It was love at first sight! You may remember my post from last October about SLS Hotel South Beach, which I had the great pleasure of visiting for a meeting after its recent opening. I should have known any new hotel in Miami is bound to impress. However, the totally unique design created by Phillippe Starck is one of the most enchanting spaces I have ever experienced.

So you can imagine my excitement when I was able to return to the SLS last week, this time for a two-night stay. Its website boasts the SLS experience to be a “feast for your senses,” and that it is. From the front dining area with expansive ceilings and bright white walls grafittied with quotations in various languages to the front desk lined with old-fashioned photos and frames, the décor is so intricate you could spend hours just taking it all in.   

It is still the dining areas for the The Bazaar by José Andrés, both indoors and out, that are my absolute favorite. The indoor space gives me the distinct feel of a warm mountain lodge, with thick wood tables and leather chairs. However, with the huge windows and white screens featuring prints of bookshelves lining the wall, it manages to create the bright and breezy feel of a tropical destination. On the patio, the large tables with mix-matched pillows create the ambiance of a European café. When the hot afternoon sun rolls in, the hotel lowers screens matching those in the dining area, creating shade and another eye-catching touch. 

Continuing with the theme, my guestroom did not disappoint. The bright white space with a large bed and sitting area is very contemporary yet still comfortable. A screen hung behind the bed and TV with graphics of ornate woodwork, again seamlessly combining the elegance of old and the style of new.  

SLS Hotel South Beach is well worth a visit for dinner, cocktails or, even better, an overnight stay! I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the SLS and hope to return.  

— Danielle Hudena Pitonyak, executive vice president