Hollywood Beach Experience Part 2

In part 2 of this blog post, I want to go into more detail regarding the two luxurious hotels in the Hollywood Beach area, Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort and The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. I will also mention the restaurants that we ate at and enjoyed.

Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort

Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is a beautiful resort located on the beach in the middle of the action of the Broadwalk. Inspired by the lifestyle and lyrics of singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, the resort aims to provide a laid-back, island escape experience. It opened its doors in November 2015 and cost approximately $175 million. I have always wanted to stay there but the price of a night there would pay for 2 or 3 nights elsewhere. I love hotel lobbies and had to see what this hotel looked like from the front entrance. When entering the lobby, you are immediately in the middle of a large area with a very high ceiling with incredible decor. However, once you leave the lobby area the wow factor is gone. It is like any other luxurious resort with large pools and numerous restaurants.

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is a must-see when visiting Hollywood Beach or Fort Lauderdale (same airport).

The cost of developing and expanding the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood has been substantial. Here are some notable figures:

1. Initial Development:

   • The original development cost when the resort opened in 2004 was approximately $279 million.

2. Guitar Hotel Expansion:

   • The major expansion project, which included the construction of the iconic Guitar Hotel, was completed in 2019. This project alone cost around $1.5 billion.

3. Total Investment:

   • The total investment in the property, including initial construction and subsequent expansions and renovations, is estimated to be well over $2 billion.

The resort is actually 3 separate buildings. The Guitar Hotel, The Oasis Tower, and The Hard Rock Hotel. Combined, they have a total of 1083 rooms.

We visited the resort on a rainy night and enjoyed walking around the casino and checking out the memorabilia from celebrities displayed everywhere. The shopping area within the building has rock-themed stores along with high-end brands. There is an Art store with works by Ric Ocasek, Ron Wood, and other celebrities.

Venice Restaurant

Based on reviews, we went for breakfast here and loved it, not just the food but the decor and ambiance as well with a view of the beach and ocean, it started our vacation on a positive note. I had the opportunity to speak with the owner Christopher a few days later when he was standing with a menu in his hands, trying to flag customers down. He asked me if I was from Montreal and I said yes, he told me that he left Montreal 35 years ago and never looked back. This restaurant seems to be 50% off at all times, at least for breakfast. I highly recommend it.

Sunset Club | Rooftop Bar & Lounge

This rooftop (on the roof of our hotel - Costa Hollywood Beach Resort) has great food. We went there during happy hour (5pm to 7pm) when sushi is 10 dollars a plate. It is more costly than other places but you will not be disappointed, every finger food we ordered was perfectly prepared.

Bōl Hollywood

We had no plans on eating at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood but we wanted to eat something different for supper. This Asian restaurant did not disappoint, they have all the classics and we got the Chinese food fix we were craving. A perfect choice when visiting this resort.

Conclusion

Of course, there are plenty of other restaurants and hotels in Hollywood that are probably great but for the three full days that we were days, these are my top picks for 2024.

Note: A new Senor Frogs Hollywood Beach will be opening any day now, directly on the beach.

Hollywood Beach Experience Part 1