Mandarin Oriental, Miami

Miami

Located at the southern tip of mainland Florida in the southeastern United States, greater Miami is a metropolis of 5.4 million people. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Everglades to the west, the city is bordered by islands which have become peninsulas like Miami Beach. Infested with mosquitoes and covered with mangrove, Miami Beach was born in 1913 when a bridge was built connecting this strip of land to the continent. Today, it’s the realm of extravagance, with all the clichés that come to mind when one talks about Miami: Eden like beaches, celebrity villas, bronze bimbos and bathing beauties and outrageously long limousines.

Nevertheless, it possesses the only neighborhood in the United States with the title of National Historical Landmark: The Art Deco district. Built in the 1930s, it is characterized by its unique world of hotels, villas and other buildings in the Tropical Art Deco style.

In Biscayne Bay which separates Miami Beach from the continent, numerous islands saw the light of day with the opening of the Collins Bridge. Some were connected to each other via a road which crossed the bay from island to island and connected Miami Beach to Miami. Artificial for the most part, these islands today are veritable ghettos for the rich and famous. Tom Cruise, Oprah Winfrey, Shaquille O’Neal, Madonna, Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez all have vacation houses here. Some islands, although connected by a road, are closed off with barriers to keep undesirables out!

Art deco charm and Asian luxury

One of these trendy residential islands, Brickell Key is the home of the Mandarin Oriental Miami, far from the tanned and muscle bound crowd in Miami Beach and the agitation of downtown Miami. The hotel is a true haven of peace which appears to be lost in the middle of the ocean although it is only minutes from the Brickell financial center. In the form of a fan like the logo of the hotel group to which it belongs, there are bay windows throughout the hotel so that wherever you are there is an exceptional view of the bay and the Miami skyline.

The interior is a subtle blend of art deco and oriental charm. The atmosphere in the immense reception hall is zen like. Everything is in harmony with warm colors, orange or yellow curved chairs, sofas covered in fabrics with Asian motifs and a counter of rare marble known as blue Azul Bahia.

Spread over 20 floors, the rooms have the same elegant design with cherry wood furniture, solid bamboo parquet floors, a beige and white décor with touches of oriental colors and spacious marble bathrooms. The view from anywhere is magnificent.

The Mandarin Suite has its own spa with bamboo, stones from a Mexican River and Spanish marble. Guests can jump into the infinity style bathtub as they watch the boats crisscrossing the bay.

The Oriental Suite, on the top floor, has a balcony which runs along the entire length of the suite, offering the best view in the hotel. It also has an ultra modern multi media room whose video projection screen can be remote controlled from anywhere in the suite. The living room has a piano, several works of art and a fireplace that adds a touch of comfort to this refined décor.

One of the highlights of the hotel is the spa with its exotic textures and which has recently been awarded its fifth star. With its blend of bamboo, rice paper, glass and natural fabrics, it’s one of the eight spas in the United States to be classified as the best. The spa covers three floors and overlooks the bay. It’s the ideal spot for a soothing massage before enjoying the sunset over the Miami skyline while sipping one of the 250 varieties of martini offered by the M’bar. For dinner, there’s the outdoor terrace incrusted with sea shells of the Café Samba, or the gastronomic Miami, the Azul where choosing a dish from the tantalizing menu is a difficult task.

Many stars have stayed here from Luciano Pavarotti to Michael Jackson. Britney Spears was refused entry into the restaurant because she was not dressed properly.