Check out photos of Sarasota’s new luxury beachfront hotel, the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, and its waterfront restaurants, now open to the public.
As butlers served champagne flutes and hors d’oeuvres, one of the most eagerly awaited hotel openings in Sarasota County history took place on a sunny 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 grand hall with speeches and an aerial acrobatics performance paying homage to the history of Sarasota’s Ringling Circus. The event marked the beginning of the property’s unofficial opening to the public.
Select rooms, five waterfront restaurants and bars, and a spa offering a variety of specialty treatments and Gulf views are now available, ahead of the resort’s official opening, scheduled for late September. The total value of the project is estimated at over $331.2 million.
Located on the Sarasota County side of Longboat Key, the new St. Regis represents the largest development on the island in 50 years. Part of the St. Regis Hotels & Resorts chain, owned by Marriott International, it is touted as “one of the most luxurious beach resorts in the country.”
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The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and its waterfront restaurants and spa are now open to the public
Located on Longboat Key’s prime property, formerly home to the famous Colony Beach and Tennis Resort, the St. Regis began construction in late 2021 and will offer guests a beachfront getaway on 18 acres and 800 feet of private beach beginning Friday, August 16.
The 168-room resort features multiple pools and cabanas, a 20,000-square-foot Gulf-front St. Regis Spa, a winding waterway and a saltwater lagoon with wildlife including stingrays, turtles and tropical fish. The average price for a room is $1,200.
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort has been under construction for approximately 31 months following groundbreaking in October 2021 by Orlando-based developer Unicorp National Developments.
“We are excited to introduce the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort to our community and finally welcome you to our many amenities from our bars and restaurants to our destination spa,” said Winfred van Workum, General Manager of the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, in his opening remarks. “We are very grateful for the continued support of this special community and look forward to continuing to bring you the St. Regis Longboat Key experience.”
Chuck Whittall, founder and CEO of Unicorp National Developments, also spoke at the ceremony. “The opening of this resort is a significant achievement for us and one that we have been years in the making,” Whittall said in a statement. “It is the realization of our vision and commitment and we expect it to become an integral part of the local community and an outstanding destination on this special island.”
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort aims to be the first five-star resort on Florida’s Gulf Coast
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Sarasota opens five restaurants and bars to the public
The four main dining options at the St. Regis Resort are the CW Prime steakhouse, the Northern Italian restaurant Riva, the Latin American eatery Aura and the rooftop lounge Oshen, which serves Asian fusion cuisine. There is also the St. Regis Bar, the Monkey Bar and the hotel’s cafe, Caroline’s.
Starting Friday, August 16, all restaurants and bars will be open to the public, with the exception of 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 restaurant and bar openings in the hotel
The St. Regis Spa at the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Sarasota is open to the public this week
Spanning 20,000 square feet on a Gulf-front property, the St. Regis Spa welcomes guests with a stop at the Celebration Bar, which offers drinks made with champagne and locally sourced ingredients.
The spa offers a wide range of unique treatments using natural ingredients and the latest skin care technology. The extensive hydrothermal area includes a Finnish sauna, eucalyptus steam bath, snow shower, vital water, cold bath and experience showers.
The Relaxation Lounge opens onto a terrace with an infinity vitality pool overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Guests can also take advantage of the state-of-the-art fitness center 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 ÞjórsárdalurFacebook and Instagram. Email him at [email protected]. Support local journalism by subscribing.
