On Virginia Beach’s 18th Street, a new boutique hotel is quietly redefining what a beach getaway can look like. The Sitio Hotel opened in April inside Atlantic Park, Virginia Beach’s new cultural and lifestyle district, and from the moment you arrive—ocean air drifting through the window, a woven bag of beach essentials (coconut water, cookies, sunscreen) waiting by the door, room service on speed dial, and a surfboard on a custom rack just outside your room—it’s clear this isn’t a typical hotel experience. Whether you’re here to surf, catch a concert, or eat exceptionally well, the Sitio has thought of all of it and more.
The 20 rooms are designed around the idea of laid-back beach culture done well—not just aesthetically, but locally. Signature pieces from Virginia Beach makers Benevolent, Goold Furniture and Design, Wooden Object Studios, and North End Bag Co. fill the spaces, paired with Libeco Belgian linens. Custom beach towels by Schulyer Beecroft, a world-renowned Virginia Beach native artist, connect back to his “Dispersion” mural located at the Surf Lagoon. Hallways are lined with work by French artist Jene-René—known globally as JR and personally to Pharrell Williams, another Virginia Beach export and Atlantic Park visionary—giving the hotel genuine cultural weight.
Seven rooms have private balconies, and an infinity pool and The Sunroom bar and lounge all face the Atlantic Park Surf Lagoon—the property’s true centerpiece. The Wavegarden Cove, which opened in late 2025, is North America’s first surf lagoon of its kind. It runs year-round, generates 1,000 controllable waves per hour, and requires no prior experience. The Sitio’s guests have full access, which means a surf session is as easy as stepping outside.
Beyond the lagoon, Atlantic Park fills in the rest of the picture. The Dome concert venue, premium restaurants including Nami Nori, and retail options mean there’s no shortage of ways to fill an evening after a day in the water.
The Sitio’s attention to detail is unmatched, and its choice to celebrate local makers speaks to its intention to embed itself in the heart of Virginia Beach—not just surf culture. For VB, it’s a new kind of hotel that leaves no stone unturned.
Featured image courtesy of Sitio Hotel. This article is a Virginia Living digital exclusive.
