Betsy Hotel in South Beach blends the old and the new

  

The living and the past come together in Miami, where yesterday’s plans meet today’s lifestyle. Of all the beach neighborhoods of Miami, no other beach exemplifies the circle of seasons like South Beach.

 

Be sure to view slide show at base of article.

 

Set on that strip of sand separating the Atlantic Ocean from Biscayne Bay and the city of Miami, South Beach glows from the water’s edge to the glitzy restaurants, clubs and hotels that line the coast. Yes, the city now shimmers as it did at the height of its glory in the 1930s, but in between, were years of neglect and decay.

 

In the mid-1970s, South Beach was on the edge of ruin. The once-grand art deco hotels and apartments were seedy and blighted, the residents downtrodden by fixed incomes and crime. Tourists staying at the grand resorts such as the Fontainebleau or Eden Roc rarely ventured to the stretch of squat, decrepit buildings to the south.

 

Thanks to a group of visionaries led by writer Barbara Capitman, South Beach underwent a facelift of million dollar proportions, as chipped and graying facades were patched and painted pastel colors, interiors were gutted and restored, hotels were reopened to guests, and restaurants and clubs filled with people.  As a result of such renewal, the one-mile strip along Ocean Drive to the southern tip of the island was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Financial investment followed, a large portion coming from fashion and entertainment.

 

Today South Beach, or SOBE, is heralded the American Riviera. The beach is alive with young and old, sunning and strutting from dawn to dusk. When the sun goes down, the restaurants and clubs along Ocean Drive buzz with conversation, music, dancing and festivity of all kinds.

 

 

You could stay with hundreds of other tourists at one of the large resorts right on the sand, or you can enjoy one of the lovely boutique hotels in the historic district. The Betsy Hotel on the northern-most edge of the historic district has charm and character, something different from the crowd. The colonial façade and interior design of The Betsy distinguishes it from its art deco sisters, without compromising the vintage look of the area.

 

Formerly known as The Betsy Ross Hotel, the Betsy underwent a major, two-year renovation, where everything about the grand dame was updated, upgraded, and uplifted. Pure white lacquered walls glow over hardwood floors, common areas have sophisticated seating designed for conversation. Windows are covered with sparkling white plantation shutters, filtering the harsh tropical light over the elegant interiors.

 

The Betsy web site promises something beyond the ordinary. The site includes a History page explaining the vision of the hotel architect, L. Murray Dixon, to design something different from the art deco structures he’d already designed along Ocean Drive. A Going Green page details the Betsy’s commitment to eco-friendly practices, while another page highlights the Betsy’s partners, including (Malin & Goetz) apothecary products for the bath. Most stunning of all was the Philanthropy page that reveals the heart of the hotel through its charitable giving activities in such areas as children at risk, conservation, and literary programs.

 

A hotel with such a vision for global outreach is rare. A bit of research and interviews with hotel staff revealed that The Betsy’s owner and the VP Marketing and Philanthropy are offspring of the late poet, Hyam Plutzik, a Pulitzer prize-finalist and professor of English at the University of Rochester. (The stanza above is from “Sprig of Lilac,” one of Hyam Plutzik’s best-loved poems.) How can a writer not be fascinated by a hotel that contributes to literacy programs? How many corporations have a VP of Marketing and Philanthropy? These things alone set The Betsy apart from every other hotel in South Beach.

 

The interest in humanities and philanthropy shows in the art that lines the interior walls. Currently on exhibit are photographs by renowned photographers Bobby Sager, Richard Bluestein, and a collection of prints from the Rockarchive. Large and luminous, the photos reflect Betsy’s urbane sophistication without compromising its commitment to community and global outreach. The Betsy welcomes non-guests to stroll through the hotel’s public areas to view the photographs.

 

From the moment of efficient and friendly check in, to a staff member running to get coffee-to-go for a guest’s taxi ride to the airport, Betsy proved itself a respite from big hotels. One guest had barely contained her ahhs upon entering her beautiful ocean-front suite when the front desk called to make sure everything was to her satisfaction. A moment later a knock on the door revealed the director of housekeeping stopping by to see if she needed anything special. The mini-bar host stepped up to inquire whether the guest wished any particular brand of liquor stocked in her room. This is the kind of service you expect at large luxury chains, but seldom see in small boutique hotels.

 

Room grades at The Betsy include standard rooms with views of the city or pool courtyard, to Master Suites with pool or city views and separate sitting areas, to the Royal or Grand Suites that have ocean views and a separate sitting room, to the luxe Grand Suite with balcony that overlooks South Beach. All of the rooms include lavish amenities, featuring state-of-the-art audio, entertainment and communications, plus a 13-inch television built into the mirror of the bathroom. Interiors offer four shades of pastels to compliment the white lacquer, with exquisite cotton bedding and a buffet of pillows.

 

The Betsy’s literary values reach into each guest room, where shelves are stocked with current bestsellers for guest’s reading enjoyment. Should a guest not have time to finish reading a Betsy book, he or she may purchase the book upon check-out. Complimenting the literary vibe are the lovely bookmarks laid across the pillow each night at turndown. Made of recycled paper strewn with wildflower seeds, the bookmarks may be planted in soil for a harvest of floral memories.

 

 

Fine accommodations require excellent food and The Betsy’s in-house dining featuring BLT Steak does not disappoint. Set both within Betsy’s sleek interior and outside on the umbrella-shaded sidewalk, BLT Steak draws local diners from all over the greater Miami area who mingle with hotel guests.

 

The restaurant may be called BLT Steak, but you’ll find more than a dozen other savory choices of seafood, poultry (including duck), and lamb, plus a sumptuous array of salad choices. Award-winning chef Laurent Tourondel’s signature gruyere popovers served to each guest are mouth-watering puffs of pastry paradise. Desserts such as key lime panna cotta served with coconut sorbet or pineapple, mango, papaya Île Flottante with pina colada sorbet are tempting finishes to fabulous dining.

 

Tourondel’s BLT dining brands can be found in eight American cities, as well as San Juan and Hong Kong. Tourondel is renowned for imaginative uses of premium meats such as Kobe beef, Angus beef and American Wagyu beef, served with luscious steak seasonings and sauces.

 

The white sands of South Beach are just across the street from The Betsy, yet nothing cools off a body like a splash into a sparkling blue pool. Set inside a private courtyard, The Betsy’s pool is secluded from the crowds of SOBE; a perfect retreat for sunning in the lounges or relaxing with friends.

 

The solarium lounge on the top deck of the hotel looks across Ocean Drive for a clear view of the beach and brilliant blue waters of the Atlantic. Designed to impress, with white canvas sails snapping in the breeze, the solarium gives imaginative guests the impression of sailing above it all. Open day and night, the rooftop solarium is the social center of the hotel, where guests can enjoy morning coffee or sunset cocktails.

 

South Beach is once-again a Mecca for the sophisticated traveler. Hotels such as The Betsy, with its generous outreach to global causes, its commitment to cultural conservation and architectural preservation, and its hunger to create community for locals and travelers alike, embody the heart of the living as it comes together with the past.