New Smyrna Beach, a charming beach town on Florida’s Atlantic coast, is known for its quaint streets and traditional charm, but there’s also plenty that’s new to entice holidaymakers in 2022 and to keep those already under its spell, coming back for more.
Located north of Kennedy Space Center and south of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach offers a different experience to the common or garden version of Florida that many are familiar with. The beach town offers miles of white sand, water and beach activities, thriving shopping and dining districts, boutique accommodation, natural wildlife encounters, a thriving arts scene, and a refreshing dearth of chain restaurants.
Staying in Style
Already home to a range of boutique accommodations, New Smyrna Beach will see new properties welcome guests next year and others expand or renovate their existing luxurious spaces.
Notably, the Victoria Waterfront Estate, a brand new bed & breakfast and wedding venue, will open in early 2022 in a waterfront location overlooking the Indian River. Beautifully crafted from a home built around 1883, the main house is the longest standing structure in the district. The chic bed and breakfast experience will be offered across seven elegant, individually themed rooms and suites and come complete with gorgeous outdoor gardens, artful gathering spaces, a speakeasy, a wedding venue and more.
Also, in 2022, the riverside Black Dolphin Inn, one of the area’s most esteemed luxury bed and breakfasts, will add two additional homes to its existing space, increasing its exclusive capacity. In the heart of the neighbouring Canal St. arts district, a renovation project is taking place that will see a wine bar and six accompanying guest rooms opening in place of a former ice cream parlour (name TBC).
On the beachside of NSB, Joy by the Sea is a newly-opened exclusive 5* resort perfect for family reunions, groups and events. This spectacular collection offers a four-bedroom, oceanfront beach home and six upscale beachside villas surrounding a refreshing saltwater pool. Rooms can be rented separately or together.
To accommodate larger groups, a three-bedroom oceanfront Executive Beach Home is also available, which must be rented together with the beach home and all six beach villas.
Also beachside, perfectly located where vibrant Flagler Avenue meets the sand and surf, is the Seahorse Inn. The vintage motel-style accommodation is under new ownership and will welcome guests to a fully renovated place to stay in 2022.
New Adventures in Wining and Dining
New Smyrna Beach’s delectable dining scene, full of one-of-a-kind eateries, bars and more, will see some new kids on the block in 2022.
Canal Street will see a Jimmy Hula’s open in 2022, bringing its seaside flair, delicious dishes, good vibes and “food nirvana” to the area. Jimmy Hula’s will join another new restaurant, The Spott, which opened on Canal Street in late 2021. Brits visiting New Smyrna Beach in 2022 will also see that City Market Bistro, (above) an upscale, destination seafood restaurant, opened on Canal Street (March 2021).
2022 is one of the first times that Brits can enjoy the spectacular location of River Deck NSB, which opened in early 2021. Overlooking the Indian River, River Deck offers a tropical experience, fantastic food and renowned cocktails while guests enjoy the views and marine life. New to the Flagler Avenue area is the oceanside Crabby’s Bar and Grill, which opened in late 2021 and offers seafood, family favourites, live music and much more.
Port Orange, a neighbouring town to New Smyrna Beach, saw Fysh Bar & Grill open in late 2021 and is now the largest eatery in the county, offering American, Japanese and Italian cuisine and a gelato station. Fysh also features three bars, a large rooftop with outdoor dining, stellar views and live entertainment.
Also, in the Port Orange area, Dunes Brewing opened on 1 October 2021. The brainchild of three local craft beer lovers and 25 years in the making, the 4,000 square-foot taproom features two bars with six home-grown craft brews on tap, as well as an expansive selection of wine, champagne, seltzer and cider.
Lovers of a tipple will be pleased to hear that New Smyrna Beach’s Sugar Works Distillery will expand in 2022, opening a new facility with additional seating, new dining offerings and more. Sugar Works makes and sells and offers tours and tastings of its artisanal whiskeys, rums and the rustic-styled New Smyrna Shine. And locally owned and operated tea company, Yaupon Brothers American Tea Co., will also open its much-awaited new space in 2022, where visitors can go behind the scenes, learn how the specialty teas are made and enjoy a deluxe tea tasting room.
Looking ahead to 2023
The buzz and activity in New Smyrna Beach aren’t set to end in 2022, with exciting new developments on the horizon for 2023. The ground has been broken on a completely new, 114 room hotel, opening under the Hyatt Place brand, coming to the Third Avenue area in 2023. Also, an exciting new surfing complex is set to open in 2023, featuring a wave pool amongst the 180-acre multi-use space, also slated to include a new Holiday Inn Express and restaurants.
For travellers seeking quirky independent accommodation, the existing Salty Mermaid oceanfront hotel, in a prime location for both lively Flagler Avenue and beach access, will undergo a complete redevelopment, expected during 2023.
With so many exciting developments coming to New Smyrna Beach, 2022 is the year to discover this Florida hidden gem.
If you want to learn more about New Smyrna Beach, please visit www.visitnsbfl.com.
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