Gale South Beach

The Scene

The Gale South Beach is located in one of the most happening parts of Miami Beach at 17^th Street and Collins Avenue. Though it is not right on the beach, it is a mere block from it, and beach club access (including beachside amenities) is provided between 17^th and 18^th street at the K17 Beach Club. The hotel is also within walking distance to some of South Beach’s biggest landmarks such as the Convention Center, Frank Gehry’s New World Symphony, the Fillmore and Lincoln Road, the open mall packed with shops, bars and restaurants.

The Concept

The Gale brings the essence of la dolce vita to South Beach through both its décor and ambiance. It’s a relatively small hotel, but it is able to pack a whole lot of fun inside from Dolce, the Italian Restaurant & Café in the lobby (which you have to walk through to get to the front desk) to Regent, the celebrated cocktail lounge (nominated best hotel bar in the world by Tales of the Cocktail) to Rec Room, the swanky 1970’s-inpsired dance club in the basement. And when all the eating, drinking and partying takes a toll, head to the rooftop, a 5,000 square foot space with a 45 foot infinity pool, bar and a white marble, two-tiered deck that has beautiful vistas of South Beach and provides a full day of sun (a rare thing in most rooftops ‘round there, we hear).

The Look

The la dolce vita-meets-SoBe style extends to the hotel’s look, which merges Art Deco architecture (the building dates to 1941 and was designed by L. Murray Dixon) with Italian Riviera-influenced design. Expect vintage-inspired furnishings and touches everywhere including classic chandeliers, deep wood-hued floors and panels from imported oak, and white marble accents; and to put all this into context black and white photos of 1940’s South Beach (including some of the owners’ own families) line the walls, from the lobby to guest rooms. Rooms do come on the smaller side, but are well-appointed with plush beds and furniture as well as the latest technology. Bathrooms are particularly nice boasting marble and European rain showers.

In Short

For a taste of la dolce vita in South Beach head to the Gale. Packing a restaurant, cocktail bar, rooftop deck and dance club within a sophisticated, intimate space, indulging never quite felt this effortless (and glamorous).