A Legacy Reimagined

Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort

By Carolyn O’Neil | Photography courtesy of Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort

While the magnetic pull to grab a front-row view of the majestic pink and purple sunsets of Southwest Florida hasn’t changed over the decades, the stage has been rebuilt with the opening of Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort.

More than a luxury hotel, this brand-new property on the site of the beloved Naples Beach Hotel represents the rebirth of a coastal legend. Stretching across 125 lushly landscaped acres with 10,000 feet of pristine white-sand beach, the Naples Beach Club blends “Old Florida” nostalgia with modern international appeal and amenities.

New Life in Old Naples

To understand the soul of Naples Beach Club, one must look back to 1946. That was the year Henry B. Watkins Sr. purchased a modest beachfront inn and an adjacent golf course. For three generations, the Watkins family operated the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club as a community living room. It was a place where locals celebrated weddings, families returned every Spring Break for years, and the sunset-watching salute to the day became a tradition.

The hotel sadly closed its doors in 2021, but new owners, The Athens Group, MSD Partners, and Four Seasons, promised to honor the old property’s history while elevating the experience for new generations through an entirely new development.

The iconic golf club, first laid out in the 1920s, remains a lush green centerpiece, now an 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed course.

The original hotel’s Sunset Bar has been revived, ensuring that the ritual of trying to catch the “Green Flash” as the sun disappears below the water remains part of the Naples experience.

Named for Henry B. Watkins, HB’s on the Gulf remains the only true beachfront restaurant in Old Naples. The new interior is open and breezy, designed to blur the line between the dining room and the white-sand beach, emphasizing its role as the premier spot for fresh seafood and sundowner cocktails.

Glamour on the Gulf

Stepping through the doors of Naples Beach Club is like stepping into a world of relaxed tropical glamour, but don’t miss the interior details by award-winning Champalimaud Design.

Views extend past the vaulted ceilings of bleached pecky cypress to tall windows overlooking an umbrella-dotted terrace that leads to the pools and the beach. Just off the lobby, The Merchant Room, the hotel’s signature restaurant, features striking hand-painted murals of local flora and fauna, starring groups of pale pink flamingoes.

Florida wildlife remains an inspiration throughout the 220 rooms and suites. Each guest room door is adorned with an artful brass knocker cast in the shape of a sea creature, including seahorses, scalloped shells, and sea turtles.

Inside, the rooms echo “Coastal Chic” with a design palette of creams, soft blues, and sandy taupe reflecting the sky and sea beyond.

Deep terraces with ample seating serve as outdoor living rooms for reading a book or watching seabirds take flight. Whether you are waking to the sound of lapping waves or retreating after a day in the sun, the guest rooms with luxurious bathrooms and generous walk-in closets are a haven.

Florida on the Menu

Whether you’re in the mood for a morning latte with a scrambled egg burrito at the Naples Trading Company or a tropical cocktail and shrimp tacos at the Sunset Bar, the dining options at the Naples Beach Club range from casual poolside to candlelit elegance.

The Merchant Room, the brasserie-style restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, led by James Beard Award-winning Chef Gavin Kaysen. Sip a martini at the bar and then choose from dry-aged steaks, house-made pastas, and coastal seafood dishes such as Tuna Carpaccio or Seared Red Snapper in a coconut curry broth.

HB’s on the Gulf is steps away from the sand and sea with a “crudo and coal” menu philosophy featuring both raw bar and wood-fired seafood and meats.

Located in the resort’s Market Square, you’ll find a grab-and-go selection of provisions and plates at the Naples Trading Company, from artisanal sandwiches and salads to Florida-themed specialties such as Orange Blossom Vanilla Cold Brew and, of course, Key Lime Pie.

Soon to come in late 2026 is The Wager, a gastropub with a four-lane bowling alley and a games room, designed to be a social hub where everyone can unplug from their devices and enjoy vacation time together.

One thing is for sure: you’re never too far from a culinary treat, even when you’re lounging on the beach or by the pool. Service staff circulate with complimentary treats such as fruit smoothie shots, banana bread bites, and fruit skewers.

Laps of Luxury

While a swim in the surf or a run along the beach are always options for fitness on the go, the debut of The Sanctuary at Naples Beach Club is a transformative new opportunity for next-generation wellness. The 30,000-square-foot, three-level retreat with 13 treatment rooms, a 75-foot rooftop lap pool, a FRAME Pilates studio, and a 24-hour fitness center is designed by celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak.
Highlights include innovative recharging experiences, luxury skincare, and the 3,200-square-foot aqua therapy thermal journey featuring an ice room, aromatherapy steam rooms, a sauna, and cold plunge zones.

Nestled in Old Naples

When wandering off property by car or via the hotel’s bicycles and fleet of electric Moke vehicles, the sites of Old Naples are minutes away. This banyan-shaded neighborhood is the architectural heart of the city, with historic cottages, the Naples Pier, and the boutiques and popular eateries of 5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South.

Naples has always been defined by its contrasts—it is both wealthy and welcoming, manicured and wild. Naples Beach Club captures this spirit and sets a new high-water mark for sophistication, in a setting that invites guests to enjoy local cuisine, golf, the spa, or the best seaside spot to simply watch that golden sun dip below the horizon.

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Visit FourSeasons.com/naplesbeachclub to learn more or book your stay!