A Ball on the Beach
ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN FAENA JOURNAL ISSUE #58 • WINTER 2024
“Parties at Faena are especially fun because they are full of nonstop surprises,” said Rafael Olarra, Faena’s Creative Director. “They’re very immersive with something different happening around every corner.” This year’s Beach Ball theme will see a giant seashell in the Cathedral lobby and oversized flamingos and seahorses, as well as large papermâché ocean waves crafted in-house by Faena’s team of designers.
Gourmands are not at a loss for options. Pao’s five-course menu includes a range of delicious amuse-bouche bites, an appetizer of aged toro confit with Wagyu bone marrow vinaigrette, fresh wasabi and crispy quinoa. A choice of entrees includes roasted swordfish with wild mushrooms and curried tom kha sauce or aged agave Wagyu prime rib with truffle jus and Osettra caviar cream. Dishes at Los Fuegos are just as decadent with black truffle and ricotta ravioli; halibut confit with marcona almond cream, white truffle, herb oil, and a side fennel salad; and wood-fired Wagyu tenderloin with crispy potatoes and a Jerusalem artichoke puree. There’s also a gourmet vegan option with portobello carpaccio, smoked beets, and wood-fired celery root steak. Guests of El Secreto will dine on an elevated multi-course omakase menu with fresh fish flown in from Tokyo, truffles, and Caviar at the speakeasy six-seat restaurant.
Live music and festivities will extend across the property, with guests toasting at the legendary Living Room lounge, outdoor Tree of Life bar, the Saxony Bar, and Tierra Santa’s private balcony. All guests have access to Faena’s New Year’s Eve countdown and firework spectacle in the Mammoth Garden. “It’s going to be pretty spectacular,” said Olarra.