Sonesta International Hotels is preparing to introduce the James Nautilus Miami Beach later this year. The 250-room property will serve as the flagship of the James Hotels, the company’s reimagined lifestyle brand.
Positioned along Collins Avenue, the project draws its narrative from a charismatic and culturally fluent fictional host named James, whose sensibility informs everything from the design language to the social programming.
Honoring a Morris Lapidus landmark
The new property pays homage to the original Nautilus Hotel, the iconic Morris Lapidus-designed oceanfront destination that opened in the early 1950s. Tasked with translating this legacy for today’s guest, the team at Anderson|Miller shaped a design that marries the whimsy of MiMo Miami with a fresh perspective.
Dining at the James Nautilus Miami Beach
The culinary program is developed in partnership with LDV Hospitality, the group behind New York dining destinations Scarpetta, American Cut, and Barlume.
The collaboration yields a trio of distinct experiences. A relaxed signature restaurant will serve Mediterranean-style fare, with alfresco seating that extends toward the pool and beach, while a refined omakase concept introduces a more intimate dining atmosphere. When the sun sets, a theatrical late-night lounge channels after-dark energy in a maximalist setting.
The James Nautilus Miami Beach marks the beginning of a long-term strategy to expand the James Hotels into urban destinations. A Downtown Miami property is slated to open in 2030.
