By: Shayne Benowitz
Travelers who want to enjoy a quiet, elegant retreat in Greater Miami & Miami Beach should consider checking into a hotel in Coconut Grove or Coral Gables. The former is a bohemian, bayfront enclave founded in the late 1800s and now in the midst of an exciting renaissance, while the latter is an opulent, 1920s master-planned neighborhood filled with Mediterranean Revival gems and lavish shops. With a smattering of lovely hotels that capture each area’s character, you can’t go wrong!
Check out Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove's cozy courtyard.
Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove
Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove is one of Coconut Grove’s most exciting hotels. 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, circa 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. The Coconut Grove Mr. C was designed by Arquitectonica with interiors inspired by a sleek luxury yacht and designed by Martin Brudnizki. The hotel, which has 100 rooms and a rooftop restaurant fittingly named Bellini, opened in the summer of 2019. Il Giardino, situated in a shaded outdoor area, specializes in crepes.
Stay in the charming, villa-like Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove.
The Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove, Miami
A glittering, modern luxury hotel in Coconut Grove, The Ritz-Carlton boasts 115 balcony-equipped guestrooms and suites, a spa, swimming pool, restaurant and cocktail bar, as well as a grand lobby with show-stopping mosaic tile columns. Within walking distance of the best of Coconut Grove’s restaurants and shops, it also affords strolls along the waterfront to soak in the views of sailboats and Biscayne Bay. Afterward, head back to the hotel's signature restaurant, Isabelle’s Grill Room & Garden, for fresh local seafood and find craft cocktails at The Commodore bar. Lighter fare is available at the Poolside Café.
Spend the day at the world-famous Biltmore pool.
The Biltmore Hotel Miami — Coral Gables
An elegant Mediterranean Revival retreat built in 1926 by George Merrick and inspired by both Spanish and Venetian architecture, The Biltmore Hotel is a Coral Gables treasure. Situated on an 18-hole Donald Ross golf course, the property boasts a spa, fitness center, lavish grounds and a famous 600,000-gallon swimming pool surrounded by Renaissance-style sculptures. The property’s grand lobby is graced with vaulted ceilings and travertine floors, and its guest rooms were recently upgraded with elegant new furnishings. At The Biltmore you can become a part of a Coral Gables tradition with Sunday brunch at the lavish Fontana courtyard restaurant. Cascade restaurant, overlooking the hotel’s famous pool, is open for daily for lunch. Old World glamour is alive and thriving here.
Relax in the Colonnade's refreshing pool.
Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables
A grand dame in the heart of the "City Beautiful,” the Hotel Colonnade is a fixture of downtown Coral Gables. Built in the Beaux Arts style and completed in 1926, the hotel has an opulent, marble lobby and newly renovated guest rooms and common areas, giving it a modern appeal. It also boasts a rooftop swimming pool. With multiple restaurants onsite, you can breakfast at the Aragon Café, grab a quick bite at Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar, enjoy lunch or dinner at Baires Grill, which features Argentinian specialties on the dinner menu, or revel in the lavish steakhouse atmosphere of Morton's. With multiple ballrooms and a neoclassical, marble-tiled rotunda, the opulent property is a popular venue for weddings.
Take a dip or lounge by the Hyatt Regency's pool.
Hyatt Regency Coral Gables
Modeled after the Alhambra Palace in Spain, the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables offers a fabulous stay in a beautiful setting. You'll find Spanish-inspired details throughout the property and a rooftop pool offering lovely views of Coral Gables. It's an easy walk to the area’s best dining and shops, including Books & Books. Back at the hotel, dine at Two Sisters Restaurant for Mediterranean cuisine and enjoy a nightcap at Bar 50. The hotel’s food options also include the Perks coffee-and-pastry shop. Built in the 1920s, like most of the rest of the public buildings in Coral Gables, and renovated extensively in 2019, the hotel has 254 updated rooms, including 80 with balconies or patios, and 60 suites. It also offers a fifth-floor lap pool.
Want to see more? Here are comprehensive lists of hotels in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove.