Boutique Boom & Sustainable Hotels

In March 2022, Pensacola, Fla. welcomed its first boutique hotel and first-ever fully sustainable property to Historic Downtown Pensacola – Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel. Since then, Pensacola has continued to see a “boutique boom” throughout the destination, spiking growth and interest in boutique luxury accommodations, with new additions in 2023 including the openings of Lily Hall (February 2023), Celestine B&B (April 2023), and the newly rebranded Pensacola Beach Resort (June 2023).

Locally owned, Oyster Bay's goal is to create rich experiences for travelers and locals alike that focus on locally-driven authenticity, modest luxury, and natural design. The accommodations are sumptuous, and the service is personalized. With only eight rooms, this adults-only hotel offers easy access to Historic Downtown Pensacola, local restaurants, shopping, and more. The property’s mission is to advance eco-friendly travel, community empowerment, and sustainable tourism while connecting to the city’s vast and diverse culture.

Lily Hall is a 15-room boutique lodging house that once housed the historic Old Mount Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola's Old East Hill neighborhood. Developed in partnership with award-winning restaurateur, Terry Raley, Lily House offers two food & beverage concepts, including Brother Fox (Lily House’s signature restaurant) helmed by buzz-making Chef Darian Hernandez, and its attached speakeasy, Sister Hen. Pensacola’s first-ever speakeasy has a password-protected entrance that leads guests into an intimate candlelit setting offering inventive cocktails with innovative presentations. Fitting only about two dozen guests, the patrons of Brother Fox get skip-the-line priority for Sister Hen via a secret passageway inside the restaurant. With five signature room types designed to fit each guest’s needs, this coastal repose boasts modern amenities while staying true to the property’s rich history.

In the heart of Pensacola is Celestine Bed & Breakfast, featuring elegant accommodations housed in a historic 1880s home in Pensacola’s North Hill neighborhood. Taking pride in its southern charm and rich history, the property – named after the owner’s great-grandmother, Celestine Harrison – features only four guest rooms, each named after Celestine and her husband Buster’s children. Each room boasts a private en-suite bathroom and antique furnishings. Located only a short distance from many of Pensacola's popular attractions, Celestine offers an inspired, home-away-from-home feel for every guest.

Formerly the Margaritaville Pensacola Beach, the newly renovated and rebranded Pensacola Beach Resort offers luxury, private lodging and amenities along Pensacola Beach. The transformation ushers in a new era of hospitality with 161 waterfront guest rooms including 24 Executive King rooms with wrap-around balconies, coastal-inspired public spaces, an elevated pool deck, new restaurant concept, retail offerings, a beach bar, and a curated art collection featuring impressionist maritime images and a nod to the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and local boating culture. As the only resort in the area private to its hotel guests, the property will provide a gateway to the natural beauty of this historic destination through immersive experiences, elevated guest service, and an atmosphere of fun and relaxation.

Pensacola’s boutique boom continues to signify the destination’s growth and revitalization, breathing new life into the bones of historic properties throughout America’s First Settlement. Should this be of interest, we’d love to share more on the popularity and interest the destination continues to see in boutique accommodations from its visitors and the “approachable luxury” offerings Pensacola offers, and how Pensacola is The Way to Beach™ for boutique luxury.