The first of the major new chain hotels set to pop up along the waterfront, the Atlantic is a quirky four-star hotel. The odd-shaped building looks like a lemon-yellow wedding cake, its floors stepped back to provide the maximum number of oceanview balconies and prevent casting a shadow on the beach—sadly, it doesn't help the hotel's own pool, which is sunless from 2 pm or so every day. All 115 rooms in tropical decor here are large and fully equipped: kitchenettes have granite countertops, two-burner stoves, and small fridges; there are marble floors as well as glassed-in showers in every bathroom. Trina, the high-end Mediterranean restaurant is worth a visit.

Tucked away at the southern end of town, Pier 66 is a great respite for families and those wanting to steer clear of the brash boardwalk crowds. A $25 million renovation, completed in October 2007, upgraded the pool area with cabanas, man-made waterfalls, and a 40-person hydrotherapy pool. There is no beach access, but the hotel runs a free shuttle to the closest sand (five minutes away). The renovation also spruced up the hotel's iconic spike-topped tower and angular, pastel-painted balconies. But the money obviously didn't go into jazzing up the decor in the 384 rooms, which got a face-lift and all the necessary amenities (coffeemaker, large bathroom, lots of closet space) but remain uninspiringly beige, beige, and more beige. The remedy? Request a room high in the 17-story tower with a view of the Intracoastal Waterway. Looking out from your balcony at the yachts, cruise ships, and blue water adds a necessary splash of color.

Lago Mar's location is unbeatable: a private oceanfront property with its own 500-foot beach. Owned for generations by one family, it's a luxe throwback combining a family-friendly resort with a country club for well-heeled snowbirds. The 206-room, bougainvillea-draped complex has two oceanside tennis courts, a mini-golf course and a swimming lagoon with an Olympic-sized pool. The common areas were overhauled by society decorator Carlton Varney in a vaguely Venetian theme to reflect Fort Lauderdale's obsession with watery, old-world glamour, while most of the rooms are suites with king-size beds and Key West–inspired tropical interiors. Many look out on water—either ocean or pool—but when booking, note that the hundreds of palm trees on the beach can block views from some suites; make sure to ask for one with an unobstructed sea view.

What makes this B&B such a hidden gem is its affable, unflappable staff: They help make the place feel more like a private home than a hotel. There's harp music in the main room, a complimentary glass of wine or champagne on arrival, and a 500-strong library of books and DVDs that guests can rifle through during their stay. All 22 of the British colonial–style rooms here have planter's chairs, mahogany headboards, floral bedspreads, and antique etchings as well as clever touches like blackout drapes for a sound night's sleep; the deluxe category ups the ante with wet bars, microwaves, and fridges. Make sure to spend some time at the hotel's charming free-form pool, which overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway—by day, there's free iced tea on tap and you can book an alfresco massage at the spa. An added convenience is that the water taxi stops just yards away.

The former St. Regis is a white curvilinear building fronting the Beach Boulevard Promenade, with a 29,000-square-foot pool deck overlooking the Atlantic. Guests enter a "gorgeous lobby" before moving on to rooms with 1940s black-and-white photos and limed oak floors. Cero restaurant uses organic ingredients; the bar's ceiling displays a hand-painted mural.

(192 rooms)