The Shelborne By Proper: A Miami Beach Landmark Reimagined

There’s a particular hum to 18th Street and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, a convergence of art, design, and timeless glamour. For more than eight decades, The Shelborne has stood at this corner of Miami Beach as both anchor and amplifier. Now, after a $100M transformation, it reemerges as The Shelborne By Proper, a luxury resort in Miami Beach and cultural compass for a new era.

The Shelborne marks the debut of “By Proper”, a bold new extension of the Proper Hospitality portfolio. While Proper Hotels are known for the signature vision of Kelly Wearstler, By Proper invites other acclaimed creative voices to reinterpret the brand’s core pillars, design, wellness, and cultural connection-through their own distinct lens.

This hotel represents a pivotal chapter in the Proper story, one that blends soulful design, integrated wellness, and a uniquely Miami sensibility. It’s more than a renovation. It’s a layered reinvention, guided by legacy and elevated with a global perspective. A luxury design hotel in Miami Beach, built on rhythm, style, and substance.

History With a Design Point of View

Originally opened in 1941, The Shelborne was the vision of Igor Polevitzky, a pioneer of Miami Modernism (MiMo). He designed with intention, ribbon windows, open-air breezeways, and climate-responsive elegance that reflected the tropical setting.

In the 1950s, Morris Lapidus added drama with his signature flourishes, curved lines, flair, and theatrical charm. By mid-century, The Shelborne wasn’t just a hotel. It was the destination for Golden Age icons. Think: palm-lined pools, flashbulbs, and whispered arrivals in the glow of Miami Beach nights.

Now, reimagined by design studio ADC Atelier, the property balances timeless Miami architecture with contemporary edge. Travertine floors, vintage glass block, sculptural lighting, and tactile finishes create interiors that feel cinematic yet grounded.

Dine at Pauline 

The hotel’s signature restaurant, Pauline, is helmed by Florida native and Michelin-starred chef Abram Bissell. His menu draws inspiration from Latin-Caribbean flavors, infused with local ingredients, sourced from South Florida farms and waters.

Dishes like guava-glazed snapper, plantain-dusted ceviche, and heirloom corn offer a fresh, regional interpretation of global cuisine. It’s luxury without pretense. Bright, expressive, and deeply rooted.

Discover Little Torch

For a shift in mood, slip into Little Torch, an intimate cocktail lounge hidden behind a low-lit corridor. This space hums with vinyl grooves, clarified punches, and a curated rum library, an homage to Miami’s eclectic, global pulse.

Wellness at The Shelborne isn’t a scheduled amenity, it’s part of how each day flows. Here, guests will find sunrise sound baths, private Pilates, and in-room botanical treatments designed to restore or energize as needed.

Ongoing programming through Proper Presents merges movement, music, and mindfulness, creating an ever-evolving dialogue between culture and well-being.

Design-Forward Rooms With Ocean Light

All 251 rooms and suites at The Shelborne reflect Miami’s light, texture, and color: soft coastal blues, natural materials, and layered finishes. Expect ceramic sconces, woven accents, and warm wood, a refined mix of vintage charm and modern comfort.

For panoramic views and privacy, the Oceanfront Balcony Penthouse offers a 1,700-square-foot terrace, ideal for morning rituals or golden-hour gatherings.

The Shelborne’s address places it at the heart of Miami Beach’s cultural corridor. Guests are minutes from The Bass Museum, the Design District, Lincoln Road, and Wynwood, via complimentary house car or bike.

But often, Miami’s creative pulse finds its way to you. Through Proper Presents, guests can enjoy talks, tastings, pop-up installations, and live music, staged under the palms and shaped by the city’s local artists and makers.

Why It Matters

This is not nostalgia. It’s a living legacy, honoring the past while building something new. With care. With context. With character.

The Shelborne By Proper is a place where history breathes into modernity, where luxury meets cultural vibrancy, and where every stay offers something to discover.