The Pearl Hotel Named #1 Top Florida Resort Hotel of 2018

Photography courtesy of The Pearl Hotel

Congratulations to The Pearl Hotel, a St. Joe Club & Resorts property on Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast, which was recently ranked as the #1 Top Florida Resort Hotel in the 2018 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. The awards recognize the top travel destinations and companies around the globe as rated by its readers. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. The World’s Best Awards appear in the August 2018 issue of Travel + Leisure, on sale July 27, and online at this link: travelandleisure.com/worlds-best.

“To be celebrated as the #1 Top Florida Resort Hotel on this prestigious list is quite an honor,” says David Merryman, Hotel Manager, The Pearl Hotel. “As an ultra-luxury boutique accommodation in Rosemary Beach, we always strive to provide our guests with memorable experiences in the heart of one of the South’s chicest and most charming beachfront towns. For The Pearl Hotel to continue to be revered by our esteemed guests is a testament to the incredible work of our entire staff and the unparalleled amenities afforded to us as a part of the St. Joe Club & Resorts portfolio.”

Located in the quaint, eclectic coastal town of Rosemary Beach, The Pearl Hotel is an intimate, 55-room boutique hotel that celebrates the town’s distinct Southern charm. In addition to its elegant aesthetics, this hidden gem features guest services-integrated iPads, an award-winning restaurant and lounge in homage to Hemingway’s favorite haunt in Cuba, as well as the poolside Spa Pearl. Surrounded by unique architecture in a West Indies-inspired destination established as an upscale retreat for urbanites, guests are encouraged to explore the intriguing area by foot or bike.                  

Rooms provide a private balcony with views of the Gulf of Mexico or surrounding Rosemary Beach, with artistry from the town showcased throughout the hotel. Perfect for romantic getaways, this AAA Four Diamond and Forbes Four Star property leaves guests revived, inspired, and dreaming of their next beachside visit.

A central figure of the experience that The Pearl Hotel offers its guests is the property’s culinary programming. Inspired by El Floridita, Hemingway’s favorite haunt in old-town Havana, Cuba, Havana Beach Bar & Grill offers a comfortable, communal ambiance full of life and steeped in the joy of living, eating, and drinking well. A Florida Trend Golden Spoon Award winner, The Pearl Hotel’s signature restaurant looks to Executive Chef James Neale to serve up Gulf Coast American cuisine with vibrant Latin Caribbean influences, incorporating ingredients sourced locally from small, family-owned producers within 100 miles of the restaurant, as well as the freshest regional seafood. Outdoor seating is available on the Veranda, with views overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and Main Street. A smartly curated collection of wines and spirits is available from the hand-carved mahogany bar, with a selection of mixed cocktails that’s worthy of Hemingway himself. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served seven days a week.

Guests may also enjoy the Havana Beach Rooftop Lounge, renovated in April 2016. Offering a stylish, yet relaxed outdoor atmosphere with stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico and the town’s 30A lifestyle, this alfresco venue features bistro style seating and communal tables, encouraging diners to enjoy a menu of shared-plates inspired by the hotel’s destination restaurant. The Rooftop Lounge also includes two fire pits, as well as four cabanas for lounging under Florida’s signature sunshine or starry skies. The lounge is open daily (weather permitting) with a full bar, including an extensive wine list and a mixed cocktail menu for ages 21 and over. Happy Hour is daily from noon-5 p.m. Havana Beach Rooftop Lounge is a smoke-free environment.

One of the benefits of St. Joe Club & Resorts managing this distinctive hotel property is that guests also enjoy access to a bevy of its private membership club’s amenities, including private golf and beach club access; complimentary bicycle use; kayak, canoe, and discounted stand-up paddleboard rentals; access to beach bonfire services, for which a St. Joe Club & Resorts staff member arranges all details of a beachside bonfire, from preparing the fire and setting up beach chairs to providing fixings for s’mores; and much more.

To learn more about The Pearl in VIE’s February 2018 Destination Issue, click here.

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For more information or for reservations, please visit: www.thepearlrb.com. To view the full Travel + Leisure 2018 World’s Best Awards List, please visit: travelandleisure.com/worlds-best. For a full list of The Pearl Hotel’s accolades, please visit thepearlrb.com/about/.