The Key To Bliss

The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscanyne, Miami

Written by Jeffrey Cohen

At the end of a seemingly endless day in busy airports (one of the many challenges of traveling in the middle of summer), my wife and I recently arrived, kids in tow, at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami, more than ready to kick back and slip into vacation mode for a few days. This was our second visit to what has quickly become one of our favorite resorts, and we were greeted like old friends at the port cochère with the graciousness we have come to expect from the engaged and accommodating staff at Ritz-Carlton hotels the world over. We were now primed for some concerted relaxation.

Sitting on a five-mile barrier island, the Ritz-Carlton is perfectly situated for any number of aquatic and terrestrial activities. Overlooking the Atlantic ocean, our accommodations in a Club Level Oceanfront Suite were everything we had hoped for, and the weather could not have been more auspicious for the duration of our stay. Tastefully appointed with granite countertops highlighted by deep ocean blues, contemporary furniture and luxurious down bedding, and decorated in subtle grays that perfectly mirrored the wispy cumulus clouds over the water, our two-bedroom suite was an oasis of luxury. Better still, it was just a few steps away from the Club Lounge, a haven of relaxation and gastronomic delight.

A serene suite overlooks the ocean.

In the mood for a casual lunch outdoors, the four of us headed to the pool, and dined beside it at Cantina Beach, Miami’s only oceanfront coastal Mexican restaurant, but not before we made a pit stop at the aforementioned Club Lounge, as the kids needed a sugar fix after our journey. Child-friendly in every regard, the lounge offers a buffet of sweets and candies, of which our daughter took full advantage. Breakfast and lunch are also served at their appropriate hours, while champagne and drinks are available all day.

Just minutes away from Miami’s vibrant, non-stop party atmosphere, the Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, Miami feels miles away from all of that. The resort is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, with monthly offerings and deluxe packages for its guests to enjoy throughout this year. For travelers seeking the ultimate carefree escape to south Florida, the hotel has special offerings for everyone, including a number of ocean-related day camps for children.

With two pools, tennis courts and within easy distance of the challenging 18-hole Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne, the Ritz- Carlton is perfectly situated and equipped for the active lifestyle. As is my habit, I exercised each morning in the hotel’s well-appointed gym before heading down to the beach with our son for a walk, and one day, a refreshing paddle in the ocean.

Our morning activities were routinely followed by a quick stop at Key Pantry, the resort’s gourmet market, for pastries, a smoothie for him, and an Americano for me. Made with freshly-roasted beans from Panther Coffee, a Miami-based specialty roaster with a unique twist. He’s growing like a weed and availed himself more than once of the breakfast buffet at Lightkeepers, where he almost met his match but was never defeated. This set us up for the day, which we would generally spend on the beach under the shade of umbrellas or relaxing by the pool where we took refreshment beneath the palapa, courtesy of the stylish and contemporary aforementioned Cantina Beach. With over one hundred tequilas on offer, we adults made sure to sample a couple of drinks well outside the comfort zone of the standard margarita, accompanied by a couple of fresh fish tacos with mango salsa. They even have a “tequilier”, who will gladly make tequila recommendations and create tasting menus. In between dips, it was delightful to head down to the beach for a bracing walk in the sea air before returning to the balmy calm of the pool.

The open-air bar at Cantina Beach

Except for a brief foray to take in some local scenery and an exceptional dinner one evening at the modern and eclectic Costa Med Bistro+Wine just up the street from the Ritz, we dined exclusively at the resort, where, between the restaurants, Club Lounge and room service, we were spoiled for choice.

Lightkeepers offers gourmet fare and old favorites.

For dinner, we shuttled between the hotel’s eateries, but being partial to surf and turf, gravitated towards Lightkeepers, a Mediterranean-inspired trattoria with gorgeous views of the hotel’s gardens and the ocean beyond. I especially enjoyed the seared branzino, while my wife and daughter were both impressed by the grass-fed filet mignon (a perennial choice), and our son fueled himself with a gourmet burger and fries. With appetizers of fresh burrata and some oysters, this was the perfect meal to enjoy al fresco. After dinner, the kids headed back to the Club Lounge to raid the cookie jars while the adults retired to the 1940’s Havana-inspired Rumbar lobby lounge to sample one or two of the eighty-plus rums on offer and a cigar.

If it sounds as if the four of us enjoyed a wonderful stay, we did. What makes Ritz-Carlton in general, and the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami in particular, so special is the extraordinary care and attention provided by the ladies and gentlemen who are the staff. Many of those we met have worked there since the hotel opened, and are as much a part of the establishment as the buildings themselves. By the time this vacation was winding down, we were refreshed and ready to return home, so relaxed that even the crowded airports couldn’t faze us.

For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com