The Pearl Hotel

We might be biased, but we can’t picture a more cheerful way to spend the holidays than with the backdrop of our sugar-white sand (our much nicer version of snow) and the cooler coastal weather that seems to make every sunset just that much brighter. Besides, with fewer crowds, it feels like we have every inch of the stunning Gulf Coast for ourselves!

It’s undeniable: the holidays bring a bounty of good cheer to Northwest Florida, including:

Lower Rates
Lock in the best rates of the year when you stay at WaterColor Inn, The Pearl Hotel or WaterSound Inn during the winter and holiday months. Better yet? Guests at any St. Joe Company property have access to an array of our private membership club amenities.

30A in Lights
Experience a coastal winter wonderland as you stroll or drive through the beautiful holiday decorations along Scenic Highway 30A and tucked within the WaterColor Community and beyond. The only downside might be the number of times you’ll be compelled to stop for a magical photo.

Festive Events
‘Tis the season to gather with loved ones and celebrate – and we know how to do just that. Each year, WaterColor Inn, The Pearl Hotel and their acclaimed restaurants, Fish Out of Water, Havana Beach Bar & Grill, get into the spirit of the season with a variety of festive holiday-themed events for the whole family, taking place in December.

Fuss-Free Family Time
Spend quality time on the beach without having to worry about what to do or where to eat. WaterColor Inn and The Pearl Hotel have your gathering covered. We take the hassle out of family time so you can focus your time on family – and who wouldn’t want to cheers to that?!

__

For details on the holiday offerings and events available at WaterColor Inn or The Pearl Hotel, visit watercolorresort.com or thepearlrb.com, respectively.

Winter in Northwest Florida means trading in your snow shovel for a different kind of white backdrop: our sugar-white beaches, that is! With milder weather, fewer crowds and the festive spirit of the season, there’s even more reason to celebrate during the winter months – and plenty of ways to stay warm while you do.

Here are our top picks for warming up and cozying up to enjoy a winter wonderland in true 30A style!

A Beachside Bonfire
Guests of WaterColor Inn can reserve two hours of bonfire fun for up to 30 guests – complete with beach chairs, bottled water and all of the fixings for s’mores. The expertly set-up bonfire experience, which can be set up before or after sunset, takes place behind the WaterColor Beach Club and provides a laidback and fun way to cozy up with the beach during the cooler winter months. Outdoor game packages and food-and-beverage amenities can also be added for an additional fee.

A Hot Stone Massage
Experience a hot stone massage at Spa Pearl at The Pearl Hotel and melt your winter blues away. Within four private poolside treatment rooms, men and women enjoy facials, signature body treatments and massages that incorporate invigorating and therapeutic oceanic elements. Better yet? All spa bookings receive complimentary access to The Pearl Hotel’s heated adults-only pool – and we can’t quite picture a winter day more relaxing than that.

A Swim in the Pool
The winter months won’t keep us away from the water – the pool water, that is! And because all of our pools at WaterColor Inn and The Pearl Hotel are heated, our guests can enjoy a leisurely swim year-round. Not to mention, WaterColor Inn now has a new 2,800-square-foot zero-entry family pool, complete with whirlpool bench and hydro jets. We think there’s nothing quite as invigorating like a warm winter dip!

A Walk on the Beach
Never underestimate the simple, heart-warming pleasure of taking a stroll on the beach. Throw on your favorite hoodie (we have a preference for this super cozy WaterColor Shop sweatshirt) and head Gulf-side to take in a picturesque winter sunset or bask in the stunning display of stars that light up our coastal sky.

A Seafood Feast with a View
Winter months are still perfect for enjoying freshly caught seafood just footsteps away from the Gulf. And cooler weather doesn’t mean forgoing the view either! Take it in indoors at Fish Out of Water, where every seat is the best in the house and every dish boasts the Gulf’s most delicious seasonal flavors.

A Fresh Cup of Hot Coffee
Load up on some extra fuel at Scratch Biscuit Kitchen, where you’ll find plenty of coffee flowing, thanks to the restaurant’s daily selections of its own signature blend. Consider yourself a die-hard coffee enthusiast well beyond the winter months? Join Scratch’s “Mug Club” to receive your own Scratch “Mug Club”-branded mug and $1 unlimited coffee (cheers to that!).

A Tropics-Inspired Happy Hour
Retreat to the Havana Beach Lounge, an intimate tropical hideaway nestled within The Pearl Hotel’s Havana Beach Bar & Grill, to enjoy a menu of small plates, pre-dinner cocktails or both. Bold, tropical prints and a lively Havana-inspired theme are surely to warm up your evening. 

Nestled within The Pearl Hotel’s AAA Four-Diamond restaurant, Havana Beach Bar & Grill, but hidden away from its lively main dining room, the tropical hideaway-inspired Havana Beach Lounge feels tucked away in Old Havana. Just as Havana Beach draws its inspiration from Ernest Hemingway’s favorite old-town Havana haunt, El Floridita, so too does The Havana Beach Lounge celebrate that very warmth and style – in true Papa Hemingway fashion!

Whether joining us before or after dinner, sipping on craft cocktails, or indulging in some light afternoon bites, the Havana Beach Lounge provides a vibrant respite for those seeking a cozy and more intimate gathering space that beckons celebration.

We sat down with Havana Beach’s Food & Beverage Director, Kevin Dixon, to learn more about what makes The Havana Beach Lounge a must-experience dining (or toasting) spot for those guests staying at The Pearl or enjoying a visit to this beautiful spot on 30A and Rosemary Beach.

What distinguishes the Lounge experience from the Havana Beach Rooftop or Main Dining Room? While our Rooftop Lounge and Main Dining Room are wonderful spaces for larger gatherings, the intimacy of the Lounge is perfect for smaller parties, especially for couples. The quieter atmosphere away from the busier dining spaces makes it an ideal spot for reading a book, enjoying a beverage or tasting a small plate; it has somewhat of a speakeasy vibe to it. Whereas Havana Beach is a family-friendly restaurant, the Lounge is an adult-oriented space, serving guests 21 and up, and awarding them with an intimate gathering spot during their visit to our Havana-inspired space.

What’s unique about the Lounge’s menu offerings? The Lounge’s menu is not available in the main Havana Beach dining room. Our culinary team curated these items meant to be enjoyed in this setting – think small, shareable plates and plentiful craft cocktails and, of course, the restaurant’s standout wine list. Some unique Lounge offerings include Blue Cheese Fries, topped with aged cheddar cheese sauce and Roquefort blue cheese; Wagyu Beef Slides topped with red dragon horseradish cheese and bacon-onion jam. What can I say? We love a good cheese? Our Fried Chicken Sliders are also a guest favorite.

What’s your favorite thing about the Lounge? I love the décor in the space and often find myself peeking in there simply to be inspired. Tastefully decorated with classic photos of Caribbean rum advertisements, warm and vibrant colors and natural wood, straw and palm elements, the Lounge balances elegance with tropical relaxation. Not to mention, the seating is comfortable and inviting. Be warned: once you sit down, you won’t want to leave!

___

The Havana Beach Lounge is located within Havana Beach Bar & Grill at The Pearl Hotel in Rosemary Beach®. The Lounge is open daily, 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.; hours may vary seasonally. For more information, call (850) 588-2882.

Timeless elegance, classically coastal charm and bespoke details… Weddings at The Pearl Hotel are filled with boundless enchantment.

From sophisticated receptions in the Pearl Ballroom and sun-kissed ceremonies on the Cabana Rooftop Deck to intimate toasts in the Hemingway Room, the award-winning boutique hotel provides endless opportunities for creating your idyllic wedding day.

And because we believe your focus should be on dreaming, our team is here to focus on the little details – none too small to ensure a memorable beginning to your happily ever after. Today, we sat down with The Pearl’s Kylie Bennett, the hotel’s Catering Sales + Events Manager , to help inspire your planning.

What do you think makes weddings at The Pearl so special?
With its pointed turrets, sunlit terraces and black-and-white striped awnings, The Pearl offers a stunning setting that blends European style with coastal charm, all within one of South Walton’s most iconic beach communities. Additionally, couples can rest easy knowing their guests will be well taken care of and have an unforgettable experience, too. Personalization for each couple and their guests is something we pride ourselves in. From breathtaking Gulf views to our team’s focus on the details, we are committed to making each wedding a dream experience.

What would surprise a couple most about what a wedding at The Pearl entails?
One of the first things we frequently hear from our brides is how thankful they are to have access to so many incredible vendors and opportunities, seamlessly and expertly bundled in one of our wedding packages! Planning a wedding can be stressful at times, but we pride ourselves on minimizing this stress by offering inclusive packages that help alleviate much of the planning. The Pearl’s wedding packages include food and beverage, silverware, glassware, tables, event staff, a wedding cake and even night-of accommodations for the couple

What’s the consistent thing couples say about getting married at The Pearl?
Once the wedding has come to an end, our couples immediately jump right into, “When can we come back?!” We also frequently hear from our couples that their guests praised their wedding as the best they’ve ever attended. Not only is this an amazing compliment but also a testament to the genuine care, thought and effort that our entire team puts into making each wedding a distinctly special one.

What’s your favorite thing about weddings at The Pearl?
Getting to be such an integral part of the best day of someone’s life! Wedding planning can be taxing, but seeing the joy on our couples’ faces after they say “I do” in front of their loved ones is an indescribable feeling. Watching them celebrate the night away with the help of our teams really just makes us smile! We love our couples, and we love watching their dream days unfold.

__

Have other wedding-related questions? Browse our Wedding Guide or contact the team directly at weddings@thepearlrb.com. Already a Pearl bride? Congratulations! Be sure to tag us on Instagram using #thepearlrb.

We think Mother Nature is pretty grand, and – call us biased but – we think she shines brightest on Northwest Florida, where the cotton-candy sunsets kiss the turquoise water and sugar-white sand of our iconic beaches and where coastal dune lakes meet lush pine forests. What can we say? We think South Walton is pretty dreamy. To ensure you, too, take a moment to relish in its natural beauty, we’ve rounded up five local natural sights we think you should absolutely see – in no particular order.

Western Lake
South Walton is home to 15 of some of the rarest and most spectacular natural wonders: coastal dune lakes, shallow basins of fresh water created when winds redistribute sand over thousands of years – within feet from the Gulf of Mexico. Aside from being beautiful, coastal dune lakes create unique and nutrient-filled ecosystems, making them ideal habitats for an array of wildlife.

Western Lake is the second-largest and, perhaps, the most popular coastal dune lake in South Walton. Get up close and personal with it by canoeing, kayaking or standup paddle boarding along. All are available to rent seasonally from the WaterColor BoatHouse. WaterColor Inn guests have access to use of these rentals for one hour each day. Kayaking adventure tours around Western Lake are also available and offer a great way to learn more about these beautiful natural rarities.

Deer Lake State Park
Take a hike on the wild side and see 11 distinct ecosystems in one park. Located within close proximity of WaterColor Inn, Deer Lake State Park – named after, you guessed it, Deer Lake (another coastal dune lake) – beautifully boasts magnolias, golden asters, woody goldenrod and scrub oaks. Walk across the dunes atop the boardwalk to access the beach and enjoy an idyllic picnic, take a mid-day swim or cast a line from the shore.

Watersound Trail
Walk or bike your way through nature on the Watersound Trail, which can be accessed at Village Commons in Watersound Origins . The five-mile trail winds through a slash pine plantation, along which you’re sure to see cypress domes, wetland areas and plenty of wildlife evidence – all among South Walton’s many wonders. The trail is flat and paved, mixed with hard ground and some sandy, hilly areas; it’s clearly marked and open sunrise to sunset for ultimate enjoyment.

Sugar-White Sand
Our sugar-white beaches may seem like an obvious must-see choice, but surely, they cannot be taken for granted. Small quartz particles, pulverized and washed down from the Appalachian Mountains over thousands of years, that give the area’s sand its distinct crystal-like appearance. How’s that for all-natural beauty? Along Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, our fine sand glistens and seems to sing under your feet as you head down to the shore (we wouldn’t have it any other way). And of course, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the beach: from sunbathing and swimming, to beach bonfires and beachside dining, you’re sure to find plentiful ways to be enchanted by it.

The Gulf of Mexico
Did you know that the body of emerald-green water that provides the backdrop to our iconic sugar-white beaches is the largest gulf in the world and the 10^th largest body of water in the world? Its ample surface area and depth make it a powerfully biodiverse ecosystem, which includes coastal wetlands, submerged vegetation, important upland areas and marine/offshore areas. As well, the Gulf Coast’s bounty is plentiful and unlike any other in the world, making it a coveted spot for anglers and seafood lovers alike.

__

Whether you’re staying at WaterColor Inn, The Pearl Hotel or WaterSound Inn, there are countless ways to enjoy the area’s natural wonders. Be sure to ask the Front Desk for more information on area maps, recreational areas or for assistance in planning an excursion or securing a rental. Happy exploring!

We think there’s no dessert quite as nostalgic and encompassing of all the senses as s’mores – especially beachside on a summer night! Havana Beach’s signature “Beachside S’mores”* dessert brings that same experience directly to the table.

The Pearl Hotel’s award-winning restaurant serves its flame-kissed vanilla marshmallows, fluff and spiced chocolate sauce in a mini swing-top smoke-filled bale jar filled with house-made graham crackers on the side, making the experience a truly immersive one. At home, use the recipe below to make your own spiced chocolate sauce for a simple yet delicious twist!

Ingredients

• 1 liter of crème anglaise
• 800 grams of Callebaut chocolate (or other dark chocolate bar)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon salt

Recipe

• In a pot, combine chocolate with spices
• In a separate pot, warm crème anglaise over low heat
• Once warm enough to melt chocolate, pour over chocolate with spices and let sit for one minute before stirring
• Stir well until combined
• Enjoy while still warm!

* * *

Havana Beach Bar & Grill is located at The Pearl Hotel in Rosemary Beach®. Havana Beach is open daily, from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Brunch menu items are available daily, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hours may vary seasonally. For more information, visit Havana Beach online.

*Please note that this dessert item is not currently on the menu.

Because we can all use a little pampering – and it need not be extravagant. The team at The Pearl Hotel believes it’s the little details that create the grandest gestures, so we asked them to share their tips for bringing The Pearl experience right into your home. No doubt you’ll be feeling pampered, relaxed and, well, right at home!

COZY up in your favorite robe and slippers to enjoy breakfast in bed. Our team recommends going for simple, yet classic, breakfast items. Consider fresh fruit, bacon, omelets, waffles or bagels – pour yourself a glass of fresh orange juice for an extra dose of simple luxury (and vitamin C!).

LIGHT a candle to fill your home with your favorite scent. We recommend going with The Pearl’s signature scented candle, available for purchase at Spa Pearl. The hotel’s beach-inspired Marine Sawgrass scent – with crisp green notes, floral undertones of jasmine and lily of the valley, and warm accents of musk and vanilla – will have you feeling relaxed and feeling like the coast is just a short walk away. 

DROP slices of fresh fruit into your water for a refreshing afternoon drink. We suggest lemons, oranges, cucumbers or strawberries. You’ll be feeling fancy – and well hydrated!

SERVE your favorite cocktail in a chilled martini glass for a bit of an extra cool flair. Havana Beach Bar & Grill’s head bartender recommends adding a savory garnish too. Jumbo stuffed olives are a Havana Beach favorite for martinis, Bloody Marys and the restaurant’s signature Bloody Maria (made with smoky tequila). The team hand-stuffs the olives with Moody Blue Cheese, which provides a smoky and nutty flavor. Olives not your thing? Try a torched rosemary sprig for the ultimate Rosemary Beach experience; the aromatics provide an ideal pairing for gin cocktails.

TREAT yourself to a sweet bite before bed to experience at-home turndown service. Try leaving a few bite-sized pieces of your favorite chocolate bedside or indulging in a favorite homemade treat.

* * *

We hope you’ll incorporate these mini luxury moments into your daily routine – please share them with us on Instagram or Facebook when you do by tagging #thepearlrb. We can’t wait to see what you do!

But we get it, sometimes it’s time to rest your head elsewhere. Choose from any of our existing offers, and we’ll make sure you have a relaxing, memorable and luxurious stay.