Lords South Beach Hotel Lobby
Sometimes it pays to specialize: even in an uncertain economy where casting a wider net often yields a greater catch, the “appropriately oriented” Lords South Beach Hotel has opted to lavish all its attention upon the gay traveler in order to fill their South Beach coffers.
Decked in retro-glam furnishings done in bold saturated hues, the Art Deco lodging is a short hop to the decidedly diverse Palace Food Bar which overlooks the rippling muscle boys preening on 12th Street Beach. Room rates are definitely attractive for the popular neighborhood with 10% of the proceeds from designated “Rooms that Matter” being donated to five gay charities. Starting this month at the hotel’s camp dining room Cha Cha Rooster, a delightfully decadent 3-course prix fixe menu and the sultry stylings of drag jazz vocalist Kimona are the featured blue plate special on Friday and Saturday nights.
Lords South Beach founder Brian Gorman
Lord’s Hotel founder Brian Gorman recently told the New York Times travel blog “the most important thing is being part of a community.” With that notion in mind, he and designer Dan Mazzarini sprinkled a sparkling handful of magic dust over the 53 room boutique property (formerly known as the Nash) and transformed it into a bright yellow happy hideaway which celebrated its relaunch with a champagne and Absolut soaked Christmas party attended by a who’s-who of gay South Beach including Vice Mayor Michael Gongora, SoBe Social Arbiter Edison Farrow and Drag Divas Elaine Lancaster and Lady Bunny.
Embracing a vivid Pop Art style, the hotel is filled with large format beauty shots of the world’s most interesting women with pride of place belonging to Elizabeth Taylor (of course).
Cha Cha Bar
The focal point of the lobby space is a gigantic fiberglass polar bear standing on its hind legs, holding a giant beach ball while perched on a round white pedestal. The effect is definitely High/ Summer Camp!
Lords joins a host of international hoteliers who actively pursue the $63 billion dollar gay travel market with a design-driven property where staff members sport custom Levi’s grey and white jean uniforms and the all day dining salon hosts a Dinner and Performance Series starring the property’s first drag artist in residence, Kimona.
In addition to the alfresco people-watching front terrace, there’s also the bare-as-you-dare cabana pool deck where partner in crime Absolut Vodka crafts custom cocktails to suit your every mood.
Cha Cha Rooster restaurant
Puerto Rican born Chef Surelys Figueroa brings a Latin flair to the prix-fixe dinner menu where diners can start with a mojo marinated chicken or garlicky beef appetizer, a vegan pumpkin soup or a crisp caesar salad followed by either roast cornish hen, pan-seared black grouper topped with baby clams in a ginger-lemongrass broth or a quinoa kasha studded with zucchini, cashews and golden raisins.
Dessert is a midnight mousse redolent of sweet sherry port wine, fluffy goat cheese and figs. The $30 gourmet repast includes a choice of red or white wine and is available to guests who make an advanced reservation for either the 8:30 or 10pm performance. An a la carte dinner menu is also featured.
Cha Cha Rooster encompasses an 85 seat lower level dining room that once housed Mark’s South Beach and a 007-worthy gold tiled cocktail lounge where Drag Diva Adora hosts a Wednesday night “Gettin’ Lucky” tequila happy hour from 6-8pm.
Penthouse, plunge pools and typical suite at Lords South Beach Hotel
Incorporating health-conscious veggie and vegan entrees at breakfast, lunch and dinner, Sundays at Cha Cha Rooster are already racing to the top of the gay social calendar when Punch Brunch takes that nasty Saturday night hangover and drowns it in a bowl full of sweet boozy nectar starting at 11am with a $20 prix-fixe menu and wending its way to an all-day pool party at one of two plunge pools and a giant hot tub with music by a top local DJ and drink specials until late night.
Lords South Beach Hotel is located at 1120 Collins Avenue on South Beach. Restaurant service on the porch starts at 7am-2am. Poolside service is available weekends. Dinner service kicks off from 6pm-midnight in the dining room with cocktail service in the lounge continuing until 2am.