Caribbean elegance at Universal Orlando hotel – Travel Weekly

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is more than a nod to the Caribbean. The property, opened in July 2016 at Universal/Loews hotels at Universal Orlando Resort, is a stylish, tropical, modern escape worth visiting, even if you never plan to use the parks.

An enormous sculptural chandelier of woven spheres presents itself as everything from beach balls to buoys to a "festival of floating lanterns" (as it was described by my 7-year-old) when seen at night. You'd describe it differently as seen at different times throughout the day and night.

The lobby is a long rectangle with a soaring, beamed ceiling covered in woven fabric that connects multiple experiences. There's plenty of seating in smart arrangements for conversation, chilling out or working; USB and power outlets are cleverly and conveniently placed throughout: on the edges of tables, in lamp bases, etc.

This property flows out over multiple tiered levels; that's unusual for Orlando, which is flat, flat, flat. In fact, the lobby is on the fourth floor.

Windows to one side overlook the free-form pool (the largest of all the Universal hotel pools) off level 3. The pool features a water slide and a zero-entry "sandbar" across the middle, making it easier to access amenities such as the bar or the sand-covered dining area with its umbrella-shaded tables and a central fire pit. Windows at the far end of the lobby overlook the lagoon, which connects four of Universal's five hotels via water taxi. Views of taxis constantly coming and going (it's an eight- to 10-minute ride to the center of City Walk) add to an energetic vibe.

The decor throughout is a neutral canvas with bright pops of emerald, turquoise, fuchsia, lime and tangerine; the overall look is a mix-and-match of furnishings that are both modern and British colonial and that seamlessly work together. A long, horizontal mural behind the front desk is a realistic image of what you might see if you woke up aboard a boat in the British Virgin Islands: shimmering turquoise water and lush island shores. At the center of the lobby is the grand winding staircase inside of a replica of a stone sugar mill reminiscent of those found in the West Indies with a massive, wrought-iron chandelier. It is stunning.

Off the lobby is the outstanding Strong Water Tavern and also a grab-and-go market called the New Dutch Trading Co., where you can build your own meal from "hot pots" of Caribbean dishes or select the food and snacks (including beer and wine) to take back to your room in lieu of a prestocked minibar. On the ground level is Amatista, a three-meal-a-day dining room with an exhibition kitchen and indoor and outdoor dining that overlooks the lagoon and the water taxi depot.

I'd return to Sapphire Falls just to dine at the Strong Water Tavern, which is far more than a typical lobby bar. Open at 4 p.m. every day, Strong Water seems to be popular with guests returning from the parks. Fortunate enough to have been hosted for a meal, I'll tell you why.

The Caribbean dishes are served tapas-style, perfect for sharing and for pairing with exquisite cocktails that show as much care as any plate sent out from the kitchen by Columbian chef Carlos Castano. His food will have you ordering "just one more" dish; don't miss the papa rellena, a potato ball filled with a spicy beef filling and a jalapeno-pineapple jam, then fried and served with chipotle mustard.

The place takes its name from a term used for rum back in seafaring days, and that spirit plays a central role: the bar stocks up to 75 different labels from which a flight can be composed by an on-duty rum captain. Your flight will tell an unforgettable story of rum; mine included one that is aged in shark cages offshore of Grand Cayman Island and another that receives its final aging in sherry barrels in Jimez, Portugal. The last of my flight was a spice-blended concoction by my own rum captain, Casey, that had been aged on site.

Strong Water's grog is made from a 350-year-old seafarers' recipe (think pirates) and is a version of rum punch you've never had, strong on the citrus and spice, short on the sweet.

But the cocktail I've been craving ever since is the milk punch, a refreshing blend of black tea, spiced rum, lemon peel and clarified milk that after a three-day process emerges as though it was a clear lemonade. Served in individual milk bottles along with a glass containing a single cube of ice carved from a slab behind the bar, the milk punch is the most surprising and refreshing cocktail I've ever had.

Sapphire Falls' guestrooms are serene and stylish, again with a mix of textures and fabrics designed around a palette of blues. It's hard to believe this hotel isn't in the Premier (top-tier) category.

The Sapphire Suite includes a foyer with a work desk and a half-bath. The shared living and dining room is spacious and comfortable with neutral-colored decor and splashes of color via throw cushions and artwork. A matte-finished, gold starburst chandelier over the driftwood-colored dining table helps define the dining area as its own space.

Color is amped up a bit in the bedroom with a beach feel achieved through the white shiplap headboard finished with teal upholstery for a touch of luxury. I loved the tangerine-and-white palm-print throw pillow. The oversize bathroom has a large walk-in shower and a separate toilet area as well as a standard bathtub/shower that is exactly what you want for plopping your kid in the bath.

My family and I were hosted for one night at Sapphire Falls and did not visit the park. Between riding the water taxi with a 7-year-old, dining at Strong Water Tavern, enjoying the pool in the morning and lounging with a first-run movie rental in our spacious Sapphire Suite, this is now our preferred go-to staycation hotel in our hometown of Orlando.

Sapphire Falls Resort is in the Loews/Universal midlevel Preferred category, which means great value if you want new, upscale digs and don't mind foregoing the Universal Express benefit, which lets guests skip the lines at regular attractions, afforded only to guests who stay in Premier hotels. (Note: You still get early admission to the parks, a perk for all hotel guests at Universal Orlando Resort.)

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Caribbean elegance at Universal Orlando hotel - Travel Weekly