The Seagate

Delray’s Beloved Hotel, The Seagate, Impresses After Renovations.

Delray Beach has undergone some major changes in recent years, welcoming new hotels and restaurants to the charming seaside town. While new changes abound, Delray Beach is home to a few long-standing fixtures, like The Seagate hotel. Situated on Atlantic Avenue and just two blocks from the beach, The Seagate opened its doors in 2009, and like the area around it, the luxury hotel has recently debuted some impressive changes. As a long-time South Florida resident, I recently spent a sunny staycation checking out the property after its multimillion-dollar property-wide renovation. Here’s what you can expect from a visit. 

Accommodations 
The Seagate hotel has long been regarded as “a place to be seen” in Delray Beach, and the blue and white striped awnings are hard to miss driving down Atlantic Avenue. Inside the hotel, all 157 guest rooms and suites have been renovated from top to bottom. The updates come from Brooklyn-based interior design firm Watts & Dray, and each room feels like a comfortable coastal home with luxe furnishings. Each guest room also features gabled headboards, handmade rugs, and original artwork that reflects the hotel’s beachy setting. 

During my staycation, I checked into a Deluxe King room, which was incredibly spacious. The 550 square foot room had a comfortable sectional couch, an eating area that doubled as my workspace, and a gorgeous bathroom with sliding plantation shutters that opened to the rest of the guest room. The designers also incorporated a calming palette of Dutch blue, navy, and cream, and the light wood flooring and blue ceilings felt like a nod to the sand and sky outdoors. One of my favorite features was the Juliet balcony overlooking Atlantic Avenue, where I enjoyed my morning coffee. 

Dining 
From the second I stepped into the lobby, the hustle of Atlantic Avenue faded away. Before settling into my room, I enjoyed a drink from the hotel’s lobby bar, The Venetian Street Hotel Bar. I chatted with the bartender while sipping a Smokin’ Pineapple, a custom cocktail infused with tequila, pineapple, lime, and agave. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Delray’s Pineapple Grove Arts District, an area home to an eclectic collection of murals and sculptures, is just a few blocks from the hotel. Through its food and beverage program, The Seagate finds ways to showcase the community. At the Gate Café in the lobby, there were local craft beers, and the smoothies and sandwiches were made with fruits and vegetables from local farms. 

I was most excited to check out Mr. Seas, the oceanfront restaurant at The Seagate Beach Club, just a few blocks from the hotel. The restaurant offers an international menu with dishes like General Tso’s popcorn chicken, tempura gulf shrimp, lobster wedge salad, and oysters — all in a gorgeous ocean-side setting. If you choose to dine inside, the restaurant has a sophisticated nautical decor with navy and cream seating, jute rugs, and straw lamps. 

Visitors can soon look forward to dining at Bourbon Steak, an upscale steakhouse helmed by Michelin-starred chef Michael Mina, that will serve high cuts of steak, Kobe beef, wagyu, and fresh seafood. The 6,000 square foot restaurant is set to have a 34-seat wrap-around bar, patio dining, and a private dining room that seats 24 — just a few more reasons for locals and visitors to stop by The Seagate. 

The Beach Club and Golf Course Updates 
The Seagate hotel’s off-property amenities, the beach club and golf course, are exclusive to club members and hotel guests, and both are sporting makeovers. If you’re a golf enthusiast, you’ll be delighted to know that the Seagate Golf Club has also undergone a multimillion-dollar redesign of its 18-hole championship course. This exclusive club is not just for golf — it’s also a recreation and wellness destination. In addition to the 120-acre course, the club offers tennis courts, pickleball courts, a fitness center, and a pool. What’s more, four different dining options provide a variety of burgers, salads, and wraps, making it a perfect place to relax and refuel after a game. 

Want to lounge poolside or beachside? At The Seagate, you can do both. In addition to the hotel’s cabana-lined pool, The Seagate Beach Club offers private beach access, the only resort in Delray Beach that offers this amenity. I spent a day reading in a poolside cabana and another at the beach club, where I alternated between the beach and the saltwater pool, enjoying cocktails and bites from the Shoreline Grill. Two days wasn’t nearly enough time to enjoy all The Seagate had to offer. My staycation was too short — and a reminder that some of the best things are in your own backyard. 

Mariette Williams is a frequent globetrotter whose food and travel writing focuses on Florida and the Caribbean.