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Rooms
Is there any better hotel greeting than “You’ve been upgraded?”
Actually, there is, and it goes like this: “We hope you don’t mind,
but there’s been a room change, and we’re upgrading you to a
penthouse suite.” For a moment, we almost think it’s a joke. What
have we done to deserve this? Well, for one thing—we booked through
the hotel’s own website. That always helps—no cut for a middleman;
the hotel rewards you directly. And when we get upstairs to that
penthouse suite, it’s clear we’ve been amply rewarded—for good
behavior. There’s a splendid sitting room/lounge furnished with Mies
van der Rohe’s Barcelona chairs, four of them in black leather, and
two glass consoles at the room’s far ends, one with an immense
television, and the other housing the sound equipment. Full-length
charcoal silk taffeta drapes puddle on the gray-carpeted floor.
Outside, through the glass doors, there’s a lovely private terrace
with its own palm tree and planter, along with two chaise longues,
all under a slatted pergola. The mesmerizing view is toward the
higher hotels along Collins (with the ocean beyond), but who needs
more than this?
As for the bedroom, it has its own French door onto the balcony—for
those mornings when you want to stumble into the sun—and dial room
service from that chaise. And in the bathroom, there’s a flagstone
shower large enough for six, with rain forest showerheads. The
entire suite is suitable for immediate full-time occupancy. Forward
all mail to the Albion.
Public Spaces
Originally built in 1939, the Albion was designed by Igor Polevitzky,
and then re-designed in 1997 by Carlos Zapata. The best of the past
has been retained—such as the dramatic two-story lobby with its
immense columns and the aluminum-fronted mezzanine—while
supplemented with diaphanous curtains and modular white furnishings.
The sixty-foot second-floor pool is private and low-key, a refuge
primarily for hotel guests, with portholes along its length for a
view onto the garden scene below. There’s also the Fallabella bar
(named after the world’s smallest horse) with its motto “beauty is
your duty,” wood-paneled and dark, a cozy nook for early
cocktails—and apparently, at happy hours, a mani and a pedi.
Overall, the vibe in the public spaces at the Rubell-owned Albion is
a more sedate version of Ian Schrager’s hotel spaces—which is
somewhat ironic, given that, back in the day, Schrager’s partner,
Steve Rubell, was the more vocal front man during their Studio 54
daze. These days, the Rubell family is better known for its
extensive art collection—and the Albion is a nice reflection upon
the evolution of the family’s tastes.
Breakfast
What a choice—should breakfast be taken on our terrace, or out by
the pool? Or along the mezzanine balcony where several early birds
are already at work on their laptops? Wherever one chooses,
breakfast is a basic European affair—hard-boiled eggs and
croissants, fresh fruit, juices and strong coffee. It’s not a meal
meant to bowl you over—rather it’s a meal designed to send you
happily into South Beach, feeling chic and sleek.
Staff
Given that the front desk manager upgraded us, it would be
uncharitable to say anything uncomplimentary about the staff—but
fortunately, everyone we encountered was pleasant and professional,
adhering to that European/South American style of service:
accommodating without being unctuous. We like that.
Location
Admittedly, it’s not the prettiest intersection in South Beach.
Located between the ocean and the nicer section of Lincoln Road, the
Albion fortunately fronts onto James Avenue—which makes it easier to
overlook those several unsavory blocks of Lincoln.
Overview
As an urban hotel, the Albion has great bones and good breeding,
attributes which are highlighted by the Rubell family’s good taste.
A stay at the Albion makes you look good too.
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