Having lived less than a mile from the beach for more than five years, there’s really no excuse for me not having once watched a Florida sunrise beyond the irredeemably lazy rationale of “I’d rather sleep in.” So during a weekend stay at Embassy Suites by Hilton Deerfield Beach Resort & Spa, I resolved to finally brave the predawn hours and greet the rising sun with a cup of coffee from the balcony of my oceanfront corner suite.
That did not happen.
Instead, the blackout curtains stayed drawn and I remained in the deepest and most blissful of sleep on the plush king-sized bed until the respectable hour of 8 a.m., and I have no regrets. It’s a mini vacation, after all.
Fortunately, I woke in time for the resort’s complimentary breakfast buffet, complete with omelet and waffle stations, where fellow late-risers were grabbing a morning bite. Here I was able to get an idea of the target demographic of the hotel—younger families with their kids and toddlers.
The appeal for families is clear. The resort is ideally situated at the tail end of the Deerfield Beach boardwalk, putting visitors within walking distance of tourist shops and restaurants downtown and just steps away from the beach, where guests are given access to two beach chairs per day on a stretch of sand that, while technically public, feels private due to its distance from the main stretch of bars and shops.
Families can also enjoy a slew of amenities (included in the $35 per day resort fee) like two-hour bicycle rentals—ideal for rides along the trails of the nearby Quiet Waters Park—and 15% discounts at the onsite Beach Terrace Restaurant, as well as ping pong, cornhole and a heated pool and hot tub on the resort’s expansive patio. Parents meanwhile can take advantage of 20% discounts at the onsite Spa 950, sip on frozen libations from the poolside bar, and bask in the quiet solitude of the suites’ private bedrooms. While the resort certainly has families in mind, there are also several large conference rooms for business gatherings or events.
Traveling with my wife and infant, we arrived for our stay a little early and so familiarized ourselves with the property, which, following a multi-million dollar renovation, sports a breezy and modern look. It has a distinct “coastal retreat” vibe to it, enhanced by beach-y artwork, a blue-and-white color palette, and a sweet herbal scent diffused throughout the lobby that could be its own Yankee Candle.
After check-in and handing the keys over to the valet, we settled into our spacious corner suite and were immediately drawn to the balcony sliding glass doors for a sprawling view of the Atlantic. The suite was roomy and exuded the same air of coastal charm as the rest of the hotel. I appreciated that the hotel staff even thought to offer a pack-and-play for our baby, a gesture that speaks to a commitment to making traveling with kids more hassle-free. After the absurd amount of unpacking and organizing involved with making a space habitable for an infant, we decided to unwind over dinner at Beach Terrace.
Like the rest of the resort, Beach Terrace underwent its own makeover that included a revamping of the menu. Shifting its focus from American plates to more Floribbean fare, the menu includes a grilled octopus dish over pureed parsnips and potatoes (we ordered this on two separate occasions during our stay), fried favorites like conch fritters and calamari, oxtail tacos, a jerk chicken pasta, and more. We opted for patio seating (though meals can also be delivered to your room) and shared the fish and chips and steak frites, both of which I would recommend.
After dinner hours the property winds down, with quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. daily, which as a new parent I can appreciate. Aside from a lively family reunion or some-such in one of the first-floor conference rooms, the resort was completely, serenely quiet. Another benefit of the property being off the main stretch of downtown Deerfield is that there’s no noise coming from nearby bars, though it’s close enough that those in need of a little night life only have a short walk to get there.
The next morning, after my late wakeup and breakfast, it was time to stop by Spa 950 for a deep tissue massage. My masseuse, Lisa, had a deep Southern accent sweeter than skillet cornbread and had hands that could work the knots out of an oak tree. After the 50-minute session (I declined a la carte add-ons like the hot stones, aromatherapy, etc.) and a brief visit to the sauna, I floated out of the spa feeling like I’d been reborn.
The rest of the day we dedicated to exploring downtown Deerfield Beach, which our visit was perfectly timed for. Deerfield celebrated its centennial this year, and its famed 1,000-foot fishing pier just recently reopened following a massive renovation. On a long, leisurely boardwalk stroll, we passed families fishing on the pier, stopped into the recently opened Break House for fresh-ground espresso, grabbed some homemade cookies and cream gelato from Le Rendez-Vous, and people watched along the beach.
With only one night left in Deerfield, we decided to dine at a longtime local staple, Amante’s Italian Restaurant, which recently celebrated its reopening after a relocation and renovation gave the restaurant an elegant makeover and more spacious digs.
We went truffle-heavy for our dinner, starting with a truffle-infused Tito’s martini, followed by a black truffle seared beef carpaccio, then the Truffle Pig pizza loaded with bacon, roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions truffle fonduta, and drizzled with white truffle honey. There was enough truffle on our table to send pigs a world away into a frenzy, and we loved every bite of it.
For those who aren’t so truffle-obsessed, Amante’s menu of reimagined Italian classics are just as satisfying, including the chicken parmesan that we paired, at the wise suggestion of our server, with homemade gnocchi. We finished the meal off with the gooey butter cake topped with homemade ice cream, a decadent flourish that made for a challenging walk back to the resort.
There was plenty more of Deerfield Beach we would have liked to have seen during our stay, including the legendary Whale’s Rib, a favorite local bar that serves oysters on the half shell, and live music at The Cove Brewery, but those are best experienced with a babysitter locked in. But whatever kind of escape you’re looking to have in Deerfield Beach, be it family-friendly or parents-night-out, chances are you can find it within walking distance of the Embassy Suites by Hilton Deerfield Beach Resort & Spa.
