TL;DR

Style: Contemporary, glitzy building in Delray Beach’s Pineapple Grove Arts District
Vibe: Young, stylish, and pampering; great for seeing and being seen
Location: Central Delray Beach; close to art spots, Atlantic Ave, and Public Beach (24-min walk)
Amenities: Rooftop pool, fitness center, wellness classes, multiple dining options
Check prices here

One of the hippest hotels in the center of Delray Beach, Florida, The Ray is definitely a place to see and be seen.

We’ll take the locale of “Pineapple Grove Arts District” with a grain of gentrifying salt, but there are a good selection of artsy spots nearby, and the hotel fits right in.

The facade is all glass and glitz; a pretty lovely contemporary building that fits in well with the Delray Beach’s beachy vibes.

It’s not the most intimate space, but it’s definitely got character, and plenty of amenities that make for a highly enjoyable vacation.

It is on the younger side of vibes, so if you wanted to relax in a super-quiet space, other options might suit better.

But, if you care at all about style and want a good pampering, The Ray is an excellent choice.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 141
Style: Minimalist white with painted wood accents and cheerful greens; Suites add beige and gray
Room types: King Singles, Suites with furnished terraces, all spacious with top luxuries
Amenities: Frette towels, Byredo bath amenities, Bilbao bed linens, minibar, chaise lounge/seating, TV, balconies
See each room in detail here

Rooms are decidedly white, with a hint of minimalism but just enough color to keep them interesting.

Accents are painted wood and cheerful greens, giving a clean, borderline sterile, elegance to it all.

Suites get a tad more personality, with some beige and gray snuck in there, but be prepared for a room that looks like it was decorated by WASP mom.

There are many different options, from King Singles with views of the Beach to Suites with furnished terraces.

They’re all fairly spacious; the 350-square-foot King Single is set off by 150 square feet of balcony, so it’ll be hard to feel confined. Most of the rooms have lovely views, and all of them have the top luxuries.

Besides the brand names, you’ll also find a minibar, a chaise lounge or another kind of seating, and a TV in each room.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Restaurants: Akira Back (Japanese/Korean), Campi Italian (Mediterranean), Stingers Café (breakfast/lunch/coffee)
Facilities: Rooftop pool, fitness center, wellness classes

In true luxury boutique style, you’ll have multiple restaurants to choose from here.

Our flagship is Akira Back, a Japanese dinner spot named after its Michelin Star Chef. It offers a nice splash of Korean flavor too, and an inventive menu you won’t want to miss.

If you’d prefer something Mediterranean, Campi Italian brings the New York style with plenty of Tuscan flavor.

The real gem, though, is Akira Back’s outpost on the rooftop of the hotel.

It doesn’t have the full menu of the other restaurant, but it does offer a selection of gorgeous small plates next to cocktails that could keep you in the sun for hours, easy.

Stingers, the downstairs café, is the spot for breakfast, coffee, and lunch. It’s a decent option, but you’ll have to hit the streets for that full breakfast satisfaction.

Don’t go too far, though. There’s a pool on the rooftop, a fitness center, and a selection of wellness classes designed to keep you fit and relaxed.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Location: Pineapple Grove Arts District, Delray Beach
Cultural spots: Old School Square, Arts Garage, Cornell Art Museum, Historical Society (all within 8 min walk)
Dining: Atlantic Ave, ~10 min walk for restaurants and bars
Beach: Public Beach, 24-min walk; manageable for occasional visits

As we mentioned before, the hotel claims to be in Delray’s Arts District, and we have to check our skepticism.

No matter how much that sounds like developer-speak, it does seem to be a culture-heavy location.

Old School Square, a performing arts center near Delray’s main bustle, is just an 8-minute walk from the hotel. It’s next to the Arts Garage, the Cornell Art Museum, and the Historical Society.

All your food and beverage needs can be taken care of on Atlantic Ave, about 10 minutes away.

You can generally enjoy the entirety of Delray Beach on foot, but those of us who want a full-on beach vacation might want a different spot.

The actual Public Beach is a 24-minute walk, which isn’t far but might get taxing if you want to head there every morning.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“We were in Del Ray Beach to attend a funeral. Walking into the lobby we were greeted by a wonderful woman who welcomed us in song. They did everything they could to help make our stay as comfortable as possible. Getting a later checkout time was extremely helpful. We didn’t have time to use the pool but it looked amazing, This was one of the most pleasant stays I have had in a hotel. Definitely a 5 out of 5 for me….”

“Amazing staff, super clean rooms, great food!!! No idea why this place isn’t 5*!!!….Top marks all round…”