This Florida Seaside Hotel Might Be Vero Beach's Best Kept Secret
There is honestly nothing like that feeling of wiggling your toes in the sand, the warm sun on your face, breathing in that fresh salt air, and hearing the ocean waves gently crash along the shore. Pure bliss.
Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa is an absolute stunner with its palm tree-lined setting, boutique pet-welcoming accommodations, two restaurants, 24-hour fitness center, White Orchid Spa, and an ocean-facing pool that I could have stared at forever.
If you're booking a stay at this family-friendly gem, I highly recommend going for an oceanfront one-bedroom suite. Trust me on this one.
These spacious suites feature a king bedroom, separate living and dining areas, and a spa-inspired bathroom with marble floors, dual vanity sinks, a glass-enclosed rain shower, and a separate tub. It's giving major "I could live here" energy.
Double French doors from the living room open up to the main primary suite with the most beautiful ocean views — waking up to that every morning was honestly a dream.
Both the expansive living room and bedroom have sliders that open to private terraces, which means you can enjoy your morning coffee while soaking in those stunning oceanfront views. That became my favorite daily ritual, hands down.
There's a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and a breakfast bar — basically everything you need if you want to play chef on vacay.
There's also a cozy sitting room with a sleeper couch and a convenient powder bathroom, so there's plenty of space for everyone to spread out.
There are two restaurants on-site to choose from: an elevated dining experience at Cobalt or the more casual, poolside vibe at Heaton's, which features live music Wednesday through Saturdays. Both are fantastic, but the live music really sets Heaton's apart.
Breakfast and brunch are served daily at Cobalt, featuring everything from any-style omelets and Benedicts made your way to a Greek yogurt parfait and buttermilk pancakes. I went for the pancakes and absolutely zero regrets.
For lunch and dinner, steak lovers will be in heaven with an eight-ounce filet mignon, dry aged Prime New York strip, or Prime skirt steak. There's also a 36-ounce dry aged Prime beef Tomahawk ribeye designed for sharing — if you can bring yourself to share, that is.
Steaks can be leveled up with lavish enhancements like crab cake Oscar, a Maine lobster tail, or U-3 tiger prawn. Because why not go all out?
Over at Heaton's, you can nosh on more casual fare — think truffle fries, tuna nachos, and smoked fish dip for starters. Poolside snacking at its finest.
Signature main dishes include grilled octopus, poke bowl, and short rib Arepa. Honestly, everything we tried was delicious.
Included in the daily resort fee is SO much good stuff: access to the PressReader digital library with 7,000+ newspapers and magazines, a Game Room for kids, daily beverages, a complimentary glass of sparkling wine at check-in (yes please!), a Polaroid photo on the Pet Board for four-legged guests, complimentary daily popcorn hour, premium beach chairs with an umbrella, and passed pool and beach amenities including refreshing cold towels, popsicles, and complimentary suntan lotion. Just flash the wristband you get at check-in for full access. It's basically the gift that keeps on giving.
Complimentary coffee and tea are served every morning, and from 4 to 5 p.m. daily, the property offers a complimentary wine hour. A free glass of wine while the sun sets? That's the Vero Beach lifestyle I'm here for.
If you're looking for something fun and exciting to do while in town, you absolutely cannot miss booking a trip aboard Marsh Beast Airboat Tours. It's a wild ride!
The safe eco tour takes guests of all ages on a thrill ride through Blue Cypress Preserve while Captain John gives you this amazing educational tour through Florida's wild landscape. You'll learn so much while having the time of your life.
The 50-minute shared airboat tour gives you a peek at hawks, turtles, wading birds, and alligators in their natural habitat. Seeing gators up close in the wild was honestly one of the coolest things I've ever done.
To celebrate America's 250th birthday, Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa is offering a lavish "First Family of Vero Beach" package — and you guys, it's over the top in the best way.
This over-the-top experience customized for families features a presidential arrival with private "motorcade" SUV transfer, a private helicopter coastal flyover of Florida's Treasure Coast, dinner on the sand, a First Family beach photoshoot styled with Team USA-inspired looks, a fireworks butler (a FIREWORKS BUTLER, people!), in-suite bourbon tastings, an apple pie baking class, and a patriotic kids' glam station with hair tinsel. It's basically the most American vacation ever, and I'm obsessed.
The package is available for $25,000. If you've got the budget, this is an experience of a lifetime.
Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa is located at 3500 Ocean Drive in Vero Beach, Florida. Pack your bags!
