Who's Going
Keanu Reeves, Gavin Brown, Uma Thurman
Reason to Stay
Lobby Party Scene, Hip Pool, Coed Hammam
Hotel Type
Boutique Spa Hotel
A congested main thoroughfare leading to South Beach intersects the island property, once a former-health sanitarium on Belle Isle overlooking Miami's Key Biscayne. The lobby area is plusher than the LA-based Standard hotels, with tropical grounds and skyline views offset by modernly refined décor and seductive beat of DJ lounge music. The lobby's two rows of rocking chairs and deconstructed seating areas have been seen before, but the sedate island vibe and luxurious details like terrazzo floors and pristine terrace are something radically unique. The in-house restaurant features an indoor dining room and bayfront terrace with menus by Eric Ripert that are worth more than just a 2am room service order. The outdoor area is one of the best in Miami, with splashy resort pool with waterfall and a bay front location cruised by Miami's weekend yachters. The hotel incorporates the health-care vibe of its predecessor in reconstructing the new spa area with mosaic-and-concrete steam room and breathtaking hammam area. It's one of the largest spas in Miami, with a toned crowd of Hollywood-types and artsy New Yorkers strutting around in nothing more than a loosely tucked towel.
The Room
The turning of a room key is an awakening moment as the Standard once more embraces its budget-chic roots. Guestrooms ooze of sterility with blond-wood details and minimal furnishing except a queen-or-king platform bed outfitted in institutional-wool blanket and poly-blend penitentiary sheets. Exposed white-beam ceilings are a nice touch, decorated with gauze curtains that separate bed and living areas in larger rooms. Upgraded ‘Wet’ rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows opening to extravagant teak terraces overlooking Biscayne Bay �" and a few of those rooms even offer a private whirlpool or white clawfoot tub on the balcony. Bathrooms are forgettable porcelain basin sinks and rain showers accented by Standard’s ho-hum selection of house toiletries.
Preferred Room
Wet Room (Large) with private patio tub
Special Features
Resort Setting, Trendy Clientele, Island-Location, Spa
Amenities
Restaurant, Lounge, Swimming Pool, Bar, Spa
