In the heart of Miami Beach's Art Deco District, boutique hotels remain a prized link to the past, preserving a signature palette of colors and architecture. Among them is the Marlin Hotel, designed in the 1930s by L. Murray Dixon, a key figure in the city's art deco era.
The three-story building has lived many lives, serving at one time or another as apartments, condos and office space. During the 1980s, Island Records founder Chris Blackwell owned the iconic hotel and opened his South Beach Studios recording and rehearsal facilities there, attracting A-list artists from Aerosmith to Bob Marley.
Now, a Miami-based hospitality group, the MRK Collection, has breathed new life into its storied walls after purchasing the hotel in April 2015. The Marlin Hotel's recent multimillion-dollar renovation is rich in European influences while still honoring its art deco look and its link to the music industry.
At the invitation of the Marlin Hotel, I experienced the first phase of renovations that included 14 newly remodeled suites, lobby and a bar area restaurant.
The owners take pride in creating a warm environment with subtle tributes to eras that made this a premier destination. Sophisticated intimacy welcomes guests to indulge in a sensory experience of color and sound. The lobby features terrazzo floors and built-in bookshelves that hold a collection of book jackets designed to create an image of guitar god Jimi Hendrix. The faux carriage look inside the elevator harkens back to the lifts in European hotels. The main hallway between the restaurant and adjoining guestrooms is adorned with platinum albums from legendary artists whose voices once filled the hotel's recording studios.
Inside the four contemporary, custom-designed room layouts, ranging from 240 to 550 square feet, a neutral color palette and luxurious fabrics make lounging quite comfortable. Features include a 55-inch LED TV with surround sound, remote control blackout drapes and a fully stocked wet bar. The dark wood closets, a rare abundance of space for hotels along South Beach, offers beach towels, umbrellas and an RFID-controlled safe that can hold a 17-inch laptop.
A newly renovated superior deluxe suite at the Marlin Hotel.
My superior deluxe suite overlooked Collins Avenue and included a king bed, a plush queen oversize couch in front of a wall-mounted television and a crescent-shaped desk perched in front of a window. The spa-like bathroom with a rainfall shower, frosted glass enclosure therapeutic pebble floor and keypad lighting offers a little extra pampering. Additions like makeup remover pads and adjustable bedside lights to polish a fresh manicure extend the comforts of a well-stocked guest home.
The lifestyle hotel now offers 33 rooms, after completing a second expansion phase adding 19 luxury guestrooms adding storage space and doors to the open closets.
An award-winning local dining establishment for more than 30 years has now relocated inside the Marlin. Osteria del Teatro specializes in Northern Italian cuisine with seafood influences, offering freshly baked breads and house-made desserts. Rich leathers in grey and heather set with dark espresso wood and accents set an elegant tone in the rustic cantina layout. A three-tier wine rack set into the second floor is an artistic focal point for guests walking into the room.
A drink token offered at check-in enables guests to choose from an array of hand-crafted cocktails on the bar menu or create a concoction of their own for a nightcap. A bountiful gourmet continental breakfast offering scones, croissants, smoked salmon, ham and cheese and other light items encourages guests to sleep in and then linger over coffee and conversation.
Visit www.themarlinhotel.com.