For a Grown-up Good Time, Try This Adults-Only Deco Gem in Miami

Hotel Greystone
Miami, Florida
Deco Glam, $$

South Beach is Miami's most popular destination, and the business boom of the last few years has brought an influx of new people, ideas, and buildings. The best Miami mix, though, is a balance of old and new, something you can feel the moment you approach Hotel Greystone. Built in 1939, the sun-blasted Deco building is one of architect Henry Hohauser's iconic contributions to Collins Avenue. The silhouette, with its rounded corners and ziggurat roofline is unmistakably Miami, and the Salt Hotels crew, known for making things warm, stylish, and affordable, have balanced old and new inside and out. The facade is once again a gleaming white, flanked by slender palm trees; whipped cream-color interiors, eclectic modern furnishings, and checkerboard floors feel like a reflection of the area's past and present.

Greystone is an adults-only accommodation, which sets a certain kind of tone at the rooftop pool bar, the beach club (just across Collins Avenue), and jazz bar. Sérêvène, the flagship restaurant, serves a sophisticated French-Japanese fusion under the direction of chef Pawan Pinisetti. And from the quiet courtyard there's cafe service of the healthy Japanese variety.

At a Glance

The Vibe:Colorful, textural, calm.

This Place Is Perfect For: Adults only — and their pets (for $100 a pop).

Rooms: 91 rooms and suites — neutral, minimal, Scandinavian, with rainfall showers — including several suites with private terraces and hot tubs.

Food + Drink: The on-site dining experience, Sérêvène, showcases a Japanese sensibility, French techniques, and locally sourced ingredients. The hotel's leafy courtyard cafe, Kobo, offers healthy "sandos," the word for the compact and tidy Japanese-style sandwiches often made with simple ingredients. At the rooftop pool, guests can relax with light bites, cocktails, and music.

One Site: Take part in the specialty cocktail program, piano music, and jazz at the bar. Elsewhere in the hotel, look for community activations and art installations.

What to Do Nearby

Besides jogging and/or walking on the beach, spend time taking in the jewels of Miami Beach’s Art Deco district, which has 960 buildings in the Art Deco and Streamline Moderne styles, both of which drew inspiration from the utilitarian sleekness found in shipbuilding and auto manufacturing (see: porthole windows, symmetrical fronts). A leisurely stroll to and through Lummus Park results in excellent people-watching (rollerbladers, body builders, dog walkers, volleyball players). Miami isn't so easy to define — you'll get a better sense of the place if you travel around. Venture to Little Havana for Cuban pastries or lunch at Sanguich, see the private art collection at the Rubell Museum, order Peruvian ceviche at Itamae, and support an old bookshop.