Flor de Sal at the Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve — Photo by Marriott
Flor de Sal at the Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve — Photo by Marriott
Flor de Sal at the Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve — Photo by Marriott
Flor de Sal at the Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve — Photo by Marriott

Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is proud to announce the opening of Flor de Sal this summer. Situated within the stunning coastal haven of Dorado Beach, Flor de Sal combines the rich traditions of Italian cuisine with a unique emphasis on the flavor profiles of salt.

Under the direction of Chef de Cuisine Rollyn Angela and Sous Chef Alan Avila, Flor de Sal will feature salt as a key differentiator: from the tradition of staving off bad luck by throwing salt over the shoulder to the dishes themselves. In the kitchen, the team will prepare locally-sourced meat, poultry, and fish with salt (such as using Himalayan salt blocks with its signature pink hue to flavor and finish Piedmontese bone-in ribeye), while tableside presentations (such as handmade Burrata) will delight guests with an epicurean experience.

THE SALT

Flor de Sal will source the finest salts from around the world, including:

  • Bolivian Rose Salt from the Andes Mountains. Its high iron, potassium, and calcium content gives the salt a beautiful pink hue and adds sweetness to delicate dishes.

  • Halit Salt (Rock Salt) adds a pure, intense natural taste to salads, pasta, and main dishes. Just a pinch of this salt goes a long way to bringing out their natural flavors.

  • Kala Namak Salt (Black Salt) from India adds a unique fragrance and flavor with notes of earth, smoke, and tang, perfect for salads and vegetables.

  • Sale Marino (Italian Sea Salt) from the ancient salt pans of Trapani and Marsala in Sicily enhances the bread service, inspired by rustic Sicilian bread.

  • Sal de Cabo Rojo (local Puerto Rican salt) comes from the Salinas of Cabo Rojo, one of the oldest businesses in Puerto Rico (and part of the National Wildlife Refuge of Cabo Rojo), which underscores the restaurant's commitment to emphasizing the local culture, ingredients, and sustainability.

THE MENU

Each dish at Flor de Sal will celebrate the complexity of salt, using it as a transformative element that elevates the flavors to new heights.

Piatele meze with roasted garlic hummus, baba ganoush, kalamata olive tapenade, steamed artichoke, pita chips, and crudité, and a whole branzino with roasted root vegetables, farro, shaved fennel, and lemon sauce set the scene for delectable lunch dishes in a casual setting with live music.

As the sun dips below the horizon, the space transforms into a refined and bespoke setting with all the elements of a proper Italian dinner: antipasti, frutti di mare, pasta, and secondi. Featured dishes include the Tagliata di cernia cruda with salt-cured grouper, pink peppercorn, pickled fennel, charred grapefruit, and extra virgin olive oil from Sicily, caviar with basil crème fraiche, limoncello jelly, crispy capers, poached quail egg, citrus salad, red onion accompanied by blini, and filetto di manzo, a Wagyu tenderloin with Chianti wine sauce, rosemary patate fritte, Calabrian pepper aioli, and black truffle salt. Classic pizzas (margherita bufala, caponata, and prosciutto e pistacchio) are on the menu for lunch and dinner.

Complementing the culinary offering is a cocktail program by award-winning mixologist Valentino Longo. Signature drinks will expertly blend the use of salt, from flavored rims to distinctive ingredients (such as 25-year aged balsamic vinegar). Citrus-forward cocktails will artfully pair well with many dishes on the menu, while low-ABV options and the estate's exclusive 1995 Ron del Barrilito Rum ensure something for everyone.

A world-class wine list favoring white wine varietals and a rosé wine bar pair perfectly with the seafood program. And a daily aperitivo hour at the Flor de Sal bar nods to the Italian tradition of stimulating the appetite with a spritz.

THE DESIGN

The newly built seaside restaurant's design evokes the elegance and refinement of coastal Italy to Puerto Rico's Atlantic shores. Two distinct spaces, a bar and lounge area with 360-degree ocean views and a restaurant with painterly island panoramas, set the scene for memorable sunsets and an alfresco dining experience.

Hotel website

Ritz Carlton
Flor de Sal at the Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
100 Beach Drive
Dorado, 00646
Puerto Rico
+1 787-626-1100