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3201 Collins Ave
Miami Beach FL 33140-4023

Faena Hotel Miami Beach – The Lowdown

A favorite among designers during Miami Swim Week, it’s not uncommon to witness salesmen peddling racks of fabric samples to fashion folk sipping cocktails in between shows at South Beach’s Faena Hotel, an oasis for those seeking a toned-down version of South Beach. Designed to replicate the vibe of its Buenos Aires-based sister hotel, Argentine hotelier Alan Faena tapped director Baz Luhrmann and his costume designer wife Catherine Martin to give the location a Jay Gatsby-inspired makeover, with a dash of Tony Montana thrown in for street cred. Nestled in the heart of the Miami Beach arts district, the luscious surrounds leave you feeling like you’re on the set of the latest installation of the Jurassic Park franchise, helped by Damien Hirst’s three-metre tall gilded woolly mammoth exhibition on display in the garden by the Veranda bar.

The mix of Art Deco finishes and South American hospitality works. The red and white peppermint candy-wheel colored umbrellas shading the hotel’s stylish guests are reminiscent of the French Riviera, while the 3,000-square-foot cabaret space transports you to the world of Europe’s opulent opera houses and the dazzling allure of Old Hollywood. Happy hour is best spent people watching over a signature cocktail at the Tree of Life bar outdoors, before taking the plunge into mixology at the late-night Saxony lounge, which features live DJ sets and enough tequila options to put any hustling bootlegger to shame. Boasting 169 rooms and 13 penthouse residences, the bespoke lodgings sport a blend of late-Deco retro fittings and contemporary amenities. The Penthouse Suite, which features five bedrooms, panoramic ocean views, custom furnishings by Frank Pollaro, and offers a personal butler, rents for an average of $31,500 a night. Basic Bayview rooms go for upwards of $500. The redo of the 1947 Saxony Hotel is part of a $1 billion project spanning a six-block radius on Collins Ave, which Faena hopes will revive the area’s former old-money vibe. Hirst’s sculpture, titled ‘Gone But Not Forgotten,’ is a fitting over reminder of the fact. Mr. Gatsby would approve of his mission.

STAY: Head south for a dose of sun and culture before winter hits at Art Basel in December for a mix of gallery exhibitions, satellite shows and parties.