Frommer's Review
The luxe life comes to a congested and somewhat seedy corner of South Beach in the form of this beachfront, lushly landscaped Ritz-Carlton. This Ritz has restored the landmark Morris Lapidus-designed 1950s DiLido Hotel to its original Art Moderne style and filled it with the hotel's signature five-star service. Far from ostentatious, the Ritz-Carlton's South Beach property moves away from gilded opulence in favor of the more soothing pastel-washed touches of Deco. An impressive $2 million art collection consisting of original works by Joan Miro, among others, will be on permanent loan to the hotel from Diana Lowenstein Fine Art, which also happens to have a gallery in the hotel (Mrs. Lowenstein is a principal owner of The Ritz-Carlton South Beach). Though South Beach is better known for its trendy boutique hotels, the Ritz-Carlton offers comfort to those who might prefer 100% cotton Frette sheets and goose-down pillows to high-style minimalism. The best rooms, by far, are the 72 poolside and oceanview lanai rooms. Why choose club level rooms and hibernate inside, indulging in five food and drink courses all day, when you could be outside enjoying the stunning views? Oh yeah, and there's also a tanning butler who will spritz you with SPF and water whenever you want.
With impeccable service, an elevated pool that provides unobstructed views of the Atlantic, an impressive stretch of sand with a fabulous beach club, an oceanfront Ritz Kids pavilion, and a world-class 13,000-square-foot spa and wellness center, the Ritz-Carlton kicks sand in the faces of some of the smaller hotels that think they're doing you a favor by allowing you to sleep there. Plus, for those with kids in tow, they have the Ritz Kids program for kids ages 5 through 12, which features supervised activities, movies, beach excursions, and more.
Facilities:
3 restaurants; 3 bars; outdoor heated pool; health club; spa; extensive watersports equipment/rentals; children's program; 24-hr. business center; salon; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; overnight laundry service; beach service
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.
