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Why we love it: A stylish stay that brings Miami glam to Clearwater Beach

The Highlights:
- Ocean views from nearly every guest room
- A stunning, zero-entry pool overlooking the beach
- A gorgeous art collection with original pieces by Christopher Still

The Review:
A sleek high-rise overlooking Clearwater Beach, Opal Sands Resort stands out for its modern architecture and stylish vibe. Here, everything from the guest rooms to the restaurants to the events venues feature sweeping views of the Gulf of Mexico, putting guests squarely in a beach frame of mind. The 230 rooms and suites feature generously sized layouts, complete with deluxe bedding, spa-style bathrooms, and private balconies framing Clearwater’s famous sunsets, while common spaces come decorated with an impressive art collection both created and curated by Floridian master Christopher Still.

When not taking in the vistas, guests can sunbathe by the zero-entry pool and hot tub, or rent a beach chair or cabana and head down to Clearwater Beach. Also available are a waterfront fitness center, a full-service spa, complimentary bicycle rentals, and a corn hole toss on the event lawn. There are even four dining outlets on site, from Sea-Guini (for freshly caught seafood and handmade pastas) to the Sandbar (for cocktails and live music right on the beach).

Hillside Farmacy is a farm-to-table restaurant in Austin built around a pharmacy theme. While it may sound odd, the execution is brilliant, with incredible food and wonderfully eclectic design. The restaurant space was formerly the home of a 1920s pharmacy owned by Austin‘s first African-American pharmacist. The decor features authentic apothecary items (from a different 1920s drugstore)—a vintage collection of medicine bottles, antique cash registers, tin ceilings, and wooden cabinets. But it’s the “F” in the deliberately misspelled Farmacy that nods to the emphasis on simple, fresh food. The restaurant works with local food purveyors and regularly changes the menus around the highest-quality seasonal ingredients. Local cheese, homemade pate, artisinal breads and pastries, raw bar, charcuterie are all available here. Dishes include bangers and eggs, buttermilk bisquits and gravy, and bison tartare. Other perks include an old fashioned soda counter and a shaded outdoor patio. If I were a local here, this would definitely be one of my favorite go-to places.

This shopping plaza restaurant—set in the chilled-out, North Shore surf town of Hale‘iwa—evokes deeply nostalgic, yearning sighs from big-city folks. It is, quite possibly, the state’s best Thai food. But be prepared for cash only, erratic opening hours, no reservations, massive queues, lengthy waits for food once seated, and a highly variable menu. The chef-owner Opal quizzes patrons about their preferences... and then starts cooking. Man, are the results ever worth any slight inconveniences! Too hungry to wait? Stroll 0.2 miles north to tasty Rajanee Thai, which has a small dining room, as well as a takeaway window and outdoor picnic benches. Like many North Shore eateries, both establishments are BYOB: Long Drugs across from Opal sells adult beverages.

Gordon Ramsay, the celebrity TV chef, has created a cult in Doha with his stately manor-decorated restaurant, Opal. From the carpet, to the food, to the servers, Ramsay’s establishment never fails to woo its patrons. True to its relaxed, bistro-style dining, Opal offers its guests a lavish Friday buffet with treats for everyone, live music, and breath-taking views from the Opal Terrace. QR 350 ($96) per person with soft drinks QR 450 ($123) per person with enhanced beverages Every Friday | 12:30pm - 4pm For reservations please call +974.4446.0105 or email [email protected] Overlooking the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf, Opal by Gordon Ramsay Doha is a restaurant where food is not meant to be simply eaten, but experienced. Friday Brunch aside, Opal offers an ever-changing menu influenced by Mediterranean cuisine, regaling its guest with a sophisticated and abundant variety of canapés on the house while the guests’ orders are being prepared. The menu is simple, fresh, flavorful, and the bistro-style space for the gourmet pizza station adds a traditional, yet sophisticated, flare to the place. Opal has turned hamburgers into works of art with classics such as the Opal Wagyu burger, which has become Opal’s signature. To accompany the menu, Opal offers an impressive Sommelier’s selection, one of the largest collections in Doha.

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