The Mayfair at Coconut Grove

It's impossible to miss the ornate, Gaudi-inspired facade of the Mayfair Hotel & Spa, designed by Miami architect Kenneth Treister. Turquoise-tinted iron flourishes and carved stone mark the entrance to the corner building in Coconut Grove, a fashionable neighborhood set beside Biscayne Bay. The Art Nouveau touches continue inside, where spaces alternate between cavernous and low-ceilinged (the lobby) and bright and welcoming (the open-air, interior Asian Garden courtyard). The courtyard is among the most appealing common spaces, with its cushioned black-wicker seating surrounded by bamboo plants and palm trees, and small pools lined with blue-patterned tile. Elsewhere, artisan-carved plaster ceilings and Louis Comfort Tiffany stained-glass windows lend worldly elegance. Much like its Coconut Grove setting, this is a lively property that draws couples and families who want easy access to walkable streets, and who enjoy happy hour deals at the rooftop poolside bar.

Coconut Grove, referred to as "The Grove" by locals, sits in the middle of Miami and maintains a bit of laid-back ambience that recalls its bohemian roots. Artists and intellectuals settled here in the late 19th century, but today the neighborhood draws travelers and Miami residents with its upmarket boutiques, restaurants, and Biscayne Bay views. Across the street from the hotel is CocoWalk, an open-air pedestrian zone filled with shopping and dining options. 

Festivals and events are held in The Grove throughout the year, and the streets are welcome to cyclists. Sun Cycling Coconut Grove has bike rentals and is 10 minutes away on foot, as is Miami Watersports, for stand-up paddleboard and kayak rentals.

The stunning Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, an Italian-Renaissance-style villa built in 1916, is less than 10 minutes away by car. South Beach is a 20- to 30-minute drive, depending on traffic. Miami International Airport is about 20 minutes away by car. Indirect buses to the airport depart from the intersection of South Bayshore Drive and Mary Street, about five minutes away on foot, and the trip takes about an hour. Taxis are recommended for carless guests traveling to the airport. 

All rooms at the Mayfair are spacious suites that have some of the same decorative features as the rest of the property. Hand-carved mahogany headboards and doors, woven sea-grass furniture, and beige stone floors combine for an easygoing Art Deco-tinged elegance. The palette of browns, beiges, and dark woods is punched up with bright-orange throw pillows and crisp, white Egyptian-cotton bedding. 

Options start with standard 525-square-foot Mayfair Suites with king-size beds, sitting areas, and (in some) Japanese soaking tubs on outdoor furnished terraces. All other options, from 690-square-foot Executive Suites to 1,200-square-foot Presidential Suites, add private dining tables and bathroom TVs; some have oversized bathrooms and/or Roman-style tubs in suites. All bathrooms are large and well-lit, with marble floors and walls, and shower/tub combos. Guests must request that Japanese tubs be filled ahead of arrival, and there are fees for use. 

Standard features include 42-inch flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Stocked minibars, coffeemakers, and safes are also provided. Guests have complained of inconsistent housekeeping and maintenance, and some decor looks in need of a refresh, such as chipped sinks and picture frames. 

There are plenty of dining, shopping, and activity options outside, but for those who stay in, the hotel has a nice selection of amenities. Spartico Restaurant serves casual Roman-style fare for breakfast (fee), lunch, and dinner, with dishes such as wood-fired pizza, salads, and fresh fish. The heated rooftop pool is not huge but is a nice place to cool off and take in panoramic Biscayne Bay views. The deck is lined with cabanas with flat-screen TVs, and there's a poolside bar serving cocktails (with drink specials some nights) and light meals. 

The hotel's 4,500-square-foot Jurlique Spa offers organic face, nail, and body treatments in sunlit treatment rooms. There's also a 24-hour fitness center that's a decent size and has a standard array of Lifecycle cardio equipment and weight-training machines. 

Among the 15,000 square feet of event space are the Crystal Ballroom and the Palm Terrace atrium space. Seminars for up to 200 people can be held in one of the hotel's seven meeting rooms. There's a business center adjacent to the conference rooms on the hotel's second floor. Valet parking is available for a fairly hefty daily fee, though there's more parking within a few minutes' walk on Oak Avenue. The Mayfair is pet-friendly and has comfy pet beds and its own brand of treats, with fees.