The Betsy Hotel and Books & Books Launch Monthly Literary Series in South Beach

The Betsy - South Beach has partnered with Books & Books to launch a new monthly literary series in Miami Beach. The year-round program brings nationally acclaimed authors to the hotel for residencies in The Betsy Writer’s Room and hosted community conversations.

Alia Hanna Habib. Photo: Tin House.

Inaugural Guest: Alia Hanna Habib

The series debuted on Sunday, January 25, featuring Alia Hanna Habib, a prominent literary agent and author of Take It from Me: An Agent’s Guide to Building a Nonfiction Writing Career from Scratch. Known for representing Pulitzer Prize winners and MacArthur Fellows, Habib provided an insider’s perspective on the publishing industry as the inaugural guest.

Event Format and Schedule

The series features salon-style gatherings held on the last Sunday of every month at 4 p.m. in Bbar, the hotel’s underground art venue. Each session includes an author presentation followed by an audience Q&A. While admission is free, an RSVP is required for all attendees.

Confirmed 2026 Dates: February 22, March 29, April 26, May 31, June 28, July 26, August 30, September 27, October 25, November 29, December 27.

The Betsy Library. Photo: Betsy

Literary Immersive Design

The Betsy integrates literature into its physical space through several permanent installations:

• The Writer’s Room: A working studio that has hosted over 1,500 creatives since 2012.

• The Book Elevator: A dramatic art installation by Max Steven Grossman featuring a collage of book spines.

• The Betsy Poetry Rail: A breezeway installation featuring engraved poems from 12 celebrated authors, including Langston Hughes and Donald Justice.

• Curated Libraries: The property maintains over 130 in-room libraries and a main collection of several thousand titles.

  
  

A Renewed Partnership

This collaboration marks the return of Books & Books’ programming to Miami Beach following the closure of its Lincoln Road location. The partnership between Betsy co-owner Jonathan Plutzik and bookstore founder Mitchell Kaplan dates back to 2006, rooted in a shared commitment to building community through literature. The hotel is notably dedicated to the legacy of Hyam Plutzik, a three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and father of the hotel's co-owner.

By ML Staff.