Also in Forbes Travel Guide, Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
Amid large communal areas and larger square footage spaces — like the aptly named The Pools epicenter — there’s a balance of quiet nooks, too.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Downtown Sarasota and St. Armands Circle sit minutes away, but the surrounding barrier island remains unhurried and secluded.
The rooms
Floor-to-ceiling glass opens onto deep private balconies, and oversize marble bathrooms anchor the calm, neutral interiors.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
Slatted cabanas border the winding river, and a hidden jacuzzi cave has push-button champagne service.
The baths
A covered marble terrace holds an infinity vitality pool facing the Gulf, steps from a domed cold plunge.
The spa and gym
Spa treatments draw on La Mer skincare, and the fitness center looks out through floor-to-ceiling glass.
Restaurant
Aura
Latin American dishes are served beside the pool, and plush barstools surround an illuminated marble bar.
The resort also pays homage to the history of the Ringling Brothers in Sarasota, with a customized motif that marries Old Florida with classic carnival, which I found to be charmingly whimsical.
At the table
Nightly piano music fills The St. Regis Bar, and Riva serves coastal Italian pasta along the open-air terrace.
How it began
The grounds once belonged to the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort, a midcentury fixture honored today by the beachfront Monkey Bar.
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.