Miami, Done Right: A Snowbird Escape at The Shelborne By Proper

Remix editor-at-large, Steven Fernandez, trades a New York blizzard for sun-drenched days at The Shelborne By Proper in Miami Beach.

I left New York in the middle of a blizzard - one of those grey, relentless weeks where the city feels like it’s holding its breath. Twenty-four hours later, I was stretched out poolside at The Shelborne By Proper, squinting into the Miami sun, wondering why I don’t do this more often.

Set along Collins Avenue, The Shelborne By Proper has that rare kind of presence - equal parts old Miami glamour and something quietly more modern. It’s not trying to compete with the oversized, high-gloss resorts further down the beach. Instead, it leans into something more intimate. You feel it immediately. There’s a softness to the arrival, a kind of understated confidence that the Proper Group does so well.

But the real heart of the place is the pool.

Originally built in the 1940s, the pool very much anchors the property – framed by palms, low loungers, and cabanas that feel pulled from a Slim Aarons photograph. With the luxury of working remotely, I spent most of my time here, sunk deep into one of the lawn cabanas, drifting between sun and shade, ordering something cold, and letting the hours dissolve in that way only Miami seems to allow. 

There’s a rhythm to it - unhurried, quietly social, never chaotic.

The poolside food is exactly what you want it to be: fresh, unfussy, but considered. Think seafood-forward, citrusy, a little Caribbean influence creeping in. It’s the kind of menu that makes you order one more thing than you planned. Simply do not look past the burger, a poolside staple, which lived up to its recommendation by the concierge. On Sunday evening, I meandered into Pauline, the hotel’s signature restaurant, where that same coastal energy sharpens into something more refined - raw bar selections, bold flavors, and dishes that feel both polished and deeply rooted in place.

And then there’s Little Torch.

Tucked just out of sight, the hotel’s speakeasy-style cocktail lounge is The Shelbourne By Proper’s best kept secret. It’s dim, intimate, and a little transportive - the kind of place where time stretches. The cocktails lean inventive (clarified punches, tropical notes, rare spirits), but never overworked. Over a few drinks with the incredible hosts at The Shelbourne By Proper property, I found myself ordering a second gin without a second thought. A bonus was discovering the cocktail The Shelborne Martini made with my favorite Condesa Gin from Mexico City.

Back upstairs, my room overlooked the ocean - a full reset after New York. Floor-to-ceiling light, soft textures, and a palette that mirrors the outside: sand, coral, pale blues. It’s all very considered without feeling staged. You wake up slowly here. Coffee on the lawn, the Atlantic doing its thing in the background - it’s hard not to recalibrate.

Beyond the obvious, it’s the details that linger. The art scattered throughout the hotel, the 24-hour fitness space if you’re inclined (I wasn’t), the beach club just steps away. It all adds up to a place that feels complete, but never overwhelming.

What I kept coming back to, though, was the scale. Miami has no shortage of big, showy hotels. The Shelborne By Proper isn’t that. It has everything you want - design, food, atmosphere - but it still feels human. Boutique in the truest sense. You’re not navigating crowds or competing for space. You’re just there.

And after a New York winter, that’s exactly the point.

Discover more of The Shelborne By Proper here and follow them on Instagram here for more getaway inspiration.