Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, Surfside, Florida [In-Depth Review]

The author stayed as an invited guest of the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, Surfside, Florida. All opinions are the author’s own, and the hotel had no input in any part of this review.

The Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts brand is renowned for providing an ultra-luxury experience that focuses on personalized service, elegance, and consistency. The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, Surfside, Florida, just north of Miami Beach, truly embodies these qualities.

That’s why the hotel was recognized on the World’s 50 Best Hotels list in 2024,¹ reflecting its unique blend of historic charm, modern luxury, and impeccable service. Yet, to genuinely appreciate its origins and significance, it’s important to understand its history.

The property was originally known simply as The Surf Club, a private social club established in 1930 by Harvey Firestone (of Firestone Tires). It was frequented by luminaries of the time — even Winston Churchill was known to spend much time painting seascapes from the deck of one of the many cabanas on the grounds.

In 2017, the property was transformed into the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club.

My wife and I have looked forward to visiting this well-regarded hotel for quite a while, and we were grateful to finally have the chance to experience it ourselves to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

In early February 2025, we enjoyed a mini staycation at this hotel and concluded that it is a remarkable choice for travelers looking to celebrate special occasions like anniversaries, honeymoons, or milestone birthdays.

See what it’s like to stay at the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, and what to expect if you do, too.

Booking Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club

Nightly rates at Four Seasons hotels are already on the high end — but rates at the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club are even higher than that, as it’s one of the most decorated (and exclusive) hotels in North America.

With just 77 guest rooms and suites, the hotel really leans into the private club feeling, staying true to its roots and bolstering the sense of exclusivity.

During my Saturday night visit, the cash rate for our 1 King Oceanfront room was an astounding $4,430 per night, including taxes and fees.

An entry-level room typically costs between $1,000 and $2,500 per night. Rates hover around the $1,000 mark in July and August when Miami is hot and humid.

However, around Christmas and New Year’s and from January to March, when snowbirds and vacationers visit South Florida for sun and fun, rates can exceed $3,000 per night or more.

If paying cash for your stay, consider using a credit card that earns maximum rewards on hotel purchases. You can earn even more when booking through a credit card travel portal:

• 10x Ultimate Rewards points when using the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® to book through Chase Travel
• 10x Capital One miles when using the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to book through Capital One Travel
• 5x American Express Membership Rewards points when using The Platinum Card^® from American Express for prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com

Hot Tip:

You can also reach out to UP’s own Leigh Rowan, a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, to get access to extra perks, like room upgrades, a $100 credit, complimentary daily breakfast, and more.

Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts

As points loyalists know, the Four Seasons brand lacks a conventional loyalty program, meaning you cannot earn or redeem traditional hotel points for stays at these properties.

However, since all Four Seasons properties are part of the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program, you can book through AmexTravel.com and redeem American Express Membership Rewards points at a value of 1 cent apiece. Plus, you’ll enjoy perks such as daily breakfast for 2, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, and an on-site credit to use for items like food and beverage or spa services.

Access to book a hotel through Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts program is only available to cardholders of the Amex Platinum card, The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, or the Centurion^® Card from American Express. Amex Platinum cardmembers will get up to $200 in prepaid hotel credits annually when making reservations through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection, plus they will earn 5x points when paying with their card.

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The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

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When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

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• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

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• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
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Location of the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club

The hotel’s location is ideal for those who want to enjoy a relaxing visit to the area. This is one of the reasons why the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club makes our list of the best Four Seasons hotels in the U.S.

The hotel sits on a lovely stretch of sand in Surfside, a small, upscale beachside town north of Miami Beach. In contrast to its southern neighbor, Surfside is appreciated for its serene luxury, beautiful beaches, and quiet atmosphere.

The ritzy Bal Harbour Shops, which feature well-known luxury brands like Chanel, Gucci, Prada, and Cartier, are just a 5-minute walk from the hotel. The hotel is also less than 1.5 miles from 2 other renowned luxury points hotels: The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami, and The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort.

Miami International Airport (MIA) is located 15 miles away. If you take an Uber or taxi, the cost will probably be between $40 and $60, and the trip will take between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on traffic.

On the other hand, Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is 18 miles away and takes about 45 minutes to get to by car. A taxi or Uber ride will cost between $60 and $80.

Check-In

We got to the hotel at 3:30 p.m., just a little before the 4 p.m. check-in time.

The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club has 2 entrances. The first is a lovely hidden entrance just for Surf Club members, featuring a tiny valet area and some charming ivy right at the front of Collins Avenue.

I initially thought this was the entrance we were supposed to use, but a helpful associate at the door informed me that hotel guests should enter through the main valet entrance, which has a much larger driveway. Once I found the correct entrance, we pulled up to the valet, and an attendant kindly helped us with our 2 small bags.

The same attendant kindly guided us into the hotel, where a beautiful front entrance lobby greeted us.

We followed him down a long hallway with floor-to-glass windows up to the check-in desk.

As we made our way to the front desk, I realized, based on how we were greeted, that this wasn’t just any luxury hotel.

Every member of the dimly lit front desk, all 3 of them, greeted me warmly by my name and welcomed me to the hotel. Another guest was checking in at the same time as me, and they were just as warm and welcoming to him.

Directly in front of the check-in desk was an elegant Champagne cart where guests arriving at the hotel are welcomed with a glass of Champagne as they await check-in.

Valentina, the exceptionally friendly check-in associate who attended to us, poured us each a glass.

While I was checking in at the front desk, my wife strolled around the lobby and commented on how beautiful the open-concept living room setting was. The lovely bird-of-paradise indoor plants in massive circular pots added a nice touch of greenery and harkened back to the hotel’s days as a private club in the 20th century.

Since our room wasn’t ready yet, we decided to take some time to wander around the property and explore.

For instance, we got a lovely shot of the beautiful “Peacock Alley,” the hotel’s main hallway with terracotta flooring and palm tree-lined walls. This area earned its name soon after the Surf Club opened in 1930, thanks to the tradition of guests strolling through the corridor and sporting their fancy attire.

Just before I received my room keys and headed towards the elevator, Valentina, our check-in associate, went over the resort fee and its inclusions.

Resort Fee

The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club charges a resort fee of $50 per night. It includes a range of amenities and services, including the following:

• Access to the kids club
• Bicycle rental
• Concierge service
• Daily newspaper
• Electric Moke vehicle rentals, up to 2 hours
• Fitness center and health club access
• House car service of up to 4 miles
• Housekeeping services
• In-room bottled water and coffee
• Pool access
• Spa access
• Use of beach loungers, umbrellas, and towels
• Wi-Fi

During our short 1-night stay, we took advantage of several amenities, and unlike many hotels, the value you receive in return actually surpasses the cost of the fee.

King Oceanfront Room

We took the elevators up the ninth floor to our assigned room.

As the elevator doors opened, the hallways gave off a cozy vibe, almost like we were strolling through a boutique condominium building rather than a hotel.

Each room’s door featured a stylish light fixture, a doorbell, and the room number shown in a sleek black font.

As I stepped into the room for the first time, I couldn’t help but notice the wonderful sunlight streaming in through the large floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

Our room was ultra-luxurious indeed, but it was presented in a modern, subtle way. It featured soft sand color tones and charming off-white fluted paneling on the walls and ceiling.

I’m not sure if it was the paneling or the windows, but the ceiling felt really tall, which made the room feel even more spacious.

Just past the door to the left, there was a spacious built-in closet with individual doors. This offered a crazy amount of storage space for our belongings.

We didn’t need the closet for much during our short stay, but there was ample space behind each closet door.

We found all the usual in-room amenities you’d expect from a 5-star hotel, including a lockbox, slippers, iron, and an ironing board.

A dry bar with a minifridge was tucked away in beautiful marble cabinets, along with a selection of snacks and refreshments available for purchase.

I didn’t even look at the prices, but I’m confident in saying they weren’t cheap.

On top of the bar were 2 complimentary water bottles and a Nespresso machine for making coffee.

We found coffee pods below, but it was surprising that there weren’t any mugs around.

As we moved further into the room, we found a spacious dresser featuring more fluted paneling, with a large wall-mounted television above it.

Next to the TV, a cozy beige L-shaped sectional adorned with throw pillows was set up nicely against the window.

A standalone fixed round table was set up alongside the sectional seating. It featured a thoughtful anniversary gift: a bottle of Champagne, a heart-shaped dessert, and bottled water — sparkling and still!

Adjacent to the L-shaped sectional was a desk with a contemporary chair neatly positioned at it.

All rooms come with furnished terraces offering either ocean or city views, and since ours was an oceanfront room, we enjoyed direct Atlantic Ocean views throughout the day.

We enjoyed our Champagne in the evening before dinner and morning coffee here the next day.

The king bed was slightly elevated and featured a leather headboard, cozy down duvets and pillows, and a pillow-top mattress. I had a good night’s rest!

A handy electronic control panel on the wall next to the bed lets guests adjust the room’s lighting, easily request do-not-disturb and housekeeping options, and charge electronic devices with 3-prong AC or USB-A outlets.

There were plenty of other places to charge, thanks to outlets with AC and USB-A power placed conveniently throughout the room.

Bathroom

One thing my wife especially loved about the room was the huge bathroom.

It featured a spacious double vanity, a large magnified mirror, and plenty of space for us to get ready.

Keeping with the theme of spaciousness, there was a nice large marble bathtub adorned with brass fixtures and individually packaged soaps.

Although I didn’t wear a bathrobe, 2 were provided and hung on the door of the enclosed toilet room.

The shower felt cavernous and had a rainfall and handheld fixtures.

The shower toiletries smelled amazing and were exclusively made for the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, which I thought was neat!

Amenities

The standout amenity at this hotel is undoubtedly the stunning beach, but there are other things this Four Seasons offers that separate it from the pack.

Beach

The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club has an amazing beachside setting and provides complete Four Seasons service.

A gate at the back of the property provides access to the beach and then back to the hotel via key card.

This beach was so peaceful. The only other people on it were residents of the local apartment and condo buildings and other Four Seasons guests.

Guests can enjoy beach loungers, umbrellas, and towels, all included in the resort fee, and attentive beach attendants are available to take lunch or drink orders.

Overall, I find the beaches in this part of Miami Beach to be far more enjoyable than those in South Beach and Mid-Beach. The absence of crowds creates a serene atmosphere, allowing for a truly tranquil and relaxing experience.

Pools

The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club boasts 2 large pools, separated by Winston’s on the Beach, the hotel’s informal outdoor dining establishment.

The first is the adult pool, which is intended for relaxation. It has dozens of luxurious lounge chairs and poolside service.

The family pool was busier but still had a peaceful vibe. It contains a waterfall feature and dozens of loungers with umbrellas.

Behind the family pool was a lawn area with small soccer goals where families could engage in some light physical activity.

As a father of 3, I adored the small, kid-size daybeds on the artificial turf lawn.

Both pools offered ocean views, private cabanas (for rent), and food and beverage services.

House Car

Like many high-end luxury hotels, the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club offers a house car service to guests, offering complimentary luxury transportation within a 4-mile radius. This property uses a white Tesla Model X, and although I wasn’t interested in requesting a ride, it was available when I inquired.

This service is often available on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to short rides throughout Surfside, Bal Harbour, and closer-in destinations in Miami Beach.

Moke Electric Car

Admittedly, I’d never heard of a Moke electric vehicle, let alone driven one.

During check-in, Valentina informed us that the hotel provides a Moke car, a beautiful open-air electric vehicle that guests can reserve and drive themselves.

Hotel guests can secure a Moke by presenting a driver’s license and proof of insurance to the concierge. The Moke is available for up to 2 hours and is booked on a first-come, first-served basis.

Along with exploring the property, I also enjoyed a short ride around Bal Harbour in the Moke, since, as you might recall, I had a little time after check-in before my room was ready.

I was impressed with how smooth (and quiet) the Moke was to drive, although it took a little time to adjust. My wife and I enjoyed a lovely 30-minute ride around the area before returning to the hotel.

Spa

The hotel’s spa provides a variety of facials, massages, and body therapies, all using luxurious skincare products.

The treatments feature sea elements, an homage to the hotel’s prime beachfront setting. Many treatment rooms also have ocean views.

The spa features a hammam, a traditional Turkish steam bath that offers deep cleansing, relaxation, and detoxification. This hammam is available for all hotel guests, not just spa customers.

The spa facility also includes gendered locker rooms equipped with saunas and showers.

Additionally, there is a designated area for guests to unwind and enjoy tea or infused water before or after their treatment.

Fitness Center

The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club features a cutting-edge fitness center open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The fitness center has the latest Technogym equipment, cardio machines, and strength training equipment.

In addition to free weights, it offers group and private fitness sessions, such as beachfront yoga.

Guests at the fitness center can enjoy apples, fruit-infused water, and regular ice water.

One piece of equipment I found particularly interesting that I had never encountered before at any previous hotel gym was the Body Slimmer machine. This machine employs infrared heat to boost fat burning and circulation, aiding in toxin removal and reducing bloating for a more toned appearance.

Bicycles

The hotel supplies complimentary bicycles for exploring Surfside, Bal Harbour, and Miami Beach or for a relaxing ride along the beach path.

We had every intention of borrowing the bikes to go for a morning ride the next day but opted to walk along the beach instead. However, biking down to South Beach and back is a great way to burn some calories and people-watch at the same time.

The bicycles can be rented via the concierge or front desk, and a helmet can also be requested.

Valet Parking

The only on-site option for parking is valet parking at a cost of $50 per day. Public parking garages aren’t close by, and there is no self-parking option at the hotel. If you bring your own car to the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, you’ll have to pay for overnight valet parking.

In any case, the valet staff gives you a code you need to text whenever you want to retrieve your car. Overall, both times I asked for my car from valet, it was ready and waiting for me just a few minutes after I made my way down from my room.

Wi-Fi

Whether at the beach, by the pool, inside the hotel, or outside, we always had a strong, reliable Wi-Fi signal.

Food and Beverage

The Surf Club Restaurant

The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club is home to the 1-Michelin-starred The Surf Club Restaurant. This restaurant was the first business venture of culinary genius Thomas Keller in Florida. The hotel and restaurant are run independently.

The restaurant serves continental cuisine, including well-known dishes like beef Wellington, lobster thermidor, and oysters Rockefeller, both indoors and outdoors in the stunning courtyard.

It offers a classy but relaxed vibe. We were unable to dine at The Surf Club Restaurant because we only had 1 dinner at the hotel, but I intend to return at a later date to discover what all the excitement is about.

Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, you can dine at The Surf Club Restaurant by making reservations through Resy. The restaurant is open for dinner from Sunday to Wednesday from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
and Thursday to Saturday, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Hot Tip:

The American Express^® Gold Card and several Delta co-branded cards include Resy statement credits (upon enrollment), valid when dining at The Surf Club Restaurant or any other restaurant that participates in Resy.

Lido Restaurant

The hotel runs The Surf Club’s Lido Restaurant, which serves classic Italian fare and is overseen by Florence native Chef Marco Calenzo. The restaurant is situated on the lobby floor, close to the Champagne Bar and the front desk.

When we were invited here for dinner to celebrate our anniversary, we had the privilege of sampling the 10-course tasting menu. Each item on the tasting menu was superior to the one before it.

We began with oysters with green apple and serrano chile.

As a fan of raw oysters, the freshness of the oyster, the tanginess of the apple, and the heat of the chile awakened my palate.

Next up was the grilled bluefin tuna paired with winter black truffle. This was such a delicious bite, and I could have happily ordered a whole pound of this tuna by itself!

After that, we enjoyed a wonderful assortment of items, including a delicious risotto, dry-aged duck, steaming Dover sole, and yellowtail tiradito.

The last 2 courses of our dinner, chocolate sorbet and pistachio gelato, were perfect for cleansing the palate.

Lido’s kitchen is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but breakfast is physically served at the Champagne Bar (more details on this below). The restaurant is open daily from 7 to 11 a.m. for breakfast, 12 to 2:45 p.m. for lunch, and from 6 to 10 p.m. for dinner.

The Champagne Bar

By day, the Champagne Bar serves breakfast in the morning hours and a buffet breakfast on the weekends.

Guests can enjoy a delectable brunch buffet on Saturday and Sunday, priced at $55 per person, which includes drip coffee, fresh juices, and an à la carte menu featuring egg dishes and other made-to-order options.

Just outside the breakfast seating area in the hallway were coffee and tea stations, where guests could help themselves to a morning brew.

I chose the “Enhance Your Experience” breakfast option, which cost $65 and included everything at the buffet plus 1 item from the “eggs & more” section of the menu. My egg white omelet with everything in it was divine.

For our anniversary, our waiter brought us a delicious French toast with cream and strawberries, which was unexpected and much appreciated. I was genuinely amazed by how light it tasted.

At night, the Champagne Bar evolves into a vibrant lounge space, where glitz and glamour take center stage, thanks to the local patrons and visitors who frequent this venue.

Along with inventive cocktails created by expert bartenders, guests can enjoy a glass (or bottle) of Champagne from the hotel’s extensive menu, which it claims to be the largest in Miami.

When we arrived at the hotel, we swore we would enjoy a drink after our dinner because the space looked so inviting. However, by the time we finished our meal, we were so full that we went for a walk around the hotel instead of having an after-dinner drink at the Champagne Bar. Still, on the way out, every table was full, and it seemed like a popular place to be.

Champagne Bar is open Sunday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. and from 12 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Winston’s on the Beach

Winston’s on the Beach, the hotel’s outdoor dining option, is located between the adults-only pool and the family pool.

The restaurant has a casual atmosphere and serves a variety of salads, light appetizers, and Neapolitan-style pizzas baked in a classic pizza oven. It also has a full bar.

Throughout the day, guests can have fun at the various pools or lie on the beach chairs, all while enjoying the ease of ordering right from their loungers. Winston’s provides food and refreshments.

Winston’s is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Hemingway Tower

The Hemingway Tower at The Surf Club is a special members’ enclave designed to honor the influential American novelist Ernest Hemingway.

This cozy hall has a spiral staircase and is filled with images depicting the club’s rich history. Access to the Hemingway Tower is usually reserved for Surf Club members and their guests.

However, Inoshin, an intimate omakase restaurant, is temporarily occupying the space on top of the tower, which means guests with a dinner reservation can check it out.

We didn’t have reservations to dine at Inoshin, but I was curious about The Hemingway Tower. Since the gate was wide open, I thought, “Why not?” Up the stairs I went, like a kid sneaking into a candy store!

A kind associate greeted me and shared details about the restaurant’s omakase concept, as well as how they were only in that location until their brick-and-mortar restaurant opened in a few months.

The omakase experience at Inoshin costs $200 per person and includes miso soup, Japanese small plates, sashimi, and 9 pieces of nigiri imported from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market.

Reservations are highly recommended due to exclusivity and limited capacity.

In-Room Dining

Because we were only staying for 1 night, we chose to dine at the restaurants. However, the hotel provides room service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To give you an idea of how much room service might cost if you want a comfortable breakfast in bed, you could order “The American Breakfast” for $50. It includes 2 eggs in any style, a bakery item, a hot beverage, and juice.

Service

I’ve had the pleasure of staying at several wonderful luxury hotel brands around the world, such as St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf Astoria, and Park Hyatt. All these luxury brands offer exceptional service, but the Four Seasons brand elevates it to another level entirely.

Our check-in process at The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club felt like a personalized experience. A dedicated associate gave us a tour while we waited for our room to be ready.

The staff was really attentive to our needs, from the valet to the restaurants and even at the pool and beach. I received wonderful service, and everything ran smoothly — which has become my expectation from the Four Seasons brand.

Final Thoughts

I’m not one to sugarcoat things, so let’s get down to brass tacks: my stay at the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club was so unforgettable that I’m already plotting my return for a special occasion later this year.

Even with the sky-high nightly rates, I intend to book my future stay through the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program to access extra perks — and I will hold off until summer when prices typically decline significantly!