Photo: Bryan Dearsley / LuxuryVirginia
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If you’ve never really considered Virginia Beach as a contender for a luxury getaway, maybe it’s time you did. “VB,” as locals like to call it, is now the Old Dominion’s luxury radar thanks to the restoration and reopening of a landmark hotel that once saw Hollywood celebrities and American presidents stay for a sleep over. That hotel? The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club.
Now the anchor for a three-hotel “campus” located at the north end of the wonderful Virginia Beach Boardwalk, I had the great good fortune to spend a few nights at this landmark property while I explored VB. And man, did I ever like it. A lot.
From the moment I drove into the large forecourt, I was immediately impressed by the majesty of this magnificent redbrick structure and eager to see what it was like inside, too. Car safely in the hand of the valet parking crew, check-in was a breeze, and the glass of champagne I was presented a very welcome treat. Bags safely stowed in my spacious garden view room, I wasted no time to see what wonders the design crew had worked on this born-again luxury hotel.
The Story of The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club
Prior to this most recent visit, I last heard about The Cavalier while enjoying a family vacation further down the beach a decade ago. It had made the local news as after being sold to a new owner looking to restore it to its rightful place as the queen of Virginia Beach hotels.
Opened in 1929 and a testament to the energy and optimism of the United States during the Roaring Twenties, designers had taken inspiration from iconic Virginia landmarks including Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate and the University of Virginia’s Lawn for its rolling green landscape.
And it was a big place back then, spanning 350 acres along the beachfront, 290-acres of which was a golf course influenced by Scottish courses. Hunting for fowl was also available to guests, their catch then prepared and served fresh in the Hunt Room, a cozy spot still as I was later to find out.
It also featured many firsts, including bathtubs with dedicated faucets to draw water straight from the Atlantic for a saltwater soak. And with air-conditioners and fridges not yet in common use, ice water faucets provided chilled water during even the most sweltering summer days. Other luxury perks included a filtered ocean-water swimming pool, an on-site physician, a radio broadcast team, and even a stockbroker with a direct ticker from the New York Stock Exchange. A private rail depot, with direct trains from Chicago and other major hubs, ensured convenient travel, while a fleet of limousines greeted passengers arriving at local stations and ports.
Celebrity Guests and Visiting Presidents
As a history buff, it was no end of fun seeking out evidence of this early 19th century opulence. The best part was trying to identify the photos of famous actors, singers, and politicians that lined the corridors without having to cheat and read the descriptors that accompanied them. Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald were easy to spot, and both performed in the early years as the hotel’s reputation as a place for big bands to play spread across the country.
Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor, and Muhammad Ali were all instantly recognizable, as were the ten US Presidents who also stayed here at various times in their careers, including Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and even John F. Kennedy.
And as a writer, I was especially pleased to discover that Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, were frequent guests and even drew inspiration for The Great Gatsby while staying here. Kudos for The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club indeed.
Opulence of Old Meets Modernity
After a wartime spell as a radar training facility and then a private club through much of the 1950s and 1960s, it di re-open as a hotel, but it was evident The Cavalier’s glory days were behind it. Until, that is, historic landmark status was granted, and a group of savvy developers recognised the true potential of the property.
Visit today, and you’ll agree the $85 million allotted for restoration was certainly put to good use. Windows on the first floor were removed from their frames and repaired by hand, while the new décor is designed to reflect the period in which the resort was originally opened, with elegant modern twists throughout to remind us that it was completely renovated when it reopened to great fanfare in 2018.
And you don’t need to look too hard to find important links to the hotel’s opulence of old. The Hunt Room, now a pub-style restaurant, retains its original historic floor plan and serves up great food and drinks.
It was here, in fact, that I got so curious about the whiskey stills next door that I was introduced to some of the spirits distilled just steps away at the Tarnished Truth Distilling Company, the first craft distillery to be located inside a hotel in the entire US. A gin fan, I was impressed enough to take couple of bottles home with me.
A Healthy Dose of Luxury
Becca, the Cavalier’s on-site fine dining option, is a nod to the Cavalier’s original signature restaurant, The Pocahontas.Named for the Native American woman from the region near the Jamestown colonial settlement who later Anglicize her name to Rebecca (hence, Becca”). So be sure to book a table (you won’t regret it as its menu features seasonal farm-to-fork dishes using Virginia produce wherever possible).
The hotel’s original indoor pool remains, too. After major renovations, it now features poolside service, private cabana rentals, and stylish lounge areas. And while the hotel’s original Beach Club no longer remains, an altogether luxurious new beachside retreat has been built where it once stood.
Accessible either via shuttle bus or undertaking a short stroll (it’s literally a 10-minute walk away, but crossing busy Pacific Avenue is a little nerve-wracking as motorists tend not to stop at the pedestrian crossings provided), it’s worth the trip for its semi-private beach access, Atlantic-facing infinity pool, and poolside bar and grill.
The Beach Club is sandwiched between the other two hotels that belong to the Cavalier Campus, which is an added bonus for guests of The Cavalier. Not only did I enjoy a first-rate fine-dining experience at the Marriott’s rooftop Orion’s Roof,the next day I enjoyed a great burger and beer at Arbuckle’s Bar & Grill at the Embassy Suites on the other side of the Beachclub.
So take it from me: if you’re looking for a luxury escape in a classy old hotel in Virginia, be sure to place The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club at the top of your list of candidates. You won’t regret it.
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Bryan Dearsley is the Editor of LuxuryVirginia and a huge fan of the “Old Dominion.” He’s also Co-Founder of Riley and its luxury lifestyle websites, leading sources of news and reviews relating to luxury lifestyles and travel around the world, including the UK, Europe, and the United States.
