12.22.08
MORE IN MIAMI

Move over South Beach. The iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach – faded glitterati haunt designed by Morris Lapidus where Elvis, the Rat Pack, and James Bond stayed and played – just re-opened after a billion-dollar renovation. It’s still a bit early to tell if this 1,500 room monolith towering over the Atlantic like a curved block of coral will return Mid-Beach to its former glory, but future neighbors include a Mid-Beach outpost of the members-only Soho House.

And not to be outdone, last month the Mondrian Hotel opened its latest outpost in South Beach. Designed by Dutch design star Marcel Wanders, who set out to create a “Sleeping Beauty’s castle”, there are details like a grand spiral staircase and crystal chandelier showerheads, as well as direct access to Biscayne Bay.