Right off hopping Young Circle, this funky new hotel raises the bar—and the roof—for hospitality.
As night falls over downtown Hollywood, things are just heating up 11 stories in the air.
It’s the rooftop at CIRC Hotel, with a DJ spinning tunes, drinks flowing at the bar, and the best part: the view. The Muse rooftop is a watchtower to the city, spilling into Fort Lauderdale and beyond.
Ten years in the making, the CIRC Hotel has literally come full circle. Tucked right off Young Circle, the hotel is the first to open in the city in decades. For a weekend getaway, my husband and I drove down to Hollywood to experience this newest addition to the vibrant downtown.
In the contemporary lobby, wire sculptures hang from the ceiling. The funky vibe continues into the 111 guest rooms, where the sleek white space is accented with turquoise poufs, headboards and wooden furniture. For animal lovers, it’s a hotel that truly is pet-friendly, with no weight limits on animals (for those with allergies, there are floors set aside for no animals).
View from Muse lounge (Photo by Domino Arts Photography)
Not only is the CIRC Hotel a place for travelers or locals looking for a quick getaway, the mixed-use space also boasts more than 300 residential spaces, a health club and a five-story parking garage with 941 spaces, all next door to a Publix. Guests and residents can also enjoy all that Young Circle and downtown have to offer (check out our sidebar for our favorites around the block).
For dinner, we headed to the on-site restaurant Olivia, an ode to Sicily, and were seated inside the private Cellar, where up to 14 guests eat at a communal table surrounded by more than 800 bottles of wine. I indulged in a dish of lobster ravioli doused in pink sauce, prepared by Chef Massimiliano Lozzi, a third-generation chef who spent six years working at The Vatican.
Olivia restaurant (Photo by Paul Stoppi)
In the main dining room, the mozzarella bar is a must for cheese lovers, with heaping amounts of Bufala mozzarella, organic roasted pepper and Parma prosciutto.
After dinner, we visited Muse, the rooftop bar, one of the few in South Florida. Toward the front entrance, by a wall of climbing faux vines, a crowd danced to the songs selected by the DJ, drinks in hand. If you’re more inclined for a quieter time on the rooftop, just past the full bar are the stairs to the outdoor pool, equipped with cabanas and woven lounge chairs.
It’s here that you can lean against the railing and look out over the neighborhood, sipping on a glass of rosé. My husband and I made a game of identifying buildings and roads on the horizon, a moment where our hectic schedules aligned for a night together.
So whether you’re looking for a staycation further south or a night out for dinner and rooftop cocktails, gather your inner circle and take them to CIRC.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE
The Tipsy Boar: This late-night find offers tasty small bites. 1906 Harrison St., 954/920-2627
Hollywood Vine: This bar offers more than 600 wines and artisan cheeses. 2035 Harrison St., 954/922-2910
Art and Culture Center of Hollywood: Enjoy exhibits, performances and art classes. 1650 Harrison St., 954/921-3274
ArtsPark: This venue has weekly movie nights, artists, food trucks, etc. One N. Young Circle, 954/921-3500
This story comes from our February 2018 issue of Boca magazine. For more content like this, subscribe to the magazine.
