Bal Harbour, “Miami's Most Fashion-Able Address,” Bridges The
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Bal Harbour, “Miami’s most fashion-able address,” bridges the best of both worlds. Located on the northern tip of Miami Beach halfway between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, the secluded, oceanside village is a 30-minute drive from each city’s attractions and international airport. Home to the internationally renowned Bal Harbour Shops, the enclave also claims luxury hotels and residences, a beautiful beach that’s virtually private, and endless ocean and bay views. Hip restaurants and the village’s cultural and fitness initiatives add to a welcoming neighborhood vibe that forever offers something new to see and do. It’s pretty amazing how much can happen along such a tiny strip of sand. SIZE/POPULATION Bal Harbour is one square mile (2.5 km2). The U.S. Census Bureau estimates a population of 2,600 residents in 2014. ACCOMMODATIONS ST. REGIS BAL HARBOUR When St. Regis expanded its five-diamond, five-star service to South Florida in 2012, it chose Bal Harbour over other affluent destinations for residences and a 216-room resort throughout three glass towers. Toronto and New York-based firm Yabu Pushelberg contributed to the resort’s lavish interiors. The locale proved such a success that the hotel reinvested $35 million for upgrades in 2016. A new room category, four-bedroom/four-bath Signature Suites, provides a penthouse experience; a pair on the 23rd floor is able to be connected for a total of 7,500 square—the largest hotel suite on the East Coast. New dining outlets are on trend, too. St. Regis Bar & Sushi Lounge and BH Burger Bar can be casual or fancy depending on one’s mood. The former specializes in spicy tuna tacos and lychee martinis, while the latter attracts foodies for its signature namesake, a 7-oz. beef patty with grilled foie gras, black truffles and tomato jam. In Fall 2016, Atlantikós debuts to transport diners to the Greek Isles. Without leaving the property, guests can purchase works by Alex Katz and Robert Indiana, among dozens of artists represented by Rosenbaum Contemporary gallery off the lobby, exercise on the beach with husband-and-wife fitness experts Chris and Tracie Vlaun, and receive a decadent treatment in the 14,000-square- foot Remède Spa. RITZ-CARLTON, BAL HARBOUR The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour, the hospitality brand’s fourth property in Miami- Dade County, occupies a new, 18-story, glass and steel tower on the northern end of the island. All 124 rooms are accessed by semi-private elevators for VIP service. Reserve the 2,800-square-foot presidential suite for extra perks like a screening room and spa shower with floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel is thrilled to have local chef Paula DaSilva on board for Artisan Beach House due in late 2016. Her craft American fare will be a boon for the neighborhood. Exhale, a wellness game changer with locations through the U.S., manages the 10,000-square-foot spa and fitness center. Treatment rooms, including a couple’s suite, overlook the tranQuil inlet. Guests and locals alike flock to signature, results-driven classes from Core Fusion Barre to exhale Flow Yoga, a form of vinyasa. They stay to enjoy the steam room and sauna, free weights and cardio equipment, and receive spa services from an extensive menu of facials, body scrubs and massages. In line with art-obsessed Miami, the hotel invested $3.5 million for a collection curated by Joan Warren-Grady. Richard Deutsch’s black basalt sculpture and Ed Moses’ oil painting greet guests who are invited to take self-guided tours. Couture concierge Elysze Held, a personal shopper who dresses many of the city’s socialites, is on call for consultations and wardrobing services for any occasion. BAL HARBOUR QUARZO Nestled along the bay in a quiet residential area, Bal Harbour Quarzo boutique hotel is one of the enclave’s best-kept secrets. Its 27 spacious rooms and suites with contemporary décor and kitchens and kitchenettes feel like a home away from home. The concept is especially useful for longer stays. Accommodations range from a 350-square-foot studio to an 1,800-square-foot 2-bedroom suite whose two baths feature Roman soaking tubs and bath products by Gilchrist and Soames. In-room spa treatments increase the pampering factor. When they don’t feel like cooking, guests can order delivery from several nearby restaurants, or the hotel will gladly chauffeur them to the many hot spots around town as well as the airport. Each suite also comes with a dedicated parking space, a rarity for island living. The grounds’ Zen meditation garden and pool with a natural wood deck enhance the tropical mood. SEA VIEW HOTEL Built in 1948 during Bal Harbour’s initial hospitality boom, the Sea View’s European-style, oceanside oasis has attracted royalty, presidents, celebrities and families for generations. Its 220 rooms and suites feature several categories and amenities, including many with balconies and kitchens. With a new “Go Green” mission, the hotel introduced LEED-certified upgrades for insulation, air conditioning and LED lights. Another phase installed hurricane-proof doors and windows. After treating themselves to a massage and working out in the fitness center, guests can relax in Key West-inspired cabanas around a heated, Olympic-size pool. The aptly named Terrace, the main restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, offers plenty of outdoor seating. Other dining options are a pool bar for sundowners and an old-fashioned snack counter for smoothies and sandwiches. SHOPPING Bal Harbour Shops put its newly incorporated, namesake village on the map when the charming, open-air “anti-mall” debuted in 1965. Founder Stanley Whitman curated a best-in-class assortment of retailers, restaurants and services, and his dedication has been passed down to the next generations through Whitman Family Development. Anchored by Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, other tony tenants include Chanel, Ferragamo, Ralph Lauren and Dolce & Gabbana. Bal Harbour Shops ranked number one for sales per sQuare foot in 2012, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. A regular stream of new stores and renovations deepen its appeal. Rolex, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Florentine shoe sensation AQuazzura premiere boutiQues in 2016 and 2017. It’s a busy time overall. Balenciaga, Moncler, Fendi and Emporio Armani are in expansion mode, while Harry Winston, Kiton, Loro Piana and Ermenegildo Zegna, among others, are planning store renovations and/or relocations. Destination Fashion, the center’s most extravagant gala, benefits the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis. Held every few years, the enormous effort takes over the property’s first floor and parking lot for a sit-down dinner with a fashion show (past designers have been Pucci and Brunello Cucinelli). Afterward, guests attend a roving cocktail and dessert party throughout themed vignettes, which culminates with a concert finale. Donna Summer and Pitbull are just a couple A- listers who have performed for the noble cause. DINING Bal Harbour’s dining scene has changed dramatically to mirror Miami’s culinary renaissance. Bal Harbour Shops has become known for its hip eateries as much as its designer boutiques these days. Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr has achieved stellar results with his adjacent Asian and French concepts, Makoto and Le Zoo. Both offer beautifully appointed interiors, as well as outdoor terraces to take advantage of balmy ocean breezes. Across the main entrance, Carpaccio feeds an astounding number of diners a day. Celebrities and jet setters are often spotted on its packed patio. Upstairs has a completely new vibe with the arrival of the Grill at Bal Harbour for classic and healthy fare from Hillstone Restaurant Group. The innovative, indoor/outdoor design inspired by a teak yacht feels akin to dining in a tropical treehouse. Also on the second level, Sante Fe News & Espresso has been remodeled with a brighter, more streamlined look. Hotels are also reinventing their restaurants. St. Regis Bal Harbour launches Greek-angled Atlantikós in Fall 2016. It complements St. Regis Bar & Sushi Lounge, BH Burger Bar and Fresco Beach Bar & Grill, whose bloody Mary originally concocted at the St. Regis New York involves a tropical twist. Afternoon tea is even more delightful with pastries by 2016 James Beard semifinalist Antonio Bachour. The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour reveals its anticipated dining partnership in late 2016. Following their widely received venture in Miami Beach, chef Paula DaSilva and restaurateur Seth Greenberg reunite for Artisan Beach House. The craft American direction expands her farm-to-table roots with ethnic touches and global delicacies. It joins the resort’s casual Pool Bar & Grill. ARTS AND CULTURE Though museums and performance halls are within minutes, culture blooms right here. “Unscripted Bal Harbour,” a public art program curated by Claire Breukel, continues its mission with another packed season of tours, talks and exhibits. ArtChats invite artists, art professionals and collectors such as Don and Mera Rubell, Jorge Pérez and Teresita Fernández to share insight into their passion. The program also partnered with the Armory Show in New York on a VIP tour and Creative Minds Talks for a conversation during EXPO CHICAGO art fair in Fall 2016. Later in the year, Bal Harbour celebrates its 70th anniversary with a special historical photography exhibit and talk by Dr. Paul George, a professor of history at Miami-Dade College. Residents and guests receive Art Access cards for complimentary admission and tours of local institutions, art fairs and exclusive events, an incredibly valuable perk during the annual Art Basel Miami Beach in December. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES & NATURE Begin and end the day with a sunrise or sunset stroll along Bal Harbour’s manicured beach.