Spending Shabbos in Surfside is easy once you’re in the right spot. The shuls, the kosher restaurants and the beach all sit within a few blocks of each other, so the whole weekend can happen on foot. The hard part is picking a hotel, because a ten-minute walk on a Florida Friday afternoon feels very different from a two-minute one, and not every hotel handles key cards, elevators and candle lighting the same way.
This guide ranks the hotels in Surfside, Bal Harbour and Bay Harbor Islands by how far they are from The Shul of Bal Harbour, the community’s anchor shul, and tells you what each one is actually like for a Shabbos-observant guest.
The short answer
- Closest to shul: Sun Harbour Boutique Hotel, practically next door to The Shul, with full kitchens in the suites.
- Best for families: Residence Inn Surfside. Every suite has a kitchenette, and it’s about an 8-minute walk to The Shul.
- Most kosher-focused: The Altair in Bay Harbor Islands, which has advertised kosher breakfast, daily minyanim and a Shabbos elevator.
- Oceanfront splurge: The St. Regis Bal Harbour, about 5 minutes from The Shul.
- Oceanfront without the splurge: Grand Beach Hotel Surfside, about 3 minutes from The Shul and a block from the kosher strip.
Surfside hotels compared
| Hotel | Area | Walk to The Shul | Kitchen in room | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Harbour Boutique Hotel | Surfside | ~1 min | Yes, full kitchen | $$ |
| Grand Beach Hotel Surfside | Surfside, oceanfront | ~3 min | Varies by room | $$ |
| The St. Regis Bal Harbour | Bal Harbour, oceanfront | ~5 min | No | $$$$ |
| Residence Inn Surfside | Surfside | ~8 min | Yes, kitchenette | $$ |
| The Altair Bay Harbor | Bay Harbor Islands | ~13 min | Larger suites | $$–$$$ |
| Four Seasons at The Surf Club | Surfside, oceanfront | ~14 min | No | $$$$ |
| Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour | Bal Harbour, oceanfront | ~18 min | No | $$$$ |
Walking times are estimated at an easy family pace from each hotel’s front door to The Shul of Bal Harbour (9540 Collins Ave). Price tiers are relative: $$ is a mid-range Miami Beach hotel, $$$$ is a luxury resort. Rates swing a lot between summer and winter, so check dates before you plan around a number.
The shuls
- The Shul of Bal Harbour (9540 Collins Ave): the Chabad shul founded by Rabbi Sholom Lipskar, and the one most visitors end up at. It serves around 700 families and gets crowded in winter.
- Young Israel of Bal Harbour (9580 Abbott Ave): an Orthodox shul two blocks west, on Abbott Avenue. 305-866-0203.
- Hechal Shalom Or Oziel (310 95th St): a Sephardic shul in the middle of town, a short walk from Harding Avenue. 305-867-6024.
Everything in this guide is measured to The Shul because it sits in the middle. Young Israel and Hechal Shalom are each only a couple of minutes away from it, so if you’re close to one, you’re close to all three.
The hotels, one by one
1. Sun Harbour Boutique Hotel
9576 Collins Ave, Surfside · 305-868-4447 · ~1 min walk to The Shul
- What it is: A small, two-story Italian-style villa with a handful of suites, one block from the beach.
- Why it works for Shabbos: You can’t get closer to The Shul. The suites have full kitchens, so you can set up your own Shabbos table with food from the kosher market down the street, and a two-story building means no elevator questions.
- Keep in mind: It’s a small property with few rooms, and those rooms go fast for winter Shabbosim and simchas. Book early.
2. Grand Beach Hotel Surfside
9449 Collins Ave, Surfside · 305-674-8666 · ~3 min walk to The Shul
- What it is: The biggest oceanfront hotel in the middle of Surfside, with pools on the ground and on the roof. Its sister property, Grand Beach Hotel Surfside West, is across the street at 9418 Collins.
- Why it works for Shabbos: It sits a block from both The Shul and the Harding Avenue kosher strip, and it’s on the beach. For a family that wants a real beach hotel without a long walk, this is the sweet spot.
- Keep in mind: It’s a high-rise. Ask about a low floor and how they handle key cards before you book (see the hotel tips below).
3. The St. Regis Bal Harbour
9703 Collins Ave, Bal Harbour · ~5 min walk to The Shul
- What it is: A luxury oceanfront resort just over the Surfside line in Bal Harbour, with large rooms, ocean-view balconies and butler service.
- Why it works for Shabbos: It’s the closest of the big luxury resorts to The Shul, and the Bal Harbour Shops are across the street for the rest of the trip.
- Keep in mind: There are no kitchens, so plan your Shabbos meals ahead. Rooms are high up and use electronic locks, so talk to the front desk before Friday.
4. Residence Inn Surfside
9200 Collins Ave, Surfside · 305-514-3101 · ~8 min walk to The Shul
- What it is: An all-suite Marriott across the street from the beach, with studio and one-bedroom suites, a rooftop pool and laundry rooms.
- Why it works for Shabbos: Every suite has a kitchenette, which makes it the most practical pick for families staying a week. Pick up food at the kosher market on Thursday, keep it in your own fridge, and you’re set.
- Keep in mind: The free breakfast isn’t kosher. The walk to shul runs straight up Collins and is pleasant, but it’s long enough to feel with little kids in July.
Booking: Residence Inn Surfside on Marriott.com.
5. The Altair Bay Harbor
9540 W Bay Harbor Dr, Bay Harbor Islands · ~13 min walk to The Shul
- What it is: A boutique hotel on the water in Bay Harbor Islands, just west of Surfside across the 96th Street bridge. Suites range from studios to two-bedroom units with full kitchens.
- Why it works for Shabbos: This is the hotel built with kosher travelers in mind. It has advertised daily minyanim, kosher breakfast, a Shabbos elevator and washing cups in the rooms, and its restaurant, OVO, is glatt kosher and has offered Shabbos meal packages.
- Keep in mind: It’s the farthest from The Shul of the non-luxury options, and you cross the bridge to get to Surfside. Bay Harbor and Surfside have separate eruvin, so check your route (more below). Confirm current kosher services when you book, since programs change.
6. Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club
9011 Collins Ave, Surfside · 305-381-3333 · ~14 min walk to The Shul
- What it is: The landmark Surf Club, open since 1930, restored as a Four Seasons on the south end of Surfside.
- Why it works for Shabbos: If luxury is the point of the trip, this is the top address in town, and the walk to shul runs straight up Collins.
- Keep in mind: It’s the longest walk in Surfside proper, and there are no kitchens. Arrange meals ahead.
7. Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour
10295 Collins Ave, Bal Harbour · ~18 min walk to The Shul
- What it is: An oceanfront luxury resort at the north end of Bal Harbour.
- Why it works for Shabbos: Quieter and farther from the action, which some people want.
- Keep in mind: At almost a mile, it’s the longest walk on this list, and you’re in Bal Harbour’s eruv, not Surfside’s. Better for adults than for a family pushing strollers.
The eruv: what you need to know
There isn’t one eruv here. There are two, with different rabbinic oversight:
- Surfside has its own eruv under the supervision of Rabbi Mordechai Fuchs of Lakewood, maintained by the Surfside Minyan (786-316-5934).
- Bal Harbour and Bay Harbor Islands are covered by an eruv built and approved by Rabbi Pinchas A. Weberman.
- The beach: according to Hechal Shalom’s visitor page, the Surfside eruv includes the beach walking paths, but not the sand. In Bal Harbour, only the inner (western) walking path is included, and the pier at Haulover is not.
- Check the status every week before Shabbos at eruvalerts.com. If you’re staying in Bal Harbour or Bay Harbor and walking into Surfside, ask a local rav whether your route is covered for carrying.
Shabbos food: how to eat when you’re staying in a hotel
Most of these hotels don’t serve kosher food, so you’ll either cook in your suite or line up meals before Friday afternoon. Here’s how visitors usually handle it:
- Shop at The Grove Kosher Market (9467 Harding Ave). It has a takeout and deli counter, a butcher, wine, challah and baked goods. Go Thursday night or early Friday, before the rush.
- Order from the meat restaurants on Harding. Kosh, Josh’s Deli and Harbour Grill are all within a block or two of the hotels. Call by Thursday and ask whether they take Shabbos orders and what time to pick up.
- Book a Shabbos package if you’re at the Altair. OVO has offered full Shabbos meals for hotel guests.
- Ask about community meals. The shuls here are used to visitors. If you’d like to be hosted, call the shul office early in the week.
- Motzei Shabbos: grab dinner on Harding, or see our kosher pizza guide for who reopens after Shabbos.
Hotel-room tips for Shabbos
Big hotels run on key cards, sensors and elevators. A five-minute call to the front desk before you book saves a lot of trouble on Friday afternoon.
- Ask for a low floor so you can take the stairs. In a high-rise, ask whether the hotel runs a Shabbos elevator.
- Ask how they handle key cards. Some hotels can give you a mechanical key or have staff let you in. Others will leave the door unlatched on request. Settle it before candle lighting.
- Check the room for sensors: motion-activated lights, the fridge light, automatic thermostats and energy-saving switches. Tape or turn them off before Shabbos.
- Ask about candles. Many hotels don’t allow open flames in rooms. Ask whether they have a spot for candle lighting, and ask your rav what to do if they don’t.
- Bring a hot plate or urn if the hotel allows it, and ask your rav about using it in a hotel room.
Making a week of it
Surfside is built for families: the beach is a block from Harding, the restaurants are clustered together, and you don’t need a car. For where to eat with kids, see our kid-friendly Surfside guide. For every kosher spot in town, see kosher restaurants in Surfside. Planning ahead for Yom Tov? Our Pesach 2027 guide compares South Florida programs.
FAQ: Shabbos in Surfside
Which hotel is closest to The Shul of Bal Harbour?
Sun Harbour Boutique Hotel at 9576 Collins Ave is about a one-minute walk away. Among the larger hotels, Grand Beach Hotel Surfside at 9449 Collins is about three minutes away, and the St. Regis Bal Harbour is about five.
Is there a kosher hotel in Surfside?
None of the hotels in Surfside itself is a kosher hotel. The closest thing is The Altair in Bay Harbor Islands, across the 96th Street bridge, which has advertised kosher breakfast, minyanim, a Shabbos elevator and a glatt kosher restaurant. Most visitors stay in a regular hotel and eat from the kosher restaurants and market on Harding Avenue.
Is there an eruv in Surfside?
Yes. Surfside has its own eruv under Rabbi Mordechai Fuchs, and Bal Harbour and Bay Harbor Islands share a separate eruv approved by Rabbi Pinchas A. Weberman. Check eruvalerts.com before every Shabbos.
Which Surfside hotels have kitchens?
Sun Harbour Boutique Hotel has full kitchens in its suites, Residence Inn Surfside has a kitchenette in every suite, and The Altair’s larger suites have full kitchens. The luxury resorts generally don’t.
Do I need a car for Shabbos in Surfside?
No. If you stay anywhere between 90th Street and 96th Street on Collins Avenue, the shuls, the kosher restaurants on Harding Avenue and the beach are all within walking distance.
Stayed somewhere we should add, or have a Shabbos tip for visitors? Let us know and we’ll update this guide.