5 Sophisticated South Florida Hotels Where You Can Swap Snow For Sunshine
If you're anything like the rest of us stuck inside a winter snowglobe, the seemingly infinite summer of South Florida has been making this season seem all the more unbearable. Just one self-inflicted blow from your Instagram feed a la hashtag onthebeach is enough to give your heart a little frostbite from envy.
If you find yourself becoming a bitter bundle of layered under wear, it's time to swap your icey coat for something with a bit more breathing room — dare I say, something even a little...revealing.
Take one last look at your snowed in car and proclaim, "not today, stupid snow, not today," and with a mighty swipe of your finger, book your dream ticket to literally the hottest spot in the US.
Then, pack your bags, call a cab, and score an instant upgrade from icy sidewalks of death to ice-cold pina coladas on the beach.
To help usher you out of dreary Dodge, we've picked out five classy South Florida resorts and hotels — in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and somewhere in the middle in case you can't pick between them — where you can decompress and reset your mental state for Spring. Keep reading to see which one best fits your wants and style.
Fort Lauderdale
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach
With four restaurants, a European spa, and an ideal location just across from the Atlantic, the all-suite Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach has everything you've come to expect from Hilton and more. As the first hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach to be awarded the Florida Green Lodging designation by the state's Department of Environmental Protection, this Hilton makes guests feel like they're helping the planet because of its socially conscious commitment to environmentally sound practices. Six wind turbines were recently installed atop its 25-story roof to help offset power that would normally be generated by conventional methods. The resort also employs a "Green Team" to oversee energy efficiency, waste reduction and conservation of resources.
W Fort Lauderdale
The W Fort Lauderdale is perfect for sophisticated guests who want to be next to the beach and have dining and nightlife options in the resort. With Steak 954 located on the ground level of the W, you can order everything from butter-poached lobster to bone-in filet and local red snapper tiradito. After you eat, head to Living Room, where you can relax next to a fire pit on a sprawling terrace overlooking the ocean. Then, dance the night away and indulge in top-shelf drinks at Whiskey Blue, one of the hottest clubs/lounges on A1A.
Hollywood
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Diplomat Resort & Spa
When you can't make up your mind between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, your best bet is to choose the Diplomat Resort & Spa, located roughly halfway between the two cities, in Hollywood. Dining on premises at Diplomat Prime gives guests the chance to try the utmost in steaks, seafood and other traditional American cuisine, such as dry-aged prime ribeye, swordfish loin, and classic surf and turf. Nearby, the nightlife scene in downtown Hollywood offers a multitude of bars and restaurants, and you're within 25 minutes of either Miami or Fort Lauderdale should you want to explore. The Diplomat's luxurious 14,000-square-foot spa with a rain wall (designed by Garcia Stromberg, local artist and architect) should not be missed. If you're traveling as a pair, opt for a couples massage inside the designated couples room, a glass-encased space with views of the Atlantic ocean just yards away.
Miami
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SLS Hotel South Beach
The SLS Hotel is located in the tallest art deco building in South Beach, so you can't miss it when cruising down Collins Ave. Built in 1939 and transformed for today's most elegant travelers by Sam Nazarian and renowned designer Philippe Starck, the SLS has two of Miami's best restaurants, The Bazaar by Jose Andres and Katsuya. Every plate at The Bazaar is gorgeously presented, like the dragon fruit ceviche with tuna, pecan, lemon and hibiscus, which is served inside a hollowed-out dragon fruit. The coolest thing on the menu (literally and figuratively) is the Ln2 caipirinha, a cocktail made from Brazilian cachaca, fresh lime and sugar that's made tableside by an expert mixologist with a little help from liquid nitrogen. Katsuya's sexy interior (also by Starck) recently helped it earn a Diner's Choice Award from OpenTable. Lovers of Japanese cuisine will drool over everything on its menu, from the spicy edamame to Katsuya's signature crispy rice with spicy tuna and jalapeno, and drinks like cucumber watermelon mojito and Kiwi Envy (St. Germain, gin, hand-pressed kiwis, fresh lime juice and sparkling water) will be a treat for any cocktail connoisseur.