I grew up near South Beach, and was especially drawn to the spire of what was then the Tiffany hotel. I learned later that the architect, F. Murray Dixon, was also the architect of my family’s 1930s Art Moderne house, about 20 blocks north of the Ocean Drive hotel. That only increased my affection.
The iconic hotel has been through a few transformations, and today, Goldman Properties, the real estate company known for creating magic in places often overlooked, has just renamed their spired property: from The Hotel of South Beach, to The Tony Hotel South Beach in honor of the tenth anniversary of founder and developer Tony Goldman’s passing.
The preservationist, who in 2021 was inducted unanimously into the Miami Beach Hall of Fame, rescued decaying neighborhoods by accentuating their DNA: restoring historic architecture, and introducing colorful imagery. These renowned neighborhoods include South Beach, Wynwood in Miami, SoHo in New York City, and Center City in Philadelphia.
The renaming will be joined by the restaurant re-opening of the popular News Café, once frequented almost daily by the late fashion designer Gianni Versace. It is set to reopen later this spring in its familiar location on the ground floor of The Tony’s Ocean Drive building.
Originally built in 1939 by master architect L. Murray Dixon and reimagined in 1998 by American fashion designer Todd Oldham, The Tony Hotel South Beach embodies a classic retreat in an intimate, unpretentious setting.
The boutique hotel spans two buildings along Eighth Street fronting both Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive. The 74 rooms and suites are adorned in colors, shapes, and textures that highlight and pay homage to its historic neighborhood.
The past is embodied in Tony Goldman’s 1932 Packard, parked out front of the hotel, and new amenities complement the hotel’s redesigned rooftop pool, with lounge chairs and cabanas that overlook the Atlantic Ocean. Its refreshed Spire Bar now debuts as a spot for private cocktail receptions and dinners with expansive views.
All guest rooms are now equipped with new 55” TV’s, mini-fridges, and high-speed wifi. A new website and enhanced technology systems across the hotel complement its refresh.
Several of the staff have worked at the hotel for more than twenty years. Guests and local passersby alike are often: greeted by name, and serenaded by doorman and front terrace staple David; offered a taste of the specialty “cocktail of the day” poolside by bartenders Yoel and Fernando; and enlightened about the hotel’s history and neighborhood by F&B Manager Gerardo, now in his 32nd year at the hotel.
“Tony Goldman was an entrepreneur, historic preservationist, romantic and sensitive developer, restaurateur, hotelier, and patron of the arts. Renaming the hotel that Tony restored in his honor is a fitting tribute to his legacy,” said Scott Srebnick, his son-in-law and CEO of Goldman Properties.
“He imagined South Beach to be the American Riviera, with sidewalk cafés, hotels, music, and languages spoken by people from all corners of the world. Reintroducing the hotel as part of a new South Beach renaissance is the best way to honor Tony’s memory and enhance the area’s rich history.”
