A Hidden Oasis in Coconut Grove: Why the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden Feels Like Nowhere Else in Miami
A Tropical Retreat Steeped in Soul, Design, and Miami Roots
There are hotels that feel like destinations — and then there’s the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden in Coconut Grove. Tucked away in one of Miami’s oldest and most eclectic neighborhoods, the Mayfair doesn’t just offer rooms, it offers a sense of place. A lush, unapologetically artistic sanctuary in the middle of the city’s pulse.Originally built in 1985 by Kenneth Treister — a Miami architect known for his historic and Spanish-inspired work — the building’s dripping, Gaudí-like façade and jungle-wrapped balconies set it apart long before its recent renovation. Now, after a meticulous three-year, $50 million update led by Goodrich architecture studio and backed by Brookfield Asset Management, the Mayfair has reemerged, not reinvented, but reawakened.
Where the Garden Grows Up the Walls
Step through its Jumanji-style carved wooden doors and you enter a world that feels more like an artist’s dream than a boutique hotel. At its core lies a five-story open-air atrium — a vertical tropical garden where monsteras, palms, and torch ginger spill from balconies and reach toward the sunlight above.Ylang-ylang trees, yellow shrimp plants, and wrought-iron birds tucked into the greenery echo both whimsy and elegance. It’s part Rainforest Café, part Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum — and entirely Coconut Grove.
Rooms That Feel Like Art
Getting to your room feels cinematic: you glide up in a glass elevator through the hanging garden, then walk open-air hallways toward your suite. Inside, the design shifts room to room — burnt orange walls, freestanding bathtubs, velvet loveseats, dark oak desks. There’s an intentional moodiness here, like stepping into a Spanish oil painting with a modern finish.Every detail whispers thoughtfulness, from the dim lighting to the layered textures. This is not a place for sterile minimalism — it’s for travelers who appreciate rooms with soul.
Coconut Grove’s Timeless Charm
Beyond the Mayfair’s doors, Coconut Grove offers a slower, deeper Miami — a city within the city. Once an artists’ colony and Bahamian immigrant hub, the Grove still retains its walkable streets, indie shops, and quiet charisma.Pop into Books & Books for a smart read, grab a pan con bistec at Chugs Diner, or sip matcha with olive oil cake at Navi Coffee & Flowers. The rhythm here is gentle, local, lived-in. It’s Miami without the performance.
Eat, Sip, Stay
Food and drink are central to the Mayfair experience. Sipsip, the rooftop rum bar, pays homage to the Grove’s Bahamian past with colorful murals by Angelika Wallace-Whitfield and panoramic city views. Order a cocktail under the stars, near the flickering sculpture-firepit that locals recognize from the street below.In the atrium, Fountain Lounge makes an ideal date-night nook, while Mayfair Grill — now helmed by Miami native and Food Network winner Giorgio Rapicavoli — serves bold, wood-fired flavors with Argentine flair. Even locals drop in to dine.
Worth the Staycation
The Mayfair isn’t just for visitors. Locals book staycations here. Couples come to unwind. The hotel regularly hosts literary dinners, vintage markets, and jazz nights. It feels lived-in, never overproduced — a rarity in a city chasing flash.You won’t find wild parties here. It’s not South Beach, and that’s the point. It’s romantic, serene, artistic — a boutique experience that feels Miami-grown, not imported.
At a Glance
Rooms: 179, including the Presidential SuiteRates: From $475/night
Vibe: Creative, tropical, quietly luxurious
Best For: Couples, locals, small corporate groups, travelers seeking a slower Miami
Not Ideal For: Nightlife chasers and club crowds
Extras: Rooftop pool, two bars, literary and cultural events, 24-hour gym
Address: 3000 Florida Avenue, Miami, FL 33133
