Nestled among a combination of glitzy 5-star properties, quaint art deco classics, and trendy eateries in the heart of South Beach, the Kimpton Surfcomber stands out for its blend of historic charm, modern luxury, and cigar friendliness.
Originally built in the 1940s, the hotel’s facade retains the sleek styling and geometric forms characteristic of the era, while the interiors have been updated to reflect modern sensibilities. The design merges vintage charm with contemporary elegance, creating an atmosphere that is both nostalgic and refreshingly current. The boutique hotel’s lobby oozes mid-century cool. With the multiple retro record players and eclectic selection of vinyls throughout the lobby, guests can set the vibe as they enjoy their time on the property.
The hotel boasts 186 recently renovated rooms adorned with chic, minimalist décor but loaded with modern amenities. The rooms are flanked along the sides of the breezeway that leads out to the pool and beach. Our favorite rooms are along the premium oceanfront terrace. The large, king-sized bedrooms lead out to a 195-square-foot private deck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Speaking of the water, the poolside areas offer a balance of shady trees and unabated vitamin D rays. Immediately around the pool are reclinable chairs with umbrellas. Farther out and on either side of the pool are the two stories of the Vines Cabanas. The upper cabanas are cigar friendly, as is the High Tide Beach Bar and Grill that sits between the pool and ocean.
High Tide offers a backyard beach party feel with traditional bar seating, high tops, and hanging rocking chairs that make for a perfect spot to enjoy a smoke while sipping on a fresh-pressed juice or something a little more “adultish” from the impressive drinks selection. There are beachy cocktails like the Sea Whisper made with Appleton Estate 8-year rum, pineapple, orange, cranberry, lime, and Angostura bitters. There’s enough fruity stuff in there to help you justify it and enough rum to get you to the party swiftly. There are spirit-free cocktails, frozen drinks, and a curated selection of beer and wine. The entire drink list is elevated, developed with a beach setting in mind. Offerings from local breweries including South Beach Brewing’s Blood Orange Sunset IPA or Funky Buddha’s Floridian Hefeweizen are on tap while poolside mainstays like Corona Light, Stella Artois, and others are available by the bottle. The wine list is equally varied with bubbly choices from easy drinking Proseccos to heavy hitters GH Mumm and Veuve Clicquot, as well as white wines like Sancerre, Verdejo, Riesling, and Chardonnays, and finally a selection of reds from Napa and Italy rounds out the list.
The food menu at High Tide features a worthwhile ceviche, the Peruvian raw fish delight, or finger food including empanadas, grilled chicken wings, or Moroccan skewers. If a day on the beach has left you in need of something heavier, we loved the Cafecito Steak Sandwich, an espresso-rubbed skirt steak served with Cabrales cheese, Roma tomatoes, shaved red onion, and a killer garlic aioli on a fresh baked bun. Trust us, it’s even better than it sounds.
There is such a thing as too much sun, and for those instances the hotel features The Social Club, which serves up a brunch that draws not only hotel guests but area locals as well. The restaurant offers a varied choice of seating options. There are intimate booths tucked away in corners, a large family style table in the middle of the action, or the open-air terrace which not only gives diners a view of historic Collins Ave but is also the perfect spot to enjoy a smoke with a craft cocktail from the Social Club’s full drinks menu. The Social Club, however, does not sell cigars so it’s best to BYOC.
