PHOTOS: Sarasota beachfront hotel St. Regis with waterfront restaurants now open
As flutes of champagne and Instagrammable hors d'oeuvres were served to invited guests, one of the most highly anticipated hotel openings in Sarasota County history unfolded on a sun-washed Friday morning.
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort , overlooking a private white sand beach and the Gulf of Mexico, hosted an unveiling ceremony in its Great Hall, complete with speeches and an aerialist performance as an homage to Sarasota's Ringling Circus heritage. This event marked the beginning of the property's soft opening to the public.
Select rooms, five waterfront restaurants and bars , and a spa featuring various signature treatments and Gulf-front views are now available, ahead of the resort's official opening planned for late September. The total construction value of the project is estimated at more than $331.2 million.
Located on the Sarasota County side of Longboat Key and representing the biggest development on the island in 50 years, the new St. Regis is part of the St. Regis Hotels & Resorts chain owned by Marriott International. It is billed as "one of the country's most luxurious beachfront resorts."
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The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and its waterfront restaurants, spa are now open to the public
The St. Regis occupies the prime Longboat Key property that formerly housed the famed Colony Beach and Tennis Resort and began construction about three years ago . Now, it offers guests a beachside getaway spanning 18 acres and 800 feet of private beach.
The 168-room resort features multiple pools and cabanas, a 21,320-square-foot Gulf-front St. Regis Spa, a winding waterway, and a saltwater lagoon wildlife experience that includes stingrays, tortoises, and tropical fish. The average rate for a room is $1,200.
Construction on The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort began following a groundbreaking ceremony hosted by the Orlando-based developer Unicorp National Developments in October 2021.
"We are delighted to introduce The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort to our community and to finally welcome you into our many amenities from our bars, restaurants, to our destination spa," said Winfred van Workum, general manager of The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, in his opening statement. "We are so grateful for the continued support of this special community and look forward to bringing you the St. Regis Longboat Key experience again and again."
Chuck Whittall, founder and CEO of Unicorp National Developments, also spoke at the ceremony. "The unveiling of this resort marks a significant achievement for us, years in the making," Whittall said in a statement. "It is the realization of our vision and dedication, and we expect it to become an integral part of the local community and a prominent destination on this special island."
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The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Sarasota opens five restaurants and bars to the public
The St. Regis Resort's four main dining venues are the steakhouse CW Prime, the Northern Italian restaurant Riva, the Latin American spot Aura, and the rooftop lounge serving Asian fusion cuisine, Oshen. There's also The St. Regis Bar, The Monkey Bar, and the hotel's café, Caroline's.
All of the restaurants and bars are now open to the public except CW Prime and Oshen, which will be unveiled at the grand opening in September. CW Prime will be open to the public; however, Oshen is exclusive to hotel guests and members.
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort: Information on all seven restaurants and bars opening at the hotel
The St. Regis Spa at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Sarasota is now open to the public this week
Spanning 20,000 square feet of Gulf front property, The St. Regis Spa welcomes guests with a stop at the Celebration Bar, which features beverages crafted from champagne and locally sourced ingredients.
The spa offers a wide range of signature treatments, incorporating natural ingredients and the latest skincare technology. The expansive hydrothermal area includes a Finnish sauna, a eucalyptus steam room, a snow shower, vitality waters, a cold plunge, and sensorial showers.
The Relaxation Lounge leads guests to a terrace with an infinity-edge vitality pool overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, guests can take advantage of the state-of-the-art fitness center, equipped with Technogym equipment and salon facilities.
The St. Regis Spa on Longboat Key List of services, treatments and amenities
Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing .
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: PHOTOS: Sarasota beachfront hotel St. Regis, restaurants now open
