San Juan's hippest new hangout is the Water Club, a sleek and sultry 84-room boutique hotel with a South Beach, Miami vibe set on Isla Verde Beach.
Its aquatic theme begins at the beachfront entrance, where a set of blue Murano doors are flanked by bubbling granite fountains. In the lobby, water flows from the ceiling to the floor as white billowy sheers cascade from the second-floor restaurant. Rays of blue light from frosted domes and flickering candles illuminate Liquid, the seductive ground-level bar; tables with retro-chic bar stools and low-to-the-floor sofas make it cozy. Wet, a Caribbean/Brazilian-themed bar perched on the rooftop, offers a panoramic view of San Juan.
Each floor has its own living water mural at one end of the hall and a rock mantle decorated with candles at the other. All 84 rooms have expansive vistas, and the furnishings fashioned from dark woods, beige upholstery and glass are hand-selected or custom-made in Italy, Spain and South America. Marine-inspired colors dominate the floors, while layers of sheer fabrics and blue lights complement beige and white linens.
With a pool, conference center, superb restaurant and hand-picked staff ready to accommodate you, the Water Club is certain to dazzle.
Rooms start at $169 in low season ($199 high). Suites start at $695 year round. Visit www.waterclubsanjuan.com or call the hotel directly at 787-728-3666 or Design Hotels at 800-337-4685.
Posted online 04/09/02.
