Center of Attention: Faena District Miami Beach

The neighborhoods of Miami Beach are continually growing and changing – each offering its own personality and vibe. One of the up-and-coming areas in the Mid Beach neighborhood is the Faena District, a cultural destination that stretches north from 32nd to 36th streets between the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Creek. The brainchild of famous Argentinian hotelier and developer Alan Faena, the thriving neighborhood is brimming with a luxe hotel, stunning residences, art, culture and fashion.

The centerpiece is the Faena Hotel Miami Beach, which was formerly the historic Saxony Hotel. Once known as the “Queen of Collins Avenue,” where crooners like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin used to dazzle the crowds back in the Rat Pack’s heyday, it’s been reimagined into a present-day wonderland of luxury. With creative direction from the husband-and-wife duo, film director/producer Baz Luhrmann and Academy Award-winning costume designer Catherine Martin, the hotel recalls the glamour of the 1950s with a dramatic red-carpet entrance, hardwood floors, furniture draped in red velvet and cool Ann Sacks-tiled bathrooms. It offers 169 rooms and suites, and 13 penthouses. Wander the oceanfront property to discover thought-provoking art, like an enormous gilded woolly mammoth skeleton by Damien Hirst, made of 24-karat gold, displayed in a glass box with the shimmering ocean as its backdrop.

The property boasts trendy dining experiences, like El Secreto Omakase by James Beard Award-winning chef Paul Qui, live-fire cooking at Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann by Argentinian superstar chef Francis Mallmann, and Tree of Life, an outdoor tropical retreat serving uniquely crafted cocktails. The Faena world is based around culture and entertainment, so expect to feel like you’re in a Hollywood movie at the Living Room, a sumptuous space meant for mingling and music, with two chandelier art installations that flicker every time lightning strikes the Pampas region in Argentina. At the intimate Faena Theater, guests and locals can catch live shows ranging from cabarets to concert series. Keeping with the colorful theme of the hotel is the bright Tierra Santa Healing House, a 22,000-square-foot spa sanctuary that features one of the largest hammams (Turkish baths) on the East Coast. Guests can receive shaman-inspired treatments and embark on body-healing rituals, like the hammam rose ritual, too.

Just steps away from the lavish hotel is its alter ego, Casa Faena, an intimate 50-room property that’s meant to feel more like a home than a hotel. (If, that is, your home is designed like a Mediterranean villa and has a private beach club.) Sashay across terracotta tiles, curl up under handwoven throws or retreat to the lounge in the sun-filled courtyard with a great read from the library full of antique books. 

If you want to live the fantasy of Faena, the neighboring Faena House is an 18-story luxury condominium situated on a wide stretch of white sand. The ultra-luxe residences feature architectural advances that allow a true indoor/outdoor experience, such as signature aleros (wrap-around terraces) and expansive glass walls that open to panoramic views. Residents are treated to an in-house spa and fitness center, a private club and concierge service.

Move on to the architecturally stunning Faena Forum – easily recognizable with its dramatically shaped windows – for everything from galas and concerts to buzzy events and posh weddings. With a stark white backdrop, the venue offers a blank slate for flexibility and ultimate creativity. The sprawling 43,000-square-foot space has a collection of unique event spaces, including two grand exhibit halls, five meeting rooms and a rose-marble amphitheater with built-in seating and unbelievable acoustics. The robust venue can fit up to 1,000 guests and has played host to many exciting events.

Curio at Faena Bazaar offers fashionistas access to a cutting-edge retail and experiential space that’s housed in a white Art Deco building sprinkled with red lips. The bazaar is the antithesis of a traditional mall and is designed to feel more like a souk – an Arab marketplace. Wander the four floors and float past walls draped in Gucci swan wallpaper to discover an eclectic mix of new and emerging global designers along with incredible talent from Miami. Designers and labels intermingle in 15 “pocket stores,” featuring mostly womenswear and fine jewelry, with brands rotating every six months to a year to keep things fresh. As you approach the upper levels of the space, the brands become more luxe and exclusive. Expect to find everything from a $90 T-shirt next to a pair of $90,000 earrings. Our advice? If you see something you like, buy it. Most items are one of a kind.

Every element in the Faena District is fresh and ever-evolving, so each time you visit, you’ll experience something different – just as Alan Faena intended.