22 July, 2016
Miami hotels don't do casual. The Delano champions all-white everything, The Edition has a bowling alley and ice-skating rink in the basement, and then there's the five-block spectacle that is The Faena, home to Damien Hirst's nine-foot tall woolly mammoth skeleton that has been plated in 24-carat gold. And yet 1 Hotel, which occupies an entire block on Collins Avenue with its 426 rooms, feels different.
With a focus on a natural materials and a commitment to bringing the outside in, the property is far from the typical South Beach Art Deco aesthetic. The project has been certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and the lobby incorporates reclaimed wood, polished concrete floors and locally sourced materials including corral-stone. A variety of local plants provide lush landscaping throughout the property and there's a terrarium in every guest room.
1 Hotel manages to cultivate a laid-back vibe and stripped-back aesthetic without compromising or luxury or style. You'll find a fashionable crowd draped over day beds beside one of the hotel's four outdoor pools (1 has largest rooftop pool in South Beach) and juice-fuelled yoga bunnies in the wellness centre and spa, which offers a range of complimentary classes. Head to the hotel's signature restaurant Beechcraft for seasonable cuisine and fresher-than-fresh seafood.
The whole experience is very Miami, but also not Miami at all.
Rooms at 1 Hotel have been converted from former condominiums so they are huge (700 sq ft on average) and come fitted with full kitchens and bathrooms complete with cavernous tubs and separate rainwater showers. In keeping with the hotel's natural colour palette, expect rough-hewn white oak and a wood-grained tile floor. Be sure to test out the yoga mat which comes with in-room programming.
The breakfast buffet at Beechcraft helmed by Tom Collicchio packs a serious punch. Feast on cereals, yoghurt with fresh fruit, eggs any style, bacon, waffles, pastries, cold cuts of meat - and don't forget to stop by the juice bar.
For surf, go for seafood at Tom's Beechcraft or poolside restaurant The Sandbox. For turf, STK is attached the body of the hotel.
Yes - there's a lobby lounge bar known as Tom on Collins.
Four outdoor swimming pools, a 24-hour fitness centre offering complimentary Spartan training and yoga sessions, state-of-the-art spa, access to a fleet of Tesla vehicles for complimentary rides within a three-mile radius, beachwear boutique, in-room communication app, 24-hour concierge and room service, free wifi.
Make use of the 1 Hotel South Beach App through which you can set the temperature and lighting of your room, change television channels, order room service and make a reservation at the hotel restaurant. At $39, breakfast at Tom's isn't exactly cheap. You can grab a juice and muffin at the stand in reception. It's a party place at the weekend.
Miami Beach is literally on your doorstep. Bass Museum of Art - this contemporary exhibition space is currently closed for renovation and will open again in December 2016. Soho Beach House - the most laid-back Soho House we've seen yet. Address 2341 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States
