What’s Haute South Florida

By Sara Neff

For a place as dynamic as South Florida, it can be hard to keep up with what is haute, and what is not. To help you navigate through all the area’s offerings, we present this month’s ‘What’s Haute’ suggestions, filled with the most luxurious, hottest, über sophisticated hotels, spas, restaurants, lounges, and private clubs. The list is a virtual how-to guide of finding the area’s best venues, with the perfect mix of innovative newcomers and established locales that are still worthy of your time.

FOUR SEASONS RESORT PALM BEACH
2800 South Ocean Blvd.
Palm Beach
561.582.2800
Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach is an elegant oceanfront property located in relaxing Palm Beach. The resort offers the finest amenities and services that only Four Seasons can have. 210 guest rooms, 13 of which are suites, outfit this exclusive resort. If relaxation is your goal, take a look at their beautiful spa, which offers a wide range of rejuvenating and restorative treatments. Or, you can lounge at the oceanfront pool surrounded by lush palms and gardens where pool attendants are on duty with towels, lemon water, Evian spritz, and fresh-cut fruit. Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach is famous for its exquisite, award-winning dining; The Restaurant is one of only three AAA Five Diamond restaurants in South Florida. Executive Chef Darryl Moiles prepares delectable specials daily to accompany the menu’s southeastern cuisine.

[highlight_text] Loftin has turned the mansion into one of the most spectacular private members’ clubs in the world. [/highlight_text]

CASA CASUARINA
1116 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach
305.672.6604
In a city known for its distinguished residences, Casa Casuarina is the most distinguished of all. For the first time since 1930, the prestigious Casa Casuarina is a private, invitation-only membership club. After purchasing it in 1992, couturier Gianni Versace painstakingly restored, expanded, and embellished the mansion – adding the south wing, pool, and garden. In 2000, Peter Loftin purchased the home after Versace’s tragic death. Loftin has turned the mansion into one of the most spectacular private members’ clubs in the world. Loftin recruited the likes of Wolfgang Birk to be the executive chef at Casa. Birk, formerly of Bice in Miami, creates cuisine rooted in the Mediterranean but fused with true Miami style. Casa boasts an award-winning concierge service that is able to arrange everything from yacht charters to celebrity events.

MYNT LOUNGE
1921 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach
305.532.0727
With its stringent door policy and futuristic décor, the recently renovated Mynt Lounge attracts the crème de la crème of South Beach. Mynt’s sleek interior and custom-designed furnishings establish an otherworldly vibe. The Grand Lounge, complete with a 40-foot bar, is open to all. In the back of this ultimate lounge, you will find a DJ playing house and hip-hop amidst classics and rock remixes. Tucked away, the downstairs Ultra Lounge is reserved for VIPs. To top it off, a ventilation system disperses up to fifty different aromatherapy scents. There is no doubt that it is the premiere nightclub of the bustling Miami Beach nightlife scene.

MAR-A-LAGO
1100 South Ocean Blvd.
Palm Beach
561.832.2600
Situated on 20 acres of manicured lawns, vibrant gardens, and sweeping sea-to-lake vistas, Mar-A-Lago is a national historic landmark. Formerly the estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post, the property was built from 1924-1927 and is located in West Palm Beach. After purchasing the estate in 1985, Donald Trump restored the property to its original state. The 110,000 square foot estate boasts 58 bedrooms, 33 bathrooms, a 29-foot long solid marble dining table and 12 fireplaces. Recently, Trump had a 20,000 square foot ballroom constructed. Membership to this exquisite private club includes a plethora of amenities – world class formal and casual dining, bridge, croquet, and tennis facilities (Mar-A-Lago’s five clay and one grass court complex has received the Court of the Year Award), the Trump Spa, and the Beach Club. Additionally, a calendar full of parties, wine tastings, dinners, fashion shows, and star-studded entertainment is included with membership.

SET
320 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach
305.531.2800
The masterminds behind the Opium Group (Opium Garden, Privé, and Mansion) have taken the old State Nightclub and created Miami Beach’s newest high-end luxury nightclub, Set. Set is the newest place to see and be seen in South Beach. Remodeled by noted designer Francois Frossard with sound and lighting by Sound Investment, Set has taken Miami nightlife to the next level. The ultra-chic club is located in the heart of South Beach on Lincoln Road. No expense was spared to create this über-VIP lounge, frequented by celebrities-galore. It is obvious to all club goers that Set has created a new standard in which all South Beach clubs aspire to be.

DEVITO SOUTH BEACH
150 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach
305.531.0911
In June 2007, Emmy award-winning actor Danny DeVito, famed restaurateur David Manero, and financier Michael Brauser are bringing Hollywood dining to the heart of South Beach. The team has refurbished the old Joia space to create an authentic Italian restaurant, appropriately named DeVito South Beach. More than just a restaurant, DeVito South Beach is the ultimate dining experience. Using only the finest ingredients, its Italian cuisine evokes high vision, flavor, and design. The restaurant has been designed to encapsulate old-world Italian style. Venetian chandeliers add the perfect amount of sophistication and elegance. The 10,000 square foot restaurant boasts 9,000 square feet of interior space in addition to its 1,000 square foot outdoor seating area. For diners seeking the ultimate in privacy, the second floor features a private dining room that may only be reached by private elevator. Additionally, with the collaborative team’s high profile clientele, Devito’s is sure to attract countless celebrities, politicians, and many eager diners.

SPA V
1144 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach
305.428.1234
Since its opening in May 2005, luxury spa seekers have flocked to Spa V to experience its 6,000 square feet of subterranean opulence. Located in the glamorous Hotel Victor in South Beach, Spa V offers the perfect serene escape as it embraces ancient traditions of beauty and cleansing within a tranquil and modern setting. Treatments take place in seven spacious rooms, including the Vichy Shower Room and the Romance Room. Spa V also boasts a five hundred square foot traditional co-ed Turkish-style steam bath, the first of its kind in South Beach. A full range of European-inspired treatments are offered at Spa V, their most requested being the Hammam V, a traditional Moroccan practice of cleansing the body with black olive beldi soap, exfoliating it, and finishing with a mask of Moroccan lava clay and a hydrating massage. No matter which treatment is chosen, guests at Spa V are certain to leave the spa feeling incredibly refreshed and relaxed.

THE SETAI
2001 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach
305.520.6000
Nestled among lush tropical gardens along the Atlantic Ocean lies an intimate and elegant hotel. The Setai fuses Asian simplicity with the luxury of South Beach. Imported Asian stone, art, and artifacts can be seen integrated throughout the hotel’s décor. Once the famed Dempsey Vanderbilt Hotel, The Setai has incorporated the history of Miami’s Art Deco era with that of Shanghai’s Art Deco period, creating an immaculate hotel unlike any other in South Beach. Adjacent to the hotel is The Setai Residences, a 40-story glass tower that is one of the tallest buildings in South Beach. The Setai has 131 rooms, 45 of which are suites, and each is impeccably detailed. Three sparkling pools, gourmet restaurants, and lounges complete this eight-story tranquil resort.

THE FORGE
432 41st Street
Miami Beach
305.538.8533
Since 1969, the Forge has been Miami Beach’s premiere American steakhouse. In 2006, Le Cordon Bleu trained Executive Chef, Andrew Swersky, revamped the menu to unveil a more contemporary selection. Old favorites such as the Super Steak remain, but new signature appetizers and entrees have been added to the offerings. The 18-ounce Bone-In Filet Mignon is basted and grilled on an Oakwood fire and served with a choice of sauces. A favorite seafood dish is the fresh yellow tail snapper “Francaise Style,” sautéed with fresh artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, capers, and dry Vermouth served with homemade fettuccini. The Forge features five exquisite dining rooms decorated with intricate antiques. One of The Forge’s most famous features is its eight room, $6.5 million award-winning wine cellar, consisting of over 300,000 rare vintages. The Forge, a favorite among celebrities and South Beach elite, offers diners a taste of contemporary elegance with a mix of classic charm.