Miami Smart Splurges

Not too flashy yet chic enough to attract the haute crowd, this striking boutique is ideally located in the middle of the South Beach scene. In the maze of stylish, cutting-edge properties that monopolize Miami, the Sagamore sets itself apart with its impressive collection of contemporary art, photography, and sculpture; the oceanview gallery is lined with original works by celebrated artists. The vast all-white lobby stretches to the hotel’s “backyard” complete with a narrow, green lawn dotted with cushy, mod seating, an infinity pool, and an alfresco café. Apartment-like rooms offer ample space and homey comforts. All 76 suites, 16 two-story bungalows, and the penthouse, feature separate bedrooms with plush pillow-top mattresses and a sitting area with a pull-out sofa bed (the bungalows also come with full-kitchens with beer and champagne in the fridge, and top-shelf vodka in the freezer). White dominates the color scheme aside from some muted accents and a few dark-wood furnishings. Some rooms overlook the ocean, but the ultimate views are those from the rooftop penthouse. Off-season rates here are a real steal since you and a few friends can share an apartment-size suite.

Commanding a sweeping view of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami, the newest (and ritziest) Mondrian is the creation of Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, who described it as “the castle of the Sleeping Beauty.” Indeed, the hotel is wonderfully fanciful, from the crystal chandeliers that double as showerheads to the Dutch Delft tiles bedecked with Miami Beach motifs that adorn the kitchens. Like its brethren in West Hollywood and Arizona, the hotel fosters a white-hot nightlife, baiting scenesters with a hip Asia de Cuba restaurant and the Sunset Lounge, where revelers can sip Caipirinhas from the vantage of an adult-sized sandbox. At the same time, an air of tranquility pervades the Mondrian, perhaps most pronouncedly around the pool and its gardens, where comfy cabanas and hammocks abound.

Designated a National Historic Landmark, Coral Gables' grandiose Biltmore is a 1926 Mediterranean Revival dowager overlooking its own 18-hole links. Steeped in romance, history, and mystery, the impressive estate is marked by a 300-foot tower (meant to imitate the Giralda  Tower at the Cathedral of Seville), and features gorgeous arches, courtyards, and vaulted ceilings, further accenting the overall palatial Spanish style. Ginger Rogers and Al Capone were regulars here; his 13th-floor suite is purportedly haunted. Spooky rumors also include ghostly sightings of wounded soldiers from the days when the property was briefly used as a World War II VA hospital. Its famous 23,000-sqaure-foot pool, supposedly the largest in the country, is a beauty, indeed, lined by statues, and surrounded by cabanas, chaise lounges, and a bar where the old diving platform used to be. It’s here that Johnny “Tarzan” Weissmuller swam and Esther Williams starred in her aquatic shows. The hotel's 276 rooms are just as cinematic and its Sunday Champagne brunch in the courtyard legendary.

The Delano's fanciful and extravagant setting, created by none other than Schrager and Starck, attracts the usual scene-sters: models, rockers, fashionistas, and celebs galore. But beyond the pretty starlets lounging poolside, you can’t help but be taken with the dazzling 250-foot-long lobby. Its towering columns, floor-to-ceiling windows, billowing sheer curtains, oversized mirrors, and seductive, dimly-lit bar create a hauteur-than-though vibe that oozes cool. The private beach is dotted with peach-and-white tents and stashed with beach balls and pool toys. The slender far-stretching pool (complete with an under-water sound system) is always surrounded by bathing beauties. The 194 rooms, suites, and poolside bungalows are swathed all in white and sparsely decorated with original Philippe Starck-designed furniture. When money is no object, the two-story bungalows are ultra-fabulous with a prime spot beside the pool, as well as closest to the ocean, and feature deluxe marble bathrooms and large soaking tubs.

Recently renovated, this Miami Beach classic exudes sophistication and service in a town that often lacks both.

2008 SMART LUXURY WINNER
Top Design and Top-Notch Service

Redesigned by Bravo's Top Design judge Kelly Wearstler, both the rooms and public spaces at the Tides combine 21st century luxury with Art Deco and upscale beach club themes: Spacious rooms come with iPod docking stations and Molton Brown toiletries, plus custom-designed touches such as hammered-brass desks and travertine floors. All 45 suites also boast panoramic beach views. The restaurant, La Marea, got a new terrace for alfresco dining, and in the lobby there’s the sleek new Martini Bar and Coral Bar, which offers 30 different types of rum alongside an array of cigars. Another fresh perk is that each guest is assigned the services of personal assistants who can do anything from unpack suitcases to press clothing before an evening out on the town. See more Smart Luxury Award winners

 

Not only can you buy the wares of local artists here, you can also watch them at work in their ateliers.

Renting a yacht is an unforgettable way to experience the flashy Miami Vice lifestyle, if only for a day. Channel Don Johnson as you slip into a pair of docksiders and light a cigar on the deck of your private chartered yacht. Take the helm as captain or hire a full service crew to navigate the turquoise Biscayne Bay while you kick back and relax, cold beverage of choice in hand.

Miami’s electric nightlife scene gets sensual at South Beach’s glamorous Skybar at The Shore Club. Party-hardy celebrities (the likes of Jessica Simpson, Lindsey Lohan, and Matthew McConaughey) and fashionitas mingle in an intimate labyrinth of lantern-lit tropical gardens, poolside cabanas, and four full-service bars.