Metropolitan by COMO Miami Beach

The Scene

Location makes all the difference for the Metropolitan by COMO. It sits ever so slightly outside the traditional dividing line between South Beach and Mid Beach (23rd Street), keeping the hubbub of SoBe at arm’s length---unless you want to join the party, that is. Prime cultural sites like the Bass Museum of Art, the New World Symphony, and the Fillmore Miami Beach are within walking distance; to get into the heart of shopping and nightlife, you may consider taking a cab. Its unique location also affords it not one but two marine views: one is beachfront with all the convenience and beauty expected of Miami Beach, the other of Lake Pancoast, part of the Intracoastal waterway of South Florida where the Metropolitan by COMO maintains a private dock for the use of its guests.

The Concept

It’s rare that we would ever want to use one word to describe a property when we can use ten, but the Metropolitan by COMO requires only one: rejuvenating. From the moment you step inside the former Traymore Hotel, the feeling of calm that permeates both the atmosphere and design is instant; you’re really not in South Beach anymore. Indulge in the COMO Shambhala Urban Escape on the eighth floor to enhance your overall wellness with a spa therapy or perhaps yoga (overlooking the water, naturally). There are two pools---one rooftop and one beachside---complete with sparkling white cabanas and attentive staff to ensure your complete relaxation. Recalling its previous incarnation, the aptly named Traymore Restaurant completes the Florida experience in a manner that can only be described as refreshing. Seafood should always be fresh, but the Traymore brings it to you nearly straight off the boat, complementing each dish with delicious tropical ingredients from Florida.

The Look

Given the hotel’s Art Deco origins, we love how designer Paola Navone drew out the very best of what the era offered paired flawlessly with COMO’s sleek, high-end style that results in a thoroughly Miami sensibility. The palette is decidedly neutral with its liberal use of white and highlight of mint green, but this suits the Shambhala spirit (“proactive holistic wellness, combining modern science with ancient healing”) that drives the COMO brand. The rooms and suites are spacious and simply furnished, allowing the brilliant terrazzo floors, marble, and chrome accents to shine. The Traymore downstairs adds in a dose of pink in a fabulously designed floor that evokes Miami’s golden age.

In Short

A badly-needed addition to the Miami Beach hotel scene, the Metropolitan by COMO strikes an elegant balance between rejuvenating luxury and the luxury inherent in Art Deco era travel.