St. Regis Longboat Key Resort Assessment

Whereas Florida has no scarcity of beachfront inns, St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, one among Sarasota’s new luxurious stays, really shines among the many relaxation. The resort, which was simply named to T+L’s 2025 It Listing, spotlighting the perfect new inns of the yr, started welcoming friends in August 2024, marking the opening of the enduring model’s second resort within the Sunshine State.

The resort confronted uncertainty shortly after its opening, with Hurricanes Helene and Milton hitting the west coast of Florida again to again final fall. Although there was minimal injury to the resort and a giant clean-up, by the point I visited in early December, the whole lot was working easily at full capability, able to welcome the incoming vacation season rush.

The journey fell on the weekend of my birthday, which the entrance desk agent slyly took notice of after I handed her my ID at check-in. My assigned butler, Jennifer, and the remainder of the employees went above and past to have fun me, from easy and considerate touches like candles with my in-room breakfast pancakes to the extravagant gesture of decking out our poolside cabana with balloons, streamers, and a “glad birthday” graphic blown up on the flat display. However the perfect half was collaborating within the St. Regis’ signature night ritual (and my new favourite occasion trick): the champagne sabrage at sundown.

Learn on for my totally evaluation of St. Regis Longboat Key Resort on the southwest coast of Florida. 

The Rooms

The 168-key resort options visitor rooms and 26 spacious residential-style suites, every full with a personal terrace—some have ocean views. Company take pleasure in walk-in closets, rainfall showers and soaking bathtubs within the spacious loos.

I stayed at a Jacob John Astor one-bedroom suite measuring a bit of over 1,000 sq. ft, with a separate bed room and lounge, making it really feel like a real residence away from residence. The design by HBA Miami is smooth and trendy, with refined touches of coastal-inspired decor that brighten up the areas.

Meals and Drink

The newly opened resort already rivals a few of the longtime high eating places within the space, serving up the whole lot you might be craving on an all-indulgent, anything-goes seashore trip. On the upscale CW Prime, friends are handled to prime cuts of meat and seafood cooked on a Josper grill. Pre-game the massive dinner by having fun with a signature French 125 (a French 75 with Cognac) within the restaurant’s stylish and secluded speakeasy lounge.

The rooftop bar Oshen, specializing in Nikkei-style delicacies and omakase tastings, is one other beautiful eating expertise on the resort. It’s the new ticket spot amongst friends to observe the solar set over the Gulf of Mexico, whereas sipping on a cocktail expertly crafted by the resort’s mixology staff.

Daytime eats are extra informal, however don’t skimp on high quality. Monkey Bar is a Polynesian-themed beachside spot providing gentle bites and traditional tiki cocktails. Close by, Aura is the apparent alternative for lunch throughout a pool day, specializing in Latin American delicacies (the Birria tacos and guacamole had been a spotlight) in addition to every day tequila and mezcal tastings. 

Riva, a coastal Italian joint, rounds out the resort’s culinary choices, the place a sprawling breakfast buffet and à la carte menu are supplied by day, and a collection of Italian classics and selfmade pasta are served by night time. Company may take part in pasta-making courses with the restaurant’s govt sous chef.

Actions and Facilities

Past the seashore, a number of swimming pools (there are family-friendly and adults-only swimming pools), and spectacular eating places, the resort boasts devoted butler service, which has been a St. Regis staple for over a century. However probably the most distinctive amenity is the five hundred,000-gallon saltwater lagoon housing an ecosystem of native stingrays and practically 40 varieties of fish—the one pool of its sort at any Marriott resort on this planet.

Company may bask in cabana experiences for a further value. A daybed on the seashore will run you $150 for an umbrella, butler service, in addition to meals and beverage service. The poolside cabanas are a bit costlier—from $325 to $475—with the identical choices because the seashore package deal, plus a personal TV and complimentary gentle bites.

The Spa

The 20,000-foot spa is centered across the therapeutic energy of water by varied thermal experiences, together with an out of doors vitality infinity pool overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, a Finnish sauna, a snow bathe, and a chilly plunge (my favourite was the eucalyptus steam room). Company may bask in La Mer facials and Sothys physique remedies.

Whether or not you’re in search of the restorative results of an vitality therapeutic session or the stress reduction of a deep-tissue therapeutic massage, the therapy menu is as spectacular as it’s strong. Essentially the most noteworthy (and pocket-burning) providing, although, could be the $975 Illuminate & Elevate therapy that tightens and plumps the pores and skin for fast outcomes.

Household-friendly Choices

The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is ideal for an upscale household seashore trip. Whereas there are definitely areas that aren’t fitted to youngsters—suppose the foyer bar and adults-only pool—mother and father would possibly select to arrange camp on the sprawling important resort pool with a winding lazy river and a cascading waterfall wrapped round it. 

The saltwater lagoon off the pool space is one other hit with youngsters on the resort. They’re typically pressed up in opposition to the lagoon-viewing window to observe the stingrays and fish swim by. Kids aged eight and older can expertise the wildlife up shut by a guided snorkeling tour, the place they get to feed the stingrays and swim with the fish. Again on land, two resident Aldabra tortoises, Jack and Rose, steal the hearts of resort friends.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The resort has elevators on every ground, valet parking designated for drivers in wheelchairs, roll-in showers, in addition to ADA-compliant visitor rooms and customary areas.

Sustainability efforts embody the saltwater lagoon, the place a staff of aquarists keep the well being of the ecosystem and maintain the wildlife secure whereas instructing friends in regards to the significance of marine conservation.

Location

Positioned on Sarasota’s longest barrier island, St. Regis Longboat Key Resort contains 18 acres of prime beachfront actual property. When you would possibly discover extra to do on-site than you could have time for throughout a weekend journey, you possibly can attain top-rated eating places and charming boutiques in downtown Sarasota by automotive in about quarter-hour.

Find out how to Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is owned by Marriott Worldwide and participates in Marriott Bonvoy, the corporate’s rewards program that helps members earn factors to redeem without spending a dime stays. The resort can also be working various particular provides by October 2025, together with the Keep Longer & Save Package deal, the place friends with a reservation of 5 nights or longer obtain a reduction.

Nightly charges at St. Regis Longboat Key Resort begin from $899.

Each T+L resort evaluation is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed on the property, and every resort chosen aligns with our core values.