Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort Opens The Merchant Room Restaurant with Celebrated Chef Gavin Kaysen

Today, two-time James Beard Award winner Chef Gavin Kaysen debuts The Merchant Room, a New American Brasserie, at the new Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort. Located off the gracious, light-filled lobby, The Merchant Room offers a refined setting inspired by the elegance of Old Florida with an expansive alfresco terrace, all with cascading views of the sparkling pool leading to the Gulf. The menu features signature in-house dry aged steaks and house-made pasta paired with the Gulf coast’s bounty.

About the Cuisine

The Merchant Room is grounded in the foundation of thoughtfully sourced ingredients and warm hospitality. The New American Brasserie concept blends Chef Kaysen’s mastery of French technique together with regional Midwestern ingredients and seasonal flavours from around the Gulf. A hallmark of the restaurant will be its in-house dry ageing program, producing exceptional cuts of meat, tender and rich in flavour.

The menu will also have a strong connection to his hometown of Minneapolis, through its handmade pasta program. From the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, the Twin Cities were the epicentre of stone milled flour production and held the title of “The Flour Milling Capital of the World.” This rich history informs the pasta program at The Merchant Room with handmade pastas featured in a variety of dishes that speak to the regional influences of the Gulf coast.

“My goal is to marry the Midwest approach of comfort cuisine with the discovery of produce we will find in Southern Florida. I am also excited to explore the fresh seafood of the Gulf, as the ocean is steps away from our kitchen,” says Chef Gavin Kaysen.

About the Beverage Program

Imaginative and precise, the cocktail program at The Merchant Room is a guidebook to forgotten classics. These lesser-known cocktails from throughout history are reimagined with modern techniques and unexpected flavour combinations that highlight the array of fresh, local produce in Florida, including a wide variety of citrus. In celebration of the Martini, guests can tailor this timeless cocktail to their individual taste by choosing from a robust menu of spirits, garnishes and accoutrements.

The wine list will have an emphasis on allocations and highly sought-after bottles from France while highlighting a global and nuanced list of selections chosen to pair well with the ever-changing seasonal menu. This curated menu of wines will also be available to guests through the in-room dining menu.

About the Design

The Merchant Room’s coastal sophistication evokes the ease and grace of Old Naples with a visually layered dining room inspired by the destination’s lush botanicals. A focal point is the hand-painted mural by accomplished artist Dean Barger that celebrates the flora and fauna of Naples with scenes of flamingos in a misty mangrove landscape. Vintage-inspired bamboo and rattan seating with natural linen upholstery line the scalloped oak bar. Wrought iron and wood-topped tables anchor the dining space paired with cognac leather seats trimmed in green piping. Hand-woven wicker birdcage chandeliers suspended from the coffered ceiling add to room’s the effortless charm. Magnificent Gulf views are expansive from a wall of windows and the al fresco terrace accessed by French doors.

Team

Alongside Chef Gavin Kaysen, The Merchant Room has a talented team to create elevated guest experiences.

Chef de Cuisine Colin Henderson brings a passion for culinary excellence having held previous roles with internationally acclaimed Chef Jean-George Vongerichten and Chef Daniel Boulud. General Manager Jordan Romine joins from Le Colonial restaurant group, where he most recently oversaw the Naples’ 5th Avenue location, lending strong expertise in the market from this local favourite. Members of the culinary team of Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort contributing to The Merchant Room include Beverage Manager Christian Favier, Executive Pastry Chef Eddy Dhenin, and Director of Food and Beverage Michael Rodriguez.

Reservations

The Merchant Room welcomes its first guests on December 8, 2025.  Reservations are required and can be made on Open Table. For updates, visit the restaurant's website and follow @TheMerchantRoomNaples on Instagram.

About Chef Gavin Kaysen

Chef Gavin Kaysen is the award-winning chef and owner of Soigné Hospitality Group in Minneapolis, Minnesota, transforming the Twin Cities dining scene with acclaimed restaurants including Spoon and Stable, Demi, Mara Restaurant and Bar, and two locations of his new bakery, café, and bistro called Bellecour. Since returning to his Midwestern roots in 2014, Kaysen has redefined dining in the region while broadening his impact with new partnerships and openings. With the aim of supporting the next generation of young culinarians, Chef Kaysen serves as the President of the ment’or BKB Foundation Team USA (formerly Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation) where he collaborates with two of his mentors—celebrated chefs Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller. For his own team, he serves as the co-founder of Heart of the House Foundation, a non-profit created in March 2020 to sustain the growth, health, and prosperity of the Soigné Hospitality family. The Merchant Room at Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort is Kaysen’s first restaurant outside of Minnesota and his second collaboration with Four Seasons.