Just south of Palm Beach along Florida's eastern coast, lies scenic Deerfield Beach, a city well known for its pristine coastline and the array of recreational water activities that delights both residents and tourists. At this location, world-class boating, fishing, diving, boarding and more are all within close range. Other nearby attractions include golf courses, polo clubs and the famous Quiet Waters Park. The 430-acre R&R zone is home to many campgrounds, skate parks, the “Splash Adventure” attraction and the longest cable ski course in the nation.
Even as it continues to grow in popularity, Deerfield Beach is a small community that values privacy. Nowhere is this better exemplified than at the Royal Blues Hotel. This uber-boutique property sits peacefully on South Florida's Gold Coast directly across from a white sand beach, just a brief 5-minute (or less) walk from the area’s popular international fishing pier. With twelve lavishly appointed rooms overlooking drop-dead gorgeous ocean views, delivering a veritable rainbow of royal blue hues out to the horizon, it exudes exclusivity. This chic art-driven hotel is owned by Hollywood producer Edward Walson and designed by famed West Palm Beach architect Jorge Garcia. The property is replete with state-of-the-art features fine art, not to mention service-minded luxuries to deliver an intimate seaside getaway that’s second to none.
Modern Methodology
A modern and elevated approach to hospitality is not exclusive to personnel. The individual hotel rooms, property-wide interior design, and overall architecture are extraordinarily contemporary, with above-and-beyond design elements and creature comforts. The building exterior has the vivid white apropos of a beach venue and features beautiful curves along with strong vertical lines. Huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows provide plentiful natural light and a remarkable view of the beach. Large swaths in the building's interior seem to emulate the appearance of a high-class yacht, including Italian marble floors—which I was told was the inspiration for the rest of the hotel's designs—natural wood on the walls and splashes of leather in just the right places. Everything from the lighting to furnishings to original wall art exceeded expectations, appearing far more reminiscent of a professionally-styled apartment than a hotel accommodation.
There are several types of rooms, each with their own unique flair. The Eastern facing "Classic Terrace Rooms" located in the center of the building offer a panoramic seaside view. The "Corner Terrace Rooms" on the Northeast corner of the hotel offer a unique glimpse of the pier. The single "Classic Corner Room" is positioned on the Southeast, overlooking the ocean in that direction. Each of these rooms has a private patio area, large floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and cutting-edge technology, which includes a 47-inch HD television, high-speed internet, and digitally-controlled blackout blinds with dimming lights. Rooms are also outfitted with a top-of-the-line Nespresso machine, plush towels, robes and slippers.
For guests seeking even greater luxury, the hotel suites located on the third and fourth floor offer a litany of creature comforts. Each space has separate bedrooms and living spaces, a desk area, plush King-sized bed, large pullout sofa, lounge chair and a furnished double-wide patio with expansive ocean views. All of the suites have the same high-tech accessories as the rooms but include the added touch of a 55-inch HD television. In the bathroom technology also abounds, with a digitally-operated shower gauge complete with rainfall fixture and a remote touchscreen-controlled Kohler Numi bidet.
There is also a luxe junior penthouse suite available. Boasting an open-concept design, the bedroom and living spaces flow seamlessly together, separated by a 55-inch flat screen television built on a custom swivel that allows it to turn to face any part of the room. In addition to lovely teak wood fixtures, this suite has a double-wide patio that extends the full length of the room with a sea view throughout. The spacious bathroom features a large soaking tub with glass surrounding that also offers an ocean view. Guests can fog the glass for privacy, or keep it transparent to enjoy the ocean outlook.
Cuisine du Monde
Dining at the hotel takes place at the Chanson Restaurant. This hip fine dining locale showcases an ever-evolving seafood-forward menu in the style of "Cuisine du Monde," offering what the hotel refers to as a "modern twist on worldly classics." They source fresh seafood and seasonal organic ingredients to create a range of creative dishes that have both the warmth of a home-cooked meal and the appearance of a culinary masterpiece. For its part, wait staff service is impressive, functioning like a well-orchestrated ballet. It’s worth mentioning that Chanson does have an excellent array of wine to pair with meals, though with a bent toward the lights and whites to complement its healthy fare. There is also a full bar with an extensive cocktail menu available.
Aesthetically, Chanson’s intimate interior design is bright, fresh and simple, befitting its restaurant-wide panoramic beach view. Here, every seat in the house is a great one. The focal point of the space—aside from the captivating photographic art adorning the walls—is a colorful 1,500-gallon custom saltwater aquarium that flows across the ceiling. Interestingly, swimmers in the pool in the deck above can peer into the aquarium to enjoy a submerged vantage point. One would be hard pressed to find a comparable eatery of this caliber in Deerfield Beach. In my opinion, Chanson is well on the way towards its worthy goal of becoming Michelin-rated.
An Oceanside Enclave
"Enclave" is the most appropriate descriptor for this elegant property. It’s a work of art unto itself, tucked away on a prime piece of oceanfront real estate smack dab in the heart of Deerfield Beach. This, coupled with the fact that the picturesque property is staffed by some of the best in the hospitality business, makes it an outstanding option for anyone seeking an intimate and indulgent escape by the sea. Given the Relais & Châteaux vision of fostering “a better world through cuisine and hospitality,” I would say Royal Blues Hotel is doing its fair share.
