When you travel to Miami and look for a place to stay you are faced with a lot of options. Do you stay in the hustle and bustle of South Beach? Do you go further north to the quieter areas of Bal Harbor and Sunny Isles? Do you want exclusivity and stay on one of the islands? Faena offers a combination of them all. Located in Mid-Beach, somewhat in between Ocean Drive and the more residential Bal Harbor, Faena oozes its visitors with luxury, comfort and elegance. In 2017, it received the prestigious Number One Property in America award by Conde Nast.
Faena Miami is a reinvention of the former historic Saxony hotel – each of its 169 guestrooms and suites were designed by Alan Faena in collaboration with Baz Lurhmann and Catherine Martin, also known as the “Queen of Collins Avenue.” You don’t enter the hotel through a regular lobby. Rather, your first impression of the hotel is “The Cathedral,” a huge hall with eight massive golden columns and eight 10×15 ft murals that were hand-painted by Argentinian artist Juan Gatti and show mythological and astrological iconography.
All of Faena’s rooms and suites are dominated by three colors: the signature Faena red, white and teal blue. There are a few other signature items: among them are the coral lamps, animal-print ottomans and the pillowcases which have an embroiled fedora and feather (Alan Faena’s signature look). Out of the total 169 rooms, 111 are suites and each comes with a dedicated butler service – something that makes the hotel stand out from other high-end Miami hotels.
During your stay, definitely check out the Tierra Santa Healing House, a 22,000 sq ft wellness space that features one of the largest hammams on the East Coast along with shaman-developed body-healing rituals and treatments, and technologically advanced facial treatments. Don’t know what you want for dinner? Good news! Faena Miami houses three of Miami’s top restaurants. The flagship restaurant is Los Fuegos By Francis Mallmann where Argentine grill-master Francis Mallmann creates a contemporary asado experience with an open-fire kitchen – expect sophisticated South American dishes. Next, there is Pao by Paul Qui that serves modern Asian cuisine with ocean views. And lastly there is El Secreto Omakase where Paul Qui invites you to a speakeasy style Omakase experience. Afterwards, you can finish off your perfect evening in one of Faena’s three bars.
Those who have been in Miami for Art Basel will know that Faena is known for its art and a centerpiece of the annual Art Basel exhibition. The art experience begins of course in “The Cathedral” and your private room but it doesn’t end there. Just outside the lobby area is a giant golden mammoth statue by Damien Hirst that serves as an iconic photo spot. The Faena Theater – inspired by Europe’s opera houses – frequently hosts theater and cabaret performances.
Your Faena experience doesn’t just end with the main hotel. Right next door is Faena House, an 18-story luxury condominium that features 47 luxury condos. If you are interested in buying one and you are fortunate that one is on the market be prepared to pay between $3 million and $37 million for a unit. Across the road of the main hotel, is Casa Faena, the sister hotel that blends Art Deco style with colonial Mediterranean influences and is a throwback to Spanish designs form the 1900s. The Faena Forum is a landmark designed by Rem Koolhaas and serves as the main event and entertainment venue. And lastly, there is the Faena Bazaar, a premium shopping space for highly curated luxury goods. You can find anything from international labels to emerging designers to one-of-a-kind items. As with the rest of the Faena District it was designed – as Alan Faena expresses it – “to celebrate the seamless flow to the unexpected.”
Images courtesy of Faena
