🏖️ Clearwater Beach Luxury: Ranking the Best Resorts and Must-Visit Dining Spots
There is something truly magical about a beach getaway. The salty air, the sound of the waves, and the sheer relaxation makes one dream of owning a little piece of paradise.
When we originally moved to Florida, we tossed around the idea of buying a spot near the beach. However, we quickly realized the best part of our beach getaways isn't maintaining a place. The real luxury of a beach vacation is checking into a beautiful hotel, having frosty drinks delivered poolside, and hitting the town for dinner.
Near our home in St. Pete, Clearwater Beach is our go-to for this kind of indulgent escape. We've stayed at several of the luxury properties on the strip. For those of you planning your next Florida beach getaway, here is our ranking of the best resorts on Clearwater Beach, followed by our must-visit dining spots!
💎 Our Clearwater Beach Luxury Resort Rankings
Rankings are based on facility quality, room views, resort ambiance, and proximity to the action and great food.
1. Opal Sands Resort (Our Top Pick!)
Opal Sands takes our top spot. This resort boasts a fantastic modern facility that feels fresh and stylish. The architecture is modern and unique, allowing for truly spectacular views. If you opt for (or get upgraded to) one of the Gulf-facing rooms, the panoramas of the white sand and turquoise water are simply breathtaking. The resort pool is gorgeous, and the general vibe is sleek and upscale, perfect for a modern beach retreat.
Sand Sculpture, Opal Sands, Clearwater Beach, FL
King Room with Gulf View, Opal Sands, Clearwater Beach, FL
2. Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach
The Wyndham Grand offers an undeniable benefit: location, location, location! It sits right in the center of the Clearwater Beach strip, making everything highly accessible. We love the lively pool scene here; it’s a great spot to soak up the sun and enjoy some great service. The one drawback is the beach access. You have to cross a busy road to get to the sand, which breaks up the seamless beach-to-pool experience.
Room Balcony with Gulf View, Wyndham Grand, Clearwater Beach, FL
Pool at Sunset, Wyndham Grand, Clearwater Beach, FL
3. Sandpearl Resort
The Sandpearl is a classic for a reason. It has a wonderful, old-school Florida charm that gives the property a very warm and inviting feel. They were pioneers in luxury on Clearwater Beach. However, in comparison to newer resorts, it is starting to feel a bit dated. While the service and setting are excellent, a refresh would bump up the resort.
Sunset View from Lobby, Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater Beach, FL
4. JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa
While this is a beautiful, newer property, the overall feel didn't quite hit the "beach resort" note we were looking for. The vibe is more akin to a stunning, high-end corporate hotel. It does offer one desirable feature—a private beach—but its location at the far south end of the Clearwater Beach strip made it feel a little removed from the main buzz.
Foggy Day on Private Beach, JW Marriott, Clearwater Beach, FL
View from our Balcony, JW Marriott, Clearwater Beach, FL
🍽️ Our Favorite Clearwater Beach Dining
A major factor in our enjoyment of Clearwater Beach is the proximity to exceptional food! We always try to sample a new restaurant on every trip, but we inevitably find ourselves back at our favorites. If we find any other spots worth mentioning, we'll be sure to update our list! Here are the spots we keep coming back to in alphabetical order:
Columbia Sand Key (Short Drive from Main Strip)
Located just across the bridge, this is actually my favorite Columbia location—and yes, I personally find it even better than the historic original in Ybor City. This iconic spot is a cornerstone of Florida's culinary history, serving up incredible Spanish and Cuban cuisine. Don't let its modest strip mall location fool you. Once you step inside, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the waterfront outdoor dining offers a lovely, serene view. Because it is a smaller establishment than the flagship location, the food feels prepared with extra care, and the service is consistently friendly and welcoming. It is a mandatory stop for us every time we are in the area.
Our Favorites: The Columbia’s Original “1905” Salad (mixed fresh at your table), Original Cuban Sandwich, and the Spanish Bean Soup.
Original Cuban Sandwich, Columbia Sand Key, Clearwater Beach, FL
Frenchy's Rockaway Grill (Next Door to SandPearl Resort)
This is the quintessential "beach eats" spot and an absolute must for lunch. There is nothing quite like the experience of dining with your toes in the sand while soaking up the casual beachfront vibe. Whether you are looking for a fantastic Bloody Mary or a cold bucket of beer, this is the place on Clearwater Beach to enjoy a drink and a famous grouper sandwich while watching the waves. This spot is a true Clearwater Beach staple!
Our Favorites: The Grouper Nuggets, Garlic Crab Fries, Peel and Eat Shrimp, and the Grouper Sandwich.
Latitude 28 (At the JW Marriott)
The breakfast here truly sets the bar for starting your day. They offer a wonderful breakfast buffet, complete with a fresh omelet station. While we had high expectations for dinner, we found the experience to be quite average, especially when compared to the other fantastic dinner choices throughout Clearwater Beach. If you are staying at the JW Marriott, my advice is to fuel up here in the morning and then head out to explore the strip for your evening meal. Pro-Tip: If you want a taste of the menu without the full commitment, the bar just outside the restaurant offers several Latitude 28 items on their happy hour menu, often at a better price point than the main dining room.
Our Favorites: The Breakfast Buffet (visit the omelet station!), and be sure to grab a Chocolate Croissant.
Ocean Hai (At the Wyndham Grand)
For a truly delightful dining experience, be sure to check out Ocean Hai. It is a perfect example of excellent in-house dining, which makes staying at the Wyndham even more convenient. The ambiance is sophisticated, and their Asian-fusion menu uses locally sourced ingredients to keep the flavors fresh and innovative. If you find yourself with a sushi craving, this is the place to be. The quality is absolutely outstanding. This is also a great spot for sunsets; try to snag a table outside for front-row seats to the view.
Our Favorites: Anything from the Sushi Menu.
Sushi, Ocean Hai, Clearwater Beach, FL
SeaGuini (At the Opal Sands)
Located inside our top-ranked resort, Seaguini offers an elevated dining experience that is perfect for a special celebration or a romantic date night. The restaurant is beautifully designed, and the service consistently matches the high standards of a fine dining establishment. Everything on the menu is fresh, with the housemade pasta serving as a major highlight. I particularly enjoyed the Gulf Coast Cioppino (with a side of linguini). Growing up with the original Cioppino in San Francisco, my expectations for this dish are quite high. While they swap Dungeness crab for a lobster tail here, it remains one of the best versions I have found. If you are looking for top-tier seafood and housemade pasta paired with a beautiful view, this is an exceptional choice.
Our Favorites: The Gulf Coast Cioppino with a side of housemade pasta.
Cioppino, SeaGuini, Clearwater Beach, FL
💬 We’ve decided we are firmly on Team Hotel for the pool service and dining. What about you? Do you prefer the luxury of a resort or the privacy of a beach house rental?
