Thompson Hotels has officially opened its namesake property in the Miami market and the flagship for the brand: Thompson Miami Beach, located at 4041 Collins Avenue.
The 380-room upscale beachfront property debuts with a collaborative team that blends international appeal and local mindset. Globally revered British interior designer Martin Brudnizki presents a strikingly vibrant bohemian-beach chic concept that reestablishes the ideals of 1950s glamour, housed inside a historic Art Deco tower fully restored by Kobi Karp Architects. With a particular emphasis on local partnerships, Thompson Miami Beach has teamed up with Miami native and James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein to introduce her new restaurant, Seagrape; nightlife impresarios Karim Masri and Nicola Siervo of KNR Hospitality Group to develop experience-driven cocktail venues, 1930s House and Crown Room; Miami’s star landscape architect Raymond Jungles to design lush, tropical landscaping; Miami designer Ashley Leimer of Dress Noble to create staff uniforms; and the homegrown Junior & Hatter salon out of the edgy Wynwood district to offer guests unique services.
“The opening of Thompson Miami Beach signals a major milestone in the growth and development of the Thompson brand,” said Niki Leondakis, CEO, Commune Hotels & Resorts, the international, multi-brand lifestyle hotel company that manages Thompson Hotels. “It is the first project to bear the brand name in the Southeast U.S. and truly showcases what our collection is about: a hotel experience that encapsulates the lifestyle and personality of the local community. Our teams have worked tirelessly to execute a vision we are confident will add a new, refreshing element to this flourishing market.”
“Today is an exciting day for everyone involved in the opening of Thompson Miami Beach,” said Brett Orlando, Area Managing Director, Thompson Miami Beach. “We began this journey many years ago with an idea to create a hotel that would genuinely embrace what this city is about, yet, at the same time, would be relevant to travelers from all around the world. I feel proud of the local partnerships we have established and the top-notch talent in the community we have attracted. Anyone visiting Thompson Miami Beach, whether a local or a visitor, will feel a sense of true authenticity at every corner of the property due to its inspired designs and extraordinary team members.”
The arrival
The Thompson Miami Beach guest journey begins at the hotel’s sweeping wave-shaped porte cochere. An architectural statement faithful to the mid-century style of the property, the entrance leads to an open reception space that flaunts tropical glamour. The most striking element in the lobby is a stunning chandelier, which boldly showcases thousands of pieces of crystal.
Michelle Bernstein’s restaurant: Seagrape
Guests will follow a patterned pathway in the lobby’s terrazzo flooring right into Michelle Bernstein’s Seagrape restaurant, a 267-seat Floridian brasserie. Located on the hotel’s main level, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner daily, and 24-hour in-room dining, Seagrape presents an abundance of fresh vegetables simply prepared, creative small plates, a selection of pedigreed, a-la-carte steaks and a rich raw bar. Bernstein has commissioned a handful of local farmers to grow specific products exclusively for her Seagrape menu.
In addition to the exquisite cuisine, Seagrape has the glamour of mid-century modern design with light oak tables that feature subtle geometric patterns. Seagrape’s horseshoe-shaped, green marble-clad bar is in the heart of the space and an area for guests to sip expertly crafted cocktails and indulge in the modern retro setting. Furnishings in the cocktail lounge include a mix of vintage pieces from the 1920s through the 1960s.
An al fresco terrace presents an idyllic setting for outdoor dining with views of lush gardens. In the distance, waves crashing against the Atlantic shoreline become part of the Seagrape soundtrack.
Guest rooms and suites
Thompson Miami Beach’s 380 ocean front, ocean view and city view guest rooms and its 30 suites, are the perfect blend of beach appointments and mid-century international resort style. All rooms offer sitting areas, 1950s-inspired beds, retro bathrooms crafted with nautical accents, and a vanity space with an oversized mirror and terrazzo top.
Included in the hotel’s collection of 30 suites, the signature Thompson Suites have private living rooms, dining areas, and terraces, all furnished with an eclectic assortment of vintage furniture that allows each room to feel distinct. To jazz up the guest room experience, all mini bars are outfitted with “Mix It Up!” cocktail menus featuring recipes for classic libations with a Miami twist, such as the Pomegranate Fizz and Elderflower Paloma, which can be assembled in-room with ingredients found in the mini bars.
The Spa at Thompson Miami Beach & Fitness Center
Located on the 10th floor, Thompson Miami Beach’s indoor/outdoor spa, aptly named The Spa at Thompson Miami Beach, and its fitness center, maximize the Miami sunshine and serene ocean views. Hotel guests and visitors will have access to six open-air treatment cabanas that showcase the hotel’s 1950s colorful aesthetic. The spa’s waiting area offers seating made of colorful fabrics and lush greenery, and feeds onto a separate indoor/outdoor gym and fitness terrace. Registered hotel guests will enjoy complimentary daily fitness classes hosted on the fitness terrace, like Mini Boot Camp, Boxing Explosion, Mat Pilates and more.
Thompson Miami Beach’s Junior & Hatter outpost also features Brudnizki’s casually glamorous motif with an area reminiscent of a 1950s barbershop. Retro light fittings illuminate the salon and showcase its bespoke vintage-inspired furnishings, including antique armchairs modified for manicure/pedicure loungers and retro barber chairs in bold blue and red leathers with stainless steel fittings. The salon will offer haircuts, styling, coloring, and specialty services.
Crown Room
Upon entry to Thompson Miami Beach’s secondary front drive entrance, two sweeping staircases lead to a library-type setting, where an artistic, creative space greets guests with an intimate nook to enjoy a hand-crafted cocktail, sink into a good book, meet up with friends, and even host a breakout meeting. Crown Room exudes a beach house feel, with a white herringbone patterned wood ceiling, lovingly worn wood white walls and bookcases contrasted against an eclectic and colorful mixture of bright furniture and light fixtures.
The beverage program at Crown Room, developed by beverage consultant and master bartender Julio Cabrera, will focus on the hand-made, artisan cocktail and will feature a mix of enduring classics and reimagined revivals, from a traditional Manhattan and Mint Julep to an Almond Blossom Crusta (circa 1951) and the Blinker (circa 1948). The dictionary-inspired menu will educate guests on the history of the spirits used in their libations.
1930s House
Built in the 1930s, originally across the street from Thompson Miami Beach, this historic, freestanding venue was moved to the hotel property in the early 2000s and is set to become a go-to spot for locals seeking avant-garde cocktails, Spanish-inspired small plates and crudos in a residential-like, bustling atmosphere. The Mediterranean-inspired, indoor-outdoor space is a unique hybrid offering the best of both a bar and restaurant. Upon entering, guests will find influences from Spain – orange clay floors, an original limestone fireplace and a hacienda-style bar with early 20th century Havana-style furnishings in a palette of rich reds, blacks, browns and other deep tones.
Offering indoor lounge and bar seating, as well as al fresco dining in the garden, the 1930s House is a convivial gathering place. For 1930s House, Bernstein has created an original menu of internationally-influenced crudos, tartares, ceviches and carpaccios, as well as a selection of tapas.
The pools, garden and beach
Two heated pools at Thompson Miami Beach allow for ultimate pool play. Bright umbrellas and six private cabanas, for rent, patterned in red, green, blue, and yellow, make an eye-catching statement for this prime outdoor area. Guests looking for a more exclusive experience can reserve one of three lavish daytime poolside bungalows, offering as little or as much privacy as preferred. The adjacent private beach, just steps away from the hotel, offers full food and beverage service, as well as plush lounge chairs and teal, yellow and salmon colored cabanas and umbrellas.
The Garden, created by Miami’s famed landscape architect Raymond Jungles provides guests with complete privacy with a walled forest of native plants. Stone paving of varying heights offers built-in seating and a textured contrast to the colorful fabrics of the space. The design continues to the hotel’s beach area, where bright retro-inspired sun loungers and umbrellas are available to hotel guests.
Function & special event spaces
Thompson Miami Beach offers an estimated 47,000 square feet of flexible, high-design, multifunctional areas available for meetings and special events. The Vista Lounge is an outdoor event space with a focus on bold colors. Diamond-patterned floor tiles in varying shades create a tropical feel, combined with mid-century American furnishings that create a retro oasis with ocean views. The Tarelton Room features natural daylight and 1,360 square feet of meeting space with built in A/V and soundproof windows. The Tarelton is ideal for meetings, press junkets and breakout sessions.
The fashion statement
In keeping with the hotel’s commitment to the local community, Thompson Miami Beach has commissioned Ashley Leimer, founder of Dress Noble, to create the overall fashion statement for Thompson Miami Beach staff. Inspired by timeless elegance, the hotel’s natural surroundings, and old-world charm, the uniform collection represents 60s mod with a modern appeal. A variety of patterns and textures are found throughout the thoughtfully designed uniforms, including chambray/gingham reversible aprons for the servers in Seagrape, and paisley jewel-toned vests constructed with old-world navy satin shawl collars for the bartenders in the 1930s House.
