The Shelborne By Proper: Miami Beach's Newest It-Hotel
- Drew Townsel
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Miami Beach is built on nostalgia, but The Shelborne by Proper proves history doesn’t have to feel dated. Fresh off a $100 million transformation, the Art Deco icon has been reimagined with Proper’s signature edit: mid-century glamour filtered through a modern, laid-back lens. It’s less about chasing trends and more about rewriting what Miami luxury looks like now.
Miami Beach is no stranger to reinvention, but few addresses carry the weight of history like The Shelborne by Proper. Sitting on Collins Avenue with its unmistakable Art Deco bones, the hotel has re-emerged after a $100 million facelift that doesn’t just polish the past—it reframes it. The energy is old-school glamour spliced with Proper’s modern cool, making it feel like a time capsule that’s been cracked open and remixed for right now. In an era where nostalgia is woven into style and design, the cool kids aren’t chasing sterile minimalism—they’re chasing character, texture, and personality. The Shelborne delivers exactly that.
The interiors lean into mid-century nostalgia without getting stuck there—think muted palettes, stone and wood textures, and lush greenery softening the lines. The lobby, with its clean geometry and low-key warmth, sets the tone: it’s less about flashy Miami clichés and more about understated sophistication.
You get the sense that everything has been edited with intention, down to the curve of a chair or the hue of a tile. As soon as you walk into the hotel, a small but chic coffee shop sits to the right of the reception desk featuring café drinks that are brewed with love. My daily order was an iced latte with almond milk and it was made perfectly each day.
As you continue down the hallway, the Lobby Bar stands out immediately with its grand but welcoming energy. This is where I had the most fresh breakfast daily and the most light, airy, and delicious cocktails at night while enjoying conversations with friendly guests and Miami natives who appreciate art and culture.
My favorite part about the hotel is undeniably the pool and beach club. The pool and beach setup is as polished as the rest of the property. The loungers are perfectly blue, lined up in crisp rows with cushions that feel as comfortable as they look. The pool itself is deep and inviting, a true centerpiece that nods to the hotel’s golden-age glamour while still feeling current. Staff move through the area with quiet attentiveness—topping up towels, adjusting umbrellas, and making sure drinks arrive before you even think to ask—making long days by the water feel effortless.
The hotel's rooms and suites keep that same vibe—calm, tailored, and expansive when it matters. The villas blur the line between private residence and hotel suite, while the Penthouse takes it to cinematic levels with sprawling square footage and panoramic views that feel more like a flex than a feature. Still, the property isn’t afraid of its history: the iconic pool, complete with its retro diving board, anchors the space with a wink to the ‘50s.
On the culinary side, the anticipation is real. Michelin-starred chef Abram Bissell is curating the hotel’s food program, from Pauline’s Latin-Caribbean-leaning plates to the more intimate Little Torch cocktail lounge. Until those open, guests can already tap into a coastal-leaning menu at The Shelborne restaurant or post up poolside with bites built for long afternoons under the sun. And as a critically online girl who's obsessed with wellness, the most impressive part of the food is that it’s 100% seed-oil free.
Continuing on the wellness tip, The Shelborne effortlessly inspires guests to recharge, refuel, and stay healthy. The fitness center features amazing pilates and yoga classes and beautiful equipment including wellness products from Alo Yoga—the hotel’s official wellness partner. Weekly programming also features sound bath sessions to clear your mind and stay grounded.
Outside the hotel’s walls, the neighborhood does the rest of the work—The Bass museum, the Miami Beach Boardwalk, and the wider Art Deco District all within walking distance. The Shelborne by Proper positions itself not just as a hotel, but as a cultural connector, a place where legacy and next-gen taste converge on Miami’s most iconic stretch of sand.
Closing out a stay here, what lingers isn’t just the design or the food—it’s the way The Shelborne collapses time. It nods to Miami Beach’s golden age without ever feeling stuck there, and it pushes the city’s hotel scene toward something sleeker, smarter, and more relevant. For anyone looking to experience Miami beyond the expected, The Shelborne by Proper is proof that the past and present can coexist beautifully—and that the future of luxury might just be found in the remix.