What it is

A beachfront resort that combines 1940s glamour with an audacious view of 21st-century globalism.

What it isn't

A crowded “scene” like many South Beach hotels: There are spaces for socializing, but they’re designed for guests, not looky-loos.

What we think

Alan Faena is nothing if not ambitious. The Argentine real estate developer came to Miami not just to open a hotel, but to transform six sleepy blocks of Mid-Beach into a city-within-a-city, with residences, high-end retail and even a cultural center. He hired pedigreed architects (Norman Foster, Rem Koolhaas) and asked film director Baz Luhrmann and his costume designer wife, Catherine Martin, to help reimagine the 1948 Saxony Hotel. The result is the 169-room Faena, which manages to evoke Deco-era Miami, Buenos Aires and Hollywood all at once. The look, with its scarlet red–and-aquamarine color palette, 1940s-esque furniture and elaborate floral rugs, is bold and self-assured. (Look elsewhere if you prefer things subtle and sedate.) How bold? Just check out Damien Hirst’s $18 million gold-plated woolly mammoth skeleton, in an enormous vitrine by the pool. Faena also pulled out the stops with resort amenities: restaurants by celeb chefs Francis Mallmann and Paul Qui, a spa with a huge hammam, a theater that hosts national acts and original cabaret-style performances. Staff, especially the butlers and the excellent pool servers, are well trained, enthusiastic and eager to please.

You're here because

You want to stay at Miami’s hottest newcomer, and like the idea of a self-contained resort experience, complete with beach, spa, dining, shopping and culture. And you loved Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby."

The Moment

You settle into the bright red sofa, sip a glass of Malbec, and look out the window onto the blue ocean as the butler brings your bags into the walk-in closet and offers to unpack.

Restaurants & Bars

Pao - Reflects the modern Asian cuisine of Chef Paul Qui

Los Fuegos - A contemporary asado experience by Chef Francis Mallmann

Veranda - Enjoy coffee or breakfast with an ocean view

The Living Room - Features small plates, bespoke cocktails and a broad array of wines

Saxony Bar - An intimate setting with live DJ

Frequently Asked Questions about Faena Hotel Miami Beach

Location

Mid-Beach, which lies about halfway between South Beach and Bal Harbour. It’s quieter and more residential than South Beach, but only about 5 minutes by car to Lincoln Road. Miami International Airport is about 25 minutes away.