The Pillars Hotel Tucked away on Birch Road on Fort Lauderdale’s beach is the lushly landscaped The Pillars Hotel, a small luxury property with art deco and British Colonial designs. Architect Wahl Snyder designed it in 1939 as one of the most elegant homes in the city. After it was purchased in 1997 and renovated by Michael Landry and his family, it has garnered accolades in the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice awards—ranking first in the state in 2012 and second in 2016. In 2010, Miami-based designer Zeke Fernandez further refined the design by creating larger suites and The Secret Garden dining room, which also has seating along the Intracoastal Waterway. (Those not staying at the hotel can pay $200 a year for dining club membership and receive discounts and invitations to special events.) Chef Youssef Hammi, of Morroco, brings culinary flare. pillarshotel.com