The 11 Best New Beach Hotels Around the World

The 2023 It List.

Beach vacations never go out of style, but this year saw an impressive number of openings in Mexico, and a slew of new Caribbean hotels. These are the 11 new beach hotels our editors most recommend.

Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection — Punta Mita, Mexico

Set on a private beach overlooking the serene Bahía de Banderas, this intimate resort infuses the elevated atmosphere of an Auberge with the rich culture of Riviera Nayarit. Paul Duesing designed the 89 rooms, suites, and villas in neutral shades that put the focus on decor elements sourced from across the country, including terracotta animal figurines from San José del Cabo in Baja California Sur and custom wood headboards from Guadalajara. As beautiful as the resort’s physical spaces are, the real difference here is the heartfelt service. When I visited with my husband and young son, just about a month after the resort opened, the staff had already dialed into the kind of warm, deceptively effortless hospitality that typically takes years to perfect. (Case in point: within a minute of sitting down to dinner at Casamilpa, the property’s main restaurant, the team whipped out a highchair and took our order to ensure no one suffered a hangry-toddler meltdown.) Equally impressive is the roster of thoughtfully curated experiences, which includes a cacao ceremony led by a local healer and a gamified wine tasting session that spotlights Mexican vineyards. aubergeresorts.com; doubles from $1,099. —Sarah Bruning

Rock House — Turks and Caicos Islands

The latest addition to the Grace Bay Resorts’ portfolio is more of a boutique operation (especially when compared to the sprawling Grace Bay Club). The 46 accommodations, spread across a limestone hill, range from cozy studios to expansive two-bedroom villas. Interiors are decidedly pared down: vaulted ceilings; furnishings in a muted palette of grays and creams; and sheer, paper-thin curtains evoke the easy-breezy vibe you want from island life. Some villas come with plunge pools if you want to soak in private. But it’s in the common spaces where Rock House shines. The 130-foot wooden jetty is almost the default social hub of the resort — I took a yoga class there one morning and spent a couple of afternoons drinking rosé on a daybed. The hotel sometimes organizes themed dinners here, too, lighting up the plank for a bit of atmosphere as the waves pound on the private beach. Rumor has it Drake is a big fan of this venue, and occasionally throws private hangs with his friends after dinner service is over. rockhouse.gracebayresorts.com; doubles from $760. —Chadner Navarro

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Waldorf Astoria Cancun — Mexico

Finding the perfect short Caribbean escape often feels like a Catch-22: the easiest places to reach are naturally the most crowded. Take Cancun. Mexico’s ultimate beach town has direct flights from an array of U.S. cities, but its luxury resorts — clustered in the bluntly named Hotel Zone — can feel like a gaudy versions of spring break in Daytona. That’s why the opening of the Waldorf Astoria Cancun in November was so widely anticipated. Located on a secluded beach only a 20-minute drive from Cancun airport, it’s an entirely different world to the teeming center. The resort’s access road weaves through 100 acres of lush mangroves on a nature preserve near the fishing village of Puerto Morelos, with signs warning drivers to slow down for passing alligators. The palatial interiors designed by Singapore-based Hirsch Bedner Associates subtly translate the Jazz Age glamor of the original Waldorf Astoria in New York to the tropics. The lobby offers both expanses of gleaming marble — including a homage to the Manhattan hotel’s famous (though now closed) bar, Peacock Alley — and enormous picture windows to frame the sparkling blue ocean. All 173 rooms have private balconies with panoramic beach views and either a jacuzzi or a plunge pool. The decor is soothing, riffing on the site’s lavish natural beauty, including works by artist Victoria Villasana evoking the textures of coral. And this being Mexico, gastronomy is key. The fine-dining restaurant Malpeque has such treats as Ensenada-sourced baked scallop in the shell served with a chipotle-vermouth sauce and puff pastry casing. Me? I wasn’t straying from my balcony. I ordered fish tacos from room service and spent the evening watching the sunset from my jacuzzi. The lights of Cancun’s busy Hotel Zone were twinkling on the horizon. They seemed very far away. waldorf-astoria.com; doubles from $749. —Tony Perrottet

Tropical Hotel — St. Bart’s

When 369° Hôtels-Maisons purchased the Tropical in 2016, the idea was simple: to transform the second-oldest hotel on St. Bart’s into the island’s most coveted booking. But in September 2017, with renovations nearly complete and staff already on-site, Hurricane Irma did so much damage that the French hospitality group had to rebuild almost from scratch. After nearly four years of construction, the new Tropical is a sort of reset. In a destination with a reputation for exclusivity, the hotel is positioned as a place to connect: it hosts a rotating list of artists and musicians, with past residents including twin French DJs Doppelganger Paris and painter Raphaël Schmitt (who painted lavish murals on the walls of the common areas). Yoga retreats are in the works for next year — a serene departure from the beats-heavy beach-club vibe just a few steps down the hill in St.-Jean. The 23 rooms and six suites are arranged around an exquisitely overgrown courtyard, fully replanted post-hurricane. In the evenings, this garden transforms into Romi, where chefs Linda and Nicolas Bisani serve a fully Indonesian menu (a nod to Linda’s home country) complete with nasi goreng, cod curry, and five choices of sambal, the spicy Southeast Asian condiment. With the St. Bart’s restaurant scene dominated by French and fusion cuisine, it’s already a hit with locals and longtimers, too. tropical-saintbarth.com; doubles from $690. —Hannah Walhout

Fasano Trancoso — Brazil

The coming together of Brazil’s foremost luxury hotel brand, Fasano, and the country’s premier beach destination, Trancoso, could hardly be a more perfect match. With an idyllic setting along a stretch of pristine sandy beach, Fasano has married its trademark urban style with laid-back beachside living, offering 40 deluxe, modern bungalows hidden among tall palm trees and lush vegetation. Designed by renowned Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, the pared-back, sophisticated rooms combine top-tier luxuries with muted rustic tones and locally crafted wooden furniture, while many feature outdoor decks and hammocks with uninterrupted views out to the beautiful blue sea. Add in the Olympic-length swimming pool, a spa offering relaxing massages, plus two restaurants serving Italian classics as well as Bahian specialities, and I found there was very little reason to leave. fasano.com.br; doubles from $850. —Joel Porter

Cali Mykonos — Greece

Seclusion and low-key luxury define Cali Mykonos, a welcome antidote to the island’s reputation for all-night parties. The property’s 40 suites and villas are scattered like sugarcubes along a secluded cliff, on the island’s quieter southeastern side. Chef Lefteris Lazarou, whose restaurant Varoulko Seaside received Greece’s first Michelin star in 2002, oversees Cali’s menu of fresh Mediterranean staples. In lieu of deafening DJ tunes and cramped sunbeds, you’ll find most guests hanging out at the cliffside infinity pool, or at the private sandy cove for brisk swims. If you do want to venture out, the concierge team can organize island hops by yacht and get you insider access to some of the island’s best beach clubs. calimykonos.com; doubles from $865. —Travis Levius

Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo — Mexico

For decades, Mexico’s Costalegre, the rugged coast stretching about 150 miles from Puerto Vallarta down to Manzanillo, Colima, has sat quietly, like a well-guarded secret. The 157-room Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo is the first hotel to open on this protected stretch of coast in years. Sitting at the heart of a 3,000-acre natural reserve, and managed by hoteliers who are committed to the ethos of the Costalegre, you’d hardly know the property were here — unless you knew where to look. Less flash and more natural finesse, the sand-and-stone buildings camouflage seamlessly into the natural environment. Book one of three Cliffside Suites for jaw-dropping views and private infinity pools — a perfect front-row seat for those incendiary Pacific sunsets. Four Seasons needs no introduction when it comes to exceptional food and in-house indulgences, and Tamarindo is no exception with its four restaurants, tiered infinity pools, and alchemy-inspired spa. The splashes of magic here come from its ends-of-the-earth allure, its amplification of local voices through art and design, and its commitment to sustaining the land around it — all in typical Four Seasons style. fourseasons.com; doubles from $1,250. —Meagan Drillinger

Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale — Florida

Some visitors to South Florida might never learn about Evelyn Fortune Bartlett — the painter, art patron, and socialite fondly remembered as Fort Lauderdale’s grande dame. But the Four Seasons wants you to know her name: her memory lives on in Bonnet House, a signature cocktail based on Bartlett’s daiquiri recipe and named after the nearby estate where she wintered and entertained. It’s just one way Four Seasons is hoping to capture the spirit of this laid-back enclave 30 miles north of Miami. The hotel occupies a bright-white 22-story tower on Beach Boulevard — its design, by architect Kobi Karp, is reminiscent of the yachts that make this one of the country’s boating capitals. Its 189 rooms and suites, with interiors by Tara Bernard, nod to that nautical nostalgia with lacquered wood that calls to mind the sleek detailing on a Riva yacht. For the restaurant, Swedish design star Martin Brudnizki (whose studio also envisioned the outdoor spaces) made use of linens, sea grass, and marine colors that complement the dining room’s ocean vistas. It’s already a popular reservation for the Fort Lauderdale community, thanks to a seafood-focused menu from chef Brandon Salomon that explores the cuisine of the Eastern Mediterranean; order the branzino, stuffed with citrus and herbs, filleted tableside, and bathed in smoky coriander chermoula. The restaurant’s name? Evelyn’s, of course. fourseasons.com; doubles from $524. —Hannah Walhout

Cambridge Beaches — Bermuda

Perched on a 23-acre peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean, Cambridge Beaches is far from Bermuda’s other luxury hotels and the bustle of Hamilton. Eighty-six pink cottages dot the property, which also has four beaches, a rarity on the island. Cambridge Beaches is not new — it celebrates its centennial this year, and some architectural details date back to the 17th century. Still, it recently underwent a full renovation courtesy of new owners, hospitality group Dovetail + Co, known for Urban Cowboy Lodge in upstate New York. Each cottage now sports a whimsical, tropical style with dark wood beds, rattan chairs, graphic-patterned textiles, and shutter doors with brass knobs embossed with palm leaves. The pool has fresh pastel furniture and a new bar and restaurant, plus there’s now an outpost of Brooklyn, New York’s The Sunken Harbor Club. The dockside bar is decorated with actual treasures found in surrounding shipwrecks by Bermudian diving legend Teddy Tucker. Cocktails include island favorites, like rum-forward swizzles and dark ‘n stormies, along with new creations. Bermuda-raised executive chef Keith De Shields serves local classics, with dishes like shark hash, callaloo pasta, and plantain-stuffed wild boar. Still to come: a complete overhaul of the spa and indoor pool. cambridgebeaches.com; doubles from $428. —Beth Klein

Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort — Paros, Greece

This 40-suite beachfront boutique hotel set a new standard for Paros, where luxury has typically been reserved to private villas. Designed to feel like an extension of nearby harbor town Naoussa, Cosme’s whitewashed, all-block buildings — constructed with local stone and Parian marble — mimic the traditional villages dotting the island. Decor blends the best of modern and ancient Greece, with an abstract mural dominating the sun-drenched lobby, hand-embroidered pillows, and antiques sourced from around the Mediterranean. There’s also an open-air concept shop, Anthologist, curated with artisanal brass objets d’art and Greek resort wear. A handful of suites have private plunge pools positioned to frame the Aegean, but I spent my days — and sunsets — at the crescent-shaped infinity pool or under a thatched umbrella at the private beach club, a first for a hotel on Paros. There’s also a 40-foot catamaran available, if you’d like to take a quick trip to the island of Antiparos. cosmehotelparos.com; doubles from $453. —Lane Nieset

La Tartane — St. Tropez

What sets this 27-room property apart on the St. Tropez luxury scene is its location — it’s set on the outskirts of the village — and its easygoing take on the Cote d’Azur experience. Designer Jordane Arrivetz was tasked with giving the hotel the warmth and familiarity of a family holiday home. So she individually decorated the rooms and suites, which are set inside six freestanding houses, with either custom or vintage furniture, choosing natural materials (rope, raffia, wood) and details (floral upholstery, shell handles, and bold graphic art) that aren’t too precious. Everything is curated, but still accessible; the point is to make guests feel like they could live here. Brazilian artist João Incerti’s whimsical murals, found throughout the property, are another special touch. Grab a spritz at the pool bar (painted with delicate tulips) before tackling St. Tropez’s legendary nightlife. latartane-hotel.com; doubles from $660. —Chadner Navarro

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