W South Beach Penthouse hotel review - Miami, USA

Ocean front real estate in Miami is at such a premium it’s little wonder hotels along the fabled Collins Avenue stretch are continually finding new ways to maximise their return on investment. Invariably, this takes the form of refurbishments, usually of public spaces facing the spectacular sweep of the Atlantic Ocean.

The W South Beach has just emerged from a spruce-up of its upper-tier rooms, courtesy of Tappan-based Busta Studio. The two-storey penthouse is a vast 2,200 sq ft playpen for guests who probably don’t plan on spending too much time sleeping. Not when there’s a rooftop plunge pool to soak in, and a flank of balconies from which to enjoy snapshots of the ocean and downtown Miami.

In addition to dressing the spaces in acres of white, ivory and beige tones, Busta has upped the luxe-beach vibe with white washed driftwood panels, leather, and sand-toned mats, while specifying furniture from Michael Dawkin, Molteni & Co, and Holly Hunt.

The tech hardware is equally impressive, among them a Bang & Olufsen TV and a Naim Muso sound system. And this being Miami, amidst the bells and whistles, the original photographs on the walls have been curated by the art collector and real estate mogul Aby Rosen.