Miami Beach is a destination that started to seem played out not long ago, but a new wave of cool hotels, cultural attractions and world-class restaurants has it hopping more than ever. Two of our favorite newcomers in the hospitality sphere are 1 Hotel South Beach and The Plymouth, beautiful hotels both that happen to feature incredible restaurants right on their ground floors. The 1 Hotel is a contemporary eco-friendly complex created from a 1925 landmark, while The Plymouth is a revivified Art Deco gem in the culture-rich Collins Park neighborhood.
1 Hotel South Beach occupies an entire city block on Collins Avenue, but manages to feel surprisingly intimate. With 600 feet of stunning beachfront, including a private beach club, it celebrates nature throughout in an artfully chic way. Recycled and repurposed woods, organic materials and amenities and an earth-tone palette give it a soothing feel from the moment you walk in. It features 425 guest rooms and 168 suites ranging from two to four bedrooms. The guest rooms average 700 square feet, making them South Beach’s largest, which lends to the air of spacious relaxation.
All feature custom hemp blend-filled mattresses with 100% organic cotton bedding, as well as signature reusable recycled water glasses to use with the Triple Clear Water in-room water tap, eliminating the need for bottled water. A Tesla electric car is available for guests to book as well. The hotel features the largest rooftop pool in South Beach, as well as an adults-only rooftop with its own 110-foot ocean view pool along with a restaurant and lounge called “watr." A total of 57 cabanas and daybeds can be found throughout the property ranging from intimate two-person daybeds to the rooftop living room cabana for up to 20.
It scores another victory with the restaurant, Beachcraft, the first Miami eatery from James-Beard award winning chef Chef Tom Colicchio. The celebrated chef brings his farm-to-table style to the beach as the name implies, with an emphasis on fresh, locally caught seafood, organic produce, and grassfed meats. A large bar and open kitchen impart a welcoming vibe. A lush green wall leads to the entrance of the two-level restaurant, with private dining on the second level. Wood, stone, bronze lighting and caramel leather banquettes add to the warm atmosphere. Standout dishes include kampachi tiradito with pineapple, yuzu, mint and chili oil; and black bass with parsnip, brussels sprouts, truffle and mushroom jus.
The Plymouth, originally opened in 1940, was re-envisioned by designer Fernando Santangelo who oversaw The Raleigh Hotel in South Beach and the rebirth of Hollywood’s legendary Chateau Marmont. A pair of beautifully restored lobby murals by renowned 20th-century artist Roman Chatov both set the scene and served as Santangelo’s inspiration for the decor, which he describes as “tropical, but more South of France than South Florida.” It feels quite private after the bustle of Collins Avenue, a glamorous half-hidden retreat for those in the know, though the beach is only a few minutes walk. Not trendy or self-consciously hip, just a cool find.
One thing that will definitely have people flocking to the property is the outpost of Blue Ribbon Sushi from chefs Bruce and Eric Bromberg. The renowned Bromberg brothers have again collaborated with their longtime partner and master sushi chef, Toshi Ueki, and architect Asfour Guzy. The menu pairs classic sushi and sashimi with a number of Blue Ribbon’s specialties, including its signature fried chicken, oxtail fried rice, and salmon teriyaki. In a nod to the local delicacy, the offer California rolls made with real king crab, a total indulgence, as well as daily specialities including the most delectable toro, or fatty tuna, available. The sake menu is comprehensive and features a number of refreshing cocktails as well.
Blue Ribbon is also providing food for the Plymouth’s plush pool area, which features coral-hued cabanas and bougainvillea-covered walls. The Plymouth’s original street-front terrace is similarly decked out for elegant lounging, made private thanks to huge potted palms. Santangelo designed the hotel’s oval lobby as a series of “pockets” bedecked with vintage chairs, lamps and sofas interspersed with more modern leather pieces, with lush greenery dotted throughout, as well as hand-crafted wallcoverings and onyx-and-brass custom light fixtures. Guest rooms have a private club feel thanks to a mix of furnishings adapted to the different spaces rather than forced on them. And of course the best suite in the house has a terrace overlooking the postcard-perfect pool.
