Channel Mediterranean vibes without ever leaving Miami at the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel’s new Solei Beach Club. Situated in the backyard of the newly renovated Art Deco hotel in South Beach, the beach club is open to the public, meaning you can indulge in a chic daycation without springing for a room. There’s a pool lined with chaise lounges, fitness classes like yoga and Aqua Zumba, and beach chairs for soaking up the sun with toes in the sand. Settle into one of the plush lounge areas beneath the thatched-roof palapa, where bartenders shake up cocktails like the Italian Margarita, made with Campari and Cointreau, and the Ibiza Sunset, blending strawberry, passion fruit, and fresh lime.
When hunger strikes there’s a menu of Spanish-influenced Mediterranean dishes designed by executive chef Gastón Javier Sanchez, a Miami native who trained under Michelin-starred icons Ferran Adrià and Gastón Acurio. The lineup includes a lavish “Seafood Colosseum” composed of oysters, Caribbean lobster, P.E.I. mussels, quahog clams, and ceviche du jour, with caviar or stone crab add-ons for an extra touch of decadence. Heartier options range from a mezze board stocked with cilantro tzatziki, pistachio-mint whipped feta, falafel, crispy halloumi, chargrilled artichoke, and eggplant, to oxtail empanadas and Malta-lime chicken wings.
Because this is South Beach, a live DJ keeps the energy high Friday through Sunday, while a variety of cabanas are available for those looking to linger a little longer. The Ivy Cabana, which accommodates up to six people, feels tailor-made for small birthday celebrations or a girls’ day. Located on a balcony overlooking the pool deck, it is outfitted with a flat-screen TV and lounge seating, and includes both beach and pool access. Order another cocktail, relax on your daybed, and for a few blissful hours, South Beach feels a lot more like Marbella.
Facebook Comments