Virginia Beach: The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club
After many months in quarantine, Joshua and I decided to finally plan a summer vacation where we could safely get away. Our only criteria was a hotel near a beach, a restaurant on the property, and driving distance from Northern Virginia. When I found The Historical Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club…
It met all of our criteria and then some. I showed it to Joshua and we booked it right away. We could not believe that this place existed just a few hours away at Virginia Beach! Many of our friends couldn’t believe it either as my DMs were flooded with comments like: “I thought you were in Miami!” “Are you in Mexico?” and “I had to look up where you guys were because I didn’t believe it was actually Virginia Beach!” I also received several requests to write this blog post so I’m happy to finally share all about our stay at this beautiful property.
About the Hotel
The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club originally opened in 1927 and quickly became known as a luxurious East Coast destination with some very famous hotel guests, to include Frank Sinatra, Muhammad Ali, Elizabeth Taylor, and several former Presidents including John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, just to name a few.
After a four-year and multi-million dollar renovation, it reopened in 2018 as a member of the Marriott’s Autograph Collection. The Cavalier is the perfect mix of modern luxury and old world charm, with its rich history still very present throughout the entire property.
The hotel itself is a bit secluded atop a large hill overlooking Virginia Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the allure of this hotel is its privacy and exclusivity so not being directly on the strip was a pro for us. The beach is just a short walk or shuttle ride away and the Cavalier Beach Club is directly on the beach and absolutely incredible.
Accommodations
The hotel has 85 guest rooms to include their suites. The standard and deluxe guest rooms are over 400 sq ft and the suites start at over 600 sq ft; all of which have modern finishes and luxury upgrades. Joshua and I like to be bougie on a budget so we went with the Guest Room, 1 King; however, upon arrival we were given a complimentary upgrade to the Deluxe King Room, which was slightly bigger and had an ocean view. We visited mid-July and stayed for five nights, Sunday through Friday; with taxes and fees it ended up being about $400 a night.
Amenities
We didn’t want to HAVE to leave the hotel, so a huge selling point for us was all of the amenities they have right on the property.
Restaurants
The Cavalier Hotel has three restaurants on-site, plus the beach club (more on that in a minute!).
The Becca Restaurant and Garden is their modern garden to table restaurant and it is absolutely beautiful with three different dining spaces: the indoor dining room; the sunroom; and the terrace. It is very popular among hotel guests and locals alike, so definitely make a reservation. We had brunch here and it was fantastic!
The Raleigh Room is their indoor and outdoor lounge that serves cocktails and small plates. I couldn’t get over the beautiful furniture and artwork in this space! There is also seating on the lawn where they have live entertainment on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Our last night there was ladies night, so I got to enjoy $2 Veuve Clicquot champagne while enjoying live music from the SUPER talented Chris Hall. He sang soulful renditions of top 40 and R&b hits and it was the perfect end to our stay. (Check him out on YouTube, Facebook or Instagram!)
The Hunt Room is the other restaurant on property and it’s like a gentleman’s lounge meets sports bar with great food and even better cocktails. It’s definitely a great spot for a late bite or night cap. (Pro tip from Joshua: Order the Smoked Old Fashioned!)
Tulu Seaside Bar & Grill is actually at their sister property, the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront, but we ate here several times so I had to include it. Tulu is a beautiful oceanfront restaurant with healthy and delicious meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is right beside the hotel’s beach club so we walked over there to eat a few times during our stay. We loved it!
Beach Club
The biggest selling point for us was, hands down, the Cavalier Beach Club. It is literally right on the beach and is the most beautiful and relaxing oasis. The building has a beautiful lobby where you check-in, as only Cavalier hotel guests or beach club members have access. Off of the lobby are the men and women’s bathrooms with plenty of showers, towels, lockers, and toiletries. There is also a large lounge space that you can get to from inside the main building or from the pool and it’s a great area to get out of the sun for a bit. (Joshua and I used this space to watch a friend’s wedding on Zoom! 2020, amiright?)
Once you check in, you receive a wristband for the day and then you are able to enter the pool area. From there, you can go to the beach via the club’s private entrance or you can get set up at loungers by the pool. Adjacent to the pool is the bar and restaurant with the most beautiful decor and vibe. The restaurant has the coziest seating setup with the best views of the beach. If you rather stay by the pool, the servers will come to you and bring you food, drinks, water, whatever! You are definitely catered to the entire time. We pretty much alternated each day between the beach and the pool — it was amazing!
Spa
We were so happy to learn that the Cavalier’s Seahill Spa was (safely) accepting guests for services! They book up quickly so definitely make a reservation at least two weeks before your stay. We got lucky and they were able to squeeze Joshua and I in for 80-minute CBD massages which were incredible. Afterwards, we enjoyed some of the other spa amenities like their Himalayan Salt Room!
Distillery
Yes, the Cavalier even has a full distillery inside the hotel called Tarnished Truth. Their signature bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka is made in-house and served throughout the hotel and can even be found at select ABC stores. (They also made the hand sanitizer that was dispersed throughout the property!) They offer tours from Thursday through Sunday for only $20 per person.
We didn’t get a chance to take a formal tour; however, the morning we were checking out, we went to see if we could purchase a bottle to take home. They weren’t open yet but the manager Andrew graciously opened up early just for us and gave us a free mini tour on the spot! It was incredible to see everything that goes into making just one bottle. The distillery gift shop was just as impressive with so many unique souvenirs. We left with a bottle of their rye whiskey, 11-year-aged bourbon, bourbon cream, coasters, and lots of Tarnished Truth hand sanitizer!
Other Amenities
In addition to all of the amenities listed above, the hotel also has a full fitness center; an indoor pool and hot tub; complimentary bike rentals, beach umbrellas, valet parking, and beach shuttles; as well as a complimentary driver that will take you anywhere within a 5-mile radius.
They also have activities throughout the week like the live music and ladies’ nights I mentioned, movie nights out on the lawn, and special events for holidays. The hotel also serves as a conference space and beautiful wedding venue. (We caught a glimpse of one the first night we were there and rapper Pusha T held his star studded wedding there as well!)
Lastly, I can’t talk about all of their amenities without mentioning one of the best things that they offer: their INCREDIBLE customer service. We have never stayed somewhere that literally treats their guests like royalty. From the bell hops to the shuttle drivers to the lobby staff and servers, they all went above and beyond to make sure we were safe, well taken care of and pampered our entire stay. You truly get your money’s worth here and more.
COVID-19 Safety Measures
A lot of people asked me what safety measures were in place during our stay and rightfully so. I am so thankful for how thoughtful the Cavalier was about the safety of their guests and staff. Some of their safety measures included:
Limited reservations to ensure a reduced number of hotel guests at any given time.
Masks were mandatory for everyone inside the buildings at all times. Employees wore masks both inside and outside (even in the 90 degree heat at the beach club!).
There was signage everywhere enforcing the mask requirement as well as promoting social distancing. Only one person or family were allowed on an elevator or shuttle at a time.
Hand sanitizing stations were dispersed throughout the entire property. Appointments for the fitness center were required to allow time for sanitation between time slots.
All hot tubs were temporarily out of service and bar seating was removed at all the restaurants.
Housekeeping services were temporarily suspended, unless requested, to prohibit people from being in and out of your guest room during your stay.
Although this isn’t technically a safety measure, having private access to the beach allowed us to enjoy the beach away from any crowds.
Things to Do in Virginia Beach
We didn’t stray away from the hotel much but we did venture out a few mornings for coffee and just one dinner date on the strip. We also did some sightseeing and found some cool street art. Below is a list of the places we went to (marked with an asterisk) or places that were recommended:
Hiking/Biking: First Landing Park
Street Art/Boutiques: ViBE Creative District*
Coffee: Java Surf* (unique lattes and food menu), Commune* (great lattes and farm to table breakfast), Prosperity Kitchen & Pantry, Sawdust Road, American Brew
Restaurants: Catch 31* (seafood restaurant at the Hilton Oceanfront Hotel), Civil Libation (southern fare), The Bee & the Biscuit (American breakfast, brunch, and lunch), The Atlantic (happy hour $1 oysters), Waterman’s (local seafood, steaks, and ribs), Chick’s Oyster Bar (the Shore Drive location, great for seafood and boat watching)
Breweries/Distilleries: Vibrant Shore Brewing Company, Chesapeake Bay Distillery
COVID-19 has definitely changed the way we travel. Although I miss flying to different states and exploring other countries, this new way of life inspired us to vacation in our own backyard — and I’m so glad we did. Our stay at the Cavalier was truly a 5-star experience from beginning to end and even when travel becomes a little more “normal”, we will still go back for many vacations to come!
Short Version:
That Place We Went To: The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, Virginia Beach
Best For: Couples; Families; Groups; Literally EVERYONE
Price: $$$
Vibe: Old world charm meets modern day luxury, comfort, and southern hospitality
Amenities: Beach Club with oceanfront pool; Private beach access; Four on-site restaurants; Fitness center; Full service spa; Distillery; Indoor pool and hot tub; Complimentary shuttle service; Weekly activities and live entertainment; Wedding and conference venue; Five star customer service
Our Two Cents: Ten out of ten recommend!