This is the second SLS Hotel for SBE owner and CEO Sam Nazarian, whose family purchased the building (formerly the Ritz Plaza Hotel) almost 10 years ago. “The property is designed to allow guests to discover the different spaces and thoughtful details,” he says. “I really love the tech- nology integrated into each guestroom—its own iPad (with a button for room service) and connectivity that allows you to plug your devices into the flat screens.”
While most of the world thinks of Lenny Kravitz as a musician and actor, Miamians have been seeing the fruits of his design group, Kravitz Design Incorporated (KDI), for a while. Kravitz designed the Penthouse Tower Suite and 1 of 10 poolside villas for the SLS, and in the process discovered that Nazarian’s approach allowed his creativity to “Sam’s openness and his desire to be different made me want to get involved.”
“A cocktail of poetry, surrealism, tenderness and unexpected sculptures” is how Philippe Starck sums up his vision for SLS. “Everywhere you look, you have a surprise—like the glowing kayak above the reception desk. There is also secret poetry written on hidden parts of the walls, sometimes behind the curtains,” says Starck, who was given complete artistic freedom by owner Nazarian and whom he now considers not just a partner but “a brother.”
Winner of the 2011 James Beard award, chef José Andrés’ latest creation is The Bazaar, an eclectic restaurant with Spanish-, Chinese- and Cuban-inflected dishes. “The menu was inspired by so many things that are important to me,” explains Andrés. “It’s about the places and experiences, so we created dishes like the Bao con Lechon, an amazing Chinese bun with pork belly so tender that it falls apart. And I love the Creamy Coconut Rice, which we serve in a beautiful coconut shell. It’s creamy and fresh.”
