4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida, United States | (305) 531-0000
Stylish rooms with flat-screen TVs and iPod docks
Direct access to a less crowded beach via the wooden boardwalk
Safe, 20 to 30 blocks from the South Beach party scene
Three large infinity pools, including an adult-only pool
Next door to drinking and dining at the Fontainebleau resort
Nobu, a well-known sushi restaurant, on site
Excellent 22,000-square-foot spa with steam rooms, plunge pools, and rooftop cabanas
Modern fitness center with ocean views
Activity in South Beach is a 15-minute, $20 cab ride away.
Limited affordable dining options nearby
Daily resort fee (common in Miami)
Fee for valet parking
High-up in Miami Beach -- $20 taxi to the South Beach action -- the only real draw to the location is the pricey wining and dining at the snazzy Fontainebleau resort next door. However, with three infinity pools, 631 comfortable rooms, and a wonderful spa, the Eden Roc is a cheaper (yet still high-quality) alternative for folks doing business at the Fontainebleau.
Scene
A lot of guests at the small, relaxed hotel are business travelers who wanted something more affordable than the Fontainebleau.
Located directly on the beach, the Eden Roc is smaller, cheaper, and decidedly more relaxed than the flashy Fontainebleau resort next door.With 28 meeting rooms and 46,000 square feet of meeting space, the hotel sees a lot of business travelers. In addition to the on-site conventioneers, the hotel also attracts budget-conscious guests doing business at the Fontainebleau.There's plenty of space for relaxing off-the-clock. There are three infinity pools, including one that overlooks the ocean. While the pools enjoy a fair amount of traffic, the hotel's interior is pretty deserted. During my stay, just a handful of guests were drinking at the lobby bar or eating at the upscale sushi restaurant Nobu.
Location
Miami Beach is quiet and predominantly residential. It's a 15-minute, $20 taxi ride to SoBe.
The quiet and predominantly residential Miami Beach has always played the grown-up to South Beach's youthful mischief. The trendy Liv nightclub is at the famous (but very pricey) Fontainebleau next door. But otherwise, there's little besides resorts and condos in the area. For everything from cheap eats to posh nightclubs, plan to spend $20 on a 15-minute taxi into SoBe.
Beach
Directly on a quiet, roomy beach -- just walk past the pool and the wooden boardwalk.
Generally, the shorefront in Miami Beach is less densely populated than the coastline in South Beach. It also lacks the flat, hard-ground component that more than doubles the width of the beach down there.But the area is not crowded. There's room to stretch out and relax, but far fewer bikini babes and macho bodybuilders than farther south. Joggers, cyclists, and couples out on a stroll make use of the boardwalk.
Rooms
Well-equipped rooms have flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi (included in the resort fee) and iHome stations. But bathrooms are small.
The Eden Roc has 535 rooms and 96 suites. The Deluxe Rooms are well-appointed, with comforts like large LG flat-screen TVs and iHome docking stations for iPods. But the rooms aren't especially impressive considering the circa $300 price tag and the resort's über-sexy ad campaign. There's a mini-fridge, but it's completely empty. The Deluxe Room isn't exactly large, but it's a decent size for a business hotel and has plenty of closet space. My room had a comfortable king-size bed with high-thread-count sheets and a soft-yet-firm mattress. TVs work well and have a full array of cable channels and on-demand movie options. Wi-Fi is included in the daily resort fee.The bathrooms are pretty small, with either shower/tub combos or separate showers and bathtubs. The shower has good pressure and temperature control. Luxury bath products are provided.Some rooms have furnished balconies, and views vary of the ocean, Biscayne Bay, or the city.
Features
There are three infinity pools, a well-equipped fitness center, a spa, and a Starbucks in the lobby.
The Eden Roc's best features are its three infinity pools. The largest (technically two adjacent pools) is just outside the lobby, a smaller pool is on a lower level by the beach, and the smallest, adult-only pool, is on the roof and has a clear view of the ocean. None of the pools had more than five occupants at any one time while I was there, which was pretty incredible for Miami. The small hot tubs by the main lobby-level pool, however, can get hogged by couples. So much so that I couldn't even get a picture!The excellent spa includes 18 treatment rooms, steam rooms, separate men and women's relaxation lounges, cold plunge bools, therapy baths, a Finnish sauna, rooftop cabanas, and more. Guests get free access to the 24-hour fitness center, but there's a fee for access to the spa facilities (unless you book a treatment). The large fitness center is well equipped, with cardio and strength-training machines, free weights, exercise balls, and more. Conveniently, there's a Starbucks open from 6:30 a.m. until late in the evening right by the entrance.
Family
There are free cribs and rollaways, a five-person occupancy limit, two kid-friendly pools, and kids' menus.
The Eden Roc provides cribs and rollaway beds for free. Not more than one crib and/or one rollaway bed to a room, though! On the plus side, the maximum occupancy for a room is five guests, which is unusual considering that most hotels in Miami -- or anywhere, for that matter -- have a maximum occupancy of four guests per room.The infinity pool by the boardwalk is for adults only, but both the main pool and the smaller round pool are kid-friendly. The main pool does have a deep end, though, so make sure the little ones stay on the shallow side. The small round pool, however, is quite shallow, but parents should closely monitor their kids as there is no lifeguard on duty. Warnings like this aside, the pools come equipped with plenty of inflatable toys for a good time.Out on the beach, the hotel has a stall with shovels and toys to build castles in the sand.All restaurants have highchairs and kids' menus (including chicken fingers, and mac and cheese).
All-Inclusive / Food
Fine dining restaurant, a lobby bar and a Starbucks
Beach Suite, One Bedroom, Ocean Tower
Guest Room Ocean Tower Oceanfront
Guest Room Ocean Tower Ocean View
Guest Room Resort Tower Bay View
Guest Room Resort Tower Limited View
Guest Room Resort Tower Oceanfront
Guest Room Resort Tower Partial Ocean View
Miami Suite, Resort Tower
Ocean Suite, Resort Tower, Oceanfront
One Bedroom bi-level Loft, Ocean Tower
One Bedroom bi-level Loft, Ocean Tower, Pool View
Penthouse Suite
Resort Tower, Ocean View Room
4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
(305) 531-0000