Words by Roxanne Robinson
The Miami Beach revival was alive and kicking, having risen from its crime-ridden, dilapidated state of the ’70s and ’80s, as the fashion photography scene—photographers, models, et al.—descended upon the sunny locale, boosting new nightclubs, restaurants, and renovated hotels in the ’90s. When the Delano reopened in 1995, led by Ian Schrager and designed by Philippe Starck, it ushered in the next level of design in the famous Art Deco district. Thirty years later, the barometer-setting hotel is in the final stages of a five-year renovation project and slated to reopen in March 2026. GRAZIA US spoke with Ben Pundole, the chief brand officer and head of membership for the Delano Hotels, about what to expect from this landmark property.
“The Delano Miami Beach is an icon evolved. Before, it was known for design, nightlife, and its celebrity scene. Now we see the evolved aspirational guest and Miami, especially thanks to Art Basel, is less about those things,” Pundole said via Zoom of the hotel that originally opened in 1947.
The Lenny Kravitz-designed Florida Room nightclub, which replaced David Barton Gym, will now be The Source by Delano, focused on wellness. “We have a holistic spa featuring a 22-person sauna with treatments such as scent or sound meditations, and a longevity suite offering IVs and NAD+ therapy,” he continued, adding, “I loved having a nightclub in my hotel; at 51, I couldn’t think of anything worse. I want to have fun, just elsewhere.”
The new incarnation will also feature a member’s club, art and culture programs, and brand staples such as the Rose Bar, named for founder Rob Schwartz’s wife, and Café Delano, inspired by Pundole’s time spent in Milan. “It will capture the elegance of Milanese café culture but with a Miami soul,” Pundole explained.
The hotel has five food and beverage facilities, including two upscale dining experiences that are still under wraps. Pundole hinted that one is a classic Paris name while the other hails from the Middle East.
Art Deco celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, and the Delano Miami Beach will revive its original details. “The Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board, in conjunction with the Miami Design Preservation League, is more adamant than in 1995. They mandated certain things we could or couldn’t do,” Pundole said.
Gone are the tall hedge with blue door, the lobby’s white columns and wooden floor, and the return of a mezzanine. “Art Deco buildings must now be visible from the street, the original octagonal columns and terrazzo floors have been restored, and we uncovered the footbridge across the lobby,” he continued.
The new look reads soft minimalism. “It’s not stark or harsh,” he noted. It utilizes warm, creamy tones and curved furniture. Rooms will retain their original size due to the preservation zoning rules, but the 14th floor will now feature two new penthouses.
Delano has its sights beyond South Beach, too. “The sub-brands like Rose Bar, Café Delano, and Nothing Finer can move to new properties and a larger audience. London is currently being renovated and will open late 2026, and the Delano New York in Soho will begin its renovation soon,” the CBO said.
It’s a cosmopolitan evolution of the brand, fitting for the times. Pundole, who worked for Schrager for over 20 years after being introduced to him by Madonna, feels that reviving the Delano Hotel acknowledges the emotional connections people have to it.
“Ian’s Delano will always be the visionary who changed the direction of the industry. It was about emotion, escapism, and hedonism in the sunshine. The copycats that followed weren’t as good, so it needed to reinvent itself.”
