Description: Facing the sea in Bal Harbour, a ritzy neighborhood in north Miami Beach, this boutique hotel is 8 miles from South Beach and around the block from the upscale Bal Harbour Shops. Guests at this 1950s-era resort on Collins enjoy a beach-house atmosphere with Ralph Lauren décor, spa services by an outdoor pool, ocean access, and a 24-hour fitness center. The Beach House Bal Harbour is the closest thing the city has to a summer beach home - comfortable, unpretentious, and luxurious. In place of an elaborate hotel lobby, the public spaces of the Rubell-owned Beach House are divided into a series of intimate homey environments, from the wicker-furnished screened-in porch to the Asian-inspired Bamboo Room, with overstuffed Ralph Lauren leather couches and Japanese bric-a-brac. The 24-hour Pantry, inspired by Long Island's Sagaponack General Store, is packed with all the needs of the hotel's "unplugged" urban clientele. The property also has a 200-foot private beach, hammock grove and topiary garden.
Rooms: All 165 guestrooms have pale walls and are decorated with Nantucket-style wainscoting, whitewashed Ralph Lauren furniture, overstuffed chairs, and collections of starfish and seashells. The ultraspacious rooms (those ending in 04 are the most spacious) are literally brimming with the comforts of home. All rooms include collections of local seashells, mini-libraries, baskets full of starfish, Ralph Lauren linens, spa-style bathrobes and Rubell Hotels toiletries. Rooms have Nintendo video-game consoles, complimentary premium channels, cable/satellite TV, CD player, air conditioning, blackout drapes, refrigerator, hair dryer, electronic/magnetic keys and iron/ironing board.
Facilities: Restaurant; pantry; bar (until 11pm); heated pool and outdoor pool, health club and spa; watersports equipment; children's playground; business center. A screened-in porch, located off the lobby and filled with turn-of-the century wicker furnishings, is an ideal place to relax with a book.
Amenity highlights: A sundeck with lounge chairs surrounds the outdoor lap pool and spa tub. A 24-hour fitness center has circuit machines, weights, and personal trainers (surcharge). Spa services are also available (surcharge). Wireless Internet access (Wi-Fi connection) is available in the public areas of the hotel. Also available are concierge
service, room service (limited hours), parking (valet) and 24 hour front desk.
Dining:
The Atlantic Restaurant - This restaurant serves home-style cooking for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. A candlelit, wood-paneled dining room offers indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the ocean.
The Seahorse Bar - Named after its large seahorse-filled aquarium, this quiet lounge serves a selection of premium liquor and appetizers from late afternoon to late evening. Poolside Bar - Hot food, sandwiches, and salads are served poolside from mid morning to late afternoon at this organic juice bar.
The Pantry - A country-style store with snacks, soft drinks, and pints of Häagen-Dazs.