I stepped out of the chauffeur-driven black Range Rover onto the pavement of South Beach. The weather in Miami can be quite unforgiving at times. A melancholic and stifling mix of heat and humidity egging you on to strip down to the bare essentials – anything short and made from linen or, if you’re as adventurous as the girl who just zoomed past me on roller-blades, swimwear might be in order. I swabbed the sweat from my face and neck with a cold towel courtesy of the Tunisian chauffeur. I love Miami - America’s swamp city turned to gold during the emigration and property boom of the 1990s. And, as I would soon discover, I love it all the more when staying at Collins Avenue’s hippest hotel.
The Setai hotel has a meticulously replicated art deco exterior with a landmark modern glass tower that currently houses the serviced apartments. Originally built in the 1930s as the famed Dempsey Vanderbilt Hotel, The Setai recreates the style and charm of the city’s fabled past, while seamlessly blending Asian traditions of simplicity and elegance to its overall appeal. The lobby is long and shady with remarkably high ceilings, decorated in a very luxurious Asian style. Pieces of Far Eastern art and furniture mingle perfectly with their surroundings. You’re immediately transported away from the hustle and bustle of the street and into the peace of the moment.
In yoga, you are taught to take long and deep breaths over six counts to soothe your spirit and relax your body. At the Setai you don’t even need to count your breaths, just sit back and relax in comfort while the staff attends to your every need. Personalized attention starts from check-in which is done in your room to the amazingly diligent pool attendants that are most unlike the ones at the Delano whom you must bribe and beg just to get noticed.
On the way to the lifts, the glorious courtyard becomes visible. Could there be anything more tranquil than taking a few moments to absorb the serenity of the enormous, shallow reflecting pool with its fountain splashing water over the pale smooth stones that line the bottom. The whole exterior sanctuary is covered in dark wooden struts, which form a great Asian temple-like pergola, creating a cool and shaded area surrounded by chairs and tables. I made a mental note to make it my first stop at the hotel, to be quickly followed by a much-lauded massage at its famous spa.
The Setai flung its doors open to South Beach’s Jimmy Choo and Pucci- wearing glitterati and their entourages back in 2004. Created and managed by world-renowned hotel king, Adrian Zecha, president and chairman of General Hotel Management Ltd, The Setai received rave reviews and has maintained a discerning clientele ever since. You’ll find a GHM concept hotel, the Chedi, closer to home in Oman. Zecha’s other choice hotels and resorts are scattered across exotic locations such as Bali, Goa, Kuala Lumpur and Phuket.
At 960 USD excluding taxes per night for a regular room, you’d expect the accommodation to be special. It doesn’t disappoint. All 75 bedrooms are large enough to house a presidential seating area. Your first impression is one of tranquillity because the rooms are very well designed and uncluttered – something that is difficult to pull off if you’re not going for the full-on minimalism effect. Here the designers have managed to create a stylish and tasteful environment with all the dark wood furniture. Each room has its own pieces of Asian art and sculpture and even the complimentary fruit baskets and chocolates are arranged as mini modern works of art.
The rooms are equipped with a sophisticated lighting design. It took me at least five minutes to work out how to turn off all the lights with dimmers, so make sure you pay attention to the porter’s comprehensive instructions. Having said that, the Setai provides you with an astonishing array of gadgets from the more usual CD and DVD player, to the Plasma TV and the Bose surround sound system, to the electric curtains and dimmer switches on every light – though you may actually need a PhD to operate all the switches effectively. However, kick back and make yourself a pronto Lavazza espresso with your very own machine before you set out to explore.
With such a high starting price you’ll be glad to know that the service is impeccable and the staff young, efficient, good-looking and friendly. They seem genuinely interested in their jobs rather than just wanting to garner a good tip. It should also be mentioned that the concierge, Rafael, is known to be one of the best in the country.
The Setai is not large but it has a lot to offer including three restaurants and a bar. Breakfast at the Restaurant, which overlooks the Courtyard, is a visual treat but the buffet is on the smaller side and most items have to be ordered individually. Also, surprisingly for a hotel of this calibre, you’ll find that only the tea comes in a pot and the coffee comes by the cup.
The food itself is good. What Asian hotel would be credible without its own sushi restaurant and this one offers caviar and Prestige Cuvée champagnes as well as the regular rolls and Japanese dishes. If you decide to spend time lounging around one of the three pools, or on the beach, then you may want to opt for the Mediterranean fare from the Beach Bar.
Recreational facilities include a small gym, private yacht charters, golf and tennis, deep-sea diving, yoga and tai chi classes and, of course, the extraordinary spa. If there is one thing that makes the nightly rate at this hotel worthwhile, it is the way in which your serenity is given a big dose of nurturing.
Contact
The Setai
Miami, Fl, USA
Tel +1 305 520 6000
HYPERLINK "http://www.setai.com" www.setai.com
The Spa at The Setai
The spa is sublime and set within the quietest corner of this already peaceful hotel. You can choose from an extensive variety of body purification treatments based on handpicked healing therapies from Bali and Tibet. If you have the time, then create your own treatments for a more profound ultimate experience and make sure to include one of the bath soaks. Or maybe, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, a Sunrise or Sunset Meditation session might be in order.
