The Boca Raton Resort is an iconic luxury resort in Boca Raton, Florida with a rich history as a popular vacation destination since 1926. Over the years, it’s been owned by several companies and individuals and was purchased by Michael Dell and his investment group, MSD Partners, in 2019. They have invested over $200 million in renovations in an effort to bring it back to its old glory.
I recently spent 5 nights at The Boca Raton, in one of their Bungalows, and was very impressed with the renovations and what they’ve done to bring the property back to being one of South Florida’s top luxury resorts.
This was actually the second time I have stayed here. The first was in 2021 at The Boca Raton Beach Club, when the rest of the resort was still under renovation.
In this article, we will delve into the details of The Boca Raton Resort and review my experience staying in The Boca Raton Bungalows with my Inspirato Pass Membership.
Location
The resort property is almost 200 acres and is located in the heart of Boca Raton, easily accessible from several major airports nearby:
- Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) – 25 miles
- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) – 29 miles
- Miami International Airport (MIA) – 47 miles
Five Hotels in One Resort
The Boca Raton Resort is comprised of five distinct hotels within the resort including The Beach Club, Bungalows, Cloister, Tower, and Yacht Club.
Each hotel is unique and caters to a specific type of traveler: families, couples, beach lovers, or groups. All are created with spaces that have their own distinct purpose.
- The Tower has rooms and suites perfect for families, located steps away from the hotel restaurants and Harborside Pool Club.
- The Beach Club guest rooms and suites are all about the ocean views, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool and beach.
- The Bungalows are apartment-style, two-bedroom suites, with private entrances, and washers/dryers making them ideal for longer-term stays.
- The Yacht Club is an adults-only hotel with premium all-suite accommodations and Butler service.
- The Cloister is the most famous building (initially opened in 1926 as The Ritz Carlton Cloister Inn), with grand architecture, lush grounds, and the closest location to all the resort’s restaurants and shopping.
Check-In Process
Upon arriving at the main entrance, we were instructed to drive around to the back of the resort where the Bungalows are located to check in.
The Bungalows have their own dedicated reception area for checking in and out and for serving a complimentary continental breakfast every morning.
Rooms
We stayed in the Sarenoa Suite (Room 138), which was a two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite with a living room, dining area, kitchen, and laundry room. This was an apartment-style suite that is essentially a one-bedroom suite (with kitchen, living, and dining area) connected to a traditional hotel room for the second bedroom.
This suite is located on the 1st floor, so it also includes a set of french doors that open up to a patio and courtyard area. I normally don’t like first-floor units, but it was perfect for this trip since we had our dog with us.
The Boca Raton is a pet-friendly resort and this particular part of the resort seems to be where most people with pets were staying. I didn’t count, but I would bet there were at least 10 guests that had their pets with them.
Bungalow Outdoor Amenities
The Bungalows are comprised of 58 suites in a three-story apartment-like building. If I had to guess, this was once a separate apartment building that the resort acquired and converted it into a hotel property.
In addition to all of the resort’s other amenities, the Bungalows have a private pool, putting green, and a series of courtyards with seating areas and firepits.
Restaurants and Bars
I have been to many nice resorts over the years, but I have not seen a resort with this good of a restaurant set up anywhere! They partnered with the renowned New York-based restaurant group, Major Food Group, to bring some of the hottest restaurant concepts from New York to Boca Raton.
Restaurants
- Marisol – Greek Mezze and Cocktails (located at the Beach Club)
- Japanese Bocce Club – Traditional Japanese Cuisine & Sushi (located in the Cloister)
- The Flamingo Grill – Steakhouse (located at the Golf Course)
- Principessa Ristorante – Upscale Italian (located in the Cloister)
- Harbor House – Island Inspired Cuisine (located between the Harborside Pool and Lake)
- Sadelle’s – Breakfast, Lunch, and Brunch (located in the Cloister)
- Flybridge – Fine Dining (located in the Yacht Club)
- MB Supper Club – Continental cuisine with nightly live entertainment (located in the Cloiser)
We ate at the Principessa Ristorante twice, once inside at a table and once outside at the bar, and at the MB Supper Club. Both were outstanding and I would not hesitate to go back to either!
Lounges and Bars
There are plenty of options for having a cocktail before or after dinner.
- The Beach Club Lounge – (located at the Beach Club)
- Palm Court – (Located in the Cloister)
- Harborside Pool Bar
- Plus each of the restaurants has lounge and bar options. Principessa has an outdoor bar overlooking the lake. Harbor House has a large patio with couches and tables overlooking the pool and lake.
Amenities
There are more than enough amenities and activities to keep you busy at The Boca Raton.
The resort has several pools including a private pool at the Bungalows, a large family pool with a waterslide at the Harborside, and a couple of more pools at the Beach Club.
The Beach Club also has a large, sandy beach that is available to all guests. The Beach Club is in a residential area so it doesn’t get a lot of traffic and is very quiet and relaxing. Only hotel guests and club members are allowed.
The par 71 (6,253 yards) golf course is exclusively reserved for resort guests and club members. I didn’t play it, but it looked like a fairly nice course.
There is a very large fitness center offering full-service equipment, from functional training and cardio to digital workouts, boxing, and group classes. Or you can take one of the resort’s complimentary bicycles and get some exercise outside.
Pros and Cons of the Boca Raton Bungalows
Overall, we had a great stay at the Boca Raton Bungalows. Here are some pros and cons to consider before you book
Pros:
- Restaurants and bar options in the resort are great
- Plenty of sports and outdoor activities
- Multiple pool options for adults and family
- Walking distance to “downtown” Boca Raton restaurants
- Large suites are great for a longer stay
- Pet Friendly
Cons:
- The Bungalows are in the back of the resort and feel very separate from everything else
- You have to drive or take a shuttle to the resort restaurants
- You have to drive or take a shuttle to the beach
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