4 Best Hotels in Delray Beach, Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast

A tropical oasis, this boutique hotel is a hidden jungle of lush tropical plants, only a block from the beach. Each room is individually decorated in tropical prints, with rattan and wicker or sleek modern furnishings. The luxe villas have smart TVs, private patios or balconies, and dedicated Wi-Fi access. Both suites and rooms have full kitchens (kitchenettes are in the studios). Two pools, including a waterfall pool, along with a thatched Tiki Bar, plus hammocks under the palms, promise the perfect South Florida experience. Live music at the Tiki Bar draws locals as well as hotel guests. Homemade sangrias and a list of frozen concoctions are the drinks du jour. Though no restaurants are on site, there are many—along with cute shops—within the block on Atlantic Avenue.

Those who crave luxury in its full glory (rooms with ultraswank tilework and fixtures, marble vanities, seamless shower doors plus access to a spa, pools, and beach club) will love this LEED-certified hotel with a subtle Zen-coastal motif. Although the hotel dates back to 1911, everything, including its private off-site beach club feels fresh. A saltwater pool, one of the first in the area, was grandfathered in during the remodeling and is a highlight of the beach club. Water-sports rentals are available year-round, and the restaurant is perfect for a leisurely lunch. Back at the hotel, a quiet infinity pool can be found adjacent to the spa, and it's hard not to be smitten with the aquariums peppering the common spaces; four in total, with the centerpiece being the lobby's 2,500-gallon tank, they are home to a wide range of creatures, from beautiful lionfish to slithering moray eels, and the concierges have fact sheets on the inhabitants for you to peruse. Rooms are decorated in relaxing neutrals and have plush bedding and Keurig coffeemakers. Opt for the deluxe category—they are one step above the standard rooms, and all have balconies. There's a complimentary trolley that takes you to the beach club, and the hotel offers car transport within a 5-mile radius from 8 am to 11 pm.

Not to be confused with the luxurious Colony in Palm Beach, this charming hotel in the heart of downtown Delray dates back to 1926, and although it's landlocked, it does have a cabana club 2 miles away for hotel guests only. The hotel is a member of the National Trust's Historic Hotels of America and maintains an air of the 1920s with its Mediterranean-revival architecture and retro Old Florida furnishings. The hotel's Cabaña Club, to which you are conveyed by shuttle, oversees a private stretch of beach and a heated saltwater pool. A convivial bar and live music on weekend nights make the lobby area a great place to wind down. Yoga classes are held there daily as well. Fine shops selling leather goods, body products, and stationery fill the lower-level storefronts.

By far the largest hotel in Delray Beach, this resort, formerly a Marriott, has two towers on a stellar plot of land at the east end of Atlantic Avenue—it's the only hotel that directly overlooks the water, yet it is still within walking distance of restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. Rooms and suites are spacious, and many have stunning ocean views. If you want a bit of pampering, there's also a spa. Furthermore, the property houses eight tricked-out Villas by the Sea, catering to its most well-heeled guests. The main resort pool is surrounded by a comfortable deck, and there's a second pool in a quiet area that's just for adults.