W Miami

In 2016, W Hotels took over this 14-story property from Viceroy, and gave a light makeover to the pool area, lobby, and lounge area. While most of the public spaces sport the W brand’s typical hip and trendy look that's heavy with bright colors and contemporary art, guest rooms (designed by Kelly Wearstler) feature Asian-themed decor with a mix of classic and contemporary elements. Down at reception, guests are greeted with the brand’s signature green apples, distressed mirrors, and modern furniture in primary red and mustard yellow. Art Deco-style light fixtures hang from the ceiling and dance pop plays from the speakers. Overall, the hotel displays a hip, art boutique vibe, drawing transient business travelers during the week and leisure guests on weekends. most of the latter take advantage of the hip 50th-floor pool with a bar and music. 

W Miami is located inside the Icon Brickell complex, in the heart of Miami's bougie financial district. It’s a two-minute drive off the I-95 exit, though reaching the hotel’s entrance off the busy and often backed-up Brickell Avenue can be a pain. This area is home to a majority of Downtown Miami’s hotels, corporate offices, and popular attractions like the AmericanAirlines Arena and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts (both a 10-minute drive away). The Fifth Street Metromover station is a five-minute walk from the hotel, and the Eighth Street Metromover station is six minutes away on foot. South Beach is a 20-minute drive east, while Miami International Airport is a 15-minute drive west. 

Designed by Kelly Wearstler, the W Miami’s 146 rooms stand out against the hotel’s overall bright, pop art vibe, thanks to their luxurious decor in dark green, black, and white. The upmarket Asian-themed decor features green ceramic Chinese dragon lamps, lacquered countertops with hand fan motifs, crane artwork, and green, black, and white marble floors. All units have balconies, either overlooking the Miami skyline, Biscayne Bay, or both. Expect W brand standards like comfy W beds and Bliss bath products. Technology spans decades with hard-wired internet options, flat-screen TVs, and Bose speakers. Bottled water is replaced daily. Entry-level Wonderful Rooms start things off with small kitchenette wet bars that hold coffeemakers (coffee costs extra), microwaves, and excellent minibars offering a selection of drinks, snacks, and different convenience kits. Bathrooms have separate soaking tubs and step-in rainfall showers. Waffle bathrobes are stocked in the closet, and slippers are available on request. Spectacular Rooms add more space and dual sink vanities in the bathrooms. Some bathrooms have geometric peek-a-boo cutouts. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the Cool Corner bathrooms have great views, and the carpeted bedrooms feature sitting spaces with an L-shaped converter couch. Suite categories begin with the Fantastic Suite, offering added perks of sleep-aiding eye masks, dental kits, and Nespresso machines. For an apartment feel, the Marvelous Suite comes with a separate dining room, living room, and an extra half-bath. These suites also sport two separate balconies. It’s worth noting that nearly all rooms and suites come with one bed, except for the Mega Room, (two double beds) and the two-bedroom WOW Suite (one bedroom with two double beds, one with a king bed). 

W Miami’s full-service Wet Deck (what the brand calls their pool area) is located high up on the 50th floor, and is often a highlight for guests. Expect artificial grass, fun parties, guest DJs, and 180-degree views of the city and Biscayne Bay. For those wanting a more exclusive vibe, there’s a small, raised VIP area that has contemporary lounge chairs with pillows. During summer, it’s common for the pool bar to have treats like Prosecco popsicles. 

Guests at the W Miami have access to a full-service spa and state-of-the-art fitness center located in the building behind the hotel. A gorgeous, white marble hydrotherapy circuit functions as the heart of the spa (it was also featured in a CeeLo Green music video), and a labyrinth of wispy, white-curtained treatment rooms off both sides. Male and female locker rooms are bright, each with a steam room, sauna, and rain showers. The fitness center is large and stocked with Technogym equipment, and group exercise classes include yoga and indoor surfing. 

The on-site restaurant, 15th and Vine, serves up contemporary American dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and features a special weekend brunch menu -- all with good water views from two sides. There’s also a private dining room that doubles as a space for frequent pop-up shops. During our visit in June 2018, an outdoor terrace area was being remodeled to include dining space, casual food options, and an infinity pool.Along with the 50th-floor rooftop pool, the Wet Deck also houses an indoor nightclub lounge that’s open on weekends and boasts stellar sunset views. Friday happy hours include free Prosecco until late and a live DJ, while Saturday shindigs go until late. In addition to a full bar, guests can nibble off a small tapas menu. Two salons and a large ballroom with an on-request dance floor are available for events, although catering and audiovisual equipment are not included in the rental price. Unlike several hotels in the Brickell and the larger Miami area, this hotel does not have a mandatory resort fee, giving even more value to its freebies. Guests can expect free access to the spa, free fitness classes, a rose wine happy hour four days a week, free Wi-Fi, and a very flexible pet policy that allows most types of pets for a flat fee, as long as they are not threatening species. The hotel’s pet program also includes food, beds, and treats for dogs. Parking is valet-only with time-dependent pricing.