Miami Beach – January 2017 – When it opened in 1940, nothing looked like The Plymouth – an Art Deco icon that epitomized the glamour and style of its time.
And nothing on Miami Beach feels like The Plymouth, which just opened after a significant investment, debuting as an effortlessly stylish, casually private and romantic retreat on a block that still feels like a secret.
Worlds apart from the action around it – but steps from effervescent South Beach – The Plymouth radiates its original glamour, refined through the very personal vision of Think Hospitality, the hoteliers and entrepreneurs whose dining and hospitality projects are creating a voguish new world encompassing the Collins Park cultural district.
New York-based designer Fernando Santangelo, who designed the rebirth of Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont and oversaw design for The Raleigh Hotel in South Beach has brilliantly composed The Plymouth’s interior as a timeless fusion of moods, motifs, and materials. The tone is set by a pair of beautifully restored lobby murals by renowned 20th-century artist Roman Chatov. Santangelo drew on Chatov’s luminous jewel tones for the renewed color scheme of blues, reds, and greens. “It’s definitely tropical, but more South of France than South Florida,” Santangelo said.
With The Plymouth and sister hotel properties owned by Think on 21st street, Think Hospitality Group is also spearheading the transformation of Collins Park, an underappreciated section of Miami Beach that’s home to cultural institutions such as the Bass Museum of Art, currently undergoing a major renovation, and ground zero for annual Art Basel events.
Chefs Bruce & Eric Bromberg from Blue Ribbon Restaurants, the force behind some of the country’s most sought-after dining rooms, will be unveiling a consummate and elegant eatery, Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill, paying homage to their top quality restaurants in NYC, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The duo will operate Plymouth’s all-day lobby food and bar program, room service, and breakfast cafe. Blue Ribbon will also provide distinctive poolside eats set amidst coral-hued cabanas and bougainvillea-covered walls.
“We were immediately impressed with Think Hospitality’s vision for The Plymouth and the Collins Park area in general when they came to us to partner with them. We are excited to bring to South Beach our sharable and convivial approach to traditional Japanese fare,” said Brother Bruce Bromberg.
The Bromberg Brothers will be again collaborating with their longtime partner and master sushi chef, Toshi Ueki, and their longtime architects, Asfour Guzy. Said Brother Eric, “As always, we are focused on creating a true and one of a kind Blue Ribbon dining experience at the Plymouth that reflects and honors its unique surroundings.”
“The Plymouth feels like a discovery, a private address among those in the know,” said Michael Satsky, hospitality impresario Gotham magazine called “the foremost arbiter of Manhattan’s late-night landscape this century. “We’re creating an environment that feels like a getaway, where guests can jump into Miami Beach – or disappear in the middle of it. It’s not trendy, and it’s not anti-scene; it’s post-scene. And it looks and feels unlike anything else here.”
Guests enjoy an exceptional feature of the hotel before they even enter. A gem from the past, The Plymouth’s original street-front terrace is a grand outdoor space unlike anything in South Beach. The ever popular lounging area for guests rocks with fun swing benches and huge potted palms that create a playful social space. Its landscape combines elements from Miami, the South of France, London and LA, creating a virgin, casual chic atmosphere for locals and guests.
The Plymouth’s oval lobby – a rare architectural feature – is designed as a series of quarters for refreshingly small-scale gatherings. Santangelo hand-selected antique chairs, lamps and sofas in almond, ruby, grappa, aubergine and blue colors, and subtly elegant new furnishings in leather and handcrafted wood alternate with the lush greenery. A passé wall clock ticks away in a corner, and luxurious, hand-crafted wallcoverings and onyx-and-brass custom fixtures finish the space.
The pool area mirrors the lobby shape. An undulating perimeter design for the pool creates discreet areas in which to gather – nooks filled with lush landscaping and cantilevered daybeds.
Upstairs, bedrooms blend British members’ club intimacy, Mediterranean warmth, and effortless beach-house chic for a trend-free hybrid that feels unique among South Florida hotels.
Instead of following the usual template of uniform design for all rooms, The Plymouth takes a more personal approach, furnishing guest rooms according to their individual sizes, shapes, and moods.
“Miami Beach is ready for a new generation of hospitality,” said Hunter Gellin, president and CMO of Think Hotel Group. “Travelers who’ve been around the world want a quieter, subtler, more confident kind of luxury, and they don’t need a hotel to shout. The Plymouth is whispering to them.”
