The Boca Raton Resort and Club is one of the most famous landmarks in Boca Raton, largely thanks to its Addison Mizner designed pink tower that can be spotted wherever you are.
Recent guests include Bethenny Frankel, Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, Mike Tyson and Pitbull.
There's a reason all those athletes visit - amenities include two 18-hole golf courses, a spacious spa with its own swimming pool (there are seven separate pools in total), a whopping 30 tennis courts and a marina with yachts in case you're crave a little extra privacy (the yachts can get in-room dining).
In fact, during my visit I was told Pitbull was staying at the resort at the same time. Pitbull is Mr. 305, guaranteeing the resort's peak Florida status in the best possible way.
The lowdown
The Boca Resort was built in 1926 by the city's planner, Addison Mizner, who created much of the town's original architecture and is still a legendary design name in Boca.
The original Addison lobby still exists, complete with furniture from the '20s and an emerald and ruby ceiling, which was considered a symbol of royalty when it was designed.
The room also still has Mizner's signature Royal Cypress petrified wood.
There are other Mizner touches throughout the resort, including the coral in the entryway and the Instagram-worthy fountain which was preserved by a team of artists and is surrounded by his go-to purple bougainvillea.
The property sits on Lake Boca, which is part of the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Atlantic Ocean, offering views no matter where you look, either of pastel pink architecture or sunsets over waterways.
The rooms
The resort has 1,047 hotel rooms, making it a popular destination for conferences and weddings. (I personally had my bat mitzvah there a few too many years ago.)
I stayed in the Yacht Club, which is modern and features Molton Brown products, which are ideal after a long day on the beach.
Guests at the yacht club have access to the Commodore Club Lounge, which offers epic views of Lake Boca as well as complimentary breakfast and snacks, making it the perfect way to fuel up for a day by one of the many pools.
Eating and drinking
The hotel has thirteen restaurants and bars, including Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto's Morimoto, the casual Italian restaurant Bar Luna which has its own cigar station, and Lucca, which is a must-visit.
Lucca offers a seasonal menu that changes four times a year, with locally sourced produce. The chef has a micro-garden outside for herbs - and sometimes, he'll go out and catch fish, so definitely try the seafood.
During my visit, the meal started with a salad with produce from the nearby Swank Farms, as well as the roasted winter squash with a maple glaze (it's crispy, spicy and sweet all at once, making it a must-order) and the crispy cauliflower with spicy peppers and parmesan, which you'll want to eat like popcorn.
If you're trying to eat a little bit healthy for your bikini thirst traps (although you are on vacation) the resort also has gluten-free and whole wheat options.
The must-order dish is the polenta, which is slow-cooked in the wood oven. You could share it with your table - but once you have a bite, you might want to order a few more.
New York's famous restaurant Serendipity has its own Florida location at the hotel - and this one offers a $1,000 ice cream sundae complete with 24-karat gold. The Monkey Bar is a popular bar that pays homage to Addison Mizner, as he had three monkeys.
If you don't feel like stopping by a bar, you could always hit up the Moët vending machine and bring a bottle back to your room. The viral vending machine is helpfully located in the Palm Court, which is known for its influencer-friendly natural lighting.
Things to do
The resort has an artist in residency program that features mixologists and wellness experts. Past wellness experts in residence include Holly Rilinger and Paddle Diva's Gina Bradley.
There's also a packed schedule of events for visitors and members of the nearby beach club, which is a short shuttle or boat ride away and a favorite for locals
At the beach club, you can lie by the pool in a cabana, head to the beach where you can order a tropical cocktail or two, go to the arcade, or workout at the gym.
The spa is its own activity - you could spend a day there getting treatments or basking by the Mediterranean style pool. I tried the Ritual Bath experience which is truly unforgettable.
First, a bath attendant escorts you to your very own bubble bath, with mango sorbet waiting patiently for you on the side of the tub. You're given a scrub and a mitt and can exfoliate yourself while you bathe. Post-bath, you walk over to a shower - but it's not just any shower. Multiple jets hit you from all sides in what feels more like a rough massage - I almost lost a contact lens.
It's followed by a whirlpool you step down into where you're massaged again by seriously intense jets. By the end of it, you'll feel like you had an hours-long massage.
The many pools are the hot spots - the main one has a Tex Mex restaurant and a lemonade stand, complete with Tito's vodka to spike it. The main pool also has a FlowRider surf machine, where kids (or adults) can try their hand (and feet) at surfing in a wave pool.
