There's a very particular formula for capturing the Millenial aesthetic. Mid-century modern furniture, potted monsteras, rust-colored velvet accent chairs, a cool-mist of Santal 26 — and voila! You've got an inviting space for late-20, early 30-somethings who want a chic yet minimalistic lodging experience. In this Kayak Miami Beach delivers.
The one-year-old establishment marks Kayak's (yes, the booking site) entry into the hospitality world with a physical hotel that can be booked exclusively through its site and app. Discreetly tucked away in the Bayshore area of South Beach, the Streamline Moderne edifice is just two blocks from the waterfront and offers an entirely more serene experience than being in the chaos of Ocean Drive hotels.
“The building itself is a landmark 1934 Art Deco building off the Collins Canal and before the pandemic, the property was previously named Life House Collins Park,” shares Indy Adenaw the Managing Director of KAYAK Hotels.
“We chose Miami deliberately – it’s one of the top 10 destinations searched on KAYAK, and a city sizzling with nightlife, culture, and glamor. Tucked between a canal and the sea, we found a beautiful art deco landmark that was the perfect spot for our own living lab,” Adenaw adds. “The hotel is steps away from South Beach’s modern Bass Museum, and surrounded by restaurants and nightlife that range from charming to iconic.”
Upon entering the lobby, you're hit with copper and rust-colored settees, wicker chairs, and a bar that is reminiscent of Jason Lee's in Heartbreakers. There's a self-check-in station with staff on hand for assistance — otherwise, you sign in and make your own room key card (apparently Millenials voted, they really like little human interaction).
I personally enjoyed the eco-friendly-glass-cup-infused water stations on each floor and the attentiveness of the young staff. But I also would have loved a little more instruction on bar hours, building amenities, local attractions, and most importantly, how to correctly order room service. A small informational booklet in the lobby or rooms could be a quick solution for this.
Venturing up to the third floor is a short trip where I was greeted with more tropical greenery, wicker, and that carrying scent of Santal. By the time I got to the Life House-designed suite itself, it felt like an organic extension of the public areas with thoughtfully selected furnishings.
Aside from the basic amenities, the Revival New York bed linens and adorable bar station give a touch of luxury that one may not expect at a hotel within its price point. For those of you wondering, the rates are affordable and honestly a steal when compared to the exorbitant costs of other hotels in its vicinity. But, according to Adenaw, that's the whole point.
“We offer a premium experience at an attractive price point because of our built-in demand and superior technology,” he says. “[The planning for the hotel] began with a bigger idea and mission: as travel slowed during the beginning of the pandemic, our team worked around the clock to reimagine travel. We saw a big opportunity to apply our audience and technology to the accommodations space to level the playing field for independent hotels. We created a hotel experience that doubles as a great place to stay and a design lab to advance accommodation innovations.”
As a nitpicky traveler, there were a few things I didn't love. I felt like the room should have had more outlets for charging phones, a closet or at least more space to put clothing, and the tried-and-true Black girl request: shower caps if you're going to have one overhead spray in the shower.
But overall the experience was lovely. The room was a comforting landing place from the party-happy side of the strip and their in-house restaurant Layla offers fresh Middle Eastern dishes that excite the palate in an eclectic setting.
If you're venturing to South Beach for a graduation trip, baecation, or impromptu getaway Kayak Miami Beach won't disappoint.