Delano

Frommer's Review

Before Ian Schrager revamped (emphasis on the vamp) the neighboring The Shore Club hotel, the Delano was the reigning force in the hierarchy of hip hotel royalty. But that was then. Today, the Delano, a place where smiles from staffers were as rare as snow in Miami, is kinder and gentler, which, for some, takes away the whole cache of staying here. But it certainly still is amusing to look at -- with 40-foot sheer white billowing curtains hanging outside, mirrors everywhere, Adirondack chairs, and faux-fur-covered beds. The rooms are done up sanitarium style: sterile, yet terribly trendy, in pure white save for a perfectly crisp green Granny Smith apple in each room -- the only freebie you're going to get here. A bathroom renovation recently took place in all of the rooms -- but they remain small and spartan.

An attractive, white-clad staff looks as if they were hand picked from last month's Vogue. While they may sigh if you ask for something, eventually they'll get it for you. The gym here is great (especially if you're looking for celebrities), and the powers that be finally waived the extra fee that guests had to pay to use it, so it's free to use at your leisure. The fantastic wading pool, thankfully, is free, but get out early to snag a chair. The Blue Door restaurant, formerly part-owned by Madonna, serves lots of attitude with its pricey haute cuisine, and for a quick bite of pricey sashimi, grab a seat at the communal eat-in-kitchen table at Blue Sea, the hotel's superb sushi bar. The lobby's Rose Bar is command central for the chic elite who don't flinch at paying in excess of $10 for a martini. Salvation from the hotel's mod version of Age of Innocence-esque social mores (or lack thereof) is Agua, the rooftop spa, where, if you can afford it, an hour massage while overlooking the ocean is blissful.

Facilities: 2 restaurants (featuring the acclaimed Blue Door, Blue Sea); bar (The Florida Room); AGUA Spa; large outdoor pool; extensive watersports equipment; children's programs; concierge; business center; room service; in-room massage; same-day dry-cleaning and laundry services

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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