Opening Shot is a column that peeks inside new hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops with interiors to drool over.
HOTEL GREYSTONE
Location: Miami Beach
Designer: Bowen Holly
On offer: An eclectic ode to the Magic City’s storied past and flashy present, the latest outing from boutique operator Salt Hotels brings a welcome dose of chilled-out energy to tourist-choked Collins Avenue. Located steps from the sand within a landmark 1939 Art Deco building by architect Henry Hohauser, the intimate 91-key getaway is a distinctive newcomer to the hospitality scene thanks to a high-touch program that coalesces fine art, live music, and innovative cuisine without the bacchanalian crowds. Part-time Miami Beach denizens themselves, Salt Hotels co-founders David Bowd and Kevin O’Shea channeled their industry experience at local mainstays like the Shore Club, Mondrian, and The Standard to make sure Hotel Greystone delivered something befitting of the city’s reputation as marquee travel destination while maintaining a sense of relaxed sophistication.
Standout features: From the oasis-like corner lobby outfitted with lush flora and sinuous furnishings to a shaded courtyard lounge that serves up Japanese “sando”–style sandwiches driven by flavors that evoke Miami’s colorful and health-oriented fare, delightful moments feel like they’re around every corner. At Sérêvène, the property’s signature restaurant, award-winning executive chef Pawan Pinisetti marries Japanese ingredients and French techniques with experiential dishes such as suckling pig carved tableside. Playful dishes such as the wasabi ranch “hash browns” with caviar and quail “lollipops” are original and totally worth taking a flier on. The adjacent Greystone Jazz Bar is pure Roaring ‘20s bliss, with singalong pianists playing genre hits and DJs spinning lounge beats while guests and in-the-know locals sip creative and classic cocktails served in crystal cut glassware. With sparse blonde-wood furnishings and rattan accoutrements, the cavernous, rustic-minimalist guest rooms are the perfect place to retreat to after dabbling in Miami’s famous nightlife scene.
