(Please note that this property is currently closed for renovation) – The original icon of South Beach as we know it, Delano has a hearty dose of the flash, sass, and sophistication that everybody heads to Miami Beach for. From the moment guests saunter up the open stairs and into the dramatic, billowing white-draped lobby (the brainchild of acclaimed designer Philippe Starck), the surreal trip begins.
While it’s considered an Art Deco “boutique hotel,” Delano has almost as much to offer as any resort you’d find in Vegas, with enough enticing facilities to keep you on-site the whole trip. There’s the sexy Rose Bar.
From the Eames furniture to artwork by Dalì and Gaudi, Delano is a style landmark.(with its highly social pool table), a 6,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor penthouse spa/solarium, and the stunning palm-ringed infinity pool, with its soothing underwater music and its signature: seemingly floating silver table and chairs.
Alice in Wonderland-style whimsy is everywhere, including the poolside “orchard” — a landscaped lawn dotted with such curiosities as an antique daybed and oversize chessboards.
For sushi, there’s Blue Sea; for sumptuous seafood (and a fabulous weekend brunch), there’s master chef Claude Troigros’s elegant Blue Door Fish; for more casual brasserie fare and late-night dining, there’s Plat Bleu; and for late-night mingling and live music, there’s the Kravitz–designed Florida Room piano lounge, a hot spot since it arrived on the SoBe scene.
Tim Andreas and Banjo AD recently revamped the spa and the guestrooms, expanding on Starck’s original vision. Gone is the severe white-on-white-on-white milieu; in its place is an enhanced, updated palette and a new, casual opulence.
Ian Schrager and Philippe Starck left a lasting mark on Miami’s strip. From the Eames pieces and crystal chandeliers to the works by Dalì and Gaudi, Delano is not just a hotel, it’s a landmark.
What to do
Explore Within walking distance is the Bass Museum of Art, filled with Renaissance and Baroque collections and sprinkled with modern photography, Latin American sculpture, and Asian antiquities.
Swing – Most travelers don’t equate compact South Beach with spacious golf courses, but the Miami Beach Golf Club is just a few blocks away. This 18-hole course opened in 1923; it was laid out by famed designer Arthur Mills, who was responsible for more than 160 courses.
Dance – Leave the kids at home and head to LIV, Miami’s hottest nightclub.
Dine – It’s worth every penny, Scott Conant’s simply sublime spaghetti with tomato and basil at Scarpetta, a short ride south down Collins Ave.
We wrote a dedicated page about Delano South Beach.
