Meet Me In Miami

When Winter’s Doldrums Set in, a Jaunt to Miami’s Acqualina Resort is Just the Fix.

An alluring getaway for design lovers and wellness enthusiasts, Acqualina is a towering 98-room boutique resort with unobstructed views of the Atlantic, the only one of its kind along Sunny Isles Beach in Florida. Marrying European architectural details, design accents and authentic cuisine inspired by Japan, Italy and Greece, the luxury property feels like an overseas escape within a few hours’ flight.

Acqualina welcomes guests with an immediate sense of home. The bright gallery lobby, newly redesigned by STA Architectural Group, exudes quiet luxury, with high arched windows, Brazilian marble, pearlized walls and glowing chandeliers. Bespoke art pieces also enhance the ambience. The latest: An abstract interpretation of a serene beach scene by artist and designer Alex Turco. 

Its thoughtful accommodations — with expansive bathrooms, marble details, well-appointed sitting rooms and gourmet kitchens (in some suites), plus luxurious amenities from Seed To Skin Tuscany (the only U.S. hotel to carry the organic brand) — are spacious, and generous layouts that prioritize privacy. Standard rooms start at nearly 750 square feet, and many floors have only four keys.

Staying true to a Mediterranean lifestyle is simple thanks to Acqualina’s new Acquafit Program, which includes a renovated gym facility opened in January with the latest high-tech equipment, as well as yoga mats in every room, sound therapy available through in-room iPads, and complimentary group sculpting classes held on weekends. 

Acqualina Spa, known for details like Himalayan salt walls and Finnish saunas, has added new co-ed relaxation lounges. Couples can now unwind together with guided meditations, affirmation cards, or coloring mandalas. The resort also offers painting classes.

In addition to the tranquil spa pool, the resort features three more spots to take a dip: an adults-only pool, a recreational pool, and the most photogenic of the trio, the Beach Club pool. It’s hard to resist snapping photos among the red-and-white striped umbrellas while enjoying an afternoon in a private cabana.

A bountiful breakfast spread in the main dining room, Ke-uH, is included with every stay. Start your morning with a made-to-order omelet or a build-your-own bowl of steel-cut oatmeal or simply enjoy a fresh juice on the terrace. By night, the newly reimagined space transforms into a sophisticated Japanese fusion restaurant. Don’t miss the tuna tacos, sushi rolls and Wagyu steaks.

Just off Acqualina’s lobby is the Miami outpost of New York’s Il Mulino Italian restaurant. A three-course lunch overlooking the ocean is a delectable daytime treat, and indulging in a full dinner is a true feast for the senses. (Insider tip: Don’t overorder, to save room for all the extra surprises your server has in store!)

Among Acqualina’s most exclusive perks is skybridge access to Avra Miami, the Florida location of New York’s famed Avra, where guests can score reservations through the concierge and dine upon fresh Greek cuisine. The restaurant opened in 2022 inside Estates at Acqualina, the ultraluxury residential property next door featuring a Karl Lagerfield-designed lobby.