Mandarin Oriental – Hotel Review

There’s no dearth of hotels with sweeping ocean views in the Magic City. But Mandarin Oriental is here to up the ante. Located on Brickell Key, a speck of an island off Miami’s Brickell neighbourhood, the property offers front-row Biscayne Bay views but with the added bonus of the city’s sensational skyline. Soak up the scene from one of the hotel’s 326 guestrooms, each featuring its own balcony. Or make a beeline for one of the waterfront eateries on site. There are four different establishments, but our favourite is La Mar by Gastón Acurio, where you can enjoy modern Asian-Peruvian fusion or stick with inventive Andean fare.

The location

The hotel is a good 30-minute drive from the ceaselessly glamorous sandy shores of Miami’s South Beach neighbourhood. But the upside is: it’s only 20 minutes to the airport and close to city’s Downtown district. Eclectic neighbourhoods of Little Havana and Wynwood are also a short drive away.

The rooms

Even the smallest room (Deluxe Skyline View) welcomes guests with lashings of luxury – private balconies, large work desks and ensuites with deep baths and separate showers. But if you want to turn up the indulgence index, check into the Junior Bay View Suite that offers 48 square metres of real estate and wide-angle views of Biscayne Bay and the glittering skyline. A soothing palette of neutrals, super-comfy beds and plenty of natural light, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, further add to the appeal.

Food and drink

There are four drinking and dining dens at the property – from the gleaming MO Bar + Lounge in the hotel’s lobby to the award-winning restaurant La Mar by Gaston Acurio, where you can eat inside or nab a table right by the water on the deck. If you’re after something casual and more Miami, head to the Oasis Pool Café where ocean fresh sushi, filling sandwiches and inventive cocktails are the order of the day, along with plenty of sun and sun loungers.

For business travellers

The hotel offers all the business facilities you expect from a luxury chain – grand ballrooms; a spate of small and spacious meeting rooms; as well as lush lawns so you can take your corporate events outdoors. But where the hotel really scores is with its Mindful Meetings – a program that brings elements of wellness (invigorating oils, clean cuisine) into the boardroom to enhance focus and alleviate stress.

For wellness travellers

There’s a spacious gym, a beauty salon and a spa where you can enjoy bespoke therapies or simply opt for a treatment from the menu.

The fab factor

The hotel’s Art in Residence program brings some of the world’s most talented artists under one roof. Take in Ranier Lagemann’s striking sculptures, Divers, hanging off the ceiling in the lobby, or admire Flavio Galvan’s vibrant painting in La Mar by Gastón Acurio restaurant.

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