By: Shayne Benowitz
Miami’s architectural styles sets the scene for a charming array of boutique hotels, ranging from historic Art Deco gems to Mediterranean Revival manses, and converted Miami Modern motels to Beaux Arts wonders. There’s nothing like retreating behind a hedge of seagrape leaves and bougainvillea into the sheltering calm of one of the city’s top boutique hotels. You’ll enjoy the quiet comforts of lounging by a courtyard swimming pool, sipping expertly mixed cocktails at intimate lobby bars and retreating into your plush room.
Palihouse Miami Beach
The Palihouse is part of a hip LA-based boutique hotel group that opened in 2019 in the buzzing mid-beach neighborhood. The Hoteliers have lovingly restored a historic Art Deco gem and created a clubhouse-like lobby featuring a bar and restaurant with an all-day menu. There's also a palm tree-shaded courtyard pool. Rooms are “grandma chic” with coral walls, embroidered throw pillows and cheeky portrait art for a cozy, at home feeling. The location is just far enough off the beaten path to make it feel like a true escape, yet close to the best parts of the beach.
Mr. C Coconut Grove
Mr. C Coconut Grove is one of Miami’s most exciting boutique hotels, and a relative newcomer, having opened in 2019. The C is for Cipriani, the family behind the eponymous famed Italian restaurants, largely credited for creating both the bellini and beef carpaccio at the legendary Harry’s Bar in Venice, in the 1930s. Mr. C is an endeavor of the family’s fourth generation, brothers Ignazio and Maggio, who have already opened hotels in Beverly Hills and New York. In Coconut Grove, Mr. C was designed by Arquitectonica with interiors by Martin Brudnizki, inspired by a sleek luxury yacht. The hotel boasts 100 rooms and the rooftop restaurant, fittingly named, Bellini.
The Plymouth Hotel
A black-and-white tile courtyard pool deck lined with sun-bleached coral loungers, a chic indoor tiki bar off the intimate jewel-toned lobby and guestrooms where French claw foot tubs appear in unexpected places, The Plymouth Hotel earns serious style points. Situated inside a historic Art Deco landmark on the corner of Collins Park, it feels like a hip hideaway reserved for those in the know—and it’s only one block from the beach. The Plymouth is also home to an outpost of Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill where diners clamor for omakase and cult status fried chicken.
The Local House
Italian entrepreneur and real estate professional Ciro Campagnoli describes his 18-room The Local House as a “micro-boutique.” Located in South Beach’s relaxed and residential SoFi neighborhood, the hotel is designed to feel like you’re checking into your friends’ beach house for the weekend—and a very chic one at that. In soft shades of blue and sand with white-washed wooden tables and shelves stocked with nautical knick-knacks and hardbound books, the lobby vibe is more Hamptons cool than South Beach neon. The onsite Local House restaurant is a favorite amongst locals, serving fresh fare inside and on the lovely wraparound front patio. The hotel also boasts a game room, free paddleboards to borrow and a mellow rooftop pool with views of the ocean just across the street.
The Vagabond Hotel
Reinvigorating Miami’s historic Biscayne corridor, The Vagabond Hotel is a lovingly restored example of Miami Modern architecture. Formerly a motel, the Vagabond has all the hallmarks of the space age MiMo aesthetic, from its kitschy neon sign to its playful acute angles, delta wing accents and an interplay between indoor and outdoor catwalks, balconies and courtyards. It also boasts a stellar destination restaurant, Gregory’s Diner, dishing up American continental cuisine.
Kimpton Angler’s
A historic Mediterranean Revival boutique hotel with a modern twist, Kimpton Angler’s debuted a new wing and tower in 2018. The heart of the property is a historic Mediterranean Revival building built in 1930, but you wouldn’t know it at first blush. The hotel’s lobby and entrance is now accessed through the new tower with sleek floor-to-ceiling glass windows, moody lighting and a front desk set before a glistening gold mosaic art piece. Here, you’ll also Minnow Bar and Seawell Fish ‘n Oyster, a restaurant specializing in local seafood and raw bar selections. Kimpton Angler’s also features a brand-new rooftop swimming pool and stylish guest rooms in the heart of South Beach.
The Langford
The Langford boutique hotel in the heart of Downtown Miami is housed inside a 1920s Beaux Arts building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The classic architecture has been restored and reimagined. Stylish guestrooms feature herringbone hardwood floors, mid-century furnishings, patterned wallpaper and turquoise accents. It’s the perfect location to set out and explore Downtown’s nightlife and dining scene, as well as museums and performing arts venues.
The Freehand Miami
One could argue that the new era of stylish, affordable boutique hotels in Miami was actually ushered in in an unexpected way: by a pop-up craft cocktail bar in the courtyard of a defunct historic hotel just north of the South Beach fray. Today, The Broken Shaker is a permanent fixture of Miami Beach nightlife and the anchor of The Freehand Miami, a hip nautically themed hotel-hostel with both private and shared rooms. It's home to 27 Restaurant serving seasonal farm-to-table fare inspired by Miami’s melting pot of cultures. Perennially popular amongst locals, it should be at the top of every boutique hotel enthusiast’s list.
Hyde Midtown Miami
Hyde Midtown Miami is a six-story boutique hotel in the heart of Miami’s emerging Midtown neighborhood. Its most dramatic feature is the lobby influenced by the area’s art galleries. Arts and culture, entertainment and popular restaurants are all nearby. On-site highlights include a rooftop amenity floor, boutique spa, and 60 hotel rooms and designer suites with split layouts and private kitchens. A sweeping infinity pool, outdoor bar/restaurant, tennis and bocce courts, and a putting green round out the offerings. Guests can also visit the hotel’s sister property, SLS South Beach, for VIP access to the resort’s beach, pool and day club.
Want to see more? Here is a comprehensive list of boutique hotels in and around Greater Miami and the Beaches.