I have been traveling to Miami since I was a child. It is one of my favorite locations in the world and now I think I may have just found one of my favorite hotels. The St Regis Bal Harbour Resort.
This hotel was once upon a time a Sheraton which I stayed at often. It is opposite one of the most exclusive shopping malls in the world, the Bal Harbour Shops. Not only does it have Saks, Neimans, Gucci, Prada, Tiffany and so on, but it also has one of my favorite restaurants “Carpaccio “. This restaurant now has locations in NY, Chicago, Merrick Park and Sawgrass Mall Fort Lauderdale and it offers great Italian food with a huge seafood presence.
So back to the glamorous St Regis. The Lobby is as modern as it gets with glass corridors lined with bouquets of fresh red flowers. The reception offers a real resort welcome with a glass of pink champagne and exceptionally polished service. In the lobby there is a burger bar that looks like a NY steak house but offers a unique twist on burgers with menu items such as alligator or foie gras. And there is also the grill which has a wonderful buffet breakfast with beautiful fruits, al a carte omelettes and healthy options such as egg white scrambled eggs.
There are 2 pools; one is an adult pool and one is a family pool with a restaurant that feels like you are on the beach in Cannes. I even had a St Tropez salad of seafood with the most amazing scallops, huge tiger prawns and a dressing which was most innovative. I think it may have had cheese so I did not ask as I was not wanting to let my will power beat me on that one.
St Regis Bal Harbour Resort’s rooms are really chic; clean, modern, beige with a slight lavender twist and bespoke wardrobes that look like the dashboard of a Bentley.
We had a suite that was OUTRAGEOUS. Not only did it boast a huge walk in closet, 2 bathrooms, a lovely bedroom, dining room but it had 2 living rooms and 2 balconies. Opulence at its best. I have stayed at many 5 star hotels and had suites but this is up there at the top. It makes me want to try the brand all over the world. In fact, I was in Kuala Lumpur recently and almost stayed at a St Regis but chose the Shangri-la instead.
The hotel is pricey but in my opinion well worth it. The property not only has swag but it is very understated and never felt busy or crowded even during a peak time. The staff are plentiful and eager to assist. The staff actually reminds me of the old Hong Kong style of polished 5 star hotels like the Peninsula.
To date, this is to date my favorite US hotel and that’s really saying something.
Daniel Green, the Model Cook is a Celebrity Chef known for his healthy approach to food and living well. With TV, books, magazines and live appearances, Daniel spends his time helping fans to cook better, feel better and live better. He’s also an avid traveler and a self-confessed Foodie.
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