Festive Feasts
Good food, great company. At its heart, this is what the holiday season is really all about. Our Independent Collection Hotels & Resorts are serving up holiday cheer by the plateful, from classic slow-roasted turkey and butternut squash soup, to lobster gnocchi, to citrus-infused pecan pie. Top it off with an enchanting winter getaway, and you have the fixings for a fantastic holiday season.
So gather ‘round with your nearest and dearest and indulge in a culinary adventure at these delicious destinations.
THE SANCTUARY BEACH RESORT | Monterey Bay, California
Winter in Monterey offers a unique opportunity to experience the city’s jaw-dropping beauty and small town charm without the warm weather crowds; its rugged coastline, home-grown wines and pristine beaches are yours to enjoy, and what better place to soak it all in than The Sanctuary Beach Resort.
During the holiday season, elevate your stay at The Sanctuary with a delectable, multi-course dinner at Salt Wood Kitchen and Oysterette. The resort’s on-site restaurant is an altar to all things local: locally-sourced ingredients, produced by local purveyors, prepared by local chefs. Anchored by a live-fire kitchen, Salt Wood offers a tantalizing dining experience with a genuine neighborhood feel, the perfect ambiance for holiday feasts.
On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, dig into caviar-topped oysters, Big Sur-salted prime rib, French-style lobster, and vegan pumpkin risotto. Salt Wood’s holiday offerings culminate on New Year’s Eve, when lucky guests can embark on a six-course culinary adventure of jumbo scallops with shaved truffle and foraged mushrooms, “surf and turf” with roasted vegetables, and much more. Add some live music and celebratory bubbly, and you have a fabulous start to 2022.
Book and learn more about The Sanctuary Beach Resort’s holiday offers here. Explore holiday menus from Salt Wood Kitchen and Oysterette here.
HOTEL NIA | Menlo Park, California
An hour drive north in California’s Bay Area, the luxurious Hotel Nia is making spirits bright with a host of holiday happenings. Through January 16, guests are invited to indulge in a special “Winter Solstice” menu featuring dishes like dungeness crab salad and juicy New York strip served amid Hotel Nia’s lush outdoor gardens. After dinner, treat yourself to cinnamon-spiced donuts, hot cocoa and traditional apple cider in the hotel’s intimate Library. (Pro tip: Book the “Holiday in the Bay” package for an exclusive food and beverage credit good towards sweet treats or craft cocktails!)
Families and groups can even rent their own private fire pit complete with charcuterie, holiday cookies, hot cocoa and, of course, a bottle of bubbly.
Find out more about Hotel Nia’s holiday happenings and book your “Holiday in the Bay” package here. To discover all that Hotel Nia has to offer year-round, check out this blog post.
CADILLAC HOTEL & BEACH CLUB | Miami Beach, Florida
Curious to trade snow for sand this holiday season? Look no further than Miami Beach, where glamorous beachside soirees and local festivals make for an exciting winter getaway.
There are seemingly endless things to do this time of year in Miami Beach, and Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club is at the center of it all. This award-winning oceanfront resort pairs Miami’s iconic Art Deco architecture with European Riviera glam, the perfect setting for lavish holiday dinners and New Year celebrations.
For Christmas, the resort’s on-site restaurant, Donna Mare Trattoria, is cooking up traditional Italian fare with freshly caught seafood and farm-to-table ingredients grilled to perfection in a wood-fired oven. Choose from dishes like veal scaloppine with prosciutto, mushroom and truffle risotto, and house-made spaghetti with clams, mussels, and shrimp, plus holiday specials including lamb chops, New York steak and red snapper filet.
Those staying for New Year’s Eve are in for a treat, too. In addition to specially-priced bottles of Moet Chandon Brut and an epic buffet-style feast, Cadillac Hotel is hosting an ‘80s-inspired New Year’s Eve party. (And if there’s one city that really loved the ‘80s, it’s Miami…) Don your best pastel blazer and count down the clock, then head to the beach for a spectacular fireworks show on the shoreline.
Book your oceanfront stay at Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club and explore the holiday menus here.
PARROT KEY HOTEL & VILLAS | Key West, Florida
Perhaps you’re someone who really loves a good time. The unconventional traveler in search of laughs and local haunts. Fear not, we have a holiday getaway for you, too.
Enter: Key West, the infamous island of laissez-faire lifestyle. Tropical, idyllic, and totally carefree, Key West is a fun-filled destination any time of year, but especially so for adults visiting during New Year’s Eve.
Start your island-style celebration at Parrot Key Hotel & Villas, an award-winning waterfront resort with four private pools, on-site watersports, gorgeous gardens, and so much more. Round up your closest friends and book Parrot Key’s “Toast to ‘22” package for special pricing on a villa or suite complete with New Year’s Eve party favors and a welcome bottle of champagne. Uncork and cheers to the year ahead, then make your way to The Grove – the resort’s al fresco restaurant – for delicious dinner under the stars.
As the clock winds down, head to one of Key West’s historic streets for a different kind of ball drop. On Duval Street, watch the conch shell drop from Sloppy Joe’s (a locals’ favorite bar) or cheer along as Sushi, the island’s most famous drag queen, descends into the crowds from a ruby red high-heeled shoe.
Key West is known to party well into the night. When you’re finally ready to kick off your own high heels, retreat to Parrot Key and the comforts of your luxurious villa. Best of all, your “Toast to ‘22” package comes with a $100 food and beverage credit should you need a recovery brunch on New Year’s Day.
Explore holiday packages and activities at the award-winning Parrot Key Hotel & Villas here. Find out more about Key West’s historic charm and ocean activities in our blog.
HOTEL 48LEX | New York City, New York
If you’re after a classic holiday experience instead, New York City is the obvious choice. Twinkling lights, towering evergreens, crisp air, nostalgic traditions; you’ll find all that holiday magic and then some in the Big Apple.
In our latest Independent Collection blog post, we round up the season’s can’t-miss events and beloved traditions across the boroughs. Choose your favorite experiences, then plan your stay at one of our dazzling New York City hotels.
For the quintessential New York City rooftop experience, look no further than the Aliz Hotel, where you’ll find Dear Irving on Hudson, a swanky cocktail parlor with sexy decor and 360-degree views of Manhattan. (Just imagine the fireworks you’ll see!) For a more luxurious stay, check in to Hotel 48LEX, a Four Diamond hotel in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. With the hotel’s “Holiday Package,” guests will enjoy a bottle of wine in their city view room, along with a box of artisan chocolates from Manhattan’s oldest chocolate house, Li-Lac Chocolates, plus late check-out & 48LEX’s curated holiday guide.
Find out more on special offers and holiday happenings at Aliz Hotel and Hotel 48LEX. For even more NYC content, head to Independent Collection’s blog.
RAND TOWER HOTEL | Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dreaming of a winter wonderland? It doesn’t get much snowier than Minneapolis, Minnesota! Before visions of frozen tundra turn you away, travelers might be surprised to learn Minneapolis and its neighboring city, St. Paul, are actually quite the attraction for locals from nearby states who flock to the Twin Cities for world-class winter sports, a burgeoning culinary scene, and unbelievable scenery.
Embrace the perennial cold with activities like snowboarding, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and tubing, then retreat to another world altogether at Rand Tower Hotel. A dazzling, Art Deco-inspired hotel in a historic building of Downtown Minneapolis, Rand Tower is sleek, luxurious, and definitely surprising.
After check-in, enjoy aviation-themed cocktails and lively conversation at Whiskey & Soda, the hotel’s glamorous lobby bar and restaurant. Visiting during Christmas? Gather ‘round with family and friends for a holiday feast of local grass-fed beef, fresh salmon with French-style beurre blanc sauce, baked potatoes with goat cheese and chives, and more.
For more information on Rand Tower Hotel’s holiday offers, click here. Discover the charm of Rand Tower Hotel in our blog.
PAN PACIFIC | Seattle, Washington
You’re not one to compromise. You want the snow and the sea. The historic charm and the modern luxuries. A taste of the familiar, with exciting new discoveries. If all of this sounds up your alley, consider a winter getaway to Seattle, Washington.
This bustling city center of the Pacific Northwest is surrounded by deep blue water, mystical forests and snow-capped mountains. Its home-grown wines rival those of California; its world-class culinary scene lauded as one of the best in the country. Did we mention all of the winter activities at your fingertips, too?
For the ultimate holiday, plan your stay at Pan Pacific Seattle, a Forbes Four-Star hotel bursting with boutique charm. Kick off your trip with craft cocktails and small plates like black garlic octopus and dungeness crab po’boys at South Lake Kitchen + Bar, the hotel’s on-site restaurant, where you’ll catch stunning views of Seattle’s skyline and famous Space Needle.
All fueled up? Head into the city and embrace its quirky holiday traditions like Christmas Ships, a seasonal ceremony in which festive cruise ships sail to different beaches and waterfront communities to perform Christmas carols. For a change of scenery, drive to Crystal Mountain – the biggest ski resort in all of Washington – for world-class skiing, snowboarding, and epic fireworks on New Year’s Eve. And If you’re really feeling adventurous, tack on a day trip to Leavenworth’s Alpine-style village.
Book and learn more about Pan Pacific Seattle’s special offers and dining experiences.