In terms of location, Zota is a 25-minute drive north from Bayfront Park. What we loved most about Zota is the focus on marine conservation, especially during the sea turtle nesting season on Longboat Key beach between May and October.
The main restaurant of the hotel is the Viento Kitchen and Bar, which specialises in local seafood – we loved the piña colada bread and the blackened jumbo shrimp, absolutely delish! In terms of food options, the Cascades pool bar has an inviting cocktail list and also serve up small plates, sandwiches and healthy salads. There are 187 rooms, each with a balcony with pool, sea or bay view – ie always a zota in sight! For a splurge, we recommend the rooms in the “South Tower” because they have much larger balconies.įor the gym gays (ourselves included!), Zota has an impressive 24-hour fitness centre, overlooking the pool. Surrounding the pool are firepits, long couches and cabanas for rent. The hotel is centred around the U-shaped courtyard pool area, which is overlooked by two six-storey buildings where the rooms are. The interiors have a beach feel with plenty of modern art displayed, making it seem more like an art gallery than a hotel lobby. Zota is a native American word for “blue waters”, which is the key feature of the hotel. Zota is an exciting and luxurious resort with its own slice of private beach on the understated and laid back Longboat Key.
