(Important Note: Read through to the new update at the end. This property is no longer operating at a "luxury" hotel level after recent management changes. Buyer beware.)
Last month we stayed at a brand-new luxury hotel in Rosemary Beach, The Pearl. We are longtime visitors to the coastal area along Scenic Highway 30A in the panhandle of Florida, but we normally stay in cottage rentals. (WaterColor Inn is nearby, which we visited last month too, but it is showing some wear and is not operating at quite the same level. WaterColor Inn does seem better suited for young families than the atmosphere at The Pearl, but that could be a personal preference.)
Check-in went smoothly, we were offered a glass of champagne and shown to our guest room, with a view overlooking both the pool and the ocean in the distance. A helpful introduction to the room’s technology followed, which included Apple TV and an iPad to use during the stay. The iPad is equipped with hotel-specific software for ordering room service, controlling functions within the guest room (air/lights), setting a wake-up call time, and even requesting our car from the valet when departing. We learned that plans are underway for the iPad to connect beach bound guests to the main restaurant later this spring, enabling lunch delivery to beach chairs.
The hotel has beautifully blended original art from local talent throughout the interiors. Particularly noteworthy was the Cuban-influenced photography, which was quite stunning, as was the Chihuly-inspired blown glass sculptures overhead in common areas.
Staff members were consistently friendly and willing to respond to any requests. Breakfast was more leisurely than we are used to, but the property had only been open five weeks when we stayed, so I am confident things will continue to improve as they fine-tune operations. During our other meals and in regard to housekeeping, service was superb.
The room product expertly blended high-end and luxurious details with a relaxed and comfortable tone. Standards such as fine linens and plush robes were in place, and there was a television seamlessly incorporated into the bathroom mirror.
While there were many characteristics we loved about The Pearl, one we found particularly refreshing was the lack of additional fees for various amenities. (It made me think of Flyertalk forum posts related to the frustration of Internet and resort fees added on to room rates at the end of stays.) In addition to the wireless Internet, other complimentary elements of the stay were Netflix on demand, environmentally-friendly glass bottles of Nordaq Fresh filtered water, an in-room Keurig coffee and tea system, turndown treats with a handwritten note, valet and overnight parking, and beach chairs under a large umbrella each day. (A contrast to nearby WaterColor Inn where beach chairs are reserved in advance and incur an additional daily fee.)
There is a roof-top lounge recently opened for watching televised sports and pool service. Its delayed opening relates to the ownership’s master plan of launching hotel operations in stages. By late-October, the spa cabanas will be available for poolside pampering and hotel services will continue to expand into 2014.
The main restaurant, Havana Beach Bar and Grill, was excellent and included live music, more art from local Tommy Crow, and a casual environment with fine dining and craft cocktails. The chef’s sourcing supports family-owned and small business farms within a 100-mile radius. We had the great pleasure of chatting with the general manager, Michael Votta, over cocktails and learned about the interesting history of the hotel. (The family behind Movie Gallery owned the building originally and had items specially designed by a consultant to open it as a hotel, such as a custom-made shower head/handle for each room at 8K per fixture, before funds wore thin in a post-Netflix world. The current owners purchased it in a distressed state, along with hard and soft goods in storage, and completed construction this summer. We passed it as an empty shell for years, and it sure is a beauty now that it has come to life.)
Dinner highlights included a house-cured bacon sampler platter, a perfectly seared filet with homemade steak sauce, and a grown-up S’mores dessert so out of the ordinary that we indulged in it again after that first evening. The canister opened with wood-fire smoke rising and homemade artisan vanilla marshmallows perched atop liquid milk chocolate, with four not-from-a-box graham crackers, which turned into messy mouthfuls of decadence.
Before check-out we spent time at the pool and on the beach. The pool area provided a splendid setting to recharge, including comfortable loungers and a hot tub. Loungers here are better for naps than the type of beach chairs found on South Walton shores; the wooden beachfront chairs prevail throughout the county and look nostalgic but are notoriously uncomfortable in comparison to modern-day loungers.
On the beach, The Pearl has a private set-up complete with branded coolers housing water bottles, and thick towels for drying off. For refreshment, our lunch favorites in the main Havana Beach restaurant included the fresh HB Greens salad, the HB Burger (with more of the tasty house-cured bacon), and fresh-cut fries with a side of garlic aioli. When the iPad-driven food delivery rolls out next year, enjoying these delicious offerings without your feet leaving the sand will elevate the entire beach experience to one unparalleled in regard to relaxation and service for this area of the coast.
By a mile, it was the best full-service hotel we have experienced on the Gulf Coast.
UPDATE 2014: The hotel has experienced management and operation changes; our second stay earlier this year was nothing like the one described in the previous trip report. I'll write more about the second experience in a new post at the end of this thread, but I no longer consider this property even close to a luxury hotel. Right now if you are looking for true luxury in the area of South Walton, you would be much better off renting a private home or villa with concierge and/or private chef services. The Pearl hotel had strong potential aesthetically, but unfortunately the operation has unraveled to no longer be a contender in true luxury travel.