No other city in the US reflects the glamour of the roaring 1920s quite like South Beach Miami. A building boom lead to the area’s wealth of Art Deco architechture. The lobbies and suites of these five Grandes Dames of luxurious Art Deco hotels make it easy to picture yourself in the midst of the opulent parties and flamboyant characters from The Great Gatsby.
Art Deco has become a synonym for taste, style and exuberance – the Empire State Bulding is one of its most famous examples. It originated from the French movement Art Décoratif that celebrated modern and futuristic designs, clear lines and contours, as well as influences from Egypt, Asia and South America. In the United States, Miami became the centre of the Streamline Moderne aesthetic.
By far the most prominent building in South Beach Miami, its glass and steel structure retains the curves and edges typical for Art Deco, which makes it an unmistakable landmark. The Setai shines with new renovations, for example of its mesmerising infinity swimming pools that now include an underwater sound system that lets you play your own music. The new glass mosaic and travertine tiles, imported from Spain and Italy, lift the pool’s splendour to new heights.
Its port-cochère welcomes every guest with enhanced Art Deco features such as the Dominican coral stone column casings and cedar wood from Spain for the coffer ceiling. The hotel understands how to blend the classical style seamlessly with contemporary taste. Every corner of the hotel has been revisited with improvements that chaperons the almost a century old art movement safely into the new millennium.
The Setai includes original paintings in its Art Deco lobby.
A brand that promises the highest standards, the Ritz Carlton lives up to the expectations for an Art Deco hotel in South Beach. The decorator opted for clear-cut furniture and unintrusive, soothing colours. The finesse lies in the detail – the curtains, lamps – that accentuate the subtle affinity to the old style. If you are looking for uncompromising elegance delivered in every aspect of your stay, the Ritz-Carlton is your perfect pick. The dining proves superb and your spa treatment will chase away the ghosts of a stressful work life.
The Ritz-Carlton lounge and its modern light design.
Proud of its history, Loews Hotel has put enormous effort into restoring its original Art Deco features while the quality was updated to satisfy the current standards. Now, it lives up to the expectations of delivering the high-end South Beach hotel experience: luxurious facilities inside and out. Embracing a different aspect of the visual art, it keeps the quarters furnished in one main hue, giving its guests a chance to rest their mind from the intense impressions Miami can cast upon you. Art lovers will find their stay particularly pleasing; every room has contemporary graphic prints, photography or paintings.
The Art Deco swimming pool at The Loews in South Beach Miami.
Brace yourself for a hotel that could be the definition of high-class interior design. The Delano is part of the Morgans Hotel Group, a conglomerate that has proven its excellence in the major cities of the US and Europe. An impeccable sense for balance and atmosphere radiates from every room at the hotel. There is a strong preference of white in the guest rooms, keeping the style timeless, if a little singular for the more colourful Miami travellers.
Experience Art Deco dining at the Delano in South Beach, Miami.
The name has a certain ring of days-gone-by to it – very dazzling days in fact. The original Art Deco influences have been lovingly restored and are actively maintained. Luxury is an omnipresent yet delicately handled element at The Betsy. She is truly a Grande Dame of the old style. The atmosphere of elevated class make her the ideal retreat for a modern day princess – the thought of Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly strolling through the lobby feels natural – a timeless place to dwell in.
The Art Deco style lounge at The Betsy in South Beach, Miami.
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