Apr.
3/09

The Betsy Hotel – a Miami Gem

Just came back from Florida, and it really is a different Florida to the one I frequently visited when I was a kid… Tampa is not Miami and Clearwater is not the Keys.

Miami has many hotels to choose from, but the newest could be its best. The Betsy Hotel on Ocean Drive has officially opened its doors after an extensive renovation, and it is beautiful. First opened in 1942 when it hosted US troops during World War II, it has undergone a tremendous facelift and now rivals only the best hotels in Miami.

It starts with the location. On the north corner (and quiet end) of Ocean Drive, it doesn’t get anymore central to all the action. As you are ushered through the front doors, the lobby exudes a sense of tranquility with its sandy light colors, yet with D’Angelo playing in the background, the vibe is definitely alive.

To the right is a lounge & bar which invites you to sit for an afternoon Tom Collins. To the left is the main event; BLT Steak Restaurant by Laurent Tourondel. Although beef is an obvious feature, his speciality is

BLT Steak at The Betsy Hotel, South Beach

seafood, and if breakfast & lunch provided any example, the entire menu is worth trying. Breakfast for me consisted of Belgian Waffles with bananas & berries, light enough to welcome lunch a couple of hours later.

After a morning walk on magnificent South Beach (the boardwalk is outside the front door), the owner hosted us for lunch. If there was only ONE thing I could recommend, it would be the popovers served with sea salt and butter. A take on Yorkshire Pudding, these babies will ruin your appetite, as they are served warm and fresh. The tuna carpaccio was on a bed of avocado and my Kobe burger was impossible to resist. Really, it was that good.

BLT manages all the food and beverage in the hotel (including room service) along with the soon to be opened roof terrace & wellness center. This is a first for BLT and a great decision by the hotel.

The rooms, spread across 4 stories, have a white, colonial feel with flat screens, Malin+Goetz product, LCD screens in the bathroom mirror (you have to see it) and Frette robes & sheets .

Although not inexpensive, The Betsy has an amazing vibe and should be included in any Miami itinerary.