\\\ CHECKING-IN TO THE SETAI, MIAMI //
True five star luxury is a thing of great beauty. It's a subtlety that might not be seen but can always be felt. We recently checked-in to The Setai, part of The Leading Hotels of the World collection. It is an independently owned and operated property in the heart of Miami's South Beach. A departure from it's neighboring Art Deco properties to the north and south (all white minimalist temples to the Stark design philosophy), the vibe here is decidedly Balinese with other Asian and south east Asian touches throughout. In fact the beautiful charcoal grey bricks that lay in the lobby were transported from Shanghai which at one time had the largest array of Art Deco buildings in the world.Â
Upon arrival we were welcomed by multiple greeters, bellmen and hotel staff who simultaneously whisked away our bags, offered us cool, refreshing towelettes and serve us chilled lemongrass tea. After a quick and intimate check-in (we never had to hover over a desk) we were immediately escorted to our chambers. A teak and onyx suite with an ocean view, a heavenly king bed and delightful details that any tech-obsessed guest would appreciate (remote controlled blackout blinds and my favorite: a Setai app for your phone that allows users to order room service, reserve lounge chairs, make meal reservations and even have espresso's delivered beachside.)
There were other amazing details too - like our very own pool concierge who brought us cold water, fresh towels and refreshing water mist. We dined at The Restaurant, the spectacular on-site hotel restaurant that featured inspired Mediterranean cuisine and top-notch service. The bathroom products were designed exclusively for The Setai by Roja Parfumsa, the sheets were Frette and we had a luxurious black granite tub in the middle of our suite!! We missed out on the beach yoga and the spa treatments, but there is always next time!
