The Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive may garner more attention, but across the Venetian Causeway, on residential Belle Isle, lies one of Miami’s best hotels.
Nestled on tranquil Biscayne Bay, with a European-style infinity pool providing the backdrop, The Standard Miami Beach affords guests luxury without the outrageous rates. One of four Standard Hotels in the United States, the Andre Balazs, Scandinavian-inspired spa hotel is understated in its décor yet efficient in its layout, with rooms just a stone’s throw from the lobby, restaurant, spa and pool.
Accommodations are smart and stylish. The décor is subtly modern, with mellow white and blonde woods, blending old school Miami with Scandinavian design in what has become a classic South Beach look. The hotel doesn’t have any rooms with two beds, however, so think twice before booking a bachelor party or business trip. The Spa at The Standard features a hot tub with waterfall overlooking the bay, a hammam, an aroma steam room and a cedar sauna.
Like most hotels in the area, the action centers around the pool, so get there by 10 a.m. and claim your turf. Skeptics may point to The Standard’s lack of beach-front real estate as a reason to stay elsewhere, but ask yourself: how many of the fabulous people staying at the Delano and Shore Club actually hit the surf?
Overhanging the bay, The Standard’s pool area provides not only a mind-easing view, but an enhanced sense of space, making the small, bungalow-laden property seem wide open as you gaze at the turquoise water from your chaise longue.
So order a pitcher of Pimm’s Cup (you will pay South Beach prices for the drinks), let your mind wander and enjoy the beautiful women basking in the sun.
Fortunately, not everything at The Standard Miami Beach is understated.
The Standard Miami Beach Hotel and Spa
40 Island Avenue
Miami, F.L. 33139
305-673-1717
This article was originally published on GoodLife Report and has been republished by Pursuitist by permission of GoodLife Report
