A Product of JW Marriott Miami
After a two-year-long, multi-million dollar renovation, the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa proudly unveils its brand new amenities and updated facade. Boasting a world class spa, two championship golf courses, elevated retail outlets , two pools, meeting spaces, five restaurants, a swanky bar, and now its own water-park, this premiere luxury resort in Aventura has become the ultimate vacation destination. The newly added 16-story Orchid Tower shines with an ivory and art deco finish while nearly doubling the resort’s room capacity. Along with upgrades to the main lobby, the addition of two new dining concepts—Surf House Bar & Grille and Freestyle—and other design enhancements throughout, the resort has a more contemporary feel and offers something for every one of its guests.
The sprawling 300-acre property has no shortage of things to do, eat or drink. Director of Culinary, Chef Gordon Maybury, who oversees the resort’s restaurants, has a passion for sourcing local ingredients and keeping each concept distinct. He’s so committed in fact, that he has helped spearhead establishing a chef’s garden and an apiary on property. This allows the culinary team to bring guests farm-to-table freshness quite literally from their own lush backyard. Picking from the various fresh herbs, citrus, fruits and honey now available, the chefs and bartenders are able to create innovative dishes and cocktails while minimizing the resort’s carbon footprint and reliance on outsourced suppliers.
Upon entering the resort’s brand new tropical oasis that is Tidal Cove water-park, vacation vibes wash over you. Tidal Cove is also home to the resort’s aforementioned new eateries: Surf House Bar & Grill and, its casual grab-and-go counterpart, Freestyle. Chef Maybury explains that he wanted to convey a “unique dining experience representative of our South Florida locale.” Freestyle is the perfect stop for grabbing a slice of pizza or some sandwiches and salads to enjoy poolside. There’s even freshly scooped gelato and a variety of other snacks to satisfy any cravings throughout the day.
Soff’s bar pays homage to the legacy of its namesake and tells the story of the city’s rich history… [and] showcases classic libations but with distinguishing twists, such as the Smoked Old Fashioned.
Right next door is Surf House Bar & Grill, where mom and dad can enjoy some local brews and watch while the kids catch some waves on the FlowRider ®Triple, a surfing simulator. Find beachy staples on the menu like poke, char-grilled octopus, shrimp ceviche, and a mouthwatering blackened mahi-mahi sandwich. Chef Maybury proudly adds, “We utilized local, fresh ingredients to build an innovative menu…while also speaking to the lighthearted spirit of a water-park experience.” Cool off and kick back with a wide variety of tropical drinks ranging from the Caipirinha to the Moscow Mule, and what’s a Florida vacation without frozen delights like a Frosé or a Piña Colada?
Swapping poolside views for the evergreen golf course, CORSAIR kitchen & bar satisfies any appetite for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. The expansive indoor dining room, with some terrace seats alongside the green, offers Chef Maybury’s take on light American comfort food. A wide range of casual contemporary classics include burgers, salads, flat-breads, freshly grilled seafood, steaks, and more. The real standout here, however, is “The 52” brunch. This rotating menu features seven core dishes that change ingredients every single weekend, providing a different experience for all 52 weekends of the year. If that’s not enough to wow, how about the Bloody Mary Bar featuring 52 ingredients to choose from?
The property’s signature restaurant, BOURBON STEAK Miami by award-winning Chef Michael Mina, is celebrating its 12th year this winter. With two sommeliers on staff, 500 award-winning wines, a vast selection of whiskey, bourbon, and of course premiere cuts of beef, BOURBON STEAK is a renowned classic. Steakhouse though it is, brace yourself for a little laid back fun. Amusing menu twists include the kitchen’s signature french fries with an array of dipping sauces in lieu of bread service, or the table-side presentations that accompany certain dishes like the Lobster Pot Pie, for dinner and a show.
Part of the resort’s expansive renovations also included a complete overhaul of the guest arrival experience in the lobby, which now includes a bar. Named after famed real estate mogul Don Soffer, who transformed the city of Aventura into the coveted vacation destination it is today, Soff’s bar pays homage to the legacy of its namesake and tells the story of the city’s rich history. Tactful black and white snapshots of Soffer with celebrities and other notable names and faces adorn the walls, while jewel-tone plush velvet couches and gold hardware accents lend a glamorous vintage feel. The menu, done in collaboration with esteemed artisans from Miami’s The Cocktail Cartel, showcases classic libations but with distinguishing twists, such as the Smoked Old Fashioned.
Now with more dining and imbibing destinations than ever before, this resort and country club seamlessly allows its guests to experience a multitude of amenities. From swimsuit to power suit, the newly debuted JW Marriott Turnberry Resort & Spa has reinvented itself yet again, and we think it’s their best look yet.
By Chelsea Olson