T+L’s Hotel Review of Beach Club at The Boca Raton

“Would you like a glass of bubbly?” the captain asked while helping me settle into a floating blush pink Fiat 500, named Sorbetto. The four-seat 15-foot replica of the legendary Italian car is one of just 500 produced in the world (a small plaque under the steering wheel confirms Sorbetto is number 33). It now whisks Beach Club guests across the lake as part of the renovated hotel’s recent enhancements. So, for 30 minutes, I soaked up the Florida sun, sipped my chilled sparkling wine, and waved at curious onlookers pointing at our small but mighty floating Fiat 500.

Beach Club is part of The Boca Raton resort, which dates back to 1926. Five hotels (Cloister, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Tower, and Bungalows) make up the 200-acre community, which was voted one of Travel + Leisure readers’ 15 favorite resorts in Florida in the 2025 World’s Best Awards. Beach Club’s oceanfront location along the Boca Raton coastline provides guests with direct lake and beach access. (The other four hotels are a quick water taxi ride away on the opposite side of the lake.)

My two-night solo trip (or momcation, if you prefer) fell on a weekend, so I completely disconnected from work. I woke up before sunrise, had a quick espresso in my room, and headed for a beach walk before the Florida sun and humidity took hold. The mile-long walk to the South Beach Park Pavilion was dominated by the gentle swishing of lapping waves and the occasional ‘good morning’ to a fellow early riser, all set against a palette of hazy pinks, oranges, and yellows gradually unfolding above the horizon.

Later, I settled into a lounge chair at the beach club. And when the heat set in, I waded into the cool ocean, pausing to enjoy the view of the white-washed hotel and its swaying palms towering behind rows of umbrellas.

After a light lunch of grilled fish and Greek salad at Marisol, the hotel’s elegant Mediterranean eatery, I took a five-minute water taxi to Spa Palmera across the lake for a hammam-style treatment. The really wonderful thing about staying at the Beach Club is that the hotel feels tucked away, giving it an exclusive edge, but guests are a quick boat ride to many resort amenities and dining options within The Boca Raton.

Below, my full review of Beach Club at The Boca Raton.

The Rooms

The $130 million property-wide glow-up completely transformed the 210 guest rooms and suites with an elevated take on tropical modernism, dreamed up by Miami Beach-based design collective Urban Robot Associates. Think organic lines, light cerused woods, and a sand-inspired color palette, punctuated by elegant brass and coral velvet accents. While my Ocean View suite didn’t have a terrace, I had a small Juliette-style balcony that allowed me to slide-open the floor-to-ceiling windows and take in the sights and sounds of the Atlantic Ocean.

The spacious marble bathrooms feature separate walk-in showers and sumptuous, soaking tubs along with a dual-sink vanity and plush, oversized towels.

While my 420-square-foot abode provided me with more than enough space, if you want to stretch out, book a suite with a furnished terrace or lanai, which can measure up to 1,500 square feet.

Food and Drink

With three sparkling pools and a private stretch of beach, you’d think that the highlight of the resort would be the outdoor amenities, but the reimagined culinary program is truly the star of the show here. 

The hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant, Marisol, has partnered with Michelin-starred chef Johnny Spero, serving a selection of staples like grilled oysters with brown butter and Spanish cider, lobster from Maine, and octopus en tinta (crispy octopus with lime zest and Turkish black chilli pepper). Also on the menu at the light-filled Marisol, which now features ample indoor and outdoor space for dining: tender kabobs, tagine chicken, and an absolutely delicious selection of Mediterranean spreads like French whipped feta with crushed pistachio (my favorite), Anatolian bean spread with cannellini beans and tahini, and Greek-a-mole of avocado, charred corn, piquillo peppers, and feta cheese.

Onda is Beach Club’s new al fresco restaurant delivering coastal flavors just steps away from the sand. Acclaimed Puerto Rican chef José Santaella will take up residence in the chic eatery for the 2025/2026 season. Dishes like chorizo and sweet plantain empanadillas, pork belly salad with watermelon, mango, and Puerto Rican cheese, and fried whole red snapper with cilantro chimichurri honor the traditions and tastes of the tropical island.

In the morning and afternoon, I also spent time at the hotel’s Living Room, a lounge space featuring a panoramic terrace, where I enjoyed my daily soymilk latte and fresh green juice from the lobby-level coffee shop.

Activities and Experiences

While Beach Club caters to every type of traveler, the resort’s activities program doesn’t feel hectic, and the pool and beach areas remain serene and very relaxing. Those 16 and over can soak up the sun by the adult pool, while families tend to congregate around the main pool. The hotel collaborated with St. Tropez swimwear brand Vilebrequin on the exclusive Cabana Club by Vilebrequin, where guests can book spacious cabanas, each featuring a ceiling fan, flat-screen TV, minifridge, beach games, a private restroom with a shower, and a dedicated butler.

The list of water sports includes pedal kayaking, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, banana boat rides, boating, and Jet Skiing. I saw people playing lawn games at the beach club, but there are also professional croquet and bocce courts, golf, tennis, and pickleball, just a quick water taxi ride across the lake.

The Spa

Beach Club at Boca Raton doesn’t have an on-site spa, but guests can book treatments at Spa Palmera on the harborside. The 50,000-square-foot wellness space channels the grandeur of Spain’s Alhambra Palace with intricate Moorish architectural influences and a lush courtyard, home to a private pool and waterfall whirlpools.

With 44 treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room, a hammam, a splendid pool nestled in a lush garden, and an exhaustive list of therapies that include sound baths, facials, and massages, I could have easily spent an entire afternoon there after my 50-minute ritual bath. The treatment included a series of hydrotherapy experiences, a bath soak, and a body scrub.

Beach Club has its own gym with Technogym equipment as well as Peloton bikes and rowing machines.

Family-friendly Offerings

While I recommend Beach Club at The Boca Raton for a solo or a couples getaway, I couldn’t help but think that my six-year-old would have a blast here. The hotel’s oceanfront family-friendly pools and the beach provide hours of entertainment for children. At Banyan Bunch Beachside, young travelers can partake in an attendant-led program of water and non-water activities on the beach.

Banyan Bunch over at Harborside is a fun indoor playground-like space with arts and crafts as well as recreational amenities. Parents can drop off their teens at the Game Loft, equipped with every possible game console you can think of, including shuffleboard and billiards tables. Also at Harborside, the Pool Club has a 450-foot lazy river, water slides, a splash pad, a surf wave simulator, and a pool bar serving drinks and food with both kid- and adult-friendly options on the menu.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The hotel has 10 mobility-accessible rooms and 17 with visual communication features. In-room amenities may include an open bed frame, grab bars, accessible tubs, and roll-in showers.

Post-renovation, every room and suite is equipped with a wet bar with a water filtration system so guests can refill their water bottles (provided by the hotel). The hotel’s culinary team works with local vendors to source food and honey.

Location

Beach Club at Boca Raton is part of a 200-acre development that includes five hotels, over 15 restaurants and bars, shopping, a private half-mile stretch of beach, and many sports and wellness facilities. The resort is located 26 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and 30 miles from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI).  

Book Now

Beach Club at The Boca Raton is part of American Express’s Fine Hotels + Resorts, where card members receive perks like 12 p.m. check-in (based on availability), a room upgrade (based on availability), daily breakfast for two, a $100 resort credit, and a guaranteed 4 p.m. check-out. For the latest offers and packages, check out the resort’s website.

Nightly rates at Beach Club at The Boca Raton start from $649.

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.