As you enter the lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, your eye immediately goes past the lobby bar and outdoor lawn and directly out to the sea. With its Eastern-facing perch on the pristine beaches of this barrier island, the 400+ room resort is situated so that the ocean and sea dunes are constantly on display.
Having direct access to such an immaculate beach is just one of myriad reasons why The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is a coveted destination. Built 30 years ago, the resort was a complement to the nearby Omni Amelia Island Plantation, and provided a luxury getaway set for visitors looking to take advantage of the island’s 13 miles of white-sand beachfront. Today, The Ritz-Carlton caters to just about every vacation need, from excellent golf and tennis, to an expansive luxury spa, to a beachfront pool with tiki bars and cabanas and seven top-notch dining destinations spread across the property.
After being greeted with a glass of sparkling wine at check-in, you’re introduced to one of the beach- or pool-facing rooms and suites; each mirrors the natural elements outdoors with the colors of sea grass, sand dunes, and muted ocean tones and are primped up with luxury linens and bath products. A note on the pillow alerts you to the time of each sunrise—you can take in the beauty from one of the beach-facing suites, or draw the room-darkening curtains closed until you’re ready to face the day.
The Ritz-Carlton may be notorious for its luxury accommodations, but this resort is very family-friendly—they recently renovated the Nature Center and Ritz Kids center, complete with a surf shop named after a turtle that once perused the property (Freckles). This space is activity central, where kids can let loose for the day during the brand’s well-regarded Ritz Kids Club, which is like souped-up day camp, and everyone can check in for excursions like shark tooth hunting, dolphin watches, and ecology field trips, led by an on-staff naturalist. The resort is committed to leaving a light footprint on the land and occasionally invites guests to participate in activities like sea oat planting, as well.
For the grown-ups, the Spa and Wellness Center recently underwent a massive upgrade; both men’s and women’s locker rooms boast their own wet deck with a whirlpool, steam rooms, and saunas, as well as private waiting areas where you can lay back in a massage chair while you wait for your treatment. All spa goers receive a day-long access pass to a private spa pool, where servers provide cold towels and menu items from the nearby Coquina poolside bar.
As for the rest of your meals, just about every whim is covered. The marquee restaurant, Salt, re-opened in early 2025 after a renovation, revealing a re-imagined dining room that spills out onto a patio overlooking the dunes and ocean beyond. The design seamlessly blends the outdoors into the space with water-like accents, oyster-like sculptures, and striking chandeliers. Chef Okan Kizilbayir, an alum of Michelin-starred kitchens and chef Eric Ripert’s restaurants, emphasizes pristine seafood throughout the prix fixe menu; look for succulent sous vide octopus and perfectly cooked lobster laced with a buttery lobster emulsion. The lounge inside Salt features its own menu of small plates and cocktails like the 57th Street Sour, a bourbon cocktail that’s been clarified and gets a red wine float.
Coast is the spot for a high-end breakfast buffet and local seafood for dinner, while Tidewater Grill provides a sports bar energy, complete with wings and barbecue pork sliders. Head to the Lobby Bar at 5:30 p.m. each day for their First Call, which features an infused-bourbon cocktail and freshly made sushi and sashimi. By the pool, Coquina is named for the mixture of rock and sand that the Spanish used as a building material when they first arrived to the region; it sits overlooking both the pool and the sand dunes that lead out to the beach and provides zippy ceviches and other beachside snacks. There’s also a coffee shop called First Drop and a Dune Bar, which is perfectly positioned for an afternoon on the beach—because no matter what time of year you head to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, there’s always a reason to dig your toes into the sand.
