Feel like staying in Margaritaville? A new hotel in Bradenton is inspired by Jimmy Buffett
Cue the Jimmy Buffett lyrics.
A new boutique hotel, Compass by Margaritaville, now offers guests a setting where they can gently kick back in comfort. Whether they want to waste away in ... well, that’s their business.
Compass, 12324 Manatee Ave. W., recently opened in Bradenton, overlooking Anna Maria Sound. It is the first of its kind in the United States, with future Compass properties under development in Beaufort, N.C., and Louisville, Ky.
Designed with dark woods and a coastal feel, the developer lavished attention on design details and colors, trying for an atmosphere that’s fun and relaxing. Like a Jimmy Buffett song.
An example is the light-colored ceiling for the hotel’s restaurant, Floridays Woodfire Grill and Bar, that was ripped out before the opening in July, and replaced with a higher, darker wood ceiling with portholes, giving it that nautical feel.
“Everything is purposely done,” said Gabby Rose, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing, pointing to decorative panels identifying each room with a bicycle or nautical design.
Buffett, whose fans are called parrotheads, has not yet visited the new hotel, but has seen photographs, and is happy with how Compass turned out, Rose said.
The six-story Compass has 123 rooms, including 10 suites, all with water views. Amenities include Margaritaville bedding, oversized bathrooms with rainfall showers, smart TVs, high-speed wif-fi, and a complimentary daily breakfast.
The living lounge on the first floor is designed to encourage guests to leave their rooms and gather with others around board games, cards, and table games. A selection of books is also available.
Compass also offers meeting and fitness rooms, overlooking the marina, a spacious back deck, an outdoor pool and daily cocktail hour.
Guests can take care of their hunger at Floridays Woodfire Grill & Bar or at the Compass Bar and Chill, near the outdoor, free-form pool.
The Floridays menu offers seafood specialties, wood-grilled entrees, sandwiches, fried favorites (shrimp, oysters, or fish served with fries and cole slaw), starters, soups and salads. Sandwich prices start at $10.99 and the fried favorites start at $9.99. In addition, the welcome cabana on the ground floor is stocked with snacks throughout the day.
“Compass has a little bit of everything for everyone. You can enjoy the marina. There are excursions you can take out of the marina. You can also do lovely bike rides and take hikes on Perico Island and Robinson Preserve. You can also venture to the beaches on Anna Maria Island,” Rose said.
Compass was developed by Floridays Development Company and is managed by Hostmark Hospitality Group.
“The team at Compass Hotel Anna Maria Sound could not be more thrilled to open our doors to guests from this lively community and beyond,” General Manager France Langan said in a statement. “Our 90-plus team members from the local area are certain this highly anticipated, new Margaritaville concept will quickly become an island staple thanks to the no worries oasis we’ve carefully curated.”
The Margaritaville brand also developed the One Particular Harbour Margaritaville next door to the new hotel at 12300 Manatee Ave. W. In 2019, Safe Harbour Marinas bought the marina and renamed it Pier 77.
MORE INFORMATION
Room rooms start at $169. For more information about Compass Hotel Anna Maria Sound, visit www.compasshotel.com/AnnaMariaSound.
James A. Jones Jr.: 941-745-7053, @jajones1
This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 3:33 PM.
