
The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale
Best for travelers who want immediate Fort Lauderdale Beach access, an expansive oceanfront sundeck/pool, and a modern five-star beachfront stay.
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The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale is a five-star, oceanfront resort with a large 7th-floor sundeck and heated infinity pool; read this if you want a polished beachfront base near Las Olas. Cloister at The Boca Raton is a historic luxury resort component of The Boca Raton with many on-site restaurants and meeting spaces; read this if you’re comparing a grand, classic Florida resort north of Fort Lauderdale.
Updated · about 19 km (11.9 mi) apart

Best for travelers who want immediate Fort Lauderdale Beach access, an expansive oceanfront sundeck/pool, and a modern five-star beachfront stay.

Best for travelers who want a historic, larger resort complex with many restaurants, meeting spaces and a nearby private beach in Boca Raton.
When The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale wins: choose the Ritz for direct Fort Lauderdale Beach access, a dramatic 29,000-sq-ft sundeck with a heated infinity pool and private skywalk to the sand, plus a contemporary ocean-inspired spa and proximity to Las Olas Boulevard.
When Cloister at The Boca Raton wins: pick the Cloister for a historic resort atmosphere, a larger on-property food-and-drink footprint (10 restaurants, 9 bars/lounges), more outdoor pools and extensive meeting/event space if you want a resort-within-a-resort feeling and easy access to Mizner Park.
Bottom line: both are full-service South Florida luxury resorts suited to mixed groups and families; pick the Ritz-Carlton if you want a compact, high-end beachfront base in Fort Lauderdale, or the Cloister if you prefer a larger historic resort campus with more on-site dining and conference resources in Boca Raton.
| Category | The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale | Cloister at The Boca Raton |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Contemporary five-star beachfront resort focused on ocean views and sundeck amenities | Historic luxury resort component of a larger Boca Raton resort complex with classic architecture |
| Location | Adjacent to Fort Lauderdale Beach; steps from Las Olas Boulevard | East Boca Raton near Mizner Park and a private beach nearby |
| Size (rooms) | 192 rooms | 293 rooms |
| Ages / audience | All ages; family-friendly | All ages; not adults-only |
| Pools & sundecks | Heated infinity pool on a 29,000-sq-ft 7th-floor oceanfront sundeck with cabanas | Multiple outdoor pools (3) plus a complimentary beach shuttle to a private beach nearby |
| Restaurants & bars | Several outlets anchored by Burlock Coast Seafare & Spirits and Sea la Vie Sundeck | Large on-site dining program: 10 restaurants and 9 bars/lounges, including Harbor House waterfront |
| Spa & wellness | The Ritz-Carlton Spa, ocean-inspired treatments, 11 treatment rooms (post-renovation); 24-hour fitness center | Full-service spa with treatments and salon; fitness/activities available on site |
| Meetings & events | About 24,000 sq ft of meeting space, multiple ballrooms including Grand Ballroom and Astor Ballroom | Large conference center and meeting rooms; 146,000 sq ft (13564 m²) of event space |
| Known for | Skywalk to the beach, elevated oceanfront sundeck and proximity to Fort Lauderdale attractions | Historic resort feel, extensive on-site dining and private/beach-club access |
| Nearby airport | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) about 7 miles away | Boca Raton Airport (BCT) about 5.4 miles away; FLL ~25.1 miles away |
The Ritz-Carlton sits directly on Fort Lauderdale Beach with easy walking access to Las Olas.
Choose the Ritz for immediate beach access and proximity to Fort Lauderdale’s main waterfront attractions.
Cloister at The Boca Raton is part of a larger Boca Raton resort area near Mizner Park with a private beach shuttle.
Choose the Cloister for a classic Boca Raton location with resort-campus conveniences and a private beach option.
The Ritz-Carlton offers 192 rooms and suites with many ocean-view and balcony options.
Rooms at the Ritz prioritize ocean views, balconies and a compact range of high-end options.
Cloister at The Boca Raton has 293 air-conditioned rooms covering a range of guestroom and suite categories.
The Cloister has more total rooms and a broader set of named room types across a larger resort campus.
The Ritz-Carlton focuses on coastal dining anchored by Burlock Coast and poolside bar Sea la Vie.
Dining at the Ritz centers on oceanfront coastal cuisine and a notable poolside bar experience.
Cloister provides many on-site dining choices and bars across its resort footprint.
Cloister is the stronger pick for travelers who want many on-site dining options without leaving the resort.
The Ritz-Carlton’s signature asset is its 29,000-sq-ft 7th-floor oceanfront sundeck and heated infinity pool.
If an elevated oceanfront pool deck and direct beach walkway matter, the Ritz is purpose-built for that.
Cloister features multiple outdoor pools and convenient beach-club access via shuttle.
Cloister works well for guests who prefer several pool options plus organized beach-club access.
The Ritz-Carlton offers a full spa and 24-hour fitness with additional on-site wellness programming.
Pick the Ritz for a modern spa program plus immediate access to Fort Lauderdale nightlife and waterfront activities.
Cloister provides spa services, fitness options and a broader resort activities program.
Choose Cloister for a resort campus with varied activities and strong meeting/event capabilities.

The Ritz-Carlton — 29,000-sq-ft sundeck, heated infinity pool and a private skywalk to Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Cloister at The Boca Raton — 10 restaurants and 9 bars/lounges across the resort complex.

Cloister at The Boca Raton — 146,000 sq ft of conference and event space across the resort.

The Ritz-Carlton — steps from Las Olas Boulevard and walking distance to local beachfront attractions.
The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale is adjacent to Fort Lauderdale Beach and a short walk to Las Olas; Cloister is in Boca Raton, roughly 12 miles north of Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Cloister at The Boca Raton has a larger on-site dining program (10 restaurants and 9 bars/lounges) compared with the Ritz-Carlton’s smaller set of outlets anchored by Burlock Coast and Sea la Vie.
No. Both properties are open to guests of all ages; Cloister is explicitly not adults-only in the provided listing.
Cloister has substantially more event space (146,000 sq ft) and is a strong choice for large conferences; the Ritz-Carlton also offers multiple ballrooms and meeting rooms but on a smaller total footprint.
Explore how The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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