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The legend that is South
Beach began at The Raleigh. The Art
Deco star—designed by architect L. Murray Dixon in 1940—has been reborn again
under the eye of hotelier André Balazs, rehabilitator of the
Chateau Marmont and creator of
The Mercer. Turning up the volume of
chic, Balazs has filled the lobby with vintage Savannah-style wicker furniture,
replaced the rusty outdoor gym with a bar, and added thickets of palms that
ensure privacy. Not one to overlook the obvious, he has also revamped the iconic
pool, where Esther Williams filmed her famous aquacades. In the kitchen, Eric
Ripert of Le Bernardin is directeur des cuisines: his steak tartare hints
of lemon confit, while his stone crabs are touched with lemongrass. And
this being Balazs-land, the social scene is abuzz with the glitterati (Anna
Kournikova, P. Diddy) clustering around bonfires on the backyard beach.
The Raleigh,
1775 Collins Ave.;
305/534-6300;
www.raleighhotel.com; doubles from $225.
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