New Development: Waldorf Astoria
So many beloved New York brands have made their way to Miami, but none are doing it quite like the Waldorf Astoria. The legendary brand is building a downtown hotel and residential tower, which will be made of nine glass cubes, stacked haphazardly, soaring over 1,000 feet. It will undoubtedly be the star of the Miami skyline when it’s complete.
As part of my summer project visiting Miami’s new developments, I stopped by the Waldorf Astoria to see if it lives up to the hype. The tower will be the tallest building south of New York City, and already has that super villain glamour to it, looking more like it belongs in Gotham City than Miami.
100 floors will include 360 residences that offer all of the high-end, luxury finishes and amenities you would expect. As in life, the higher you climb to the top cube, the higher the price. But this building is meant to be seen, and photographed, so I think the buyers it attracts will want the same.
Although we can’t yet go to the 100th floor, the sales team pulls off the next best thing. An incredible virtual reality experience lets you see what it will be like to live this high off the ground. There is a moment in the experience when you attend a penthouse party, and I felt like I was in the middle of a scene from Westworld. That would certainly be the hook for me.
The Waldorf Astoria brings the “wow” factor like few others in Miami can. There is, of course, so much more to love than just the sight of the tower itself.
Location: The tower is situated downtown near Biscayne Bay, meaning spectacular views that stretch all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, plus the vibrant city lights on the mainland. That would be enough of a sell for most, but the wonderful part of Miami’s downtown is that everything is close by; residents will be 10 minutes from the beach and 15 minutes from the airport, and close to so many other great neighborhoods, including Wynwood and Coconut Grove.
Design: The Waldorf Astoria has partnered with the talented team at BAMO on interior design, who will work with buyers on customizing the design options - although you might not want to because the plans they have are stunning.
Amenities: Compared to the amenities offered by its competitors, the Waldorf Astoria might even have more. Not only can residents take advantage of living in a luxury hotel with things like room service, there are also exclusive benefits such as preferred spa and restaurant rates. And picture this alongside the views: a private roof deck with a pool, swim-up tiki bar, outdoor gym and courts for basketball, racquetball and pickleball.
The 12,000-square-foot, full floor penthouses start at $30 million and are built to the buyer’s specifications. I can't help but picture Elon Musk planning world domination from within the ninth cube, and if he can't have that, then he is leaving for Mars (which, I am sure, many would think is his best idea yet).
The Waldorf Astoria tower will be complete in 2027, but the residences are already selling fast. If you’re interested in this or just starting to explore your options, reach out to me at amanda.sawyer@compass.com.
__
Brought to you by Amanda Sawyer, part the Chad Carroll Group at Compass.