Haute Miami: Escape the Cold With a Weekend in South Beach
Winter is approaching, which means it’s time to begin plotting your plan of escape. If you think a trip to Mexico will be necessary to find sun, warmth and beach, think again. Simply head south to Miami, specifically the South Beach area, which is at its peak during the winter months when the rich and famous come to play.
South Beach offers a wide range of accommodations for every taste—Small boutique hotels, sprawling resorts, art deco classic, modern and contemporary. It’s a peaceful sanctuary and a vibrant scene. Delano Hotel, positioned in the heart of South Beach, strikes the perfect balance. Delano is a self-contained resort, offering a private beach, pool, spa, fitness center, restaurants, bars and nightlife. A Philippe Starck and Ian Schraeger designed collaboration, Delano is frequented by celebrity clientele like George Clooney.
Upon entering Delano, billowing white curtains beckon guests into the lobby and down the long hall of the first floor. Mirrors, chandeliers and whimsical pieces of furniture are scattered throughout, such as a towering banquette à la Alice in Wonderland and a gold chair with high-heeled shoes as feet. In sharp contrast to the lobby, the hotel’s rooms and suites are decorated with glamorous simplicity in all white. If you feel the urge to work out, Delano is equipped with a fitness center, or even better, head to the Agua Spa for a massage. The hotel’s design and amenities aside, Delano’s staff and service are what make this property shine. To say that concierge Josh Brown is accommodating would be an understatement. That impossible restaurant reservation? Skipping the line for nightclub entry? Ask and you shall receive.
Delano sits beachfront with complimentary oversize beach chairs and umbrellas available to guests. Back inside Delano’s gates, the pool is surrounded by lounge chairs and along one side, white cabanas complete with a butler. The “Water Salon” features underwater music and wrought iron furniture in the shallow end. Delano’s pool bar serves up drinks and food poolside all day. To be a little closer to the action, guests can opt to stay in two-story bungalows that line one side of the pool. The Orchard connects the pool area to the hotel and is designed to be an indoor space outdoors with seating, such as an antique daybed and an oversized chess set placed on the lawn.
Though everything you could want can be found on Delano’s property, get out and explore South Beach. When you tire of the pool and beach, charter a private yacht for the day. Yacht Charters in Miami offers a selection of vessels to choose from, including a 51-foot luxury yacht, Princess Chelsea, complete with a private crew and jet ski. If you want a break from the water, Delano is within easy walking distance to Lincoln Road, a pedestrian mall consisting of outdoor cafes, boutiques and art galleries. Or for those who take their shopping seriously, visit the Bal Harbour Shops, an indoor mall filled with two stories of the big name designers: Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermès.
When staying at Delano, you don’t have to travel far for the perfect meal. Blue Door is a French restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dine inside or alfresco on the Blue Door’s terrace. Blue Sea in Delano’s lobby serves sushi to guests seated at a long community table. Miami is known for its steakhouses and while celebrity magnet Prime 112 is always a steady standby, change it up at Meat Market on the Lincoln Road Mall. True to its name, Meat Market is housed in a sexy space with beautiful people, but the real draw is the reserve cuts of meat and accompaniments like gouda tater tots and sweet potato fries with honey crème fraiche. If Asian fusion is more your style, visit London export Hakkasan at the Fontainebleau Resort.
Nights in South Beach do not end quietly after dinner. Delano offers several nightlife options. Sip a mojito in the lobby’s Rose Bar. Lounge outside and people watch at the pool bar. Or check out The Florida Room, designed by Lenny Kravitz, which offers live music and, for late night dancing, a DJ. One of the hottest clubs in South Beach is LIV at the Fontainebleau Resort, frequented by celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Rihanna. Unless you opt for bottle service, don’t expect an easy entry. Simply plan ahead and concierge Josh will provide you with the LIV manager’s name and number. One phone call will generally get you whisked in the door.
Arrange for a late flight out of Miami on Sunday (or even better, Monday morning) because as the weekend draws to a close, the party is just getting started. Sunday afternoon pool parties at the nearby Mondrian and Shore Club hotels dispel the idea that Sunday is a day of rest. Drinks flow and beach balls fly while a DJ plays music from hip hop to house. When not dancing, party-goers lounge on beds surrounding the pool. Or forego the party altogether and simply recover from Saturday night with a nap by the Delano’s pool. It’s South Beach. Anything goes.
Where to Stay
Delano Hotel
1685 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
1-305-672-2000
Where to Play
Yacht Charters in Miami
1-305-490-0049
The Florida Room
1685 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
1-305-674-6152
LIV
4441 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33140
1-305-674-4680
Mondrian South Beach
1100 West Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
1-305-514-1500
Rose Bar
1685 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
1-305-674-6400
Shore Club
1901 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
1-305-695-3100
Where to Dine
Blue Door
1685 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
1-305-674-6400
Blue Sea
1685 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
1-305-674-6400
Hakkasan
4441 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33140
1-877-326-7412
Meat Market
915 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
1-305-532-0088
