Hotel Review: Delano, Miami

ART DECO GEM

The Delano sits on the ocean front, just one block north of Lincoln Road, a popular shopping and dining street. It’s prime South Beach real estate, surrounded by the most photogenic and historic art deco architecture.

Hidden discreetly behind a row of tall trees, pulling up to the entrance of this landmark property I sense an electricity in the air. The lobby is vast, cool and dimly lit. High ceilings, columns and billowing gauze curtains separate the space into a series of exaggerated artistic vignettes. Oversized furniture and surrealist art have an Alice in Wonderland-like quality.

Walking through to the back of the hotel is a feast for the senses, accompanied by art from Dali and Gaudi, mellow club beats and scented candles. I pass a sculpture of a giant melting handbag (a la Dali); an eye-catching transparent grand piano (gifted to the hotel by musician Lenny Kravitz); and a pyrex portrait of fashion designer Karl Largerfeld. A sleek sushi and sake bar juts out at an angle, with elegant high stools and enticing plates of sashimi and rolls being prepared. The ornate Rose Bar follows: decadent, lavish, yet private, it’s outfitted with magnificent Venetian glass chandeliers.

POOLSIDE CHIC

I approach the double doors to the pool at the back of the hotel and the music begins to build as the Floridian sun flashes through the door. I step outside and the journey continues. Passing through the restaurant, ahead is a green lawn, hammocks dangling from the palms. Beneath the impossibly blue Miami sky, the turquoise pool shimmers. Luminous bougainvillea hangs from every building, and a floral scent clings in the humid air. At the far end of the pool a silver table and chairs appear as though to float in the water. An oversized chess board is ready to be played. These surrealist touches are stylish rather than silly; intriguing and transportive.

WHITE-ON-WHITE

Rooms in the main hotel are modern and cooling, with white-on-white furnishings. Some have ocean views that are second to none, but if you’re a light sleeper or simply looking for somewhere spacious, opt for the poolside bungalow villa. The crisp white decor extends here, across two floors, offering a sanctuary that exudes luxury in every detail.

Upstairs, the master bedroom features a super king bed, against a white leather panelled wall. Hand-felted rugs and oversized plants add the only pops of colour to this minimalist aesthetic. The bedroom opens onto the upstairs terrace. With loungers and a table and chairs it’s here we eat our meals, shaded by vines and bougainvillea. It’s an excellent spot for people-watching.

The bathroom, with Ciel Reserve bath products, is a showstopper, with an enormous Roman-inspired soaking tub and rain shower in moss green Connemara marble.

Follow the spiral staircase downstairs to the living/dining room for plush white sofas, a state of the art entertainment system and fully stocked drinks cabinet and bar. Double doors open onto a downstairs patio with day beds, tables and chairs looking onto the pool and orchard.

ROOFTOP SPA

Agua, the rooftop spa, is a soothing retreat, offering 360 views of beautiful South Beach. Its signature treatment, the milk and honey massage, is sublime. Along with a traditional spa menu, it also offers preventative ageing procedures.

All this relaxation can work up an appetite and Leynia, the hotel’s destination restaurant, occupies a sweeping balcony overlooking the pool. It’s an Argentinian-Japanese fusion grill, and each night a large BBQ glows in the grounds as a team of chefs cook up specialities like churrasco skirt steaks and crisped crepe cones filled with smoked salmon, caviar and wasabi.

Breakfast is a simple continental spread, but the a la carte choices are creative and delicious – try the French toast stuffed with guava dulce de leche for the ultimate indulgence.

Miami, and in particular South Beach, can bring with it a frenetic, if not infectious, energy. Staying in the Delano’s bungalow offer an oasis from the action, while knowing it is, quite literally, only a few steps away.