Florida is changing. If you've driven down A1A lately, you know exactly what I mean. Everything is starting to look like a high-end airport lounge—all glass, chrome, and white minimalist furniture that feels a bit too precious to actually sit on. But then there’s the Colony Hotel Cabana Club. It’s this weird, beautiful time capsule located about two miles away from the main hotel property. It’s not trying to be "modern luxury." It’s just being itself. Honestly, that’s why people keep coming back decade after decade.
The Colony Hotel & Cabana Club isn't just one building; it’s a dual-location experience. You have the historic hotel right on Atlantic Avenue, which feels like a grand old lady of the 1920s, and then you have the private beach club. To get there, you jump on the shuttle or take a quick drive down to the ocean. Once you step through those gates, the noise of Delray Beach just... fades. It’s private. It’s salty. It’s exactly what Florida used to be before the developers moved in with their "luxury lifestyle" templates.
The Old-School Soul of the Colony Hotel Cabana Club
Most people don't realize that the Cabana Club is actually older than many of the surrounding mansions. The Colony Hotel itself was built in 1926 by the same architects behind the famous Vinoy in St. Petersburg and the Huntington in Pasadena. It’s Mediterranean Revival at its peak. But the Colony Hotel Cabana Club is the heart of the summer (and winter) experience. It’s got 250 feet of private beach. That’s a massive footprint when you consider how crowded the public strips of Delray have become lately.
You’re not going to find a DJ spinning deep house here. Thank god. Instead, you get the sound of the Atlantic and the smell of decent burgers from the grill. It’s a bit quirky. The furniture is classic. The umbrellas are that iconic yellow. It feels like a movie set from 1955, but without the pretension. People think they need the newest infinity pool to be happy on vacation, but there is a specific kind of soul at the Cabana Club that you can’t manufacture with a $50 million renovation. It’s the result of family ownership. The Boughton family has run this place since the 1930s. That’s unheard of in an era of Marriott and Hilton takeovers.
What actually happens at the club?
Basically, you spend your day oscillating between the heated salt-water pool and the ocean. The pool is the social hub. You’ll see families who have been members for three generations. It’s the kind of place where the staff knows your name because they’ve worked there for twenty years.
Lunch is served in the oceanfront dining room or right at your cabana. It’s simple, high-quality American fare. Think fresh fish sandwiches, crisp salads, and maybe a cocktail that actually tastes like fruit instead of sugar syrup. They do a buffet sometimes, especially during the peak season, which is surprisingly good. It’s not a "frou-frou" menu. It’s food you actually want to eat after being in the sun for four hours.
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- Grab a yellow-striped towel from the rack.
- Settle into a lounge chair.
- Order a drink.
- Realize you haven't checked your phone in three hours.
That’s the rhythm. It’s slower.
The Architecture of Preservation
If you look closely at the Colony Hotel Cabana Club, you’ll notice the details that newer builds lack. The Cabana Club buildings are designed to catch the breeze. The Florida climate is brutal on architecture, yet these structures have weathered countless hurricanes and the relentless salt spray of the Atlantic. It’s built with Florida Dade County Pine and thick masonry. It’s sturdy.
There’s a common misconception that "old" means "outdated." In reality, the Colony is "timeless." The hotel on Atlantic Avenue doesn't have televisions in the rooms (usually), which forces you to actually talk to the people you’re with. The Cabana Club follows a similar philosophy. While there’s Wi-Fi if you really need to send an email, the environment encourages you to look at the horizon instead of a screen.
Staying at the Hotel vs. Visiting the Club
You don't have to be a hotel guest to experience the club, though it helps. They offer seasonal memberships to locals, which are highly coveted. If you are staying at the hotel, the shuttle is your best friend. It runs on a schedule, taking you from the bustling center of Delray's nightlife and shopping down to the quietude of the ocean. It’s a two-mile transition that feels like a hundred miles.
The hotel rooms themselves are decorated with original wicker furniture and colorful fabrics. It’s very "Florida Kitsch" but in an elevated way. If you’re looking for a glass-enclosed shower with a rainfall head and 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton everything, you might be disappointed. But if you want a room with windows that actually open and a sense of history that you can feel in the floorboards, this is it.
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Why Delray Beach Needs This Place
Delray Beach has exploded in popularity. Atlantic Avenue is now a gauntlet of high-end boutiques and loud bars. It’s fun, sure. But it’s exhausting. The Colony Hotel Cabana Club acts as a pressure valve. It’s the only place left where you can get a true sense of the "Village by the Sea" vibe that the town prides itself on.
Environmentalists also appreciate the club's stance. They are surprisingly eco-conscious for an old-school establishment. They’ve been involved in sea turtle conservation for years. Since the club sits right on the beach, they have a front-row seat to the nesting season. They manage their lighting and beach footprint to ensure the hatchlings can make it to the water without getting disoriented by city lights.
Debunking the Myths
- Myth 1: It's only for old people. Actually, the demographic has shifted significantly. Younger families who are tired of the "influencer" scene at Miami hotels are flocking here because it’s authentic.
- Myth 2: It’s too expensive. Compared to the Ritz or the Four Seasons nearby? It’s a bargain. You’re paying for access and soul, not gold-plated faucets.
- Myth 3: You can't get a good meal there. The kitchen at the Cabana Club focuses on fresh, local ingredients. It’s better than 80% of the tourist traps on the main drag.
Navigating Your Visit
If you’re planning to visit the Colony Hotel Cabana Club, timing is everything. The winter season (December through April) is the peak. It’s buzzing. You’ll need to book your hotel room months in advance. However, the shoulder seasons—May or October—are secretly the best times to go. The water is warm, the crowds are thinner, and you can usually find a prime spot by the pool without trying.
The staff is the backbone of the experience. They aren't trained in that fake, overly-polished hospitality you get at corporate chains. They are real people. Some of them have been there so long they remember the parents of the kids currently splashing in the pool. That kind of institutional memory creates a level of service that feels like being welcomed into a private home.
Practical Steps for Your Stay
Start by deciding if you want the full experience or just a day trip. If you aren't staying at the hotel, look into their "Lunch and a Swim" options if they are running them during your visit—they sometimes offer day passes depending on occupancy levels.
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Check the weather, but don't let a rainy forecast scare you off. Watching a summer storm roll in over the Atlantic from the safety of the Cabana Club porch is one of the most Florida experiences you can have. The sky turns a bruised purple, the wind kicks up the salt spray, and then the rain hits like a curtain. Ten minutes later, the sun is back out and the air feels brand new.
The Boughton Family Legacy
It’s worth mentioning the Boughton family again. In a world where private equity firms buy up historic landmarks just to "rebrand" them into soulless luxury assets, the Boughtons have held the line. They understand that the value of the Colony and its Cabana Club lies in its consistency. They haven't chased every trend. They haven't added a "wellness center" with $300 facials. They’ve kept the focus on the beach, the pool, and the people.
This commitment to heritage is why the hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s a living museum. But it doesn't feel dusty. It feels alive.
Next Steps for Your Trip:
- Check Availability: Visit the official Colony Hotel website to see their seasonal rates. They often have different packages for the "Green" season versus the "Gold" season.
- Book the Shuttle: If you’re staying at the hotel, get the shuttle schedule as soon as you check-in. It saves you the nightmare of trying to find parking at the beach.
- Pack Light: You don't need much. A good book, a decent swimsuit, and polarized sunglasses are the only essentials. The club provides the rest.
- Explore Atlantic Avenue: After a day at the club, walk the two blocks from the hotel to the downtown area for dinner. The contrast between the quiet beach and the vibrant town is part of the magic.
- Respect the Turtles: If you’re there during nesting season (March to October), follow the signs. Keep the beaches dark and clean.