Modern Boutique Hotel with International Flair

Tiffany stained-glass windows refract light upon a mini rotunda studded with columns inside the majestic lobby area of The Mayfair Hotel and Spa. Outside, a dramatic Gaudi-style façade flanks pleasant Asian gardens, Amazon ironwood décor, and Brazilian mahogany doors hewn with art deco designs. Noted architect Kenneth Treister drew from his worldwide travels to design this internationally influenced boutique hotel in the posh Coconut Grove, whose character reflects the colorful, cosmopolitan spirit of nearby Miami.

The luxurious Rooftop Cabana Club further exemplifies the Miami vibe: relax by the water with a cocktail by day, party at night. As sunshine reflects off of the heated pool, bartenders serve tropical drinks from a teakwood bar, and a fireplace glows against the backdrop of Biscayne Bay. After sunset, DJs spinning tunes transform the pool deck into a dance club. Revelers swerve to the beats or relax on the L-shaped sofas opposite flat-screen TVs in the private, billowing cabanas.

Once guests retire for the evening, the recently renovated Parlor suites unveil mahogany headboards that oversee Egyptian-cotton linens laid atop a king bed. By morning, natural light floods through windows, which face out onto the Miami skyline and tree-lined paths. Stone floors rest beneath tiptoes and designer clown shoes in the room's separate living and dining areas, decked out with homey dark woods and sea-grass furnishings. Weary bodies can simmer in the in-room jacuzzi or in the Roman spa bath that resides in the spacious marble bathrooms.

Downstairs from the rooftop club, guests mingle in the front lobby to grab evening drinks at the candlelit Spartico bar and pizzeria. Tropical foliage and percolating fountains in a Persian water garden greet guests as they stroll through the open-air courtyard. In the on-site Jurlique Spa, sojourners unwind in sunny treatment rooms while therapists use organic ingredients to expel stress with rejuvenating, holistic treatments.

Miami's Coconut Grove: Vibrant Arts Scene and Natural Treasures Close to Beaches and Nightlife

Though upscale houses, restaurants, and stylish boutiques have added elements of elegance to the area, historic Coconut Grove still maintains ties to its bohemian roots. Wild peacocks strut through the parks amid local residents, and modern art galleries dot the tree-lined streets. Just steps from the Mayfair Hotel and Spa, window-shoppers and door salesmen can weave through three stories of brand-name clothing stores and other shops in the open-air mall at Coco Walk. The nearby Peacock Park beckons travelers to its walking bridge, which frequently reveals glimpses of stingrays and manatees. A short jaunt northeast takes travelers to the Italian and French Renaissance–style Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. At this historic estate, maze gardens and an orchidarium showcase natural treasures, and antique furniture and colorful art collections decorate the interior.

Tucked between Biscayne Bay and Coral Gables, Coconut Grove resides just a few miles from palm-lined beaches and humming downtown Miami. Come nightfall, Mayfair Hotel and Spa lodgers can meander through the Grove's own bar scene, where live calypso music blasts from speakers at family-friendly outdoor bars. Clubbers make the beeline to South Beach's pulsating night scene—just a short cab ride away. Local DJs keep energy levels pumping past 5 a.m. for the crowd that successfully passed the velvet rope by guessing the bouncer's spirit animal.

Classic Italian fare populates the menu at Spartico, and pizzas arrive piping hot from the wood-burning oven and topped with selections such as speck, ripe figs and honey, and chorizo. Other eateries throughout Coconut Grove draw from a flavor palette that spans the globe, their menus traversing the culinary landscape from France and Spain to Latin America.