Wyndham Garden South Beach Fuses Deco With Key West

Between 10th and 11th Streets on Washington Avenue, you may notice a string of white, art-deco hotels fronted by a large communal patio and glimmering pool. While at one time these four deco gems were the Davis,  Kenmore, Taft and Bel Air hotels, the Wyndham hotel group has combined them all into one of the most unique properties in South Beach. The newly-reopened Wyndham Garden South Beach combines its deco architecture with a Key West feel, making an escape within an escape in the center of South Beach.

KEY WEST MEETS ART DECO

The hotel’s location in more or less the dead center of South Beach already makes this an attractive place to stay. But the 133-room Wyndham Garden feels almost like Holiday Isle, or one of those multi-building resorts you get down in the Keys. The pool, one of only 2 hotel pools on Washington Avenue, is surprisingly quiet given that it sits on the busiest street in South Beach. The rooms are adorned in bright blues and greens, with white plantation shutters reminiscent of a Keys retreat. But the Keys’ rustic feel is tempered by flat screen TVs, European half-glass door showers, and a hint of art Deco in each room. The hardwood floors also ensure that the rooms stay clean and cool.

If you are at all familiar with Deco hotels in South Beach, you know that they are not designed for you to spend large amounts of time in them. After all, you didn’t come all this way to sit in air conditioning, did you? But the Wyndham strikes a nice balance of Spartan and comfortable. The colors and furniture in the rooms relax you, but the rooms are not jammed with plush amenities that make you not want to leave. So they’re a great spot to come back and relax after an intense day and night in South Beach, but the Wyndham isn’t trying to make you stay inside either.

The rooms in each building are slightly different, since each was a different hotel originally. The main building, The Kenmore, has smaller single and double rooms, as does the Taft next door. The Bel Air, though it has exterior hallways, is home to the larger double rooms with a sitting area, and the Davis has the suites. That building is also home to the Fitness Center, which is pretty good for a vacation facility. The Taft has a 2-computer business center with a printer, and free Internet as well.  All the rooms have free WiFi, so you are not limited to what is available in the business center either.

FLORIDIAN SEAFOOD IN AN HISTORIC FLORIDA HOUSE

In the middle of the property sits a curious little house made of Coral. This historic house dates back to a time when Washington Avenue was a dirt road lined with dozens of similar houses, and is now home to Catch 10 Seafood Bistro. Again, the interior is completely renovated with a pitched wooden ceiling and hardwood floors. It features both indoor and outdoor seating, and an extensive menu offering anything you’d expect from a South Florida seafood restaurant.  Catch 10 also throws in some nice Floridian twists, like green plantains stuffed with blackened seared tuna. And while many seafood restaurants don’t put a lot of effort into their non-seafood offerings, the steak selection is impressive. And tasty as well.

The Wyndham Garden South Beach provides a Keys Resort environment in the heart of the SoBe action. Though it would be possible to enjoy a weekend without even leaving the property, the location alone beckons you to explore more of the city. It’s a nice combination of relaxing and fun, while still encouraging you to get out and explore. A balance that is difficult to strike when you are only a retaining wall away from South Beach insanity.

Related Categories: Miami: Local News, Miami: Travel News, About the Author: Matt Meltzer is a featured columnist at Miami Beach 411. See more articles by Matt Meltzer. See more articles by Matt Meltzer Was This Post Helpful? Please Share It With Others! Tweet

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