The Boca Raton is a 200-acre retreat in South Florida that delivers on every level. The accommodations are amazing. The restaurants are remarkable. The pickleball is plentiful. It’s the sort of vacation destination where everyone who visits finds something different to fall in love with.
All of it contributed to the hotel’s recent milestone achievement: It earned Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star awards for Beach Club, Yacht Club, Spa Palmera and Flybridge restaurant, making The Boca Raton the only resort outside of Asia with a quadruple Five-Star distinction.
Daniel Hostettler, The Boca Raton’s president and CEO, is extremely proud of his team’s accomplishments, but he knows there’s little time to enjoy champagne. More guests and more surprise inspections are on the way in 2026. “We had property-wide, sparkling celebrations and then we got back to work,” Hostettler said. “The reality is, Forbes Travel Guide will notice the smallest drop in execution, and that rigor is a gift.”
We don’t expect any balls dropping anytime soon, though, because not only is the resort focused on 2027 ratings (which will be announced on February 10), it’s also commemorating its 100th birthday in 2026. All throughout the year, guests can help blow out the candles through curated events, visits to the new Cloister Inn Museum or by purchasing the resort’s coffee table book.
But even if you check into The Boca Raton and there’s no centennial celebration on the calendar, the four factors below will be more than enough to have you seeing stars.
The Rooms
The Boca Raton consists of five different accommodations: the aforementioned Beach Club and Yacht Club, the Cloister, the Tower and Bungalows. No matter which reservation you make, you’ll find a coastal chic aesthetic, artful touches and spectacular waterfront views. Just be cognizant that Yacht Club is an adult-only haven while the Bungalows are for guests longing for extended vacations.
Beach Club, however, is for anyone desiring an elevated stay near the sea. The room we had was painted in soft neutrals that were as calming as the breezes coming off the balcony. Oak wood furniture felt luxurious with little effort. And the bathroom, with its glass-enclosed shower and Acqua di Parma toiletries, exuded subtle sophistication. The cute tote bag, water bottle and flip-flops were thoughtful complimentary touches, too.
The Dining
Flybridge is The Boca Raton’s culinary standard bearer. At this restaurant reserved for Yacht Club guests and club members, chef Peter Annewanter’s team serves three- and five-course tasting menus where local seafood and seasonally plucked vegetables are the headliners. On any given night, you’ll see waiters dishing out tuna tartare speckled with Florida mango and cucumber, handmade lobster ravioli and an heirloom tomato parfait. Your eyes won’t know whether to focus on the photogenic plate or look out the window to Lake Boca Raton and the boat-filled marina.
While Flybridge carries the stars, it’s far from the only restaurant that shines at the resort. We didn’t sample all 14 restaurants and bars, but every meal we had was delicious — no matter if it was empanadas at the Beach Club lobby bar or a proper brunch at Sadelle’s.
But nowhere were we more reluctant to put down our forks than at Marisol. If you can envision how Mediterranean and Miami flavors might mingle in the kitchen, you have a general idea for Marisol at dinnertime. From salt-crusted branzino and Greek lamb chops to an unforgettable seafood paella, everything was fresh and exquisitely flavored.
The Service
At some luxury resorts, smiles and gestures from the staff seem perfunctory. But that’s not the case at The Boca Raton. “Our team has a natural desire to take care of people, paired with real precision,” Hostettler said. “The best service isn’t theatrical, it’s consistent. Noticing what matters and doing it before you’re asked. We select for that mindset, then build it through training, mentorship and leading by example.”
We encountered several of these moments during our stay. On our Intracoastal charter on the 42-foot Relentless, for example, the crew could have easily fulfilled its obligations by simply pointing out celebrity homes and keeping our glasses filled with bubbles; instead, it made the experience memorable by opening up the Zillow real estate app and taking us “inside” a few houses that were for sale as we sailed past.
On another occasion, this time during a Ritual Soak in the 50,000-square-foot Spa Palmera, we noted under our breath how refreshing the oranges served as a part of the Tropical Fusion Ritual add-on were. The next thing we knew, we were hopping out the Swiss Shower portion of the cycle and found more citrus treats awaiting us. No theatrics, no fuss. Just hearing the customer and thoughtfully reacting.
The Amenities
The spa, with its orange slices, 44 treatment rooms and massive mosaics that could have easily come from Spain or Turkey, is certainly one of the resort’s highlights. But the relaxing doesn’t stop once your massage ends. The Boca Raton has mastered the art of lavish lounging with poolside dining, beach attendants and even bespoke cabanas decked out in custom design touches from luxe swimwear designer Vilebrequin.
Once you dry off, you can practice your swing — be it on one of the 14 tennis courts or along the championship golf course. If you need to work off the calories from all the capellini, do so at one of the state-of-the-art fitness centers or during a tai chi or sunset yoga session. And if you’d like to explore the property or surrounding neighborhoods, hop on an electric bike or sign up for one of the Volvo test drives available to Beach Club guests.
Families flock to the newly opened retro arcade. The 5,000-square-foot space is filled with throwback games like pinball, foosball and air hockey, giving kids and adults endless opportunities to settle old scores or establish new feuds.
Last week, we revealed our 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards. Click here to see the list of winners.
