FIRST CLASS
Shop In Style
Bal Harbour gets a luxury hotel befitting its status as a shopping destination for the jet set.
By Daphne Nikolopoulous
Until recently, fashionistas who wanted to spend a weekend at Bal Harbour, combing the designer boutiques at Bal Harbour Shops and dining at its chichi eateries, had to drive to South Beach or Sunny Isles for a five-star overnight. Naturally, that cut into valuable shopping time—most inconvenient.
The Regent Bal Harbour, which opened in March, is a welcome addition to the landscape of the village that calls itself “the world’s most indulgent square mile.” The hotel’s proximity to Bal Harbour’s star attraction—the mall—affords shoppers the luxury of a leisurely experience. They can deliver packages to their suites, have a treatment at the Guerlain Spa, or simply kick off their (four-inch) heels between boutiques.
And at the end of the day, the exquisite space will cosset them in well-deserved comfort. The contemporary Asian decor is defined by a riot of textures—iridescent glass-tiled walls, corrugated metal, oyster-shell tiles, frosted glass, embossed fabrics, fixtures of crystal and steel mesh, and acres of exotic wood—and organic elements such as trickling water features. It is an absolute feast for the senses.
Speaking of feast, The Regent also houses the area’s most ambitious restaurant, One Bleu. The name comes from the restaurant’s partnership with Le Cordon Bleu, the venerable culinary academy in France. One Bleu abides by both the art de vivre philosophy and the culinary style of Le Cordon Bleu. The latter provides visiting and exchange chefs, which broadens the scope of the gastronomic offerings here.
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