The signs outside the 12-story property at 17th Street and Collins Avenue have been announcing the arrival of SLS Hotel to South Beach for years (literally). From either Collins or the beach, we've been teased with the promise of dining at Katsuya or The Bazaar or sunning at a rooftop pool. It looks like the wait may finally be over.
It's no secret that SLS Hotel South Beach has been promising a May 2012 opening of its hotel, at the same time being secretive about an exact date. A call to the reservations line confirms that the property is taking reservations for its hotel starting on June 14, with prices ranging from $375 for a city view room to $1,150 for a suite and $1,200 for a villa).
The hotel, which started its life in 1939 as the Grossinger Beach Hotel,
the first ever hotel in Miami Beach to provide air conditioning, will
now feature Philippe Starck designed rooms and common areas and food way
better than what was served in the Catskills. Singer/actor/designer Lenny Kravitz has been tapped to design a penthouse suite and a bungalow suite at the hotel, which will offer guests a house car for travel around South Beach.
Chef Jose Andres will bring The Bazaar to South Beach, with a menu
almost identical to the Los Angeles menu, though Andres will be
incorporating a Cuban influence into the Spanish-flavored menu. Chef
Andres will also provide the 24-hour in-room dining for the hotel.
Katsuya by Starck South Beach is also being replicated from the SLS in
Los Angeles. Master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi will offer sushi and robata
dishes "uniquely adapted for the American palate". We're looking
forward to their promised Dragon Room, a mezzanine lounge offering
cocktails.
Both restaurants will officially open on June 14. Opentable will be handling the online reservations for both The Bazaar and Katsuya. Though the system is still being worked on, Short Order was able to make an online reservation for The Bazaar at 7:30 p.m. on the first day of service.
Since no South Beach hotel is complete without some sort of club/lounge,
Hyde Beach will feature over 8,000 square feet of pool, beach, and
indoor/outdoor space where people can sip expensive cocktails and eat
from Jose Andres' own food truck. Bar Centro, located in the lobby of the SLS, will offer lighter fare and cocktails.
SLS Hotel South Beach
1701 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Follow Short Order on Facebook and Twitter @Short_Order.
