Newly Renovated $2.5 Million Lobby Sushi & Cocktail Bar

11-Foot Tall Jellyfish Aquarium, Snow-Infused Drink Rail, Cocktail Cubbies & More

Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort will unveil a new lobby sushi and cocktail bar, Korals, on September 25. The $2.5-million redesign expands the lobby to include nearly 1,000 square feet of additional space, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, and a sushi bar with a Bisazza tile mural backdrop. The focal point of the new space, a custom-designed, 11-foot tall, three-foot wide, 3,600-pound aquarium column, will showcase live Hawaiian moon jellyfish, known for their unique coloration and adaptability to various environments. The new onyx bar will feature a four-inch chilled drink rail to keep cocktails cold, using a thin layer of man-made snow. Korals will serve select appetizers and small plates from the hotel’s signature restaurant Kurrents.

“The design of Korals reflects the resort’s island-style Balinese theme, with a sophisticated and contemporary beach feel,” said Rick Medwedeff, general manager of the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort. “This new experience, from the aquarium to the sushi bar, is the icing on the cake of the resort-wide $200-million renovation project over the last five years.”

The new layout of Korals will double the seating area in the lobby to accommodate up to 119 guests and will include three communal tables, three half-round booths, fainting lounges, window seating and intimate cocktail cubbies surrounded by drapes. For cocktails, Korals will serve martinis, sake martinis, mojitos and a selection of wines from the property’s extensive collection. Cocktails will range from $9-12 and specialty sushi rolls will be $11-15.

Visually and conceptually, Korals will mirror the shoreline of Marco Island, using shades of blue, green and gold to illustrate the ocean, marshes and sunset. More dramatically, there will be freeform wooden elements suspended above the 12-seat backlit bar inspired by the mangroves of South Florida. “The wooden ribs, and their reflections, emulate Marco Island’s magnificent mangroves as they reach out of the glassy water into the sky. Incorporating this indigenous element provides a regional feel to the lobby setting,” said Malcolm Berg of Edge of Architecture in Coral Gables, the architect for the redesign project.

Korals will be open from 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. The sushi bar will serve Tuesdays through Saturdays, 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. For resort information, visit www.marcoislandmarriott.com or call 800-GET-HERE.