Had dinner last night at the Sea Porch Cafe. Had been a fan of "the Don" for many years, but last night couldn't have been more "meh". The fish and chips were "meh", the crab cakes were "meh", the iceberg wedge was redeeming, but not worth traveling for.... our server was a nice and chatty guy can't blame him - - even the room has lost its elan. The only thing remarkable about the experience was the premium price for a very lackluster meal and the Valet was waaay overpriced at $28 for a dinner patron. Very sad to no longer be a fan. May try again, but not even sure about that. read more

Apparently for 1,000 a night after staying there for four nights on your wedding you have to call the front desk to have your trash removed which was never remover for 4 days!! That is disgusting for an RN on your wedding weekend! More than unacceptable and a major health liability! read more

Our stay at the Don Cesar for our anniversary has been good overall. Service is great, everyone helps you with everything you need but the spa and hotel have been subpar. First two nights we did not have hot water, it was barely warm and we had to take quick showers. We spent over $350 at the spa, which were both supposed to be 60 mins massages and when we were done we were surprised to see it had just been 45. I think we would ultimately come back to give it another shot because the hotel has great potential and some awesome amenities. read more

The front desk customer service is the only reason why this place is not getting a 4-5 star. For a resort at this caliber, it's sad and unfortunate to see how their front desk customer service acted. They didn't do anything to even try to accommodate what we asked for. read more

I stayed at the main hotel whereas my friends stayed at the Beach Suites, and transportation between the two places was super easy and wonderful. The shuttle seems to run all day long. You can call them to let them know you are waiting for a shuttle, or you can just wait for 3-5 minutes and the shuttle will come right back to get you! Our shuttle driver, Raymond, was so personable and amazing! He gave us recommendations of great food places, must see places, and even took us to the food places and back to our hotel! We had such great conversations with him and he seriously made our stay that much sweeter! 10 out of 10 will come back. And please keep Raymond around. He's a part of our memories of this place now!! read more

I arrived today at 3pm to check in for a one nights stay. We were told the maid was in the room finishing up and it should be ready any minute. We went down to the restaurant to grab lunch and wait. It took over an hour and half to finish lunch as the staff and food were extremely slow. We went back to the front desk to get our room at 4:40 and the guy said they were running behind and didn't seem to care. I asked why we were told the maid was finishing up the room almost 2 hrs ago and he didn't seem to care. I then asked to speak with the manager and of course he was the manager. Didn't care about our experience one bit. The lady working at the desk was also dealing with an upset client who had room issues and bad experience as well. Not the experience we had imagine in booking a room. read more

If you are young do not bother to spend your money here . I came for my 21st birthday with my boyfriend and we got ignored the whole time. Sat by the beach for 3 hours and never got acknowledged but everyone around us did. The check in process was very unpleasant as well. I would not bother going to this place if you are young they only care to serve older people that look like they have money. The older people that stay here also had to make a comment about what type of pants I was wearing. This place is totally unacceptable! read more

Not sure I would recommend visiting. It's an amazing place. You drive by and say "we've gotta see that place"! If you try, you will find parking impossible. Your choice is to park a mile away and walk, or pay the hotel $30 for the privilege of using their lot and walking through the hotel. I wouldn't do it again. read more

Have stayed here many times but this time will be my last. The hotel was renovated and we asked for a quiet room. Which was great, it was on the top floor removed from everything. Sunday night the hotel had a wedding and the music was blasting, This is an expensive family friendly hotel, that was not so family friendly when we were up for hours, couldn't sleep because the music was so annoying, Classless Won't be back! read more

Phenomenal location, grandness to the utmost wrapped in pink, service excellence in every way. Amust stay when in St. Petersburg Beach. read more

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Stay away if your looking for a place for lunch. Spent $200 for lunch and they would not even consider validating our $27 parking ticket. Acted like I was a real cheap skate for even asking even though I was told to go to the front desk and they would take care be glad to handle it! And the food was just average to make it even worse!!! read more

I've come to the Don on a couple different occasions. The best was for the fairy tale masquerade ball that yelp throws. I've also gone for a wedding reception and to their spa. The hotel is a really pretty pink color and they are located right on St Pete Beach. There is an awesome pool area with an outside bar and giant chess to play. The spa area is nice but definitely more expensive than its worth. We got pedicures for 60 dollars a person and there wasn't anything they did that was better than the twenty dollar pedicures you can get anywhere else. The staff was friendly and the locker rooms have a whirlpool that's a bit chilly and a steam room. They are separate for men and women. They also have delicious coconut water while you wait for your appointment. It's a cool atmosphere at the hotel because of its opulence. They have valet and self park that can be up to twenty dollars a day if you don't get your ticket validated. It's a unique hotel to go too but a little too pricey for this gal. read more

The Don CeSar - Pedicures at the Don - Resorts Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

I think this place is often overlooked by us locals. Hubby and I stayed here recently for a long weekend utilizing their "suite deal" and had a great time! With this deal you get upgraded services in your suite (ours was Gulfside) and a $50 food and drink credit per day (it covered in room breakfast at least!) Yes, it's pricey. Let's get that out of the way right now. Complaining about the price or resort fees after reserving is just plain stupid. All their fees are listed clearly and if you've stayed at a luxury hotel lately you know that room service is expensive, burgers are $10 and up, and drinks will run your tab quite high. Get over it, you're on vacation! That being said, the room was awesome! Floor to ceiling windows, french doors opening on the balcony overlooking the white sands, a huge bathroom, soft robes, very nice. We utilized room service, the tequila bar and the Maritan grille. (see seperate reviews) The hotel offers morning excersize classes, free ice cream in the afternoons, in room massage and they have nice little shops to peruse as well. The pool is private as well. Used to be anyone could walk up and enjoy it and it was uber packed but now it's only open to guests, and yes they do check your room key for proof, so that's a big plus!! For a special occassion I'll spend the money and keep coming back ! read more

Although the food is great at the Society Table restaurant, don't plan any special occasions there! I booked dinner for my husband's birthday. Since then I've called to see about a cake or some type of special birthday item 9 times. I get transferred all around or been told they'd call me back. Dinner is today and still nothing. Running to Publix to pick up my own now. So disappointing. read more

The "Don" is a big pink palace. It's very much like the Royal Hawaiian or the Beverly Hills Hotel. It was a WWII hospital and it's a national landmark. It's really gorgeous. I mean, how can you resist a pink, beachside hotel--literally steps from your room is the quiet private beach, warm Gulf waters, smooth sand. Lovely. Too bad I was here for a work conference. Bah humbug. I somehow lucked out and got a little suite for my stay. It was lovely. Bathroom was very long and narrow, which was kind of weird. The water pressure was amazing though. I like a nice stream of water and not a trickle, so I was pleased. Room service is good. Didn't eat in any of the restaurants. They just built a spa and my co-worker said it was great. Note, that MF is correct...nothing is within walking distance. If you only want a pool, the beach, a spa, a retreat, than this is a lovely spot. If you want something happening, go elsewhere. read more

Not a 4 Star hotel for the last 30 years. Bad service at every turn. Waited fir valet to park car. Waited to bell hop to pick up bags just left on the curb while we were told to go inside and check in. Front desk was slower than slow. They screwed up our reservation even though I had talked to the "front desk manager" the day before. Didn't have a room ready by 4:15PM. Room was small, but bit as small as the bathroom. And it was suppose to be an upgraded gulf front room. Bed was lumpy. Pillow cases were warn and strings around the corners. Pillows were lumpy, or loose foam that crushed to nothing. Very strange refrigerator. No microwave. Breakfast was very slow. Too slow. Quality was OK. 2 Stars. There is a difference between "Historic" and just "Old". This place was just Old. Beach was covered with seaweed. Smelled of dead fish. In Europe it would be 3 star hotel because it was air conditioned. In this country it is at best a two star. read more

Doing a little ghost hunting at The Don last night. Visited the dark ballroom and came away with two spectacular orbs. So much history here. Opened in 1928, guests included F. Scott Fitzgerald, Clarence Darrow, Al Capone, Lou Gerhig and FDR. The Don housed the NY Yankees for spring training for three years. After the U.S. army bought the failing hotel in 1942 for $450k, it was a hospital, then a convalescent center. So lots of ghosts wander the premises. My partner and I are thinking of staying here for a night to celebrate our anniversary. read more

The Don CeSar - orb near shoulder - Resorts Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

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The Big Pink Palace, The Don CeSar. Fast check in. The attentiveness and hospitality was over the top. The staff was very polite and caters to our every need. We enjoyed posting poolside that overlooked golden sands, crystal clear waters and spectacular sunsets. I would definately recommend The Don for a wonderful getaway. read more

"The Don" as locals call it, or it's official nickname, "The Pink Lady", holds a very special place in my heart. It first opened in 1928, was repurposed as a WWII hospital in 1942, sat vacant for years after (then called "The Pink Elephant"), before it was finally restored to its original glory in the early 70's. Throughout her glory days, The Don has been a place to see and be seen for out-of-towners and locals alike. At times, I feel I grew up at the Don; a staple of my childhood, a place I feel that "home" feeling. I have many, many fond memories here. So naturally, I have an invested interest in her integrity. Needless to say, it was a little scary when it was announced Loews had purchased the property. Originally it seemed as though they were doing a great job of keeping the hotel up-to-date with the latest in modern amenities, all while keeping her historic beauty in tact. However, as I recently walked through the lobby, I was sad to see modern furniture - it just doesn't fit! A wing was added to the hotel a few years back, partially to serve as a new, larger home for the on site spa (which is fabulous by the way). I was impressed when the addition was completed. They did a wonderful job of making sure it architecturally matched the original building to the letter. On several recent visits, I have noticed multiple rust spots on the building; an ongoing battle for buildings on any coast. But to keep her at her finest, and for the price tag patrons pay to stay here, I feel this should be addressed pronto. This was THE spot for a mojito for many years. Despite the price tag, it was worth every penny. However, this last visit really let me down. The price has gone up, and the mojito was terrible. I was heartbroken. Loews has also disappointed me by slapping their standard logo on everything, removing the infamous DC shell logo. My hope is that Loews will turn the ship around and not lose sight of Mr. Rowe's original vision, allowing The Don to remain a historical treasure rather than being lost in the shuffle of over-priced beach resorts with ho-hum food and service. read more

Is beautiful hotel and the pritty beach in from!!! so amazing Is a dream beach come true !amazing weather read more

The Don CeSar - Resorts Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

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This hotel blew my mind! I had always seen this big pink hotel but never thought much of it. My friend and I had a plan to stay somewhere else but it fell through so we ended up booking here on a "treat yo self" splurge! Although the hotel comes with a hefty price tag, the stay was amazing! We spent the day by the pool and beach! The next morning we went kayaking, which was included in the stay! You can also go paddle boarding. Then we ate at the restaurant near the pool (forgot the name). The owner was especially nice to us!! He saw us waiting for a table so he basically took out a table from the back and put it out so we could be seated! (It was a pretty busy morning and restaurant was packed) He even checked on us multiple times throughout breakfast! We finished up our stay by visiting the spa! Such a lovely weekend, looking forward to doing it again! read more

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I have stayed at most of the historic Florida resorts like The Breakers or Biltmore, but never made it to the Don CeSar. At over $500 a night I had high expectations for a 5 star experience which was not the case. The hotel is quite frankly shabby not clean. I say that not subjectively, but when dirty dishes and dead roaches were in our hallway ALL day in spite of letting the front desk know about the problem I can't recommend this hotel to anyone. The reviews on a number of sites were generally good and I rarely post unless an experience is exemplary or horrible. read more

Don't waste your money. This property has seen it's better days. Rooms are very small and front desk personnel leaves a lot to be desired. Our room ( Luxury King w a view ) turned out to have a partial view and the majority of that view was looking down into a dumpster. Right out side of bed window on the 3rd floor was their surveillance cameras. We had to close our curtains so we weren't surveilled. It was awful. Pool was nice enough and the beach was nice. But the property itself was a huge disappointment. MUCH better hotels in St. Pete. read more

A classic landmark and a terrific venue for an official Yelp event. Floor 5 with it's event rooms made for interesting maze of discovery. Security and staff seemed really on the ball. $20 + tip for valet parking seemed a little steep, but this is a first class hotel with premium service and premium prices. I glanced at the menu posted outside the restaurant, and it looked very interesting as well. I stayed at this hotel in 1980, when I traveled from NY to Tampa to house hunt after accepting a transfer with IBM. The hotel has been excellently maintained, and looks as good if not better than during that stay so long ago. I hope to be able to stay there again for a brief vacation. read more

I haven't stayed here, but I have gone a bunch of times to show my tourist friends and family. Had some drinks at the bar, and hung out at the two pools and beach. I just love it here, so classic beauty. I love that everytime I go here there are a bunch of weddings on the beach. We got married on a beach so everytime I go here I think of that. There's a special feel to this place, and I feel like it's a nice staycation spot even just to see and hang out. I guess I'm fortunate to be so close. If you are traveling here for vacation, you will definitely feel like you are on a tropical vacation. To me, in my world, that is perfect! The kids will love the pool, the parents will love the happy kids, and it being right on the beach, and the pet dog will also feel very welcomed. There is food at the bar, and a great drink menu. There is also a nice restaurant where you can sit inside and outside. The gift shops in side are very cute as well. This is a place to stay, take pictures, and love life. read more

We came back to visit St Pete beach and Don Cesar's after being gone for years. Reservation as made in advance by Priceline App. Big Mistake. I should have went directly to Don Cesar to have a look first. Just not the high quality it used to be. From misleading description (casual shouldn't mean crappy) the overcharging after booking, to the lack of upkeep at the facilities, and what's with the lousy music by the pool??? One of the songs actually had gross words blasting out as your trying to relax by the pool. I complained when I checked in, the girl behind the counter said "I'm sorry, you booked through a third party so I can't do anything about it" I was really disappointed and I just don't think I could see returning. read more

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1. Rooms are very small, barely room to sit on toilet 2. Walls are paper thin.. can hear everything 3. Staff not enforcing masks on guests. Many people walking around without masks 4. Partial party scene. People going in and out of rooms until 2am, no repercussion from security 5. $40 resort fee desperate many of the options being eliminated or reduced during covid Save your money and stay elsewhere. Come to The Don for a meal but don't stay. It's not worth it. read more

Disclaimer- We stayed there a few years ago and we knew someone in management at the time who listed us as VIP's so of course service was good. We stayed there because I love Pink and for no other reason. I know it is silly but I always wanted to stay there. We had the One bedroom Gulf side suite. We had a huge marble bath which I used. It felt secluded like we had the hotel to ourselves. We usually ate out but did have Sunday brunch at the hotel. Everything was lovely. In my opinion it is good for a romantic get away and or a wedding. Florida is practically a suburb of NYC so it is a close little get way! read more

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Not a review but a BIG caution. Don Cesar is a classic building from another era which seemed to be a fun destination so we met with friends at this half way point between our homes to have lunch. Didn't ever even get into the building as the hotel parking lot, the only place in blocks to park, is $28, not a farthing less! Beware as when I made the reservation no mention! read more

Drove up from Sarasota to visit "The New Don" and enjoyed the most enticing wine and small bites at the Society Table & Rowe Bar. Zack was the best and most engaging waiter who made our visit even more enjoyable. I look forward to returning and will definitely ask for Zack again. read more

Beautiful place, but wasn't made to feel very welcome by certain staff. Ended up eating at causal dining spot on lower lever (server Zaaron was super great and accommodating)- oysters were just so so, flatbread wasn't anything special. Not sure I'll be back as what I paid didn't match my expectations. read more

The week following my stay here, I drove back up to the Don Cesar with my dad. I knew that he'd want to see it since both of us have seen the Pink Palace of the Pacific (The Royal Hawaiian). I knew he'd be excited to see how pink it is and to learn about the history of the hotel. In my room I had seen a brochure that says the hotel holds history tours. Complimentary tours run Tuesday through Sunday at 9:30am and 12:30pm. The meeting point is the concierge desk. The tour is free for guests. Since we weren't staying at the hotel there was a nominal fee. I want to say $5 per person but don't quote me on that. (If you do this, be aware you still have to pay for parking.) My dad and I went on the 12:30pm tour. We were the only people in the group so we were able to ask quite a few questions. Our guide was from Hawaii so my dad was quick to ask her lots of questions. My dad is fascinated with Hawaii so it was super cool that we went to this Pink Palace and that our tour guide was Hawaiian. I started to get really conscious of my dad wanting to talk about the other Pink Palace so much but after a bit I realized that, while our tour guide really wanted to finish our tour on time, she actually enjoyed the questions. I really don't remember the history of the hotel that well but I can tell you there are lots of pictures that make it easy to all understand. Besides, if I did remember I'd only ruin the tour for you. I'm a history buff so this tour really added a lot of value to the hotel for me. And the fact that it's in Florida is just awesome. I like modern hotels, but sometimes they make me sad from how cookie cutter they are. Not the Don Cesar - it is definitely not a cookie cutter hotel. If you truly want to understand how the Don came to be and how it changed the course of history for little area that it is in, you should go on this tour. Eat some ice cream while you're there. Overpriced? Why yes it is because it's in a luxury hotel. But it's quite yummy and after the tour, you'll appreciate the space in which the shop resides. read more

Desmond was working the bar late at Society when my family just checked in after traveling 8 hours with no food. The kitchen just closed and we had limited options. Desmond went above and beyond to serve us. My family and I will forever be grateful for the service we recieved. read more

I've visited The Don CeSar several times most recently for a Yelp event. The views are always gorgeous & the venue is packed to the brim in rich history. If you have time; sneak down stairs to the ice cream parlor, the coffee ice-cream is delicious. read more

The Don CeSar - Resorts Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

It's like a big pink castle on the beach! This building was built in the 1920's and is part of The Historic Hotels of America. You can feel how old it is once you step into your room. The floors creak and you can easily hear your neighbors. But that's part of the charm, I say! The staff was amazing! They will cater to your every need. There's a little shopping center and an ice cream parlor on the premise. One night we walked to the ice cream parlor only to find it already closed. One of the staff members walking by saw us in our disappointment and said we could request for it to be reopened just for us! How cool is that?! Almost forgot! Their beach lounge chairs have little flags that you position upwards to signal an attendant that you need another drink. Whoever thought of this must be a genius! This property is pet-friendly and has spaw services for your furry friends. read more

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Be aware of leaving your vehicle with valet. We had a screw in our tire and then two days later had a screw in yet another tire. Now need 4 new truck tires at a cost of $1,100. Too much of a coincidence to not be deliberate. Still no response from management. read more

Great Stay! The hotel was beautiful and beach and the pools were exceptional. The pools are heated and the lounge chairs are padded. Amazing! The food and the drinks were delicious. The only reason The Don CeSar got 4/5 stars was because the beds are hard and not comfortable, the lobby smells mugging/moldy and the hygiene products they put the the room are cheap. Toilet paper, tissues shampoo and conditioner are all super cheap. For what they charge, they should have higher quality products. Also, the rooms and bathrooms are very small and the elevators are tiny and squeaky. read more

I had such a great time staying at "The Don" as the locals call it. It is so beautiful with all of its history they have really kept the property up well. We are at the Rowe in the hotel and lounged by the beach all day. Everyone here was very helpful and pleasant. read more

The Don CeSar - Resorts Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

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I wish I could choose zero stars. One of the worst dining experiences I have had in a very long time. We had a party of 10 including four young children. We arrived at six and did not get done until week past 8:30 because of the long times it took to get our food. We asked the waitress to give us some time to look at the menu. A half hour later I had to find the manager to ask them to send the waitress back to our table. After we placed our salad and meal orders, it took another forty minutes to get our salads. I made a second complaint to the manager about the long wait times and was told they were sorry because they had some bigger groups. It took another hour to get our meals. At $600 with very little alcohol and four children's meals in the mix I expected much, much more. The food I had was serviceable but not memorable. The extremely long wait time to receive our food completely ruined the experience for me and I will go out of my way to never return read more

When I was in high school, the Don CeSar was the first fancy hotel I stayed at for a conference, and because of this early impression it has always had a positive association to me. It is a lovely hotel, with nice pools, and a gorgeous beach. Two decades later and I have found myself living in St. Petersburg for the past few years while being a graduate student, and have made many visits to 'The Don' - for meals, brunches, and drinks. These on going visits are adequate. The Don is okay, but I feel like it definitely sustains itself off of its reputation. It is a gorgeous historic building, and the service is fantastic, but it doesn't seem to meet the levels of similar class hotels I've visited in my travels. There are several different places to dine and drink at around the ground of the hotel. The drinks are well made at every bar, but the food remains unimpressive. I had a horrible meal at the Maritana Grille once - where they just grilled a block of unseasoned tofu. I have had brunch at the Don several times and it has been an odd experience each time. An example would be when my friends and I arrived once without reservations, the staff sat us, but outside on the patio. The dozen empty tables inside the restaurant remained empty the whole time- but apparently they were all fully reserved. I struggled over 3 or 4 stars. I went with 4 stars- because the Don is still an experience. It is unique, has a lot of history, and every time you visit you are going to feel special. But, it still could be better- especially its restaurants. read more