A New South Beach Beach Club That's Actually Relaxing
Enjoy it while the Basel crowd is still in Cannes
Wanna win a two-night stay at the Kimpton Surfcomber and check this place out for yourself? Here’s how.
It is that time of year, when your Instagram is for some reason coopted by videos of people you met once during Art Basel dancing on tables at some unpronounceable club in Saint-Tropez. And while Miami certainly isn’t lacking for places where you can pour $400 bottles of rose on unsuspecting patrons trying to enjoy a $40 salad, they’re also generally filled with, well, the kinds of people who go to Saint-Tropez.
So the ever-reasonably-priced Kimpton Surfcomber has brought us a breezy beach club where you can enjoy sax-accented house music and Mediterranean fare. And, for the summer, at least, there’s nary a linen-clad nepo baby in sight. The new Solei Beach Club opens this Friday, May 15, with laid back vibes adjacent to the sand, where you can live like you’re in the South of France without having to hop on a plane. And for locals, it might be the odd South Beach spot you actually feel like you could go back to.
So how’s this different from suffering though Seaspice?
Well, it’s on the beach, not the river, first of all. But the Surfcomber has always been a far less sceney spot than its South Beach competitors, and brings that everyman’s luxury ethos to the beach club. It’s still swanky, you just don’t feel like the brokest person in the room if you’re not spraying Ace of Spades on the nearest sheik. It’s relaxing in the way a beach club is supposed to be relaxing, and while not “cheap” won’t have you stressing about the bill during your day off.
The scene: Is a South Beach hotel pool, with wicker and pastel accents and a handful of cabanas on the large back lawn. The main restaurant is set under a chickee hut, with a constant breeze blowing through. There’s a DJ spinning the mix of electronic day-party music that’s required at these sorts of venues, but it stops short of being intrusive. The crowd is mostly tourists – locals haven’t flocked to an art-deco mega-hotel since the Delano closed. But locals could easily come here and not want to immediately go back to their gated community pool in Kendall.
What to eat and drink:
The food is the light, Mediterranean-inspired stuff perfect for treasure-hunting hangers-on to take bites of and bail before the bill comes. Not that Solei has that kind of scene, but you can definitely picture a girl with bee-stung lips picking at the mahi ceviche in salsa brava before demanding to dance on the table, rose in hand. If you could place bets on what the server will suggest, the Mosaico octopus carpaccio with kalamata aioli would pay about -300. It is delicious, though. And you’ll never go wrong with a mezze platter at a beach club, especially if it includes pistachio-mint whipped feta and cilantro tzatziki.
The aged NY strip with garlic and chili is the move if you want something substantial. Though the grilled seabass comes in just behind the octopus on the “The waiter is going to suggest this” prediction list. For drinks, the Spicy Senorita is a cucumber margarita with tequila and mezcal that could give Sunny’s Green Ghoul a good fight. The NA version is the odd mocktail that might be better than its boozy counterpart.
Don’t miss: The mezze board. The dips are the highlight of the menu, and are the perfect order if you’re planning an extended stay.
Perfect for: Sunday fundays. Showing tourists a totally “Miami” spot, without the insufferable people that come with it.
Expect to pay: This totally depends on how long you’re staying and how much you drink. For a weekend boozy lunch, budget $100-$150.
How’s the parking: Valet is $35 during the week, $40 on weekends. Otherwise, there’s a city garage in Collins Park about 10 minutes away on foot.
@soleibeachclub // 1717 Collins Ave., South Beach