 |
|
|
|
|
Thanks to the Hotel Victor, the South Beach spotlight has panned across to Ocean Drive, the once-glamorous strip now faded but brightening up rapidly. The 91-room hotel, built in 1937, was recently refurbished by Jacques Garcia, famous for his work at the Hotel Costes in Paris, and has proved popular with a hip young crowd. Step inside the whimsical lobby and you'll understand why: the purple, fried-egg-shaped banquettes, vibrant velvet sofas, cylindrical ceiling lamps with dangling strands of crystals, and a jellyfish tank illuminated with fibre optics all conspire against the stark, white minimalism that was so prevalent in Miami Beach hotels in the 1990s. In a nod to its Art Deco roots, the hotel retains a mural, railings and terrazzo-marble floors from the 1930s while embracing what the area is currently famous for: nightlife and upscale design. The Hotel Victor is orchestrated for decadence: it is next door to the former Versace mansion, now the exclusive drinking club Casa Casuarina, access to which can be arranged for guests at the Victor; there are three resident DJs and a 'Vibe Manager' (a concierge responsible for maintaining a hip ambience in the lobby and common areas); and the hotel scored P Diddy as host of its grand opening party in February. The 'Big' mini-bars contain everything from 200ml bottles of vodka and Champagne to chilled travel eye-masks and caffeine energy patches that claim they'll 'keep you up and lounging until 3am'. Stay on a Thursday night and check out the lively weekly dinner party in dimly lit Mediterranean restaurant Vix (try the grilled Moroccan lamb chop), with its dark wood furnishings, rich red fabrics and copper ceiling; then head upstairs for cocktails on the sexy terrace overlooking the beach. A 6,000-square-foot spa is due to open imminently.
WHEN TO GO
November-April, but book early if you intend to go during Art Basel Miami Beach in the first week of December
ROOM TO BOOK
A Very Victor suite, with curtains that separate the living room, the bedroom and bathroom and a balcony overlooking the pool and the ocean
CONTACT
Hotel Victor, 1144 Ocean Drive, Miami, Florida, USA (00 1 305 428 1234; fax: 421 6281; www.hotelvictorsouth beach.com). Doubles from $475; Very Victor suites from $1,005
|
|
|
|
|
|
