The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach
Miami, Florida

Ladies who tan—this is your Ritz. The infinity pool dazzles, the beach stretches with elegant Ritz-blue cabanas while waiters navigate the sands with iced drinks and fruit. The tanning butler, moreover, is drop-dead gorgeous.

Malcolm, the world’s only tanning butler, cruises pool and beach, biceps stretching the short sleeves of his very South Beach uniform, a body hugging black shirt and swim shorts. Whatever you need—8-15-30 SPF, spritzers, or creams—Malcolm has at the ready in his leather holster. "How," I asked, "does a tanning butler train?"

"The Ritz keeps me in the basement on my days off, working on my long shoulder strokes and circular back rubs," Malcolm quipped. "Each lotion must be applied perfectly smoothly."

Their tanning butler is not this Ritz’s only 10. They have elegantly restored a South Beach original, the 1950's Art Moderne-style DiLido Hotel. Exterior curves, sweeping lines, and pastel accents flourish. A cherry-wood wall, inlaid with 72 domed sconces, curves around the lobby’s black terrazzo floors. Proving beyond a doubt something wonderful was happening architecturally in the 1950s, even if not in the burbs.

Plus the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach has an exciting—and superb—art collection, featuring established and emerging Latin American and European artists. "I pored over books, catalogs, and as much research as I could find to understand the type of art that was exhibited in hotels and homes at the time," said Diana Lowenstein, a principal hotel owner who brought the collection together. "Art Moderne was an exciting period, with the beginning of abstract, the beginning of the industrial revolution, the use of linear shapes in paintings, as well big, mural type art," observed Lowenstein.

The "Ballet" by Valerio Adami hangs above the concierge desk for a striking welcome. And the 26 original painted photographs of Amazon fauna by Spanish artist Dario Basso drew me past the Lapidus lounge every time I left my room.

My Club Level room, Ritz-elegant and beach-crisp, with vast bathroom and view balcony was, however, not easy to leave. Although, the views—and the food—in the club level lounge were even better. From early morning coffee with bagels through afternoon tea with warm scones and clotted cream to evening cordials with chocolate truffles, I found multiple visits mandatory. Then there was working on my tan under Malcolm’s quick-draw spritz and watchful eye. And did I mention this is in South Beach?

Not your daddy’s Ritz—not that your daddy won’t like it.

 Kate Crawford      March  2007

LINKS WITH ATTITUDE                           

The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach on the web.