The entrace to Acqualina Resort & Spa.
Acqualina: Palazzo luxury in Sunny Isles
By Charles Greenfield
cdgpm@bellsouth.net
Off Collins Avenue exotic majolica domed roofs sparkle with colorful bursts of tile against the towering 51-story Acqualina Resort & Spa, the tallest structure in bustling Sunny Isles Beach. With all the yellow and orange stucco splendor of a Mediterranean-style super palazzo its porte-cochere cobblestone entrance leads up to a front-desk reception alongside their Renaissance-style gallery dripping with opulent chandeliers and a gold-edged barrel ceiling. With 188 residences, 54 guest rooms, and 43 suites, the luxury resort and spa sports 4.5 acres with a magnificent 400-foot beach front, a 20,000 sq. ft. ESPA oceanfront spa, three palm-fringed swimming pools and private cabanas, the popular #1 Zagat-rated Italian restaurant, Il Mulino New York, and a marine biology-based children’s program called AcquaMarine. A fitness center, gift shop and hair salon are all located on the Mezzanine Level. For Romantics dinner with candlelight can be arranged beachside.
On the 21st floor my comfy beige and cream guest room is perched high enough to afford spectacular views of the Atlantic as boats head out to the Gulfstream’s azure waters. Designed by Zeke Fernandez, the interior displays buttery walls and ceiling, copper-green draperies, two flat-screen Panasonic TVs, double sink bathrooms with marble floors, an oversize glass-enclosed shower, a fully-stocked bar with espresso machine, goose down duvet on Rivolta Carnigiani sheets, elaborate dimmer lights, and full gourmet kitchens in the suites including Wolf stoves and Sub-Zero fridges. Overall, after the showy visuals of the main gallery, the room’s soft color palette and muted dark furniture establishes a soothing comfort that is quite appealing.
Downstairs, off the sumptuous gallery in the very contemporary public spaces, lies ESPA. Founded by the English entrepreneur Sue Harmsworth in 1993 her branded spa company currently outfits and consults luxury resorts worldwide, from Miami’s Mandarin Oriental (opening) to upcoming projects in China and Dubai. Dark brushed teak, natural slate, peach-glass mosaics and mother of pearl greet spa guests in the cool, chic oriental-influenced surroundings. With eleven treatment rooms the highlight may be the men’s changing room where you can enter a crystal steam room or Finnish sauna, apply fresh ice afterwards to the body from a wall-operated ice chute, or plunge into the Experience Shower for either Arctic or Caribbean Mists. During July’s Miami Spa Month ($99 treatments – 50% savings) ESPA offers a very practical 20-minute facial with 40-minute massage. My Czech technician Christina gave a vigorous upper body rub to my swimmer’s shoulders and applied cooling Hawaiian algae and fennel to my dehydrated face.
The minute you walk into Il Mulino New York you are struck by its professional wait staff. Smooth as velvet each player, from maitre d’ to busboy to headwaiter, plays his role, from the discrete welcome to the informative food description. Complimentary antipasti appear magically at the table: sausage, cold fried zucchini, bruschetta, and a hunk of Parmesan from a quarter round. The cuisine is definitely old school with appetizers like vongole casino (basked clams on the half shell), scampi oreganata, and carciofini Romana or sliced artichokes with herb butter, bacon and white wine sauce. While the Caesar salad was less successful (try the endive or rugola), there are traditional pastas like rigatoni Bolognese, fettuccine Alfredo, spaghettini alla vongole, cannelloni and paparadelle Il Mulino, the latter with wild mushrooms and pancetta in a vodka cream sauce. For the main course there are ten veal entrées including a massive double veal chop that I consumed with sautéed spinach and garlic. Try the tiramisu and to finish off the waiter will bring a farewell gift of very stimulating homemade pear grappa or limoncello. (Breakfast and lunch are served at Il Mulino.)
Afterwards you can take a cordial across the corridor at the Aaria Bar & Lounge or go outside for a coffee beachside at the Costa Grill. Amenities at Acqualina include: a welcome amenity upon arrival, 24-hour room service, daily newspaper, shoe shine service, twice daily housekeeping and turndown, 24-hour multilingual concierge service, babysitting, butler services upon request, pet walking, tailoring, business center services, comp transport to Bal Harbour Shops, Aventura Mall & Williams Island (9am-6pm), and access to golf and tennis at nearby private clubs. In 2007 Acqualina was placed on the Robb Report: Annual List of World’s Top 100 Luxury Resorts and Travel + Leisure: World’s Best Awards 15 to Watch.
Charles Greenfield is a Miami-based travel writer who has contributed to Travel & Leisure and regional magazines. As Travel Editor of the Coral Gables Gazette, he specializes in luxury travel on Europe, Asia/Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S. He won the prestigious Cacique Award 2000 for International Consumer Travel Writing from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. He also is Cultural Arts Contributor to WLRN 91.3 FM, South Florida’s NPR affiliate.
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If you go
ACCOMMODATIONS: Acqualina Resort & Spa, 17875 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach, 305-918-8000 (www.acqualina.com), “Escape to Family Offer,” rooms start at $375 for two nights, $350 (3-4 nights), and $325 for stays over five nights in an Intracoastal room view, including continental breakfast for two adults at Il Mulino New York; children programs include: “Benvenuto Kids!” for under-12 year olds with meal prices corresponding to age, comp cribs, children’s robes, backpack wit sunscreen and art supplies, sleeper sofas in most rooms, nanny service, dinner and a movie, arts and crafts, and their unique biology-based AcquaMarine Program (5-12);
RESTAURANTS: Il Mulino New York, 305-918-8000, expensive; enjoy a prix fixe for lunch ($23) and dinner ($36) during Miami Spice from August 1st to September 30th ;
SPAS: ESPA, 305-918-8000, enjoy July Spa Month for $99 (1 hour treatment, facial and massage) or spend the day with a 30% discount on all treatments (Monday-Thursday) until September 30th.
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