The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale

Character and identity

A contemporary oceanfront tower on a busy stretch of Fort Lauderdale beach, this Ritz-Carlton trades the brand's traditional formality for a lighter, more coastal register. Rooms run in neutral tones with mahogany furniture, Frette linens, and balconies that all face the water. The 8,500-square-foot spa leans aquatic, with signatures like the ocean sea salt glow and sapphire sea treatment. Burlock Coast Seafare & Spirits anchors the dining, serving modern seafood in surrounds that nod to Prohibition-era rumrunners, with a wine room for sommelier-led tastings. Service is polished and attentive, including a photography concierge for family shoots.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining proposition here is an ocean-view balcony in every room paired with a serious spa and a genuinely good seafood restaurant, all inside a city-beach setting rather than a resort cocoon. Book it if you want urban Fort Lauderdale on your doorstep with the water in front of you; spring for a higher floor for the cleanest ocean sightlines, and target shoulder-season rates for the best value.