The other side

Inn on Fifth (Naples)

GETAWAYS • Naples

After a two-hour drive from Miami through the Everglades, Naples unfurls with a touch of sophistication (the neatly landscaped Mediterranean Revival downtown district) and a touch of the rough-and-tumble (locals streaming down the avenue on longboards, barefoot in cutoff jeans on their way to the beach).

On Fifth Avenue South in the heart of downtown Naples, the Inn on Fifth is a stylish perch for a weekend getaway with the best of the city’s shopping, dining, and nightlife just outside its doors. A more cosmopolitan retreat than the typical Naples beach resort, it’s still only a few short blocks to the Gulf’s sugar soft sands. Occupying a pair of Mediterranean Revival-style buildings on either side of Fifth Avenue South with chic awnings shading Juliet balconies, the hotel’s interiors feature Art Deco-inspired furniture atop shiny marble floors.

The hotel is home to a rooftop pool and relaxing spa with a sauna and steam room, but the best amenities are those that come with Club Level suites: a lounge with complimentary breakfast, evening hors d’oeuvres, and a top-shelf self-service bar, plus an exclusive rooftop with a hot tub.

Guest rooms contain both classic and modern stylings, with glamorously plush velour upholstered sofas and beds with tufted leather headboards. Bathrooms are spacious and sumptuous with black and white Italian marble framing rainfall showers and (in most rooms) bathtubs.

For dinner, there’s Ocean Prime, the hotel’s steakhouse for prime chops and fresh seafood. Dimly lit, it’s outfitted in deep tobacco hues with glass-encased wine cellars and architectural chandeliers, while floor-to-ceiling windows offer views onto the bustling avenue. There’s also a Truluck’s onsite and within walking distance, the city’s best restaurants: Bistro 821, Tulia, and The Continental.

Once you’ve fully recharged amidst the nature and relaxed pace of a long weekend in Naples, the only thing left to do is make sure you’ve got a full tank of gas to make it back across Alligator Alley to our side of Florida. –Shayne Benowitz

→ Inn on Fifth (Naples) • 699 Fifth Ave South • From $799/weekend night.