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Miami Hotel Mambo / Airport Hotels / Hotel Openings / Hotel Delays / Hotel Opening Rates / Hotel Pools / Green Hotels / Element Hotels / → All Tags
Everything Takes a Bit Longer in Miami, Including the Opening of Element
If there's one thing that Miami and hotel openings have in common it's that they both make you wait longer than you'd like. Especially when you need to get permits from City officials to open your doors.
Which is all to say: we're not surprised that Element Miami is still a few weeks away and not already open as we thought it might be by now.
The hotel's website is saying Opening February 16--but taking reservations from March 1. A rep for Element tells us it's safe to say it will be open in 'late February.' And the earliest night we could find a room is March 11, for $159 a night.
Hotel Rumors / Miami Hotel Mambo / Ace Hotels / Hotel Hype / Sydell Group / → All Tags
An Ace Hotel is Not Coming to Miami (We Don't Think)
A recent blog post on design site, PSFK had our hearts aflutter with this headline, "Ace Hotel Miami Tests Whether Or Not Room Color Effects Your Mood" but when we clicked to read the story, it was actually about a color project at the Ace Hotel Palm Springs. Not sure why PSFK messed up the headline but we started to wonder if an Ace Hotel really was coming to Miami.
That curiosity lead us to this post from Miami Rankings which had some good scoop:
We aren’t getting an Ace Hotel here in Miami but the Indian Creek Hotel on South Beach is going to be renovated and reopening as an upscale hostel (note the errant ‘s’ in that word) that is owned by the same folks who own the Ace Hotel in NYC and Palm Springs. But here’s the fun part–the Sydell Group’s properties include the following restaurants: The Breslin Bar and Dining Room, The John Dory Oyster Bar, No. 7 Sub, and others. Anticipated opening date: Fall 2012.
Miami Hotel Mambo / SLS Hotels / Hotel Openings / SBE / Sam Nazarian / Philippe Starck / Hotel Bathrooms / → All Tags
Showering at SLS South Beach Will Make You Pretty in Pink
With the opening of The SLS Hotel at South Beach coming up in April, we're officially in stalking mode.
Don't worry, we're not creeping around the construction site, a bunch of roses and unrequited love notes in hand. But we are checking out the hotel's website and Facebook page religiously, anxiously awaiting any new crumb of a detail or sneak peek of what's to come in one of the most anticipated hotels of the year.
This week, our devotion was rewarded: look at the pretty-in-pink renderings of the guest bathrooms that were just posted!
Miami Hotel Mambo / Gansevoort Hotels / Starwood Capital / Hotel Rebrandings / Hotel News / → All Tags
Gansevoort Miami Beach Finally Drops The Gansevoort and is Now Known as The Perry
It's lights out for The Gansevoort in Miami Beach
Nearly two years after the Gansevoort South/Miami Beach actually ceased to be a Gansevoort Hotel, we've now got word that the hotel has changed its name and will also get started on some much-needed renovations.
Miami-based tipster @DeeTCL tells us the hotel is no longer bank-owned, that Starwood Capital (not Starwood of the W Hotels) has moved in and that the hotel is going by the name, The Perry. Renovations will start soon and will be done in two years. However, despite Starwood's involvement, Coral Hospitality will remain on board as the management company. Already, the Gansevoort's website seems to be defunct while the perrysouthbeachhotel.com is up and running.
Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Restaurants / Kimpton Hotels / → All Tags
Sampling The Street Food-Inspired Fare at The Surfcomber's Lantao Kitchen
The reason we were scoping out the lobby designs at The Surfcomber the other day? We were heading to the hotel's new Lantao Kitchen for lunch.
We were intrigued by the sound of street-food-inspired South East Asian cuisine and a casual setting where sharing plates was welcome. Miami Beach is a bit of a wasteland when it comes to good Asian food (aside from sushi), and we were hankering for some spice.
Since Lantao is located towards the back of the hotel, out by the pool, we got to stroll through the lobby and enjoy the gorgeous Miami weather en route. There is outdoor seating available but we opted for the air-conditioned comfort inside.
Miami Hotel Mambo / Guess The Hotel / Kimpton Hotels / Hotel Rebrandings / Hotel Design / Hotel Pools / → All Tags
A Look at The Kimpton Surfcomber's Beefed Up Decor and Pool Scene
How did you go with our last Guess The Hotel game? Did you identify the home of those cow statues by the pool as The Surfcomber? If not, you're dead wrong!
We took a peek at the new Kimpton-on-the-beach the other day, and found a spacious lobby with lots of designy quirks and an awesome pool deck with cabanas a-go-go and plenty of space to stretch out on regular ol' daybeds and outdoor beanbags in the sand, too.
According to a Kimpton press release,
Surfcomber’s new design-driven spaces marry the eclectic style of European Bohemia with a down home American front porch appeal. The design creates an inviting and comfortable atmosphere, with elements of surprise throughout. Combined with Kimpton’s warm and welcoming service, the hotel offers guests a retro, breezy atmosphere and a distinctive South Beach experience that is as cool as it is friendly, and as sexy as it is fun.
Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Restaurants / Four Seasons Hotels / Hotel Renovations / → All Tags
Eating on the Edge at the Four Seasons Miami
Yesterday, we took you on a spin through the new-look suites at the Four Seasons Miami. Now, it's time to eat.
Edge, Steak & Bar is also new, replacing Acqua, a more generally contemporary cuisine/power-lunch restaurant in the same space. As you can tell from the name, Edge is a steakhouse of sorts--although it's referred to as "steak lite"--and it's accompanied with lighter options like salads, sandwiches and lots of seafood.
The space is light and pretty with low-hanging lamps, a shiny, modern bar, and lots of cozy-looking banquettes surrounding the room.
Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Renovations / Sweet Suites / Four Seasons Hotels / → All Tags
Life is Suite in the Refreshed Rooms at the Four Seasons Miami
Ever since the Four Seasons Miami freshened up its rooms last fall, we've been trying to get in and take a peek. That's been problematic because the hotel has been consistently sold out.
Last week, we finally got a look at a couple of suites (yep, the regular rooms were all booked), located on the 28th and 29th floors of the tower.
Even though they're suites--and pretty sweet ones at that, with oodles of space and panoramic views--you can get a good idea of what the regular rooms look like from scoping out the pictures in our gallery. The color schemes are similar, and the soft furnishings and new-look window seats are the same in the entry-level rooms--also pretty spacious at a generous 500 square feet.
Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Restaurants / Delano / Morgans Hotel Group / The Light Group / → All Tags
Bianca Checks Into The Delano on Friday—Come Hungry (And Rich)
It seemed sudden when we first learned the news that Blue Door Fish was closing and a new restaurant would be opening in its place at the Delano Hotel. It still does, as the revamp has moved at Light Group-speed (heh) and Bianca opens her doors on Friday.
We actually loved the food at Blue Door Fish, so we're sad about that loss but excited to see what the Italian, farm-to-table, Slow Food-movement menu at Bianca actually tastes like.
Valentine's Day Hotels / Miami Hotel Mambo / Romantic Hotels / Hotel Spas / Hotel Restaurants / → All Tags
Get Steamy in Miami With These Valentine's Day Hotel Deals
Hotels in Miami are never cheap--and Valentine's Day is no exception. But isn't it worth dropping a little more than you're used to at this time of year? Down in South Beach, there's a breeze in the balmy air and pools to wander about in. Clothes barely required.
Here are three hotels getting their romance on for guests checking in on or near February 14...
Turnberry Isle Resort : They may have ditched the Fairmont branding but you know that phrase, 'Go big or go home?' Yeah, Turnberry's all over that with its Love on the Rocks package.
Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Pools / Hotel Renovations / → All Tags
The Pool is Now Open at Hotel Breakwater
Last year, Ocean Drive got a revamped Deco hotel with a SoBe scene vibe in Hotel Breakwater. Now, at last, the hotel has unveiled its pool, making it one of the few hotels on Ocean to have one--especially one facing the actual ocean across the street.
As you can see, it's not very big, but we do admire its modern look and simplicity. We imagine the beauty of taking a dip here has more to do with the hangover cure qualities of the water and the view than with anything as athletic as swimming laps.
Miami Hotel Mambo / Hotel Renovations / Hotel Pools / Hotel Restaurants / Historic Hotels / → All Tags
The National Hotel Miami is Getting a Little Work Done
** UPDATE: We hear from the National's PR reps that the Airstream is no longer part of the renovation plans. Sounds like the Preservation Board nixed those plans after all. But the backyard kitchen is getting a reno--with a new sundeck for daybeds on top--so that's something.
As you can see from our snapshot, Miami's National Hotel is getting a little top-work done. Perhaps in an effort to keep up with the Joneses--or, on this stretch of Collins Ave, with next-door neighbor Delano, the newly glammed-up Shelborne and the soon-to-open SLS South Beach?
As an historic property, the National has to adhere to restoration preservation guidelines and it's from the Miami Beach Preservation Board's minutes that we found out a little more about the spit-and-polish going on here.
Back in November, the National got approval for the partial demolition, renovation and restoration of the existing hotel-- including design modifications to the interiors and exteriors, construction of a new entrance canopy and construction of a new single-story building at the pool deck. That beachfront area out back will also get spruced up in the landscaping department, and it sounds like there will be additional roof deck space for guests to get their sun on.
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