Jersey Shore’s first five-star hotel opens in Asbury Park, with room rates up to $1,050/night

A slice of New York City luxury moved to the Jersey Shore last week. The Asbury Ocean Club, a 17-story hotel-condo, officially opened its doors on the boardwalk of Asbury Park, an evolving seaside community in Monmouth County. The 54-room hotel occupies the building’s fourth floor, overlooking both the ocean and pool deck. Marketed as just a 70 minute-drive from NYC, the Asbury Ocean Club hopes to attract New Yorkers with its proximity and its prices. During peak season, rooms start at an introductory rate of $425 per night and go up to more than $1,050 per night for a penthouse suite. In the winter, rooms are offered as low as $195 per night, according to the hotel’s website.

Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios

“There’s a kind of magic to being at the beach, in any season or weather, and that’s what’s captured in every detail of the Asbury Ocean Club Hotel,” the hotel’s designer, Anda Andrei, said in a statement. “The hotel conveys a feeling you usually have to travel very far to experience – the peace and relaxation of a one-of-a-kind oasis.”

Rooms, featuring either sand dune or ocean views, boast 11-foot ceilings and wood-paneled floors, providing the feeling of a “private beach loft,” according to a press release. Out of the 54 rooms, four one-bedroom suites come with kitchens and two full baths, while seven studio lofts offer more space than the standard rooms and include seating banquettes.

Each guest gets paired with a “beach bellperson” to wait on beachgoers hand and foot. Other amenities include 24-hour concierge, a spa, Jay Wright-designed fitness center, an indoor dining spot, and a fine-dining restaurant, which will be led by a well-known chef and set to open next year. The hotel is operated by David Bowd of Salt Hotels.

At the center of the hotel is the “Drawing Room,” an all-glass room sitting on the reflecting pool. The Drawing Room includes a kitchen, bar, and music room with a baby grand piano. Solidifying its luxury status, the space offers guests a champagne cocktail cart, caviar, and a raw-bar.

Designed by Handel Architects and Anda Andrei Design and developed by iStar, the Asbury Ocean Club contains 130 condo units above the hotel. Homes range in price from a $900,000 one-bedroom to a $6 million penthouse, the most expensive unit to ever hit the market in the neighborhood.

iStar and its CEO Jay Sugarman also own the condo Monroe, the recently renovated Asbury Lanes bowling alley and event venue, and the Asbury Hotel. Sugarman, who has spent over $300 million on projects in the community, plans on constructing an additional 20 projects in the next 10 years or more, as the Wall Street Journal reported.

“Asbury Ocean Club is not just a building; it’s the resurrection of Asbury Park,” Sugarman said in a press release. “It is a symbol of the return of this town to its rightful glory and an opportunity for us to create the ultimate beach lifestyle for those who want the very best.”

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Photos by Nikolas Koenig, unless otherwise noted