Suite of the Week: The Bungalow at W South Beach

There are beachfront suites, then there’s beachfront suite the W South Beach. Big difference.

Where is it? Prime, exclusive real estate along the crowded lanes of Collins Avenue. The W South Beach is destination hotel built in the early aughts and stands out among the Art Deco classics that give South Beach such a coherent look and seductive feel.  

The Hotel? Pass a gridlock of Lamborghinis and Porsches in the valet space and you enter a vast, lavender-accented lobby playing a cool (and, in the spirit of the W franchise, non-stop) dance beats from infinite hidden speakers, and you’ll realize that you’re surrounded by some of the most beautiful people in the world. There are two excellent restaurants, The Dutch, run by renowned chef Andrew Carmellini, and serving fresh seafood and American classics as well as the best cocktails on the strand, and a Mr. Chow. Hit up the Bliss Spa, then pass through the elaborate landscaping to the private cabanas around WET, the ultimate pool party pool.

The Suite? This 1,300-square-foot poolside bungalow is no joke. Three levels, two bedrooms, a living room, a formal dining room, at least 4 large-screen TVs, a yard, and a rooftop deck with a private plunge-pool/jacuzzi and BBQ grill. Lounge under the sun canopy and gaze out over the blue Atlantic, or beckon to the ladies in the WET pool.

The Selling Point? This is arguably the most exclusive space in all of South Beach, and that’s saying a lot. It has a decided 24-hour concierge, an on-call bartender, a shopping service, guaranteed admission to WALL, the banging night club just outside the bungalow’s sliding glass doors.

By the Numbers: Two bedrooms, two chandeliers, two pools, one grassy yard, one BBQ grill, three bathrooms, one  balconies, one private path to the beach and a view of the sexiest collection of bikinis in the US. [Around $1,000/night; book at the W South Beach website]