ANDIAMO - Jessica LaRosa

General Manager of Esmé Hotel

The Esmé offers incredible bars such as Bar Pintxo and El Salón and restaurants, what sets these apart from others?

Our property consists of 8 historic Spanish-Mediterranean style buildings that make up a little hidden Village in the heart of South Beach – that was the original intention nearly 100 years ago, and what we’ve recreated with Esmé. As a whole, we have this unique footprint that naturally begs for authentic outlets to drink and eat. Bar Pintxo is the most casual of the bunch, and probably my favorite. You’re greeted by a bounty of traditional (and some non-traditional) Pintxos, which are a regional style of Spanish tapas on skewers; pick a few plus a pint or a fizzy wine and head out to the breezy paseos to have a leisurely midday bite. El Salón, on the other hand, is the intimate cocktail bar where you can’t help but feel glamorous sipping one-of-a-kind cocktails crafted with our own proprietary spirit blends. Our rooftop, aptly named The Roof, is where our buildings are connected by bridges to bring the pool, lounge, dining area and bar together, creating a cohesive roof deck that serves as an oasis, no matter the type of hang you’re in the mood for. To enhance the charming village vibe behind our walls, we wanted to deliver an experience that also speaks to Miami culture when creating the menus for these spaces, which have prominent Latin flavors featured in most dishes.

The Esmé Hotel is located in a stunning area in Miami Beach, what are a few of your favorite places and activities to do around the hotel?

We’re about 4-5 minutes from the sand, so of course heading to the ocean or biking along the boardwalk are great ways to enjoy South Beach. But there’s also great shopping at Lincoln Road, which is one of the country’s first pedestrian outdoor shopping plazas, just a short walk from Esmé, and The Bass contemporary art museum is another favorite – the building itself is gorgeous!

What is one of the most special features the Esmé Hotel Offers and which is your personal favorite?

My favorite feature of the hotel is the paseos that connect the buildings together. It’s such a uniquely calming experience, especially for South Beach, to stroll the romantic walkways lined with café tables that stretch the length of the property. You’re bound to stumble upon the activity of the hotel, like an acoustic guitarist serenading happy hour at Bar Pintxo, or just find a corner to post up with a coffee and a book.

What is your favorite Bellino product to help ensure guest satisfaction and overall experience?

This is a tough one! I would have to say our Bellino bathrobes are key to a luxurious experience. With an absorbent terry terrycloth inside and cozy soft-touch outside, it’s a pampering on it’s own. That being said, a post-sun nap in Bellino linen sheets is heavenly. 

How important are good quality linens and how do they impact a guests stay?

I always preach to my team that at the most basic level a good night’s sleep is the foundation of the hotel experience, so a comfortable bed made up with quality linens is paramount. Whether guests are traveling for work or leisure, they expect and deserve to be well-rested. I’ve always enjoyed working with Bellino because I know they deliver a product that maintains that luxurious feel, and it really adds value from a guest perspective. We get rave reviews on our bedding, and I know it’s one of the reasons that our guests return to Esmé. 

Does the area surrounding the hotel have a unique story behind it?

Esmé is located on Española Way, which was developed during Florida’s first “land boom” in the 1920’s by N.B.T. Roney, one of the most prolific builders at the time. His vision was to create a bohemian artists’ village, and he chose the Spanish style of architecture to model the area after, which predates the Art Deco buildings that Miami Beach is now known for. Over the years, the street has seen a lot of excitement, from Al Capone’s gambling syndicate in the 1930’s in the building that is now Esmé’s Casa Matanza, to Desi Arnaz bringing the rhumba to the dance clubs along the stretch in the 40’s, and Miami Vice filming here in the 80’s. We’re always learning new bits of history about Española Way.

The guest rooms are divided between Esmé Village and Casa Matanza: what are the main characteristics?

The entire property is filled with a huge variety of patterns, textures, colors, tiles, and organic elements. The Village rooms have two primary color pallets, a deep emerald green and a rosy pink, creating a feminine and whimsical, yet very modern and sophisticated guest room design. At Casa Matanza, our standalone building that’s across Drexel Avenue on Española Way, the color scheme is more bold, with unexpected, interesting patterns to compliment custom mahogany millwork. All rooms are equipped with the comforts of a proper boutique hotel stay – in-room coffee, convenient bedside charging pads and digital tablets for hotel information, luxe bath amenities and, of course, dreamy Bellino linens and towels.

How would you describe the design inspiration behind this location and the details that went into it?

The designer behind Esmé, Jessie Schuster Design, masterfully created an environment that takes visitors on a journey through her modern interpretation of classic design elements, really emulating the intention of the brand through design, which is to create an experience that nods to the rich history of the buildings and the surrounding area, but filtered through a modern lens.

The hotel is owned by Infinity Collective: can you tell us about the company?

Infinity Collective is a real estate development and investment firm, and Infinity Hospitality is the collective’s hospitality group that owns and operates unique hotel and F&B concepts deeply rooted in location, history, and brand. At our core, we deliver hospitality with four key elements—identity, authenticity, integrity, and service

You moved to Miami to manage Esmé after many years of hospitality experience in New York City: what have been the main challenges and plus points so far?

Most New Yorkers are skeptical to leave, and I was no exception, but making the move has really opened my eyes to why Miami is dubbed the Magic City. I love the culture down here, and of course you can’t beat the weather. Adapting to a slower pace was a challenge early on, but it’s something that I appreciate now. I got very lucky when building the team at Esmé, because I’m now surrounded by so many passionate, warm, talented people, that I don’t really feel so far away from home.