INTRODUCING...THE LESLIE LIST
Welcome to The Leslie List, where timeless style extends beyond the closet. From exceptional hotels and unforgettable restaurants to beautiful finds and can't-miss experiences, these are the places and moments Leslie wholeheartedly recommends.
When every scroll offers us another "hidden gem,” I wanted to create a place for the ones that truly stand apart...the places, people, products, restaurants, and experiences I would enthusiastically recommend to my closest friends. In short: if it's on The Leslie List, it's worth your time, your money, and your attention.
First up? A place that felt like the perfect introduction. The St. Regis Longboat Key. I should confess my bias upfront, though. I've celebrated my birthday at The St. Regis New York for the past twelve years. I know this brand, I love (ok, obsessed with) this brand, and my standards for it are sky high. The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort soared right past them.
Elegance greets you at the door, that immediate exhale of "ahh, now this is vacation!" Check-in was seamless, complete with a glass of champagne (yes, please!), and our spacious room overlooked both the resort and the Gulf. One morning, my husband and I had breakfast on the balcony in our robes and slippers, naturally, while the girls watched their favorite movie inside... a small luxury that felt like its own little spa treatment.
Our days flowed effortlessly between pool and beach. The Winding River, the resort's take on a lazy river, was everyone's favorite. The calm Gulf waters made for peaceful shell collecting and floating together, with poolside cocktails and lunch just steps away. The showstopper, though, was the on-resort saltwater lagoon, a 500,000 gallon wonder home to some 2,800 tropical fish and 40 rays. And when the girls wanted an adventure of their own, the Reef Rangers Children's Club delivered...they came back proudly carrying art they'd made from sea glass.
Then there are the rituals (I have a soft spot for tradition). At 6pm sharp, every St. Regis around the globe performs a champagne sabering, and we made sure to be in the lobby for it before dinner at Riva, where we all had an incredible meal capped by a tiramisu cart rolled right to our table. My only regret? I never made it to The St. Regis Spa. But that's the beauty of a place like this... there's always "next time."
This is a brand that simply knows hospitality and does it right, every. single. time. Worth your time, your money, and your attention. The St. Regis Longboat Key is officially on The Leslie List.
xx Leslie
THE DETAILS: The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, Longboat Key, Florida. Rooms from $900 per night. Book a Gulf-view room, stroll by the saltwater lagoon, time your evening around the 6pm champagne sabering, and save room for the tiramisu cart at Riva!
GETTING THERE: Breeze Airways flies nonstop from Westchester (HPN) to Sarasota Bradenton (SRQ) in about three hours on select days, and the resort is a scenic 25 minute drive from the airport. Feeling extra? Through the resort's Tropic Ocean Airways partnership, you can arrive by seaplane from Miami or Palm Beach, landing right on Sarasota Bay...with a Bentley waiting to finish the journey. As one does.