Fodor's Expert Review Pier House Resort & Spa

This upscale resort, near Mallory Square in the heart of Old Town, offers a wide range of amenities, including a beach and comfortable, traditionally furnished rooms. The location—on a quiet stretch of shore at the foot of Duval—is ideal as a buffer from and gateway to the action. Its sprawling complex of weathered gray buildings includes an original Conch house. The courtyard is a riot of tall coconut palms and hibiscus blossoms, and rooms are cozy and colorful, with a water, pool, or garden view. Six top-of-the-line suites extend over the water with sunset views. Rooms nearest the public areas can be noisy.