Last week saw the debut of the highly anticipated Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club — a 77-room oceanfront property in Surfside, Fla.
It’s the result of the restoration and an expansion of Miami’s iconic Surf Club, which originally opened in 1930.
Replete with rich history and, now, modern glitz, here are five of the Surf Club’s most knockout features.
History
The Surf Club has long been known for its lavish events and A-list clientele. Its founders, tire tycoon Harvey Firestone and pioneering Miami Beach developers Carl Fisher and Irving Collins, conceived of the Surf Club in the late 1920s as a Prohibition-escaping venue where visitors could socialize in private. It held over-the-top galas — one featured elephants — and welcomed guests including Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor.
Star design
The stately Russell T. Pancoast-designed original Surf Club is now surrounded by three flashy new buildings designed by starchitect Richard Meier. Inside, Parisian interior architect Joseph Dirand outfitted the public areas and guestrooms — the latter of which feature floor-to-ceiling windows, custom furnishings by Dirand and white marble touches.
Old meets new
Despite the many new features, the hotel still pays homage to its storied past. Take the re-envisioned overnight cabanas, where Winston Churchill often stayed. Now, these oceanfront retreats feature outdoor lanai decks, whose wood replicates the cabanas’ original floors.
Cuisine
This Four Seasons is also now a lure for high-class gourmands. Le Sirenuse, the famed Amalfi Coast eatery, has opened its second outpost at the Surf Club, with dishes featuring ingredients flown from Italy and drinks served from colorful, curvy-shaped glasses crafted by Carlo Moretti. Standout dishes include langoustine tartare, spaghetti dressed with tomato and basil, and tiramisu. Chef Thomas Keller, of French Laundry fame, will also open his first Miami eatery here in a space designed by respected interior architect Martin Brudnizki.
Location
Guests have al fresco perks within breezy reach. Among them: the nearby Bal Harbour Shops, the most profitable “mall” in America.
Stats
From $899; FourSeasons.com.