Opal Key’s Fresh Dining & Design: A Key West Resort Renovation

If you’ve been waiting to hear the latest on Opal Key Resort & Marina’s renovated spaces – an upgraded arrival experience, expanded pool area, and vibrant new restaurant concept – here’s what you need to know.

*All renderings depicted in this article are artistic interpretations of the design. It is not meant to be an exact rendition.

DJ McCarthy, general manager of Opal Key Resort & Marina, doesn’t consider himself a particularly nostalgic individual. Still, during the recent refresh to the resort’s lobby, pool, and dining outlets, there was one moment where he admitted he developed a bit of a lump in his throat. “It was when, during construction, I first saw the rooftop deck leveled,” he says. Located atop what was formerly known as Bistro 245, the beloved deck was barren. Gone was the old post-and-beam wooden tiki bar topped with a tin roof. Gone were the surrounding bar stools and chairs in their rainbow of classic Key West colors.

But what was still there? That epic birds-eye view of Key West’s acclaimed sunset and all the nightly festivities that occur in Mallory Square below. And it was then that McCarthy’s nostalgia turned into excitement – maybe even a little bit of giddiness. “This is literally the best seat in town,” he says. “And it was only going to get better because I knew what the culinary and design teams were working on was going to be unlike anything else Key West has ever offered. This is a spot everyone is going to want to be. And, now, it’s not just because of the views, but the vibe.”

The outdoor rooftop sanctuary – newly renamed to Elevate Skye Bar & Lounge and opening sometime this spring – wasn’t the only piece of Opal Key property that saw a refresh over the course of winter 2024/2025. With that in mind, we take a stroll through the exciting new look and what McCarthy says is going to give “a whole new energy to the Opal Key guest experience.”

A WELCOME EXPERIENCE THAT DECLARES “YOU’VE ARRIVED”

The first interaction guests have with any property is the lobby, so, of course, that initial impression is essential. “Prior to the renovation, the style of the lobby had a lot of dark wood and muted, almost mustardy-beige walls,” explains McCarthy. “It just felt a little heavier when we want guests to be walking in here and instantly feeling light and bright – in fact, that’s really become the Opal standard.”

As for how they accomplished that, the first thing they did was open it up to bring in more natural light. “There was previously a back office positioned on the south side of the lobby, so it was relocated and the wall opened up to make the lobby bigger while adding more windows,” says McCarthy. Next came all-brand new ceiling, walls, and flooring boasting natural textures and tones: blonde wood on the ceilings, new flooring tiles, and a turquoise-teel slatted back wall set behind the brand-new front desk. New furnishings include hanging swing chairs in wicker with plush pillows, potted lemon trees, a driftwood inspired coffee table, and more. There’s also a brand-new state-of-the-art sound system, as well as a small new grab-n-go market.

A BELOVED POOL EXPERIENCE GETS A LITTLE EXTRA LOVE

The on-site pool is perhaps one of the resort’s most signature amenities. Not just for a refreshing dip, but for the way this paradise, located in the center of the resort, is shrouded by lush native plants and trees, creating an uncanny sense of privacy that is hard to come by in this part of Key West.

So how could you possibly enhance what already feels like paradise? In addition to resurfacing the pool and jacuzzi and adding new tiling around the edges, the loungers and umbrellas received fresh new fabric reflecting the dining outlets’ vibrant new feel. And, as the hallmark element of the refresh, read on to find out what a feel that is.

SPICY NEW DINING OUTLETS UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE IN KEY WEST

Opening spring 2025, the new dining experience is anchored by the resort’s brand-new signature restaurant, Lolita’s Coastal Cocina, where coastal flavors meet Mexican flair. “It will have a tropical-hip vibe that feels at home in Key West, but it’s married with what feels like a Mexican folk vibe,” says McCarthy.

With half the restaurant located indoors, the other half set outside right in front of Mallory Square, deciding on where to sit, ultimately, might be tough. Inside, the ceiling consists of a bamboo-style wood over the dining room, then a colorful mural over the bar. On the far end of the dining room, against the booth seating, is a raspberry-pink wall silhouetted by single-stalk cacti of all different heights. Outside, the theme continues with the same ceiling mural pattern reflected in the umbrellas and cacti centerpieces. The patio also boats brand new cobblestone brick and a fixed awning hung in string lights.

Lolita’s also services the new pool bar, Ka’Teen, open to resort guests only and located opposite the eastern wall of the restaurant’s indoor portion. But the experience doesn’t end there. Actually, it’s elevated – quite literally as a set of stairs from Lolita’s climbs up to Elevate Skye Bar & Lounge, the brand-new rooftop deck experience. The sprawling space spans a similar footprint as Lolita’s indoor section, just with a modern, open-air layout that serves lofted views of both the resort pool to the east and that famous Mallory Square sunset experience to the west. At the heart of the venue, the wraparound bar is surrounded by a variety of seating “zones” that ripple out: high-top seating, tables, couches, loungers, and even private day-bed cabanas (rentable for resort guests).

“To have a sunset every day of the year, and, now these sophisticated spaces – serving shareable plates, handcrafted cocktails, and a full tequila and mezcal menu – right in view of it…” says McCarthy. “Like I said, there’s nothing like it in Key West.”

LOVE THE VIBE?

There’s more where that came from. Check out the designs of other Opal properties that have been refreshed in recent years:

• Cirque St. Armands: A Circus-Sophisticated Spin | Sarasota, FL

• Sandpearl Resort’s All-New Seaside-Chic Rooms | Clearwater Beach, FL

• The Capri Inn’s Rejuvenating Refresh | Naples, FL

• Jupiter Beach Resort’s Re-Imagined Resort | Jupiter, FL

• The Resort at Longboat Key Club’s Yacht-Sleek Look | Longboat Key, FL