Ocean Escape

A young family experiences all that the newly reimagined Beach Club at The Boca Raton has to offer.

By Nila Do Simon

The sun shines differently at the new Beach Club. I can’t tell you why, and definitely not how, but somehow the sun is more vibrant and luscious from my oceanfront guest room at the reimagined Beach Club.

Perhaps it’s the way the rays gently kiss off the Atlantic Ocean, or how it caresses the golden sand on the private beach. Either way, that extra amenity that nature gifted my family and me seeped into every part of the resort during our recent stay and made the experience even more worthwhile.

Science and logic aside, I recently learned how the renovated Beach Club is a culmination of everything glorious under the Florida sun. Re-opened earlier this year after a $130 million makeover, the oceanfront property harnesses the organic power of warmth, surf and salt to elevate a beachside stay, a trait my young son noted as he plopped down on the plush lobby cushions and stared longingly through the floor-to-ceiling windows outside to the Atlantic Ocean.

On our first morning waking up to the view of the majestic blue ocean from our room, my family and I set an intention (or I did, and they followed suit). It was easy to follow: Enjoy every minute of vacation. Soak it all in and stay present. Good thing the new Beach Club vibed with that edict.

Today’s Beach Club is full of rituals that allow guests and Club members to stay in the moment. Beach Club has even branded its social programming as “Ritual Series.” Guests can experience intentional moments from morning to night, beginning with First Light, a series of oceanside wellness classes guided by expert instructors. My class was a beachside yoga session that began at sunrise. With the waves crashing against the shore, we namaste’d and shavasana’d in splendid nature. Evening rituals are just as meaningful, with a Night’s End ritual at Living Room (the stylish lounge just off the lobby), where we could wind the day down with mellow beats and a bespoke nightcap.

Even inside our guest room, we could feel the ritual of slow, easy mornings taking shape. The kids could lounge on the furnished balcony while my husband and I took our time getting ready for the day. Natural textures and light-color wood created a serene coastal feel that made us want to linger longer in our rooms.

Alas, activities outside our room beckoned us, including a ride on Sorbetto, Beach Club’s adorable floating Fiat 500 boat that adds a playful twist to a traditional boat ride. Available Thursdays through Mondays, Sorbetto is available to Beach Club guests for complimentary short rides along the Intracoastal. With the wind in my hair and cool water splashing around me as the pastel Sorbetto zipped through the Intracoastal, I couldn’t have imagined a better way to marry sun and water.

Beach Club is home to four dining outlets. Unsurprisingly, Marisol was a bright spot during our stay, so much so that we found ourselves coming back to the indoor outdoor restaurant over and over again. A much-loved restaurant even before its renovation, Marisol is back to continue holding onto the title of one of The Boca Raton’s most popular dining spots. With this latest incarnation, Marisol collaborates with raw bar expert Johnny Spero, chef of the Michelin award-winning Reverie restaurant in Washington, D.C., who offers a new perspective on fresh Mediterranean fare. The result? Frequent visitors like us trying new things each time we visit Marisol.

The Greek spreads were a beautiful way to start out our meals. We sampled the Whipped Feta and Tzatziki spreads, which had us essentially licking the bowls clean. Freshly baked naan accompanied those starters, and I learned that Marisol even has an Indian-style tandoori oven that gets the naan pillowy soft and warm.

From there, we couldn’t resist ordering the ceviche special, made even more special by the fresh daily catches delivered by local fishermen. Our swordfish souvlaki was grilled to juicy perfection, marinaded with a memorable caper verde sauce. For my main course, I vacillated between the daily special of pompano (caught right off of The Boca Raton’s shore earlier that day) and seafood paella. The grilled pompano won out that day, but I’ll be back for the paella.

Marisol is not the only restaurant worth going to at Beach Club. Onda is a recent addition, an al fresco space that melts into the beach. The sand-side restaurant offers seasonal fare and features a new chef each winter season. In its inaugural season, Onda has partnered with Adriano Venturini of Eden Roc Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic, who has created dishes like the Langosta al Coco, poached Maine lobster with creamy coconut sauce, Dominican rice and caviar.

It’s important to note that while Beach Club has enough dining outlets to keep our family fully satiated during our stay, it was just as easy to dine at the nearby Harborside restaurants, which were a quick Water Taxi or shuttle ride away.

As is common in Florida, an afternoon drizzle kept us indoors. Not to worry, though. Despite the rain (or maybe because of it?), a highlight for my kids was Game Loft, a gaming room on the second floor of Beach Club. If we’re being completely honest, it was probably one of my husband’s highlights, too. There, the kids (and the husband) had their choice of gaming consoles, including the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, XBOX Series X, and VR headsets. I was even able to pull my daughter away from a game of FIFA to play one of the many board games in Game Loft, too. (A small victory among many losses during my time as a parent.)

A stay at Beach Club is incomplete without visiting one of the main amenities there: the beach. Sitting on prime golden sand, the beachfront itself is a vision. During one of our mornings there, I noticed how the ocean water twinkled against the rising sun, as if to say hello. Just a reminder that even with all the new amenities offered at the reimagined Beach Club, the prime reason we are here is for this slice of beach, an irreplaceable piece of paradise.

Ocean Escape

A young family experiences all that the newly reimagined Beach Club at The Boca Raton has to offer.

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