A weekend in Wynwood is just enough time to take in the blocks of street art, shops, museums, and dining. The best place – and only luxury hotel to stay at is the Arlo Wynwood, an experience-driven hotel that opened on November 1, 2022. 

Located in the heart of Wynwood, the hotel is the first in Miami’s preeminent creative and cultural district, currently home to the world’s largest concentration of street art. We quickly checked in to the 217-room, nine-story hotel, marveling at the outdoor mural, soaring lobby, and digital wall art.

Designed by Nicholas Architects, a distinguished Miami-based architecture firm with over 55 years of experience in the hospitality sector, Arlo Wynwood draws on the neighborhood’s curated artistic nature and an eclectic industrial aesthetic of organic meets modern. Meyer Davis was responsible for the exceptional interior design of the building, contributing significantly to its overall appeal.

The sleek elevator has a bullet-proof security entry system that whisks you to your floor; artist Brooke Einbender designed each of the elevators with 3D decals that reflect the intersection of where art and technology meet. 

Once in the room, we liked the metal hat rack and slatted wood cabinet with a well-stocked coffee and snack station. The king-sized bed had luxe white linens and a padded headboard with various lighting setups. A huge TV is anchored on one wall. The white and gray tiled bath is modern and stocked with products and towels. 

The best feature is the balcony with two seats and a grand view of the sprawling, colorful city. From the 7th floor, it was a clear shot of the bay and the gleaming towers that defined the new Miami skyline. Watching the city change from day to night, with views of courtyards and penthouses, was a thrill.

After checking, we returned to the lobby to eat at MaryGold’s, led by James Beard alum Chef Brad Kilgore. Their modern American cuisine pulls from Miami and the melting pot of flavors that make up the country’s culture. Kilgore, a James Beard “Best Chef: South” nominee and Food & Wine “Best New Chefs in America” alumnus, has been credited for helping define the Miami dining scene. We scanned the menu of locally caught seafood, homemade pasta, and numerous small and large plates.

Brunch has beignets with dipping sauces, salads, brioche French toast, egg dishes of benedicts, frittatas, and something called eggs in purgatory. Super delicious blueberry muffins were warm and fruity, and the almond latte was one of the best I’ve ever had. Later, we feasted on prawn cocktails, ravioli with creamed sweet corn, and spicy brown butter for dinner. Desert was chocolate cake and sorbets.

We made our way up to the pool to check out the 360 view with cabanas and lounge chairs. Arlo’s 76-foot-long heated pool is the property’s crown jewel, with resort vibes in the city’s heart. A full-service menu has Asian beef skewers, roasted chicken wings, tuna poke guacamole, and more to go with wine, beer, cocktails, juices, and soft drinks. 

Art is everywhere—the hotel has more than 250 works of art throughout. On the serene yoga deck, Florida-based collage artist Ari Robinson created a plexiglass mural featuring overlapping organic shapes of varying sizes and hues.

The property’s exterior walls feature works by Miami-based artist Hoxxoh, known for his “spheres of life” that illustrate the motions of space and time, and MILAGROS Collective, whose co-founders Felici Asteinza and Joey Fillastre created site-specific work that explores the history of the community through striking arrangements of color and lines. 

Photo Gallery

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Venturing out to see the top attractions in the area, we visited Aliona Ortega Fine Art gallery, whose current show, “Songsforstarlings,” was of elegant dark, moody paintings by Psychedelic Furs singer / visual artist Richard Butler (who prefers to call himself “a painter who sings”). A black and white video of him singing and painting his visage runs on a loop in the back.

“When I was a child in rural England, starlings would flock in the thousands on telephone wires. It presaged the beginning of winter, and it invoked a certain sense of melancholy. I would like to think the paintings do the same — a certain sense of beauty, yet sadness simultaneously,” Butler says of the show.  

Ortega says, “I try to stay with art, not street artists per se. I work mainly with painters, sculptures, photographers, and designers who create functional art.”

“It was scary to start a gallery in Wynwood back in the days,” she says. “But I’ve been in the art business a long time. I’m working with new artists that have joined the gallery. I just finished a solo exhibition by Luis Garcia Nerey, whom I’ve known for a long time.  On view through Miami Art Week is Butler’s show, and afterward, I’ll have a group exhibit. I enjoy doing group shows because you make your own story with different art, creating a dialogue between the works of artists that are very different. It’s an enjoyable, curatorial exercise.”

“We built our business around second Saturday art walks here. It was always a new show, always crowds guaranteed that came to see the galleries. There were more than 80 at one point. Around 2017, landlords increased the rent so galleries couldn’t survive. Many went north to little Haiti or west to Alapattah, but then came back as more upscale places like condos and offices opened here.”

Ortega says a lot of people from New York are now here, along with the new high-tech businesses. 

“I’m happy that we’re still here; I enjoy the fact that people are walking around this neighborhood, and there’s the sea and major museums close by.”

Other top attractions are the Museum of Graffiti, Wynwood Walls, art galleries, the Oasis shops, and Panther Coffee with fun 3D art by Mark Diamond.

Arlo Wynwood has partnered with internationally recognized L.A.-based artist and painter ThankYouX, a leader in the NFT space who is bridging the gap between the traditional art and crypto worlds, to create a brand-new mural on the rooftop called “Want to Be Reminded.” ThankYouX’s creation will showcase the energy and movement around the city by incorporating unique color schemes that represent both the hotel and the neighborhood. The mural will be unveiled on Wednesday, December 6, during a free event – open to the public – from 6-9 p.m.

Online at www.arlohotels.com. On Instagram: @arlohotels @marygoldsbrasserie 

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The town of Lauderdale by the Sea offers a walkable-friendly retro vibe, with one-story row of boutiques, casual seafood and Mexican restaurants, and community events. The Block Party at Anglin’s Square and Pier on Friday nights is like Key West, but a lot more chill. Another key attraction is a coral reef just 100 yards offshore, making it a popular spot for scuba divers.

My recent weekend stay at one of their ocean-front room was like being on a tropical island in the Caribbean, as my room’s spacious terrace literally opened out right onto a small grassy garden area with bright green lizards scurrying about, then beyond that, white sands leading to the ocean. A bright striped beach ball awaited on my big comfy platform bed, while the bathroom had a cool wooden slab counter, huge shower and high end herbal bath products. Modern amenities of Bluetooth capabilities, a 50-inch LED HD television, a large in-room safe, and a mini-fridge added to the comfort.

Heading to the beach, it was thrill to see so many roped-off turtle nests, a sure sign of a healthy ocean. The little hatchlings should be scampering out of their sandy nests soon. Kite surfers, paddle boarders and kids on boogie boards reveled in the quiet surf. A group was snorkeling further out, checking out the coral reef and fish. The seaweed that plagued the beaches here last summer seems to have stayed away this time.

A real little paradise feel.

Plunge Beach Hotel provides lounge chairs, umbrellas, cheery pink and blue beach towels to make that 84-degree dip in the calm ocean a delight.

And for lunch, the backflip Beach Bar sits right on the sand, the only toes-in-the-sand beach bar in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Hmm, what to choose from –  Garlic Shrimp Tacos, Yucca Fries & Queso, Grilled Romaine Salad with avocado and toasted pepitas, or maybe the signature Backburger with Colby Jack cheese, bacon, avocado and chimichurri mayo.

But for my first meal at Plunge I opted for the tacos, served with chips, and a frozen Pina Colada with orange slices and a cherry on top because when on the beach that’s what you order.

The pool scene is idyllic too.

There are two pools to choose from, a large angular shaped pool just behind the Backflip Bar and then a smaller, quieter pool nestled in the bungalows. The scene at the large pool is lively with music wafting in from the bar, and lots of sunny and shady places to lounge. I took a leisurely swim, then plopped onto my chair, cracked open a new book and dove into another world for a while.

Later in the afternoon after a dog nap —forgot to mention the hotel is dog-friendly and I had brought my 5-month old little Greyhound with me— I took little Hallie with me over to the main lobby building across the street to check out the scene where big video screens roll with tropical images.

The front desk is just inside with a large bar to the left. Table top games of foosball and table hockey await in the back; live music was provided by a swinging blonde singer. A lively birthday party was going on at the bar as the hotel is a prime spot for special gatherings.

Two eateries are located in the lobby, Octopus Gastro Pub for lunch and dinner offering a casual vibe with elevated seafood island-style.

I tried their crab fritters with charred corn and bacon and also the lime-coconut coco mussels. I also tried their namesake octopus, served with white beans, and the server suggested the blackened mahi, done to perfection with sautéed spinach and fingerling potatoes.

In the back of the lobby by the sunny windows that face A1A, is Bean & Barnacle, the onsite coffee shop and market, to pick up fresh-brewed coffee, sweet pastries like my fave chocolate croissant or a breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese and bacon to munch on the terrace or take to the beach for a sunrise picnic. It’s also good for snacks, gelato, smoothies and juices.

While at the hotel, I pampered myself watching the sunrise in the mornings from my terrace, always pale blue turning to warm yellow as sea birds flew past low-lying clouds. No matter how many times you’ve seen it, the wonder of it all never goes away.

Outside the main doors of Plunge Beach Hotel are cruiser bikes, great for heading off on an adventure down to Anglin’s Pier to see the sweet kitschy charm of Lauderdale by the Sea.

As hidden gems go, this one’s a real find.

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If you visit, Plunge Beach Hotel is located on 4660 El Mar Dr. Lauderdale by the Sea, 33308. Find information on their services and offers here: plungebeachhotel.com.

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Plunge Beach Hotel: Lauderdale by the Sea’s Hidden Gem

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The hotel rooms and amenity uncover the perfect romantic escape. The wave patterned rug and dark to light blue ombre curtains in the suites lead to welcoming balconies with couches, lounge chairs and a table set for two.

As a glass wall allows for a seamless view of the Atlantic Ocean, endless skies and the line of cruise ships glide in and out of Port Everglades, one of the largest ports in Florida. The hotel reflects the cruise ship aesthetic with slanted bow, sailboat-shaped buildings, raised pool decks, and nautical touches that include hanging rope sculptures and glass lanterns.

Feel and smell amazing! Amenities in the glass walled bath is filled Bliss products, lemon scented and refreshing, but soon to be replaced by the W brands Away line. A box of snacks, beach kit, full bar, Nepresso machine (!) and other goodies complete the welcoming vibe.

Speaking of luxury, there are suites to stay in and to buy that are full two-bedroom apartments with a full kitchen and large balconies. One of the suites, called the Wow Suite, has been the site of some reality TV show filming. And the price? Well if you have to ask it’s…not cheap. A girl can dream, can’t she?

Food experience at its best!

Sauntering into the main floor lobby, the tropical Mexican aura of Stephen Starr’s El Vez restaurant lures with the promise of either indoor or outdoor dining, booths, a lively bar, and a decorative wall of Mexican beer cans. For guacamole lovers the menu is a delight with options of flavors, for example the Verde Guacamole made with leafy herbs and Meyer Lemons, is a tangy-rich twist on the jalapeno/tomato/onion standard—they have that too.

El Vez Fort Lauderdale is a festive dining space with a spacious patio with ocean view where mahi mahi tacos, burritos, ceviches, saladas, and a nacho pizza hybrid —layered with beans, cheese, olives, and peppers— pay tribute to the classic Mexican fare offered to celebrate the fresh seafood of this South Florida region. The restaurant serves breakfast (huevos rancheros and frothy cappuccino are a must-try), lunch and dinner, featuring an extensive menu with emphasis on baja-style cooking.

Other restaurants at the hotel are the classic steakhouse at beachside Steak 954 that serves dry-aged meats with delectable sides and the WET Bar & Grill which offers a variety of fresh salads, mouth-watering burgers and other casual fare.

From the Outstanding Restaurateur of the year in the 2017 James Beard Foundation Awards winner, Stephen Starr, Steak 954 looks like wallpaper that turns out to be a large tropical mural of leaves and flowers by French artist Cyprien Chabert who drew the whole work with a Sharpie marker. Past that beautiful touch is a 15-foot-long aquarium swirling with 175 jellyfish. These bizarre beauties are fed-brine shrimp and cared for by local aquarium staff.  The food is exceptional with dry-aged meats and fresh caught seafood. A one-of-a-kind restaurant experience that wows guests with its tropical feel, selection of fine wines and cocktails, and exotic food.

Away Spa

Debuted in January 2019, W Fort Lauderdale’s brand-new AWAY Spa is the first AWAY spa location, with a full beauty menu in addition to a lineup of massages and facials. As a big wedding and special event destination, the Spa has it covered. AWAY Spa is injected with amenities and treatments to detox, retox, and repeat.

After an Elixir refreshment of secret fruit juices (each spa experience begins with a complimentary Bright Elixir), a Go Deep Massage is the most rewarding treat.

Attractions

The Wet East deck, where you literally walk up into the pool from the 4th floor after watching swimmers from above, is the perfect oasis to settle into lush daybeds and sip on frozen hand crafted drinks. The Wet East can get pretty lively with a DJ and lots of people soaking up the sun and the view. For a quieter swim there’s the Wet West in the back of the hotels second tower with private cabanas, a Jacuzzi and gorgeous views of the intracoastal’s boats and homes.

One of the main attractions while at W Fort Lauderdale is kayaking the intracoastal. To do this tour, guests can use the hotel’s cruiser bikes to pedal a few scenic blocks up A1A to Blue Moon Adventures. The calm waters are an easy cruise past mega yachts, mega mansions, mangroves, birds and bridges. The tour explores the area’s most exciting attributes, focusing on history, architecture and natural developments.

On the way back from the tour, lunch at Coconuts —a nearby restaurant— proved to be a magnificent experience. The restaurant has expansive, uninterrupted views of Fort Lauderdale’s intercostal waterways and it is open 7 days a week and providing an upscale dining experience, including brunch on Sundays. Coconuts is a classic-on-the-dock eatery with vintage signs and an outstanding seafood menu. The Scoobie starters – little crab claws in a warm garlic herb broth are very delicious. The grilled swordfish steak with white bean salsa and sautéed spinach is one of the best I’ve ever had.

Cinema Paradiso, Escapology (one of the hardest escape rooms in Florida), The Classic Gateway Theatre, jet ski, segway, parasailing, and scuba diving are among other nearby attractions to enhance your stay at W Fort Lauderdale.

The W brand is proving to be insanely popular, with a hotel opening somewhere around the globe every 16 hours. It’s a world away at the W Fort Lauderdale, and summer is as good a time as any. Maybe better!

If you visit, W Fort Lauderdale is on 401 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, 33304. The hotel offers seasonal deals that can be found here.

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W Fort Lauderdale: Oceanfront Luxury With An Edge

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Looking for the perfect weekend getaway or a short summer road trip?

I recently had the chance to stay at a recently debuted property in America’s oldest city, The Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens. This St. Augustine hotel makes an ideal destination for families, couples, or just about anyone who could use some time in Henry Flagler’s other favorite haunt.

A smattering of historic homes, recently renovated, make up The Collector’s comfortable accommodations, consisting of 30 individually appointed rooms. The Collector has a fascinating history—which you can learn about on one of the morning walks with the property’s historian—but every room is a suite, so no need to worry about facing small, cramped quarters.

In addition, the grounds are walled in with a white picket fence, creating a haven of serenity and keeping the well manicured gardens and cobblestone brick paths exclusively for guests. Lounge by the inn’s pool or head out for a tour of the historic city, but whatever you do, make sure to kick off happy hour with a cocktail at The Well Bar, located in the middle of the property as a watering hole and gathering place for guests to mingle.

Arrive with an open mind and a confident knowledge of what you like, because there’s no menu at The Well Bar and you won’t find the usual. Instead, award-winning cocktail artist Sonny Wallace expertly crafts tipples that are custom suited to the unique preferences of each patron. Do you like citrus? Spicy over sweet? Rum, not vodka? Gin, but only the finest? Whatever your preferences, Sonny will whip up a concoction you’ve never tasted before—and may never be able to replicate again.

Somehow, Wallace creates balanced cocktails perfectly in tune with the flavor profiles that appeal to each guest. His alcoholic artistry is a highlight of any visit to The Collector.

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Another one of the major draws of The Collector is its prime location. The east side of the property backs up to St. George Street, St. Augustine’s main drag. Just a few minutes on foot will find you amongst shops, restaurants, lively bars, and plenty of things to do. From there, you can tour stately Flagler College, named for the one and only; you can take a ghost tour of the city (a must!), shop the work of local artists, set sail on the Matanzas River, head to Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, tour yourself around Castillo de San Marcos… the options are endless. In any case, stimulate your mind with stories of the area’s eventful past while enjoying the architecture and rich natural beauty of Juan Ponce de León’s 1513 landing place.

There are a lot of restaurants in St. Augustine, but when hunger strikes, I’m partial to beautiful Columbia Restaurant. Stroll the length of St. George Street and you can’t miss it. The grand two-story restaurant, established in 1905, is perched regally on a main corner of the city, between St. George and Hypolita Streets. Feast on traditional Spanish food in a captivating setting. Another favorite is Gypsy Cab Co., located about a mile east of the Bridge of Lions. The food is superb, and the peanut butter pie unforgettable.

Best of all, the property is staying up on recent trends in travel by offering a package geared toward the younger crowd. A new Travelport survey reported that millennials are more likely than older Americans to take a vacation this summer, and so The Collector’s #HitUpTheTown package includes 10% off the hotel’s best available rate upon booking, a $20 Uber credit for navigating the city, and two complimentary cocktails at the on-site Well Bar. Twenty- and thirty-somethings, rejoice: this offer has all you need to kick off a fun weekend just a few hours north of South Florida.

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Get in touch with Skye at @skyesherman on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Weekend Getaway to The Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens

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If you’ve never visited the Florida Keys, you’ll soon see that this is a unique place. Writers, artists, photographers, fishermen, sailors, and dreamers gravitate to it and soon call it home, immersing themselves in the pleasures of Key West. And whether they stay there for a year or a lifetime, it’s no mystery why they surrender to the tantalizing ebb and flow of the island lifestyle.

Whether you travel there by land, by sky, or by sea, you will know why Key West—a 2- x 4-mile paradise—is known worldwide for its surrounding crystal clear turquoise waters and laid-back island living. And you can easily explore it starting from Ocean Key Resort & Spa.

The Resort is charming, unique, and it can claim Zero Duval Street in lively Old Key West as its location. Overlooking the iconic Sunset Pier in Mallory Square with the Gulf of Mexico as its playground, this luxury boutique resort is one of the top places that harmonize amazing vistas with delectable victuals. No wonder it has become a go-to for honeymooners and island lovers looking for a place to stay, or perhaps a place to hold their weddings.

Come for the food, stay for the view!

Warm tropical tones, rich graphic accents, and Spanish style wooden chairs give Ocean Key an old charm, first-class style elegance while dishes from Hot Tin Roof restaurant’s superstar chef Scott Maurer, create an exquisite taste in diners’ mouths.

Many resorts in the Florida Keys with party-hearty aspects can be found in locales with dramatic views, good rates, and staff that generally has a happy disposition, but often the food pales in comparison. That’s not the case at Hot Tin Roof, a Latin inspired world class restaurant that serves American, Cuban and other Spanish dishes to perfection. Maurer lived in Barcelona, Spain, where he learned the exotic Spanish cuisine that influenced his culinary career and earned him a spot in Madonna’s kitchen as her personal chef.

One of Maurer’s classic dishes is the Spanish Paella, an authentic Valencian rice dish with lobster, shrimp, chicken, chorizo (a type of pork sausage), mussels, and clams. For a taste of seaside Spain, Maurer serves this delicious concoction of arroz y mariscos (rice and seafood) on a hot skillet, hence its name: paella, a word which derives from the Old French word paelle for pan.

A scrumptious addition to your trip

While Key West is usually hot in the summer, the real delight is this cool resort and its panoramic view. From any given room, guests look out on boats and ships navigating the Gulf of Mexico and clusters of clay barrel rooftops stretching ahead at Sunset Key, a private island that beckons to be explored.

You can hop between the ocean and the resort’s swimming pool, but be sure to take a luxurious break at SpaTerre.

Recognized as one of the top spas in Key West, SpaTerre is a haven for the body and the soul. Guests looking for full body massages and the ultimate experience in manicures and pedicures will be thrilled with this relaxing retreat.

The relaxing jasmine scent in the air, the exotic tropical oils, aromatic herbs and purifying volcanic clays from Java, Bali, Thailand being used, all work together to ensure your mind and body are invigorated in the experience.

Photo Gallery

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Key West, an enchanting place

Key West is known as the “Winter White House” because of its appeal to visiting U.S. presidents in the past. The southernmost point in the US is also famous for watersports, lively nightlife, and historic sites. Duval Street is the epicenter of things to do and attractions to explore in Old Key West.

Ocean Key Resort & Spa is an enviable destination to make sure you enjoy the vibrant collection of bars, historic haunts, art galleries, funky shops, outdoor cafés, and restaurants like El Mesón de Pepe. This family owned Cuban restaurant is adjacent to Ocean Key and it’s bringing Cuban cuisine to the front steps of Mallory Square, one of the most visited plazas in the state of Florida. The Mallory Square Sunset Celebration attracts hundreds of people every night, two hours prior to sunset. There are street performers, vendors with food and crafts, art exhibitors, and the view is unparalleled.

From Cuban empanadas, Florida lobster, to Key Lime Pie, the Florida Keys’ official dessert, nightlife-driven souls, couples and families looking to visit a great American town anytime of the year with lots of history and fun, will be glad to find Ocean Key Resort & Spa at the end of their quest.

Before you make your travel plans to Key West, be sure to check Ocean Key’s vacation packages at oceankey.com.

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At the southernmost point in the U.S., Ocean Key Resort & Spa will reward you with a weekend retreat full of beach, quality service, food and relaxation.

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