I toured a $7.5 million penthouse in a Miami area popular with the Russian elite, and I get why they chose to park their money in this paradise

• Sunny Isles Beach is known for luxury condos, many of which are second homes for overseas buyers.
• Some of these buyers are wealthy Russians, who are anxious about how sanctions will affect their money.
• After touring a $7.5 million penthouse, I totally get the appeal of owning a high-end slice of this paradise.

Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, is a mecca for luxury condos that soar over sandy beaches and bask in the sunshine.

Previously a quaint tourist town known for its strip of oceanfront motels and immigrant population from Latin America and the former Soviet Union, the city took a luxurious turn in the late 1990s. A development boom that catapulted into the next decade revitalized the city’s economy as wealthy buyers began snapping up real estate.

When I visited the area two weeks ago, real estate agents told me that many of these buyers are American, but they also come from all over the world: Brazil, Germany, and Canada, to name a few.

The city has also attracted many wealthy Russian buyers, garnering it the nickname “Little Moscow.” It makes sense, given the already large Russian immigrant community in the area and that Florida saw the most Russian property purchases in the US in recent years. While the Russian elite who parked money in Sunny Isles real estate are anxious over sanctions, agents said they haven’t seen big changes in the market yet. 

In fact, Ramon Rodriguez, director of sales at a Compass real estate team based in Miami, said he’d recently shown a $7.5 million penthouse to a prospective Russian buyer. That just so happened to be the very penthouse he was giving me a tour of. 

Spanning two floors and more than 5,000 square feet, with picturesque views of the ocean, it was easy to see why the condos of Sunny Isles Beach are so popular among those with money to spend — especially if you’re coming from a cold climate like Russia.

Here’s what it looked like inside.

The $7.5 million penthouse is in Jade Ocean Condos, an aptly named, 50-story oceanfront building that welcomes residents with a lush garden and a trickling waterfall.

Built in 2009, Jade Ocean has two sister buildings right next door: Jade Signature and Jade Beach. There are currently 17 units for sale at Jade Ocean Condos, which range from $1.075 million to $9.9 million.

To enter the complex, visitors drive up a ramp and drop their car off at the valet. There was an outdoor lounge area where residents could wait for the valet to retrieve their car when leaving.

Having walked to the condo from my hotel nearby, I had no option but to walk up the ramp meant for cars, already feeling like an outsider. The day prior, when I visited the sister building next door, Jade Signature, I noticed a Lamborghini outside when I left.

While waiting in the outdoor valet lounge, you can take in the sights of the tranquil beach.

Once inside, the elevator took me straight up to the penthouse, opening to a white and silver foyer that had a splash of color thanks to some fun artwork.

It was prelude to the 5,134 square-foot sleek, modern oasis that awaited inside.

A glass and marble staircase separated the living room from the dining space. The statement light fixture reflected against the wall like a disco ball.

The entire space to the right of the entry is dedicated to eating, dining, and entertaining. Closest to the foyer is the formal dining area underneath double height ceilings.

It’s marked by tall white chairs facing a rectangular glass table. The elegance is mirrored with a chandelier overhead designed by Shonbek, a luxury lighting design company that has been crafting crystal chandeliers since the 1800s. The set-up juxtaposes with an edgy white brick wall that features glam art.

 

Diagonal from the dining area is an oceanfront bar. It’s stocked with liquor and boasts views of Miami’s endless blue skies and seas.

Around the corner is an eat-in kitchen with a cooking island as well as a nook where you can eat breakfast while watching the sun rise through the floor-to-ceiling, east-facing windows.

While the penthouse was very modern, it also felt homey, which is a difficult combo to strike in a luxury building. The current owners added personal touches to make the space their own, seen in the artwork throughout the place.

On the other side of the main floor, which features Calacatta Gold marble, is the living area. It’s surrounded by the penthouse’s signature panoramic views.

Calacatta Gold marble is a luxury Italian marble known for its bold grey veins and golden tone. 

The majority of the penthouse’s five bedrooms are upstairs. The owners separated two of them into boys and girls bedrooms.

There are also 6.5 bathrooms in the penthouse. Rodriguez said every bathroom had a theme based on the different materials used.

Some of the bathrooms were finished in Calacatta gold marble or porcelain.

Others featured gemstones such as quartz.

I particularly loved the shimmering mother of pearl wall in this one, which reminded me of a mermaid.

The master suite featured both interior and exterior views: the ocean and the stunning stairwell. Motorized window treatments blacked out the room for bed time.

The room was large enough to accommodate a sitting area, plus a telescope for a starry night.

Off the master suite are walk-in closets and his and hers bathrooms, which include their own sinks and bathing areas. You can find me soaking in this tub for the rest of my life.

The “her” bathroom was much larger than the “his” bathroom and even included a lounging area. It looks like a great place for a pedicure.

The penthouse has four oversized terraces, two on each side on both levels. They looked out onto the Intracoastal Waterway.

And a white sand beach speckled with umbrellas and sunbathers, resembling a Gray Malin photo.

Malin is an LA-based photographer best known for his whimsical, sunny beach scenes.

Jade Ocean’s appeal isn’t just the beautiful apartments. It also lies in the amenities, like a spa with various treatment rooms, a sauna, and steam rooms. Unfortunately, I did not get to experience these luxuries firsthand.

There’s also a social lounge, featuring a design that I like to call “Marie Antoinette goes to Miami.”

The style was a seamless blend of antique, or vintage-looking, furniture and modern accents, where both wingback armchairs and a spiral light fixture lived in harmony.

The fitness center includes a Technogym, cardio machines, and the same Iron Grip weights used by luxury gym Equinox. If only your West Village Equinox came with a beach view.

There’s also a play center for children, where they get spoiled with spectacular views.

As for the outdoors, there are infinity edge pools that overlook the Atlantic Ocean and Collins Avenue, plus beach access. For some buyers, Rodriguez said, a place with amenities is “a lifestyle.”