By: Treméne Triplett
Miami’s coastline is famous for its neon lights and towering hotels, but did you know there are also a handful of bed and breakfast properties?
The area’s B&Bs have a special quality that you just won’t find in a hotel: the option to spend a night in paradise in a place that feels like home.
The Copper Door Bed & Breakfast
Visiting The Copper Door Bed & Breakfast is like walking into a good book that you just don’t want to put down. From the entrance, which is not a copper door but a brightly blue-trimmed glass one (there’s a story there, just ask them), to the original 1940s front desk, to an Art Deco designed lobby and period-popular terrazzo floors, co-owners Jamila Ross and Akino West have a story to share with guests through the spoken word, art and culture.
Located in Historic Overtown, the 22-room boutique property is the only lodging experience in the area and just minutes from Downtown hot spots. As a result, the betrothed owners refer guests to walking distance local treasures like the marketplaces of Little Havana, Little Haiti or the scrumptious seafood of Casa Blanca Seafood Bar & Grill.
While on site, guests are treated to lavish white bed linens, original subway tiled bathrooms and luxurious bronze-infused feature guestroom walls. A local artist will paint a kaleidoscope of color in an onsite urban garden in coming weeks for guests’ viewing pleasure.
“People want to feel like they are Miamians,” said Ross. “What better way to do it than to be a part of a community? We make a strong effort to be an authentic Miami. We’re intimate and personable.”
Ross and West utilize extensive food and beverage backgrounds to prepare guests a complimentary, scrumptiously curated breakfast that includes seasonal, locally grown foods including papaya, avocado, mangoes, passion fruit and coconut.
“We like being a hidden gem,” said Ross. “We like pleasantly surprising the guest. If they’re getting [only] what they paid for, it’s not memorable.
The Copper Door B&B is located at 439 N.W. 4th Avenue, Miami, FL 33128
Bars B & B South Beach
Undeniably one of the most unique hotels in Miami, Bars B&B South Beach is an Art Deco house that has been converted into a luxurious bed and breakfast.
Located just a few short blocks from the sand of South Beach, this B&B is its own private retreat. Each suite is adorned in fine white fabrics, and complemented by mirrored wall accents, diamond lighting, and modern art pieces.
Guests can relax in a lush outdoor Asian-style garden—a true respite. This patio and garden features artistic statues, a Zen gazebo and plush lounge chairs.
A stay at Bars B&B South Beach comes with complimentary breakfast, five-star service and all the luxury you could crave. In addition to daily afternoon snacks, a nightly wine and cheese hour, and a platter of champagne and chocolates awaiting your arrival, a concierge is always on hand to arrange vacation pleasures, including limousine services, yacht/watersports rentals, and primo restaurant/nightclub reservations.
Bars B&B South Beach Hotel is located at 711 Lenox Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139
SoBe You Bed & Breakfast
Another South Beach option, SoBe You Bed & Breakfast was designed with beach-goers in mind. This Art Deco-style home instantly transports you to a whimsical tropical oasis.
Just a 10-minute walk from Lincoln Road, this quaint hotel is as eclectic as it is central. Rooms and common areas feature antique furnishings juxtaposed with shimmering pillows, Romero Britto paintings, hardwood floors and brightly-colored walls.
The back deck showcases a heated saltwater pool, a covered gazebo and stylish pool chairs. Continental breakfast comes complimentary, with additional food requests priced separately.
SoBe You Bed & Breakfast is located at 1018 Jefferson Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Selina River Inn (Formerly Roam Miami)
Once Miami’s only bed and breakfast, the property first opened in 1910 as the Miami River Inn. A popular destination for visitors looking for short- and long-term stays and creative work spaces, Selina River Inn will keep the tradition alive.
Since May 1, 2019, Selina, a community development organization that takes a holistic approach to creating work/stay/entertainment spaces, took over the management of the property. Partnering with esteemed local developer Avra Jain, who owned and developed the 2015 Roam Miami renovation, Selina plans to overhaul the property.
“We’re changing everything,” said Gabrielle Pelicci, sales and marketing director. Its intended design is “a tropical oasis to include Monday through Sunday yoga and meditation classes; a wellness program; local artists to paint murals and furniture from local resources.”
Pelicci adds “It will be a place where tourists and explorers come to meet local people.”
Check Selina’s website for the August opening date and the November grand opening party.
Selina River Inn is located at 118 S.W. South River Drive, Miami, FL 33130