An eye catching 51-floor tower is residence to Acqualina Resort & Residences, styled after a Mediterranean villa. As quickly as we entered by the stately iron gates, we drove as much as a grand porte cochere the place we had been anticipated and acknowledged by title, then ushered to a seamless check-in.
This luxurious seaside haven positioned on 4.5 waterfront acres in pristine Sunny Isles Seaside options 98 impeccably appointed visitor rooms and suites and 188 residences, all with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. I used to be pleasantly stunned to enter the newly remodeled foyer. A recent coloration palette, influenced by the ocean, is punctuated by lustrous black millwork. Different hanging particulars embody trendy furnishings, luxurious velvet chenille materials, smoked glass and heat metallic accents.
Expansive, completely manicured out of doors landscaping contrasts with vibrant crimson umbrellas and lounge chairs unfold throughout the luxurious seashore paspalum grass. Since its opening, Acqualina has acquired each the coveted Forbes Journey Information 5-Star Award and the AAA 5-Diamond Award.
Bed room within the Grand Deluxe Three-Bed room Oceanfront Suite / Photograph: Courtesy of Troy Campbell
Our ultra-spacious one-bedroom suite may accommodate an additional member of the family in an unusually snug sleeper couch. Our suite additionally had a full connoisseur kitchen outfitted with a Sub-Zero built-in fridge/freezer, elegant Lapitec Bianco Vittoria counters, Italian cupboards and a breakfast nook. Nonetheless, we by no means used it because the eating choices are so excellent. Even breakfast, included in our price, included a alternative of in-room eating, à la carte breakfast at Il Mulino, or a spectacular buffet served in an adjoining space and on the terrace.
For polished hospitality and genuine delicacies from Italy’s Abruzzo area, Il Mulino—an acclaimed New York restaurant—is open day by day for lunch and dinner. It additionally serves breakfast and Sunday brunch, all in an intimate indoor/out of doors setting. To not be missed: the richly decadent spaghetti alla carbonara, made the old school method with guanciale, onions, Parmigiano-Reggiano and egg yolk.
Grilled octopus with Campari tomatoes and black olives at Il Mulino restaurant / Photograph: Courtesy of Bronwyn Knight
Ke-uH gives Japanese fusion delicacies by chef Oscar Noborikawa, born in Peru with Japanese heritage, who started his profession at Nobu and additional perfected his self-discipline below the tutelage of Japan’s most revered masters. He describes his methodology as “a mix of high quality product, care for each ingredient, and inherent self-discipline, creating the right stability of citrus and spiciness for expressive sushi.” Along with the sushi, we loved our orders of salmon pizza with kalamata olives, guacamole and truffle oil and crispy tempura spicy honey shrimp with a balanced jalapeño aioli and honey with almonds and walnuts.
New to the resort, and positioned on the adjoining Estates at Acqualina, is Avra Estiatorio, a market showcasing the simplicity of Greek delicacies. Pristine delicacies embody entire fish and crustaceans caught domestically or flown in day by day from the Mediterranean, Avra’s unique extra-virgin olive oil—produced from Koroneiki olives from Peloponnese—Greek oregano, creamy barrel-aged feta cheese, and vine-ripened, field-grown tomatoes. Reflecting right this moment’s multicultural motion within the Greek islands, the triumphant Avra ceviche, made with a recent catch of the day, is bathed in leche de tigre and tossed with crispy chickpeas.
Umami Previous-Usual cocktail at Ke-uH / Photograph: Courtesy of Bronwyn Knight
Facilities on the pool embody a devoted butler who circulates each hour with refreshing frozen grapes, flavored ices, watermelon balls, crudités and fresh-squeezed juices. Amalfi Coast-inspired cocktails, created for the grownup pool expertise by longtime Acqualina bartender Franco Amendola, embody the Acqualina Spritz, a refreshing elixir made with St-Germain elderflower liqueur, recent mint, prosecco and a splash of membership soda.
Acqualina Resort & Residences Spa / Photograph: Courtesy of Acqualina Resort & Residences
On the spa, the brand new Stress Aid Again Therapeutic massage accomplishes what it guarantees. The well-trained therapist utilized a mix of CBD oil to cut back irritation and Botanika Life ache serum with lidocaine and menthol, disintegrating most of my cussed knots. Then he used a cryotherapy ball to cut back lactic acid buildup. After a divinely heat pad was utilized to my again, the therapist labored on my neck and scalp, and I felt the stress evaporate slowly by the crown chakra. With a privileged location between Miami (40 minutes) and Fort Lauderdale (half-hour), Acqualina is near thrilling nightlife and eating choices in addition to the Bal Harbour Retailers and Aventura Mall.
