Checking In
Ian Schrager helped rekindle the South Beach scene with the Delano 17 years ago, and now he is making a grand return with the Miami Beach Edition. The 294-room property—which includes private bungalows—was designed by Yabu Pushelberg, a firm known for creating quiet elegance, and feels like a self-sufficient haven. Jean-Georges Vongerichten serves tapas at the Matador Room, and you can work up an appetite ice skating, hitting the spa, taking in movies at the outdoor theater, or simply sipping aperitifs by the fire pit. There’s even a bowling alley, where, during the fair, guests can throw strikes with artist–designed balls. Our pick: the Jules de Balincourt.
The Thompson Miami Beach has opened after a renovation (with interiors by Martin Brudnizki, who is also responsible for the Soho Beach House) that minds the towers’ original midcentury architecture, while adding a luxurious spa; tropical garden lounges; and a brasserie, Seagrape, from favorite local celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein. There is even a cocktail bar with a focused menu, set in a 1930s Mediterranean Revival house at the back of the property, where one can partake of classic cocktails and crudo.