Sweet Hotel Suites
An extravagant experience on Valentine’s Day
If you’re looking to spice it up this Valentine’s Day, or just want to surprise your special someone with an extravagant experience, nothing quite says you’re worth it than splurging on a stay at one of the grand suites at your favorite Coral Gables hotel. Here’s a look at a few of the best.
Biltmore Hotel
1200 Anastasia Ave.
www.biltmorehotel.com
The most awe-striking suite in the city is the Everglades Suite at the Biltmore Hotel, going for $2,500 to $5,500 a night. It’s a trip back in time to classic Mediterranean architecture and antique furnishing, romantic chandeliers, and an elegant fireplace. The only room on the 13th floor, it has two stories, high ceilings, and a bird’s eye view of the city.
On the first floor is the main bedroom with king-size bed. A vanity followed by a spacious bathroom is attached, all in marble with a sizeable bathtub and adjacent shower. In the living area you have two couches, a TV, a study area, a kitchenette, and a baby grand piano if the urge to play strikes. There’s a guest bedroom on the second floor, with its own bathroom and study area. You can book a couples massage at the spa, or sun yourself by Florida’s largest pool.
Hyatt Regency Coral Gables
50 Alhambra Plaza
www.hyatt.com
Hyatt Regency Coral Gables is a popular destination for weddings with its grand Spanish architecture inspired by the Alhambra Palace. Its lobby is decorated with elegant chandeliers, the walls replete with photographs of Spain, and its stunning fountain courtyard is a beautiful place to sit and relax.
The Hyatt’s Presidential Suite is on the 14th floor, with a $700 to $1,000 per night price tag. The suite has two floors. The bed is on the second floor, with a balcony overlooking the living area. The upstairs bathroom is well-sized, decorated with marble tile and equipped with a tub on one side and a shower on the other. If you feel like going downstairs there’s a couch and armchairs for lounging, or you can sun bathe by the outdoor pool – or visit Bay 13 across the street for freshly brewed beers or Aussie pub bites.
Hotel Colonnade
180 Aragon Ave.
www.marriott.com
The Hotel Colonnade radiates elegance, from its promenade of columns on Miracle Mile to its enormous 1920s rotunda. And on its 13th floor lies the Celebration Suite, where rates begin at $899 per night.
Here, vast windows directly across from where you enter provide a splendid view of The Gables. White and black tile floors, combined with dark wood dining and coffee tables, create a crisp modern feel; brightly colored contemporary paintings add a touch of vibrancy. The suite has two floors. Downstairs, there’s a plush L-shaped couch and armchair as well as a half bathroom and kitchenette. Upstairs there’s a luscious king size bed, though the bath- room is a bit smaller than you’d expect for a suite, with the shower over the tub. If you leave the suite, there’s a 10th floor pool, a fitness center, and three restaurants in the building.
Hotel Saint Michel
162 Alcazar Ave.
www.hotelstmichel.com
If you’re looking for a quiet, intimate Valentine’s getaway, this 28- room boutique hotel is the place to go. Hotel Saint Michel, built in 1926, embodies the quaint charm of a Mediterranean Village rather than the feel of a luxury resort.
There are three Junior King Suites in the hotel, for $260 to $320 a night, and each possesses unique character, decorated with antique furniture and framed Victorian-era paintings. The impression is of a historically preserved room from the 1800s. Although it’s just one room, the suite is spacious and cozy at the same time, with a king bed to stretch out and an antique study desk should you feel the urge to get any work done. Despite the antiquity of the decor, the bathroom is newly renovated and ultra modern. And there is the perk that you’re just a short elevator ride away from Italian restaurant Zucca.
THesis Hotel
1350 S. Dixie Hwy
www.thesishotelmiami.com
We visited one of their King Suites (starting at $499 a night) of which the hotel has several. Each suite includes a kitchenette equipped with a full refrigerator, microwave, coffee machine, and dining table that fits six. The living area is separated from the kitchenette with a partition wall and is decorated with whimsical photographic art on the wall.
A major perk to staying at THesis are two restaurants spear- headed by award winning Chef Niven Patel – Orno for new American cuisine, and Mamey for haute Caribbean with South Asian and South Pacific overlays. THesis also has a rooftop pool, a spa, bike rentals, and events such as Saturday morning yoga classes and week- end markets featuring vendors, music, and drinks. You won’t need to leave the property to find plenty to do.