It hits you from the moment you enter. In a town full of industry-leading hotels and spas, there is something different, something special, about The Bath Club in Miami. The colossal antique wooden doors and breathtaking landscaping; the inviting lobby lounge filled with plush vintage armchairs and lamps; the Spanish tiled stairs with iron railings and polished terra cotta floors throughout; the high ceilings that give the Club a singular vibe — this is not the Miami most people get to experience.
It’s no secret that Miami is having a major moment. The mass migration to the Sunshine State was already happening before the pandemic but kicked into full gear after the 2020 lockdowns. Two years later, there’s no sign of it slowing down. And while there is an influx of new bars, restaurants, and hotels meant to cater to the crowds that have descended on the city, there are very few that can boast of the historic legacy and understated glamour that suffuse every inch of The Bath Club.
Founded in the 1920s, The Bath Club was the very first private members club in the Southeast. Some of the Club’s illustrious founding members included Carl G. Fisher (dubbed “Mr. Miami Beach, he was a prominent real estate developer for whom exclusive Fisher Island was named), as well as automotive tire magnate Harvey Firestone, Sr., William Vanderbilt II and Pierre Cartier (yes, that Cartier).
The club’s highly selective membership process, however, excluded Black and Jewish people from joining for decades. Happily, that all changed when current owner Don Peebles — the club’s first African American member — took over in 1999.
“My vision for The Bath Club has always been to create the most inclusively exclusive membership club in the nation,” Peebles, an entrepreneur and real estate developer who served on the National Finance Committee under President Obama, told GRAZIA Gazette: F1 Miami. “As the first African American member of The Bath Club, and now the owner, it has been my mission to offer a luxurious, intimate space that families of all backgrounds can enjoy for generations to come.”
Peebles has most definitely succeeded in doing just that. After giving The Bath Club a renovation before reopening in winter 2020, Peebles and his team had already succeeded in accepting the allotted 200 member families. Currently at capacity, the club now features a sprawling beachfront, multiple event spaces, outdoor living rooms, wellness programming, and a culinary experience, all to be operated and curated by bespoke management firm Apiici Hospitality, known for developing and operating luxe restaurants and hotels including the N.Y.C.’s Polo Bar, the private dining room at 432 Park Avenue and Hotel Figueroa in Downtown Los Angeles.
“The Bath Club represents the ultimate privacy and luxury,” explained Peebles. “With a smaller membership availability – only about 1% compared to other membership clubs in the area – and a vast, modernized estate that includes three acres of completely private beach access, we guarantee our members the most comfortable and intimate experience.”
The Club is packed with amenities, including two clay tennis courts, a full-service spa and fitness center offering massage and facial services, beach yoga and beach bootcamp classes, meditation, poolside cabanas available for daily or long-term rental, and a playground and kids club for the little ones to enjoy.
“We just recently completed a multi-million-dollar renovation on the property, so we’ve made numerous efforts of late to make the property as luxurious, comfortable, and up-to-date as possible for our members,” Peebles continues. “Together with my wife Katrina and our partners Apicii, we feel like we have created something truly special; and this has been validated by having completely sold out all memberships within a year of reopening.”
Another true highlight of the club is the exclusive access to more than 100,000-square feet of beach with complimentary chaises, umbrellas towel service, and prime space for adults and families. (The oversized Jenga and bean bag toss — as well as beach toys available for use — keep the youngsters busy all day.) For those who prefer lounging poolside, there are comfortable chaises, umbrellas and towel service with a full menu — and bar – available all day as well.
“The intimacy and privacy of The Bath Club is extremely unique as well,” Peebles continued. “Whether you’re at the club to work in the Governor’s Loggia, to dine in The Courtyard, or to lounge on our private beach, members really have the space to focus, relax, or unwind however they see fit.”
The Bath Club’s two ballrooms are a highlight, frequently used to host weddings and special events including a recent evening with MyTheresa and Dolce & Gabbana, an exclusive Wheel’s Up party during Art Basel featuring Whispering Angel and Wine Access, and a PR Net cocktail soirée.
Another much-anticipated addition is the newly opened fine dining concept Collins Room, which debuted in February 2022, with an impressive Seafood Plateau, Oysters Rockefeller, and Stone Crab Claws on offer alongside a classic Lobster Fra Diavolo, Slow Roasted Prime Rib, and Peking-Style Chicken. The cocktail list truly has something for every taste: from glamorous classics like a Vesper Martini and a 1930s Negroni, to a section called “Around the World in 8 Cocktails” that highlights tipples from some of the most stories destination across the globe, including The Golden Glove from 1930s La Floradita Bar in Havana, Jewels of the East from 1900s Great Eastern Hotel in Calcutta and the Claret Punch from London’s Savoy Hotel circa 1920. Of course, there is also wine and beer by the glass.
“We also just opened The Collins Room, a fine dining restaurant inspired by the 1950s and ’60s, at the end of February,” explained Peebles. ”We wanted to offer an additional culinary experience for our members to make going out for dinner special and glamorous again.”
For those Friends of Members who want to enjoy the Club’s restaurants there is now another tier of access available called the Social List, which Peebles explains was created so “individuals can join to enjoy our beautiful restaurant and bar concepts including The Collins Room, The Courtyard, and Governor’s Loggia.”
What really sets The Bath Club apart, though, is the staff: from Managing Director Tim Miller and Director of Member Services Keston Superville to the entire waitstaff and culinary team, along with the team that works at the beach and pool to give guests an unforgettable experience whenever they walk through the doors. Members of the Peebles family are also spotted around the Club, warmly greeting guests and acting as the consummate hosts.
“I pride myself on The Bath Club’s impeccable customer service that our unparalleled reputation is built on,” said Peebles. “All of our staff make an effort to truly get to know each of our members and their families, so The Bath Club feels like an extension of their own home. Because the club also doesn’t have a hotel component like other members clubs, it enhances the overall privacy and luxury of the environment.”
Following the club’s massive success since reopening — during a global pandemic — it’s clear that this Miami mainstay is here to stay.
“Considering The Bath Club is the oldest members club on Miami Beach, it represents a genuine part of the colorful history of Miami Beach and remains an iconic institution,” said Peebles. “It’s an exciting time here at The Bath Club.”
