Boca Raton Resort & Club :

blown away! We did not recognize the place since our last visit. It’s a jaw dropping art deco extravaganza on what could be the best parcel of land in all of South Florida.

The original structure was built in 1980. It used to have a long access driveway that ran along the intercostal and the Boca inlet. This layout required guests to valet their vehicles and ride an escalator or climb the steps up to the lobby. We always thought this was a little awkward setup and apparently the new architects decided to do something about it. At a significant cost, the entire roadway has been elevated so that it’s now possible to drive right up to the front entrance and valet your car.

As you walk through the front doors the view is right out of Architectural Digest. Centered off of main entrance is a luxurious blue mosaic tiled reflecting pool that extends out to infinity towards the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The juxtaposition of the art deco furnishings and fixtures against the backdrop of guests lounging and dining overlooking the ocean sets up the expedition that you’ve arrived at the perfect place to relax and reinvigorate your hectic life. We checked into the Cloister and decided to head on over to the Boca Beach Club to have some lunch and take a dip in the ocean.

It’s always fun to take resort’s 35’ M/Y Mizner’s Dream over to the Boca Beach Club. It runs at the top and the bottom of the hour on a limited schedule. If you don’t hit it just right don’t worry. You can hitch a ride on the resort’s shuttle bus that runs every 15 minutes. Upon arrival it was clear that the Boca Beach Club’s DNA had morphed into an orchestrated scene like you’d find on Nikki Beach in St. Tropez.

Standing on the veranda three stories above the dramatic Bellagio inspired pool area took our breath away! It was a backdrop that a Hollywood producer would covet. In fact the new Bay Watch movie had just finished filming a scene here. The outdoor pool and beach experience has something for everyone. During our stay there were a lot of families soaking up the sun alongside guests who were enjoying bottle service and lounging on day beds. We asked ourselves how this dichotomy was possible when South Beach is just a minutes down the road on Interstate 95.

Waldorf Astoria has created an environment that appeals to the trendy South Beach crowd and families that desire a relaxing safe haven away from the hustle and bustle of Miami Beach. Sit back and relax. There are three spectacularly designed pools that are setup exclusively for adults, families and children. You can even rent a private cabana and throw a party while drinking Whispering Angel rose´all day!

Boca Beach Club - Pool View Balcony Rooms
We didn’t have a chance to tour the fully renovated guest rooms at the Boca Beach Club this time around and hope to be invited back to experience what it would be like to be serenaded to sleep by the crashing waves on the little peninsula that forms the Boca Inlet. You can check out all the room descriptions and amazing photography by clicking on this  link: http://www.bocabeachclub.com

Pool View Balcony Rooms at the Boca Beach Club starts at $569 per night double occupancy. Valet parking is $37.10 a night and an 18% resort fee applies to your stay.'

DINING OPTIONS:

Lucca: Tuscan Cuisine Cooked with Passion
We had a chance to dine a Lucca, which is a legacy restaurant that serves Tuscan cuisine. Since our last visit the white table linens have disappeared and you can now dine in a more relaxed casual ambience.

The main dining room has dramatic double height 20’ ceilings with picture windows that overlook the Intracoastal Waterway and mega yachts moored at The Yacht Club. The kitchen is setback into a dramatic Mediterranean hearth that has an open style kitchen and a wood fired pizza oven.

As soon as we were seated it was apparent that the spirit of the establishment was to delight and serve. It’s no longer team based, but relies on professional servers who are at the top of their game. Our waiter Blake was only 26, and was studying ....