Midwesterners have long felt a magnetism toward Naples, Florida, with flocks of Minnesota snowbirds making the annual migration to the sophisticated Gulf Coast getaway. Now, the siren song beckoning sun seekers has grown even stronger thanks to the fall 2025 addition of the Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort. With a coveted address along tony Gulf Shore Boulevard and 1,000 feet of white sand beach, it’s the hottest ticket in town.
It’s not easy filling the shoes — or in this case, the waterfront — of a local institution that sat in this very spot for nearly 75 years. Residents understandably worried if the long-awaited Four Seasons property could properly pay homage to its predecessor, the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, which was razed in 2022. After all, it’s a rare revival that really reflects the ethos of a local landmark like this. Thankfully, the new 220-room resort is a welcome reprisal of the cherished haunt, balancing familiarity with freshness.
Photography provided by Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort
On the familiar front, local favorites HB’s restaurant and the adjacent Sunset Bar still take up residence along the coveted beachfront and offer those stunning water views. They’ve undergone slight face-lifts while remaining true to their original DNA, including the signature blue-green striped awning that hovers above HB’s. These revamps earned their official stamps of approval when hundreds of fans flooded the eateries during their grand reopening last November.
Meanwhile, the main structure, conceived by design firm Hart Howerton, embodies the understated elegance of the former hotel. It’s quiet luxury to a tee, coupled with off-the-charts coastal charm. In other words, it fits right in here in Old Naples.
From the streetside, the friendly cream-hued façade catches your eye without trying too hard, setting the easy-going tone for what’s to come inside. Upon pulling into the porte cochère, you’re welcomed by helpful bellmen who await at the enchanting yet unassuming entry. Once ushered inside the bright, airy lobby, you would be remiss not to take a moment to take it all in. New York City–based Champalimaud Design infused the interiors with nuanced touches that feel grand without veering too grandiose.
Your eye is immediately drawn up to a golden palm branch chandelier holding court above this inviting space. Your attention then turns to the intricate palm leaf bas-reliefs adorning the wall, made from native Southwest Florida plants. The attractive coffered ceiling might seem unremarkable to the uninitiated, but in actuality, it’s composed of bleached pecky cypress, a rare endemic wood that’s typically only found in Old Florida residences these days. As your vision returns back to earth, you realize you’re enveloped in an earthy atmosphere, where abundant botanicals and natural stone notes mingle with white millwork.
From there, you can’t resist the pull toward the adjacent Merchant Room, the property’s flagship eatery by Minneapolis’s own Gavin Kaysen. First to grab your attention is the White Lotus–esque mural behind the bar by New York City artist Dean Barger, an ode to Florida flora and fauna. Just beyond, you spy the restaurant’s tranquil terrace, then the pool, then the oceanfront. It’s the best of Naples unfolding before your very eyes.
And that’s all before you even set foot in your sumptuous suite. Thanks to astute architecture, most guest accommodations offer Gulf vistas and seamless indoor-outdoor flow. That’s coupled with residential-style walk-in closets, marble bathrooms, plush linens and state-of-the-art technology. In short, you’ll feel perfectly at home here.
When you eventually heed the beachfront’s call, the experience will exceed your every expectation. The pristine white sand is complemented by lulling ocean waves, endless sunrays and superb attendant service. Of course, you might be tempted to post up in a cabana at one of the two pools (one of which is primed for families). All of these are right choices.
The hotel is part of the larger Naples Beach Club complex, all run by the Four Seasons. That includes the Market Square building across the street, encompassing the grab-and-go Naples Trading Company cafe and market, the serene 30,000-square-foot spa (with an entire floor dedicated to hydrotherapy), and one of the most well-equipped hotel gyms you’ll ever see. Coming soon is a sports gastropub with an adjacent game room and four-lane bowling alley, and just beyond, a Tom Fazio–designed golf course is also set to debut later this year.
The resort is a great home base for exploring all that the Paradise Coast has to offer, from shopping on posh Fifth Avenue to chartering a boat to take in the unbelievable sunsets. But in reality, there’s really no reason to leave the property, as everything you could ever want is within reach (or can easily be procured for you). With the Four Seasons, this Gulf Shore Boulevard grand dame has been reborn so that future generations can enjoy it just as much as generations past have.
Chef Gavin Kaysen brings Midwestern flavors to Naples at Merchant Room.
