Hotel Review: Mayfair House Hotel & Garden
Mayfair House Hotel & Garden
A Coconut Grove icon comes back to life kicking and screaming with bold design, a never-before-seen food concept, and the rooftop pool bar everyone’s talking about.
◆ 3000 Florida Ave, Coconut Grove, Florida 3313 ◆
Why book?
An architectural marvel from the '80s lives again. Expect the unexpected, from moody peacock blue and terracotta-toned rooms with giant clawfoot tubs to a soaring open atrium of outdoor corridors lined with lush plants and a buzzy lobby bar set in a hollowed-out fountain.
Set the scene:
During the years it sat in relative obscurity, The Grove missed out on an anchor, both literally (the Mayfair occupies two entire city blocks smack dab in the center of The Grove) and socially (in its 1985 heyday the hotel featured a mélange of creatives, businessmen and even the odd cartel boss). Today that energy is back and better than ever. During the temperate months, the lush atrium will be filled with an amalgam of well-heeled, work-from-home types and creative artists that likely live in the neighborhood. Around sunset the rooftop pool bar features a friendly, eclectic bunch of unpretentious patrons, giving it a warmer feel than venues on the beach that are often packed with overdressed tourists.
The Backstory:
The hotel was originally built in 1985 in the garden atrium typology by acclaimed architect Kenneth Treister. Inspired by the work of Spanish maestro Antoni Gaudí, Treister’s gem sadly fell into neglect in the early aughts. Enter emerging New York interior designer Matthew Goodrich, and you have today’s iteration that brings back the best the hotel had to offer and places it firmly at the center of The Grove’s development renaissance.
The Rooms:
The rooms range in size from 400 all the way up to 1,000 square feet and as such, never disappoint in terms of space. Even their balconies (95 percent of rooms have one) are more than generous, making the property ideal for larger groups and families. Rooms feature cool perks like working typewriters, a fully kitted-out bar cart with cocktail sets, and oodles of “made in the Grove” craft snacks. But the piece de resistance is truly the oversized clawfoot tub (it, too, is big enough for the whole family!). We were digging the over-the-top, saturated color scheme and original carved-wood headboards, but it may not be everyone’s bag.
Food and Drink:
Helmed by Chris Hudnall and Randy Alonso, cofounders of hit Downtown Miami bar Lost Boy, the Mayfair Grill features an aromatic wood-fired grill (which you can smell across the street) and a first-in-Miami Southwestern culinary offering specific to the Sonoran Desert. This means anything from wood-fired Navajo bread and hand-milled maize tacos to the most succulent wagyu picanha steak (admittedly a Brazilian import). Be sure to grab an early table as this spot fills up quickly with locals seeking the neighborhood’s hottest dinner reservation. After dinner, rum-centric cocktails are served up nightly with vibey tunes and a view of the Grove that stretches all the way to the Bay.
The Area:
Within a 1-mile radius of the hotel, you’ll find a slew of Michelin-starred restaurants (Los Felix, Ariete), a must-see farmers market, a host of tasty baked goods (Panther Coffee, Fireman Derek’s), unique retail offerings (Bazaar Project, Books & Books, Coco Walk) and miles of bayside parks (Kennedy and Peacock Park). But what truly sets the neighborhood apart is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously, despite its current status as one of the country’s hottest hoods. This is a place where locals still greet each other and establishments have been unchanged since the 60s.
The Service:
From check-in to arranging in-room facials, the hotel’s casual staff has a friendly “here if you need me” attitude. The check-in and check-out process is non-transactional and can be fully automated through lobby-level kiosks (much more thoughtfully designed than the ones at the airport).
Wellness:
The hotel has a fleet of bikes that guests can use throughout their stay at no extra charge and partners with Modern ŌM to offer open-air yoga classes.
For Families:
Large room sizes and reasonably-priced rooms featuring two king beds are ideal for families. For bigger groups, the hotel even features lavish two-bedroom suites and the equally generous Grand Luxe Corner Suite. The hotel is especially popular with pet parents whose furry friends love the hood’s ample dog parks as well as the hotel’s indoor-outdoor feel.
Accessibility:
Elevators are generous, ramps are provided where necessary, and the hotel has nine ADA rooms.
