Checking In: Kaskades South Beach

As sister property to the Gale South Beach located just across the street, the luxurious Kaskades South Beach offers a sophisticated stay in the heart of SoBe.

By:Lisa Loverro

As sister property to the Gale South Beach located just across the street, the luxurious Kaskades South Beach offers a sophisticated stay in the heart of SoBe. Originally a residential building, this newest offering from Menin Hospitality includes 24 indulgent rooms with amenities not often found in other upscale hotels: marble bathrooms with rainforest aromatherapy steam showers, for instance, hi-tech Toto toilets, and 55-inch flat-screen televisions that will entice you to never leave the room. These suites exude luxury. You'll also experience VIP express check-in to the Kaskades' new guest lounge, a complimentary continental breakfast, and sunset happy hour with wine and refreshments.

The property opened one year ago, and it is located two blocks from the ocean. However, a quick walk to its beach club (in partnership with the Shelborne Beach Club) will land you in complimentary lounge chairs facing South Beach's blue waters in no time. The hotel has a rooftop lounge deck with a small plunge pool that I found perfect for a quiet alternative to the noisy and trendy pools at other hotels. But if you are seeking more of a South Beach scene, all guests at the Kaskades have access to the Gale's larger rooftop pool next door. Additional amenities include preferred entrance, based on availability, into the hot and happening Rec Room located in the Gale Hotel, as well as any nightclub venue affiliated with the Menin Hospitality Collection. Such nightclubs include the Radio Bar South Beach, Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, Set, and Mokai.

You need not venture far from the hotel for one of the best meals in town. Dolce Italian, a modern Italian restaurant located inside the Gale Hotel, playfully captures Fellini's Rome of the 1960s with plush grey lounges and walls lined with black and white photographs. The fresh ingredients used in all of the restaurant's dishes were evident throughout my meal. With simple dishes, Dolce Italian serves up a memorable meal in a sophisticated environment. Beyond my first course of creamy burrata and tasty grilled octopus, my pasta dish—Sweet Pea Tortelli prepared with shrimp, cherry tomatoes and lemon—was a symphony of flavors harmoniously blended on one plate. The roasted Branzino with broccoli rabe was perhaps the freshest fish I have tasted in some time. A meal at this restaurant is a must-do dining experience while staying in South Beach.