Valentine’s Day at the Biltmore

Perhaps the most iconic piece of the Coral Gables skyline, the Biltmore Hotel has stood fast through a century’s worth of history. Unveiled in 1926 by a young George Merrick, the hotel served as a military hospital during World War II; the site of a Capone gangland murder in 1929; and an event space for fashion shows, galas, business conferences, and golf tournaments for decades. Today, the hotel is also a lovers’ retreat, hosting weddings, honeymoons, and Valentine’s Day dinners at its romantic restaurant in the outdoor courtyard.

The building itself spurs romantic ideas on first sight, with its elegant interior and Old World charm. But it’s the experiences here that make it a perfect place to enjoy a staycation with your Valentine.

If you make it known to staff that you’re here for romance, they’ll decorate your room with red rose petals strewn across the floor, festoon every table top with chocolates arranged in the shape of hearts, and perch kissing swans made from swaddled towels at the foot of the bed. In the glow of candlelight, you can share a glass of champagne with your sweetheart, then head downstairs for dinner at Fontana.

With only about 20 tables situated around the Venetian fountain at the restaurant’s outdoor courtyard, you’ll need to make a reservation — or you can opt for a more intimate dining experience in a private cabana. From 7 to 10 pm, you can indulge in a romantic four-course dinner for $145 per person. The nine hotel cabanas are screened by hedges, offering your own private restaurant for the night.

The spa at the hotel is similarly opulent, with a full menu of individual treatments and, of course, dual massages. For V-Day, though, the Sweet Fountain of Youth Body Treatment ($390) is being rolled out from Feb. 10 to 17, a 50-minute experience that includes a massage with guava products, a back exfoliation using sugar scrub and body butter, and hydrogel patches that revive your skin.

You can also make use of the hotel’s cabanas in the more traditional way, renting one for $450 a day (the holiday and weekend rate) and enjoy the largest hotel pool in the continental U.S. The 23,000-square-foot pool boasts 600,000 gallons of water, a 24-foot waterfall, and a poolside restaurant, Cascade, which has tropical cocktails and light fare. Drink and dine at your lounge chair or in your cabana, served by rotating attendants.

As the holiday of love approaches, you might consider the Biltmore as a celebration site — but be prepared! Make your reservations now, not just for your room but for the spa and restaurants. And may Cupid beware!

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