No matter your holiday plans this season, being among friends and family is of the utmost importance. For Florida dwellers there is no better way to appreciate this holiday season than with an outdoor celebration amidst stunning views.
Here are five luxury homes across South Florida with private rooftops perfect for hosting family and friends this holiday season:
One Bay Residences (Design District)
Price: $1,150,200
Developed by G&L Real Estate Developers, One Bay Residences is an exclusive enclave overlooking Biscayne Bay. This holiday season, residents can bask in Miami’s envy-worthy winter weather with private 1,636-square-foot rooftop terraces.
“Miami’s celebrated sunshine inspired the design of One Bay Residences’ private rooftop terraces,” says Nicolas Guzman, developer of One Bay Residences and CEO of G&L Real Estate Development, LLC. “We wanted to create a space where buyers can entertain family and friends, especially during the holidays, with ample square footage to accommodate everything from a sit-down dinner to casual weekend lounging.”
“We wanted to create a space where buyers can entertain family and friends, especially during the holidays…”
Photos courtesy One Bay Residences
Regalia (Sunny Isles Beach)
Price: $39,000,000
Referred to as the “crown jewel” of the 46-story oceanfront, ultra-luxury tower, the penthouse at Regalia is truly an entertainer’s dream. The penthouse features a 6,050-square-foot rooftop sun terrace with 360-degree views.
“Regalia’s exclusive Penthouse affords a rooftop in the clouds to enjoy outdoor entertaining year around,” says Kevin Venger, co-developer of Regalia. “Its stone-clad sky bar and lush lounge space, coupled with 360-degree views that span nearly 20 miles, result in the ideal, ultra-luxury retreat to indulge in for holiday celebrations with friends and family.”
Photo courtesy Regalia
Giralda Place (Coral Gables)
Price: $2,900,000
Giralda Place boasts a single, extravagant penthouse equipped with a 6,776-square-foot rooftop, uniquely designed to sustain a rooftop garden.
The incredible space — which includes a 1,000 square feet of covered space — allows for hosting a myriad of guests for a holiday fête. Views of the neighborhood’s lush treetops and glittering city lights set the perfect scene.
“Unmatched by any condo residence in the area, the rooftop offers a picturesque setting for entertaining. With the city lights of Coral Gables and lush treetops as the backdrop, the sprawling area is fit for endless possibilities.” says Cristo Brown, co-developer of Giralda Place.
“With the city lights of Coral Gables and lush treetops as the backdrop, the sprawling area is fit for endless possibilities.”
Photo courtesy of Giralda Place
Adagio (Fort Lauderdale Beach)
Price: Starting at $2,500,000
This serene waterfront community presents the Grande Penthouse, a spectacular home with panoramic views of the intracoastal waterway and 2,234 square feet of outdoor entertaining space across two terraces. This holiday season, guests may enjoy the formal outdoor dining table or lounge on plush seating for after-dinner drinks.
Photo courtesy Adagio
Palazzo Del Sol (Fisher Island)
Price: $26,411,500
On the 10th floor of Palazzo Del Sol sits Penthouse 1, the priciest listing to ever hit the market on Fisher Island.
Its striking wrap-around terrace and private deck offer an array of amenities including an outdoor kitchen, aperitivo bar, massage area, vertical gardens and a negative-edge pool.
Dubbed a mansion-in-the-sky, it’s unparalleled features make it the ideal home for the holiday season.
“Palazzo Del Sol’s PH1 will fully complement any festive celebration with its expansive outdoor space that is inviting and exudes the highest echelon of white-glove features,” says Heinrich von Hanau, Palazzo Del Sol developer and CEO of PDS Development, LLC.
“Palazzo Del Sol’s PH1 will fully complement any festive celebration with its expansive outdoor space that is inviting and exudes the highest echelon of white-glove features.”
Photos courtesy Palazzo Del Sol
Offering seasonal tastes and gifts to shoppers in the run up to the big day, these markets provide a delightful experience that contrasts to the usual high street madness that is Christmas shopping in the UK.
Research by the Nabma ROI team has shown that Christmas markets bring significant benefits to the towns that host them — generating more than £250 million in visitor spending at the markets, as well as positively impacting spending in other stores within the town. They can also have a positive impact on the local property market.
“There are many factors that make a town or city a desirable place to live and this includes the range of amenities. Once a location establishes itself as offering an enticing Christmas market each year, that becomes part of the overall attraction to the area — and the more attractive an area, the more success those investing in its property market can enjoy,” says Jean Liggett, the CEO of Properties of the World.
Jonathan Stephens, the CEO of Surrenden Invest, agrees.
“Homes by Christmas markets always attract keen interest at this time of year, whether they’re investment properties or those for sale to owner-occupiers,” he says. “Christmas markets give these properties a little something that other homes don’t have and many buyers are keen to take that into account when making their purchase.”
In light of the arrival of Christmas markets on the UK scene once more, we’ve included a round-up of the top properties near each market. We’ve even thrown in a couple of examples across the Channel, for property buyers looking for a French take on the festive season.
The Alps
Of course, for some, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a good helping of snow. The Christmas market at Courchevel offers a snowy winter wonderland for shoppers looking for beautiful decorations and seasonal delicacies.
Property buyers looking to pick up a home in Courchevel will enjoy these luxurious ski apartments available through SkiingProperty.com: 14 two-bedroom apartments with communal pool, just 10 minutes’ walk from the nearest shops and slopes. Prices start at £660,591.
Photo courtesy SkiingProperty.com
London
London offers a range of Christmas markets, from Winter Wonderland to the stalls of the South Bank. This year, Hampstead Village will host its first Christmas fair, transforming the entire high street into a magical Christmas experience.
Those looking to pick up property as well as presents should check out Four 5 Two from Bellis Homes: 13 superb, balconied apartments with park views in a prominent Hampstead location. Prices start at £1.1 million.
Photo courtesy Four 5 Two
Manchester
With an extensive market in front of the town hall that attracts millions of visitors each year, and a large ice rink for seasonal frolics, Manchester certainly can’t be accused of not getting into the Christmas spirit.
When it comes to homes near Manchester’s Christmas markets, it has to be Danforth Apartments from Properties of the World, just minutes from the city centre: 113 stylish homes within the village-like environment of Fortis Quay. Prices start at £124,995.
Photo courtesy Properties of the World
Birmingham
Already a mecca for shoppers, Birmingham ups its game each December with the largest German market located outside of Germany or Austria. Mulled wine, craft beers and Christmas crafts are the order of the day, as visitors soak up the festive atmosphere.
Property investors can enjoy the well-located B5 Southside development from Surrenden Invest: contemporary rental apartments just five minutes’ walk from New Street Station. Prices start at £155,000.
Halifax
The recently renovated and re-opened Piece Hall in Halifax will this year host a spectacular Christmas extravaganza, including a carefully hand-picked festive market packed with local Yorkshire retailers and gourmet food providers.
Property investors need look no further than the nearby Martins Mill from Property Frontiers: a selection of 1- and 2-bedroom apartments in a stunning, 6-story converted mill. Prices start at £64,950.
Photo courtesy Property Frontiers
Photos courtesy Nicky Hamila.
By Kristen Ordonez
With the winter holidays already in full effect, there’s no better way to liven up some of the traditions of the holiday season then to uncork a bottle of wine. However, whether it is for a casual get-together among friends or the annual holiday party, figuring out which wines go with certain foods can sometimes build more stress during this busy time of year. What better way to alleviate the stress then through some wine pairing tips from a seasoned sommelier? Kris Margerum, Head Sommelier at Auberge du Soleil and the genius behind the newest Wine Series event for the first residential Auberge Beach Residences & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, has several interesting tips that he follows with his own family every year.
Bring something that you would enjoy.
One of the easiest ways to enjoy a nice bottle is to bring a type of wine that you want to enjoy, no matter the level of appreciation of the rest of the group. In other words, do not skimp on quality just because some of the attendees may not be super wine savvy. These are the people you love, so it is best to spend time with them over a good bottle of wine.
Set out a plate of sushi.
For the holidays, my extended family has a couple of interesting traditions. First is that everybody cooks and we are all assigned tasks to do. After a bit of culinary work we take a break with, of all things, sushi. We all enjoy this with a glass of off-dry German Riesling.
This year I am planning on bringing a 2010 J.J. Prum “Wehlener Sonnenuhr” Kabinett from the Mosel. The off-dry notes and acidity pair wonderfully with the heat of the wasabi that we all love to have with our sushi. It is a refreshing and unique tradition that we all look forward to.
Don’t forget the soup.
Another practice my family follows during the holidays is starting with a soup course before the main course. For this, we always prepare a pumpkin peanut butter soup. Over the years, I have matched this course with many wines including White Burgundies, Californian Chardonnays and Viogniers. This year, I am bringing a 2015 Truchard Roussanne for the Carneros District in Napa Valley.
Pair wines with the usuals.
The main course of many holiday meals tends to be the traditional turkey with all the usual sides like stuffing, potatoes, gravy and veggies. Here, I generally bring one bottle of a fuller bodied chardonnay for the non-red wine drinker(s) and several bottles of medium bodied reds.
Don’t be afraid to pair dessert with dessert.
Pumpkin Pie is paired this year with a dessert wine from my cousin Doug’s winery, the 2014 Margerum “Late Harvest” Viognier – Santa Barbara County.
If all else fails, try these wines this holiday.
Here’s my lineup for 2016:
– 2014 Hamilton Russell – Chardonnay – Hemel en Aarde Valley – Walker Bay-South Africa
– 2009 Williams Selyem “Ferrington” Pinot Noir – Anderson Valley-Mendocino
– 2011 St. Cosme “Valbelle” Red Rhône Blend – Gigondas-France
– 2014 Ghost Block “Pelissa” Zinfandel – Oakville-Napa Valley
