SLS Brickell Hotel & Residences – The Lifestyle Hotel In The Heart Of Miami

On South Miami Avenue, in the sparkling business and leisure district of Brickell, one finds the unmissable architectural landmark of SLS Brickell Hotel & Residences. Showcasing the design genius of Philippe Starck, and the compelling Miami luxury lifestyle embodied by SLS, this property is the place to stay in Miami’s buzzing new financial and leisure area.

Brickell is Miami’s Manhattan, a cluster of shimmering skyscrapers, home to businesses, fancy condominiums and fabulous hotels. It’s without doubt one of our favourite parts of the city, a modern district with an amazing shopping centre, Brickell City Centre, cool bars, clubs and some very prestigious places to stay.

We were here to discover SLS Brickell Hotel & Residences, with interiors by design guru Philippe Starck, brought to life by a lively vibe that can only be found in Miami.  Rooms and suites have striking, sexy one-of-a-kind interiors, while the property’s facilities include an amazing pool deck called Altitude, a signature Italian restaurant, as well as a chic Ciel spa and spacious fitness room.

The property is punctuated by art, from abstract tree like sculptures outside the residences entrance, by Spanish artist Ester Partegas, to the colossal, chromatic mural on the property’s façade. This unique work, created in collaboration with architect Jorge. M. Perez, is by the German artist Markus Linnenbrink. He describes it as a collection of different coloured bands which are painted and dripped in succession around the building. It creates a landmark in Brickell.

Inside the design features continue, with original digital art in the ceiling of the entrance and the striking interior of the lobby. Yet it’s the welcoming team that really makes an impact. The front desk staff is super friendly and so helpful.  There is valet parking, and when I needed to go out, they arranged for me to be whisked to my destination with the hotel’s complimentary Lincoln House Car.

Dining

Dining includes the fabulous Italian restaurant, Fi’lia, with its signature wood-burning oven for stellar pizzas and delicious smoke-flavoured dishes. Above the lobby is the intimate, upscale and decadent Lounge, a place for cocktails and people watching, while to enjoy the amazing climate, choose the Altitude Pool and Lounge, with great views, DJ tunes and great food and drink.

Altitude Pool and Lounge

Open from sunrise to sunset, this extraordinary pool deck is reason enough to stay at SLS Brickell Hotel & Residences. The team are amongst the friendliest I have met in the city, motivated to make your stay memorable. The place has a great atmosphere, whether you are catching the rays on the poolside sunbeds, chilling in the hot tubs or relaxing in the shade of a private cabana. The open side of the pool deck looks out over downtown Miami – offering an impressive view.

There’s dedicated poolside service, offering cocktails and refreshments from the bar, light bites and dishes from the grill including menu items from the fabulous Fi’lia restaurant on the ground floor.  There is nothing better than kicking back with chilled champagne and Italian snacks, enjoying the tunes and the Florida sunshine – this is the life!

The design has signature Philippe Starck touches, from the bold stripes of the sunbeds to the oversized plant pots. Miami’s vibrant art scene is referenced by a huge duck, which in collaboration with the annual Miami Basel art festival, gets a yearly makeover by a guest artist.

The spa and fitness area are also on this level.

Read our guide to the best hotels in Miami

Fi’lia

Italian cooking is undoubtedly one of the most popular in the world, and at F’ilia they offer authentic flavours with modern dishes cooked with love, using the freshest, and best ingredients. That’s the delicious experience at Fi’lia.

The restaurant has an appealing Mediterranean vibe, with panoramic windows letting the light flood in. The open kitchen is where the chefs cook over fire and charcoal, creating classic Italian and Mediterranean fare.  This is the place for all-day dining from breakfast, weekend brunches, lunch, and dinner.

Start the day with Soft Scramble Cacio e Pepe, with eggs, black pepper, pecorino romano, over toasted ciabatta. Looking for a tasty lunch, then consider a wood-fired pizza. The dinner menu expands to include a creamy truffle and mushroom risotto, grilled seafood, and meat dishes like a rack of lamb or a tomahawk steak.

Suite stay

With 4 room categories and 4 suite categories, SLS Brickell Hotel & Residences, there’s a stylish space you can call home in Miami. Each room features SLS Signature beds and linens, a work desk with a charging station, an in-room coffee maker and 55” wide-screen high-definition LCD TV complete with On Demand channels. The bathrooms have luxurious MALIN+GOETZ for Ciel Spa bath amenities, complimentary fitness apparel laundering, and luxurious dual shower heads (standard shower and rain shower).

We stayed in a Signature Suite – which delivers the wow factor! Expect a wrap-around balcony terrace, a large living area with twin leather sofas, work desk, dining area and a fabulous mini bar. The bedroom has a SLS Signature king bed, a sexy mirrored ceiling and mirrored door into the bathroom with a shower and large bathtub. It’s decadent Miami indulgence. Thoughtful details include welcome amenities, a fresh orchid in the living area, and in the bathroom there are plenty of towels as well as signature SLS robes and slippers. It’s got everything for an unforgettable stay.

Information

In addition to the accommodation and dining, SLS Brickell Hotel & Residences also showed me their meeting and events spaces, indoors and outdoors – looks like an impressive place to host a party.

This property is included in our guide to the best hotels in Miami