Page 94 - enLIGHTenment Magazine - December 2015

You won’t nd cutesy seahorse-themed lamps

or bold nautical motifs at The Black Dolphin Inn

in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Instead, the twin

innkeepers behind this 4-Diamond property favor

a chic modern vibe with just a hint of Coastal.

BY LINDA LONGO

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN STILLMAN

G

uests aren’t the only ones who
appreciate the Black Dolphin Inn,

located on the Central East Coast
of Florida. Opened in 2013, this

14-room boutique hotel is one of

only three AAA Four Diamond Award properties
in a state bursting with visitor accommodations.

Over the past two years, it has also received the
TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award as one of the

Top 10 Inns in the U.S., made the list of Top 10

Beach B&Bs worldwide from Bed and Breakfast.
com, included among the Top 10 Romantic Inns

in the country from I Love Inns.com, and received
2014 Fodor’s Choice Award.

Gorgeous hotels with beautiful water views are

a dime a dozen in Florida, from the mega-glam
properties in South Beach to ones steeped in

history such as The Breakers in Palm Beach. So
what makes this virtual newcomer that sits upon

the banks of the Indian River within walking dis-

tance of the historic downtown district and close
by the ocean beaches such a universal stand-out?

Believe it or not, one of the most talked-about
features in all of the guidebooks and travel sites is

the tastefully appointed décor.

Preserving the Bones

The owners of the Black Dolphin Inn are twin
brothers and third-generation hoteliers Bre and

Sco Smith, who also operate the renowned Cha- have re ned as “Spanish Isle.” Maintaining the

teau Inn & Suites in the tony seaside community historic integrity of the property was important to
of Spring Lake, New Jersey. When the opportu- the owners, right down to preserving the century-

nity to purchase the riverfront property in New old oak tree that literally goes through the balcony
Smyrna Beach came up, the brothers jumped at of a second oor suite. O ering premium Euro-

the chance.
style bedding, displaying original artwork, and an

Originally built in 1947 as the winter residence assortment of antiques adds to the luxurious and
for William Stra on, the co-founder of noted unique environment.

engine manufacturer Briggs & Stra on, the home In fact, the lobby is one of the most unusual set-
had a Mediterranean aesthetic that the brothers
tings, integrating an open-air “exhibition kitchen”

92 enLIGHTenment Magazine | deceMber 2015
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