The concierge is eager to serve you with restaurant reservations, golf tee times, spa choices or any requests you may have during your stay.
If you’re looking for a luxurious Florida getaway, it seems all roads lead to Naples. Not just to the Ritz- Carlton (see Cindy Cockburn’s story), but to an extraordinary 119-room boutique hotel in the heart of downtown: the Inn on 5th.
This AAA Four Diamond, Forbes Four-Star hotel is located in two iconic buildings across the street from one another on 5th Avenue among award-winning shops and restaurants.
I visited there with my son for a few days this fall. We stayed in one of the hotel’s 32 club suites, where the opulent but comfortable décor included two queen beds, a spacious living room area, a small table and chairs that overlooked the balcony where it was comfortable enough for me to work on my laptop, and an amazing bathroom with over-the-top amenities.
A refreshment center divided the two rooms. This is where I found a welcome bottle of Swanson Merlot with a note upon our arrival.
The abundance of personalized service made our visit unforgettable. The club suites are in a building of their own, with a Concierge Lounge that has access to a rooftop terrace. Normally, guests can roam in and out of the lounge to enjoy a deluxe continental breakfast, afternoon snacks and evening cocktails with appetizers, but due to COVID food and drinks weren’t available there. Instead, we could call and place orders to be delivered to our room.
That’s what happened one rainy evening when I called to ask about appetizers and drinks. They said they would send up a platter of hors d’oeuvres and suggested a glass of Champagne. Who turns down a glass of Champagne? Especially when she told me it was Veuve Clicquot and that she’d be very happy to continue bringing glasses of bubbly to my room until 10 p.m. Talk about heavenly!
We decided to stay in the room for dinner, due to heavy rains outside and the fact that the suite was so cozy; with a television in every room, including the bathroom, I didn’t feel the need to leave. My son decided to take a bath in the very large tub and watch the NBA playoffs on the bathroom TV (he’s not spoiled or anything) while I watched a movie in the living room as I enjoyed my Champagne.
We were happy to discover that room service at the Inn on 5th comes from Ocean Prime across the street. We had dinner delivered to our room and enjoyed an outstanding meal without having to leave our comfortable cocoon.
The next day we wanted to explore Naples and were told that someone from the hotel could take us on a tour in the golf cart and drop us off at one of the shopping areas. My son said this was one of his favorite parts of the trip. While on our tour, we saw all the shops and restaurants located close by, learned that the ocean and sandy white beach were only a short stroll from the hotel, and window-shopped the beautifully manicured homes near the water.
That night we had dinner at Truluck’s, the hotel’s swanky seafood and steak restaurant, with an expansive wine list that included a special Rare Gems Collection of bottles from Napa, Italy and Spain, and a Sommelier Selection by the glass.
Christopher Lee, the restaurant’s manager and extremely knowledgeable sommelier, steered me toward a wine I hadn’t tried before: Adaptation, Napa 2016, a lighter cabernet closer to a pinot noir. A yummy choice! Zack ordered lobster bisque for an appetizer and sea scallops for dinner, while I ordered a filet mignon with pan-seared broccoli.
Then, as a special treat, Christopher brought over a baked Alaska dessert: coffee ice cream and marshmallow inside a hard chocolate graham cracker shell. He told me this is ‘off menu’ and only for anniversaries, engagements and birthdays. He also shared that the restaurant is known for stone crabs when they’re in season; I may have to go back and try them, as everything about our dinner was impeccable.
You can escape to the Inn on 5th by flying into the Naples Airport and having the hotel pick you up (for free) in their big black sedan, or you can take an easy drive down from the Tampa Bay area. Go for a pampered weekend with a loved one, or spend a few days more to fully experience the luxurious rooms, outdoor pool, hot tub and bar on the 2nd floor, and top-of-the-line spa.
There is plenty to do within a short distance from the hotel, including shopping or golfing on one of the 100 courses in the area. The concierge is eager to serve you with restaurant reservations, golf tee times, spa choices or any requests you may have during your stay.
And do ask about specials. This fall, the hotel’s “Time for You” offer, available through January on midweek stays (Sunday-Thursday), includes a range of discounts on two-to five-night stays. And the “High Life, Wild Life” package combines a four-night stay in a spacious standard room with massage and facial, dining credit at Ocean Prime and a $300 credit with Everglades Area Tours. Reservations must be made online by Nov. 30 for either of these packages, so act quick and prepare to be pampered.
For more information, visit InnonFifth.com or call (239) 403-8777.