Brickell Key luxury real estate project breaks sales records

Six months after demolishing the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Brickell Key, its successor is making waves in the real estate market.

Once home to beloved restaurants Mo Bar + Lounge and La Mar, the property was leveled to make way for a two-tower complex that will house the brand’s flagship North American hotel and hundreds of luxury residences.

Local real estate advisors say the Residences at Mandarin Oriental are marketed to ultra-wealthy, upper-level managers from New York and California who are following their companies to South Florida. That includes companies like Palantir and Citadel.

And buyers are already breaking records. According to Bloomberg, they have purchased 80% of the South Tower homes, including two penthouses that sold for a record-breaking $50 million apiece, before a single shovel hit the ground.

The news dropped on Oct. 1, the same day as the building’s groundbreaking celebration. That means owners have paid for homes that won’t be finished for nearly half a decade.

What’s inside?

Slated for completion in 2030, Mandarin Oriental markets the two-building complex as “a destination of refinement, with distinct touches of nature to nourish the senses.”

The development will connect to the Brickell Key bay walk and offer panoramic views of Biscayne Bay, multi-tiered landscaped infinity pools, executive work lounges, private dining rooms with chef kitchens, restaurants, and health and wellness facilities, according to developer Swire.

Residences at Mandarin Oriental most luxurious floor plans span as large as 5,840 square feet with a private elevator and lobby, five bedrooms, six bathrooms, two wrap-around terraces, a pool, chef’s kitchen and other amenities.

Notable designers said to be involved in the project include:

• Architecture firm KPF, known for its international work that blends existing architecture with new, dynamic angles
• For the South Tower, Parisian interior designer Tristan Auer, who has worked on customized luxury cars, minimalist and nature-centric hotels, and Cartier showrooms
• For the North Tower, Interior designer Laura Gonzalez, who has designed for New York’s first Printemps location, the Saint James Hotel in Paris, and Cartier Maisons
• Bangkok-based landscape architecture firm Shma, known for its “urban oasis” work

Mandarin Oriental representatives did not respond to New Times’ emailed request for comment.