3 New Gulf Coast Florida Resorts Coming to Opal
Prepare to pack your bags for the Gulf Coast of Florida. Because it’s soon to be the home of Opal’s three newest and – dare we say? – most novel properties.
*All renderings depicted in this article are artistic interpretations of the design. It is not meant to be an exact rendition.
Opal Collection is not a hotel portfolio that sits on its laurels for long. While it feels like just yesterday three new Opal properties premiered in Florida (all within the span of a year), we’re excited to announce that we already have three more in the pipeline.
While this trio of properties are unique and distinct in their own ways, you can expect – at their heart – the essential hallmarks that make up every Opal Collection resort or hotel: upscale accommodations with the latest amenities, signature hospitality, top-notch food and beverage, and, a waterside location that can’t be beat. And, in this case, that waterside location is exclusively the Gulf Coast of Florida – in the destinations of Clearwater Beach, Sarasota, and Naples – giving you more reason than ever to plan an upcoming visit to these soft-white sandy shores.
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CIRQUE ST. ARMANDS BEACHSIDE
Step Right Up to Circus-Chic by Lido Beach | Sarasota, FL
Estimated Premiere: December 2024
Like two trapeze artists solidly linking up during a swinging act, Sarasota and the circus became forever intertwined in 1927 when John Ringling decided to move his winter headquarters to this lovely Gulf Coast city. So much so, you see that circus heritage splashed all over the city today in the form of museums, an iconic historic Venetian mansion, and other landmarks shaped by “The Greatest Show on Earth.”
But the latest tribute? Cirque St. Armands Beachside, Opal’s newest Lido Key–based hotel. Picture something that blends a 1920s art deco vibe with whimsical Big Top touches, like grandiose billowing drapery, geometric and stripe patterns, ornate ostrich feather chandeliers, golden wall sconces, and pin-striped columns. It’s an Instagrammer’s dream backdrop. Still – just steps from Lido Beach and a two-minute walk to St. Armands Circle – nothing beats the prime location, where views stretch from the beach to the bay.
The Accommodations
Rooms & Suites by the Beach
That same art-deco-meets-circus vibe comes through in the luxuriously appointed accommodations, featuring king-, queen-, and one-bedroom configurations and boast floor-to-ceiling windows with standard views, city views, or gulf views.
Amenity Not to Miss
Sarasota’s Newest Restaurant
Ringside – Cirque’s centerpiece restaurant – is a show-stopping dining experience that is bound to own the spotlight on Sarasota’s restaurant scene. A wall of floor-to-ceiling windows reveals panoramic views of the beach, billboard-size murals showcase trapeze artists doing daredevil acts, and five private booths peek out from behind sumptuous velvet drapery. It’s a setting that is perfectly complimented by the menu, serving up a delicate balancing act of bold flavors and Gulf seafood favorites.
Hidden Highlight
Access to a Private Gulf Beach
Lido Key’s public beach is conveniently located just steps away across the street, making it the perfect place to spend a gulf coast beach day. That said, guests of our hotel also get access to a private 300-foot secluded stretch of the beachfront at sibling Opal, Lido Beach Resort, located just half a mile away. Cool white sands – swept clean every evening – give way to ample coastline views and shallow warm turquoise waters perfect for wading.
Be Among the First to Book Cirque St. Armands Beachside
OPAL SOL
Clearwater Beach’s Most Exciting All-Suite Escape | Clearwater Beach, FL
Estimated Premiere: February 2025
If you’re a fan of Opal Sands Resort, our 230-room Clearwater Beach–based haven, then you have a lot to look forward to in its sibling, Opal Sol. Located just next door to Opal Sands and connected via a glass-enclosed skyway bridge, this airy and inviting sanctuary’s 248 rooms offer unobstructed views of the gulf.
Beyond the accommodations, however, the resort has everything guests could ask for, including four restaurant outlets, a full-service luxury Opal Spa, three pools, and 57,000 square feet of event space (a total of more than 106,000 square feet of space when combined with Opal Sands). Not to mention, you get direct access to the white sand beach that has been rated by USA Today as the “Best Beach in Florida.”
The Accommodations
All Suites, All Gulf Views
Ranging in layouts from studio to three bedrooms, these seaside-chic suites are designed to serve as your ultimate home away from home. All accommodations offer unobstructed views of the Gulf, while select units even boast soaking tubs in master bedrooms.
Amenity Not to Miss
Cabana Comforts
As if the sun-splashed pool deck – punctuated with two glittering gulf-facing pools and lounge chairs set beneath swaying palms – wasn’t already an ideal way to while away a day, it gets even better when you book one of the seven private cabanas. Nestled along the northern edge of the pool, these shaded places to post up are the pinnacle of tucked-away tranquility. Don’t want to leave your perch? Current, the sleek pool bar and lounge, is at your beck-and-call for a steady stream of tropical drinks and refreshing array of light bites.
Hidden Highlight
Street-Level Delights
Four on–site dining outlets call Opal Sol home, including a Drift Kitchen + Bar, an Opal signature restaurant already popular in sibling resorts like Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa, Lido Beach Resort, and Opal Grand. But there are also plans for additional dining outlets on the street-level floor of the resort – a restaurant with a Yucatan-inspired menu and a retro-inspired ice cream parlor. That means, even more diversely delicious ways to enjoy your stay just steps from your suite.
Clearwater Beach’s Most Exciting New Addition
OLDE NAPLES HOTEL
Timeless with Touches of Whimsy in Historic Naples | Naples, FL
Estimated Premiere: 2025
Olde Naples Hotel will not be based in a historic building, per se. Still, the 109-room boutique hotel will very much pay homage to its predecessor, The Naples Hotel, which opened as the city’s first hotel in 1889, welcoming guests for 90 years. More importantly, set in Old Naples’s historic Third Street District, it intends to celebrate this seaside community’s past while taking it into the future. You’ll see that in the array of timeless and classic design details that are layered with contemporary touches. Think a vintage-inspired key-box wall behind the front desk containing fanciful artifacts, art deco-inspired elevators with etched brass set next to playfully patterned rugs, and a bright and airy restaurant featuring a marble bar and a wall adorned in impressionist-style murals.
The Accommodations
Cottage Cool with Pops of Fun
Rooms will be reminiscent of the original cottage-style homes set in Old Naples, yet infused with fun and unexpected touches like pillows patterned in archival turn-of-the-century prints, high-gloss armoires with interiors lined in fresh patterns, and mosaic tile in bathrooms.
Amenity Not to Miss
A Sophisticated Rooftop Pool
Featuring loungers, shaded cabanas, and two pools, this aquatic oasis with an aesthetic that feels very Palm Springs will be perched atop the hotel, offering views to the ocean and the surrounding community.
Hidden Highlight
Cozy Central Courtyard
Situated on two acres, the property will hinge around a picturesque courtyard filled with fragrant flowers and vine-laced walls that recalls the small-town charm of this historic district.
