First look: Here's what new (and what's coming) at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Florida
Editor's Note
In Hollywood, Florida, right outside of Fort Lauderdale, The Diplomat resort has long been a staple for travelers. Dating back to the 1950s, the original hotel was a place to see and be seen in South Florida, and was eventually torn down and replaced by the current structure, a 36-floor tower.
Now the massive resort is gearing up for its next big transformation: reflagging from Hilton's playful Curio brand to Signia by Hilton, described as "a portfolio of world-class hotels that infuses sophisticated travel and luxurious experiences into every aspect of the guest stay."
Along with the rebranding, The Diplomat has also undergone a massive transformation across many of its public spaces, dining outlets, pool areas and more.
Ahead of the May 1 transition, TPG had the chance to visit the property, now called Signia by Hilton Diplomat Beach Resort, to see what's new and fresh — and which tried-and-true parts of the property stayed the same.
Changed: Public spaces that are bold and fresh
The Diplomat is huge, and from the beach to the pool to the massive lobby space, there's a lot of room to stretch out and enjoy yourself. Now, it's gotten even prettier. Part of the hotel's transformation into a Signia Brand property was intended to honor the hotel's heritage "while embracing a fresh, beach‑club‑inspired energy," and that was apparent to me the moment I walked inside.
The atrium-style lobby is full of greenery, with seating that matches the earthy, cool tones of the plants and ocean vibes. Plentiful pieces of art added an overall feeling of cool to the entire space.
Stayed the same: The rooms
Though much has changed at the hotel, the rooms might still look familiar to past guests. For my two-night stay, I was in a spacious one-bedroom suite with a large terrace facing the ocean. The bedroom featured a comfortable king bed set against a wooden wall, a large lounge chair and a huge TV.
In the living room, a couch, a desk area and amenities like a fridge and coffee maker made me feel right at home. Throughout the suite, patterned carpet reminded me of beach pebbles, and the soft color palette blended in seamlessly with the crystalline ocean views.
Truthfully, I hardly spent any time in my room thanks to the myriad places to lounge closer to the water. But when I was in the guest room, sitting on the balcony and watching people play on the beach while ships passed by at sea left me feeling calm and relaxed.
Changed: A new club lounge
I'm a big fan of a hotel club lounge. For guests with access they tend to provide a quiet respite from the rest of the hotel, typically with food and drinks throughout the day, good working spaces and frequently great views.
The Diplomat's soon-to-open Club Signia, on the 33rd floor, is all of that — and then some. During my preview, I sampled many of the dishes that will be on the club's menu, including a mouthwatering Cuban sandwich, flavorful salads and a crisp glass of rose. Come for the great food, but stay for the stunning views from the club's large deck facing the Atlantic Ocean.
The 6,600-square-foot Club Signia is available to guests in premium room categories between the 32nd and 34th floors, as well as to Hilton Honors Diamond Reserve members.
Changed: The pools
The Diplomat's massive pool complex, called The Verandah, features the adults-only Solara infinity pool, surrounded by elevated cabanas and daybeds (available for an extra fee) and lounge chairs, plus the family-friendly Grand Lagoon Pool. While both pool areas are great, I was happy to spend a long afternoon at the Solara pool, where servers deliver food and cocktails, wading in the water and reading in an ocean-facing daybed. Like any resort pool complex, though, I noticed people claiming chairs pretty early so unless you reserve a paid daybed or cabana, be sure to snag a great spot.
It's also worth noting that throughout the pool area and the entire hotel, there's lots of fun programming, like live music and salsa dancing lessons. I even saw a mermaid — yes a "real" mermaid — swimming with kids in the Grand Lagoon pool.
Changed: The Verandah Social Club
One incredible new place to hang at The Dip, as the resort is frequently called, is The Verandah Social Club, an adults-only, exclusive pool deck full of cabanas and daybeds overlooking the adults-only pool and the beach. During my visit, the resort was busy putting the finishing touches on the club, but I could tell it would be the sort of exclusive space I'd love to hang out. The Verandah Social Club will offer elevated food and cocktails, wellness activations (like neck and shoulder massages and cooling cryo wand facials), and an Instagram-worthy vibe you'll be dying to share on social.
Stayed the same and changed: The restaurants
The Diplomat is home to six bars and restaurants, ranging from an upscale steakhouse, Diplomat Prime, to the beachy open-air Playa Beach Bar & Grill, plus an indoor-outdoor bar, a coffee shop, a breakfast buffet and a very convenient and well-stocked grab-and-go market. Across the dining venues, new menus and beverage programs from executive sous chef Michelle Milz, round out the changes.
At Diplomat Prime, I had an unforgettable dinner (pictured above) consisting of the coastal seafood platter ($90), a mouthwatering plate of the chef's catch of the day (market price) and a side of fried cauliflower with fresh herbs, crispy quinoa and barrel-aged dressing ($15).
At Palema Kitchen, the daily breakfast buffet, guests can find all of the classics ($42), as well as a la carte items like avocado tartine ($22) or rich shakshuka ($25).
And don't forget to stop by breezy Playa Beach Bar & Grill for the smoked island fish dip ($24), a tasty dip made of celery, pickled veggies, carrots, radish and chives with tortilla and plantain chips. Another winner for me was the island poke bowl, with ahi tuna and rice noodles ($28).
Stayed the same: The Diplomat Spa and Salon
I think every resort stay warrants a trip to the spa. At The Diplomat Spa and Salon, the incredible staff let me try a unique sound-healing experience that involved lying on a special vibrating table while wearing a headset that played music and flashed lights in sync with the bed's vibrations (pricing upon request). After the sound-healing treatment I got the spa's 50-minute signature massage ($220) which included aromatherapy and hot stones.
Stayed the same: the beautiful beach
With a name like Tanner, you better believe I'm going to be found at the beach working on my tan. At The Diplomat, a semiprivate beach area offers chairs, umbrellas and daybeds for an extra fee, as well as food and beverage service. Just note that while the resort controls the seating, the actual beach is open to the public, with folks meandering up and down through the sand.
Other things to know
The hotel has a solid gym with complimentary daily HIIT classes or paid personal training sessions. There are also frequent yoga and pilates experiences on the beach.
To get off the property for a bit, the hotel offers complimentary one-hour bike rentals that can be extended longer for a fee. And for families, there's a kids club available so parents can sneak off to the spa knowing the little ones are in safe hands.
I also want to point out that the resort has a convention center that stays booked and busy. While I was there, a convention was wrapping up, but beyond people milling around the lobby with lanyards, I'd have never even noticed.
Accessibility
The Diplomat has a number of accommodations for guests with different needs, including ADA-compliant rooms, public spaces and pool lifts. As always, TPG recommends speaking with the hotel directly before booking to discuss what's available for different travelers and their specific needs.
How to book Signia by Hilton Diplomat Beach Resort
Cash rates at Signia by Hilton Diplomat Beach Resort start around $250 per night. Hilton Honors members can book from 69,000 points per night.
Bottom line
After checking out of The Diplomat I left feeling relaxed, reenergized and a little more bronzed than I was before. The changes to the property made the resort feel swanky and chic, and the soon-to-open additions of Club Signia and Verandah Social Club really elevate the experience as a whole.
I learned during my time at The Diplomat that it's the kind of place people return to over and over, and for those coming back to this new iteration of the beloved hotel, I think you'll be pretty happy.
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