One of the Best New Hotels in the World Is a Florida Resort With a White-sand Beach and 500,000-gallon Saltwater Lagoon Pool

While Florida has no shortage of beachfront hotels, St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, one of Sarasota’s new luxury stays, truly shines among the rest. The hotel, which was just named to T+L’s 2025 It List, spotlighting the best new hotels of the year, began welcoming guests in August 2024, marking the opening of the iconic brand’s second hotel in the Sunshine State.

The resort faced uncertainty shortly after its opening, with Hurricanes Helene and Milton hitting the west coast of Florida back to back last fall. Though there was minimal damage to the hotel and a big clean-up, by the time I visited in early December, everything was operating smoothly at full capacity, ready to welcome the incoming holiday season rush.

The trip fell on the weekend of my birthday, which the front desk agent slyly took note of when I handed her my ID at check-in. My assigned butler, Jennifer, and the rest of the staff went above and beyond to celebrate me, from simple and thoughtful touches like candles with my in-room breakfast pancakes to the extravagant gesture of decking out our poolside cabana with balloons, streamers, and a “happy birthday” graphic blown up on the flat screen. But the best part was participating in the St. Regis’ signature evening ritual (and my new favorite party trick): the champagne sabrage at sunset.

Read on for my fully review of St. Regis Longboat Key Resort on the southwest coast of Florida. 

The Rooms

The 168-key hotel features guest rooms and 26 spacious residential-style suites, each complete with a private terrace—some have ocean views. Guests enjoy walk-in closets, rainfall showers and soaking bathtubs in the spacious bathrooms.

I stayed at a Jacob John Astor one-bedroom suite measuring a little over 1,000 square feet, with a separate bedroom and living room, making it feel like a true home away from home. The design by HBA Miami is sleek and modern, with subtle touches of coastal-inspired decor that brighten up the spaces.

Food and Drink

The newly opened hotel already rivals some of the longtime top restaurants in the area, serving up everything you may be craving on an all-indulgent, anything-goes beach vacation. At the upscale CW Prime, guests are treated to prime cuts of meat and seafood cooked on a Josper grill. Pre-game the big dinner by enjoying a signature French 125 (a French 75 with Cognac) in the restaurant’s chic and secluded speakeasy lounge.

The rooftop bar Oshen, specializing in Nikkei-style cuisine and omakase tastings, is another exquisite dining experience at the hotel. It’s the hot ticket spot among guests to watch the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico, while sipping on a cocktail expertly crafted by the hotel’s mixology team.

Daytime eats are more casual, but don’t skimp on quality. Monkey Bar is a Polynesian-themed beachside spot offering light bites and classic tiki cocktails. Nearby, Aura is the obvious choice for lunch during a pool day, specializing in Latin American cuisine (the Birria tacos and guacamole were a highlight) as well as daily tequila and mezcal tastings. 

Riva, a coastal Italian joint, rounds out the resort’s culinary offerings, where a sprawling breakfast buffet and à la carte menu are offered by day, and a selection of Italian classics and homemade pasta are served by night. Guests can also participate in pasta-making classes with the restaurant’s executive sous chef.

Activities and Amenities

Beyond the beach, multiple pools (there are family-friendly and adults-only pools), and impressive restaurants, the resort boasts dedicated butler service, which has been a St. Regis staple for over a century. But the most unique amenity is the 500,000-gallon saltwater lagoon housing an ecosystem of local stingrays and nearly 40 types of fish—the only pool of its kind at any Marriott hotel in the world.

Guests can also indulge in cabana experiences for an additional cost. A daybed on the beach will run you $150 for an umbrella, butler service, as well as food and beverage service. The poolside cabanas are a bit more expensive—from $325 to $475—with the same offerings as the beach package, plus a private TV and complimentary light bites.

The Spa

The 20,000-foot spa is centered around the healing power of water through various thermal experiences, including an outdoor vitality infinity pool overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, a Finnish sauna, a snow shower, and a cold plunge (my favorite was the eucalyptus steam room). Guests can also indulge in La Mer facials and Sothys body treatments.

Whether you’re seeking the restorative effects of an energy healing session or the tension relief of a deep-tissue massage, the treatment menu is as impressive as it is robust. The most noteworthy (and pocket-burning) offering, though, might be the $975 Illuminate & Lift treatment that tightens and plumps the skin for instant results.

Family-friendly Offerings

The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is perfect for an upscale family beach vacation. While there are certainly spaces that aren’t suited for kids—think the lobby bar and adults-only pool—parents might choose to set up camp at the sprawling main resort pool with a winding lazy river and a cascading waterfall wrapped around it. 

The saltwater lagoon off the pool area is another hit with kids at the resort. They’re often pressed up against the lagoon-viewing window to watch the stingrays and fish swim by. Children aged eight and older can experience the wildlife up close through a guided snorkeling tour, where they get to feed the stingrays and swim with the fish. Back on land, two resident Aldabra tortoises, Jack and Rose, steal the hearts of resort guests.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The resort has elevators on each floor, valet parking designated for drivers in wheelchairs, roll-in showers, as well as ADA-compliant guest rooms and common spaces.

Sustainability efforts include the saltwater lagoon, where a team of aquarists maintain the health of the ecosystem and keep the wildlife safe while teaching guests about the importance of marine conservation.

Location

Located on Sarasota’s longest barrier island, St. Regis Longboat Key Resort comprises 18 acres of prime beachfront real estate. While you might find more to do on-site than you have time for during a weekend trip, you can reach top-rated restaurants and charming boutiques in downtown Sarasota by car in about 15 minutes.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is owned by Marriott International and participates in Marriott Bonvoy, the company’s rewards program that helps members earn points to redeem for free stays. The hotel is also running a number of special offers through October 2025, including the Stay Longer & Save Package, where guests with a reservation of five nights or longer receive a discount.

Nightly rates at St. Regis Longboat Key Resort start from $899.

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.