I’ve been to some of the most luxurious hotels around the world, and the Biltmore in Miami, Florida has been on my bucket list for quite some time. The Biltmore, a national historic landmark, is one of those iconic hotels, renowned for almost one hundred years, serving royalty, presidents, megastars and mobsters alike. When built in the 1920s, the Biltmore solidified Coral Gables as a center for sports and fashion. The hotel’s gorgeously imposing presence represents such a glamorous time in American history but at the same time, this iteration of the Biltmore, with a recent renovation being completed in 2018, is refreshingly modern.

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Only when looking up how many rooms (273) and considering all of the amenities on property (spa, largest pool on the east coast, golf course, tennis courts) did I stop to think, “huh, I guess the Biltmore is a resort!” But this property has such a boutique vibe. Maybe it’s the Mediterranean architecture reminiscent of Italian palazzo and Spanish-Moorish castles — the Moorish Giralda tower is a replica of that found in Sevilla! — but I felt like I was, well, in a gorgeous palazzo in the Mediterranean. It’s minutes from downtown Coral Gables and Miracle Mile, the Biltmore is a totally different vibe from your standard Miami vacation BUT with easy access to Miami Beach and downtown Miami if you need to go. It even felt cooler… like less humid, like you’re breathing rarified air. It was the perfect start for our trip to Miami, an ease into the city. You can actually see the Miami skyline from the hotel!

The Biltmore has had several lives — so much Miami, Coral Gables and American history is in this building — and I have a feeling we’re there for the most recent rebirth with the renovations. Upon entering, you are immediately gobsmacked by the lobby with its gorgeous archways, columns, barrel vaulted ceilings, gargoyles and luxe fabrics. The lobby was recently renovated staying true to the iconic, hand-painted frescos. Very old world luxe but still breathable and modern — even the chirping birds in a mahogany cage at the entrance was a testament to the airiness of the property.

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We stayed in a junior suite, a gorgeous little jewel box of a room. Like the lobby, it’s simultaneously luxe and airy with dark woods complementing jewel tones. There was even an amethyst chandelier above the bed — a crystal known for its sleep aiding properties. Or maybe it was the bedding…. The 340-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and supportive feather bed and pillows made me feel as though I was sleeping on a cloud. Check out a detailed visit of our room on my IGTV.

Food is an art at the Biltmore with 3 delicious restaurants and even a culinary academy. Checking in after 1am on Saturday night due to flight delays, our first meal ended up being room service — Michele’s first time. It was delicious but having breakfasts during our stay at both Fontana (garden courtyard) and Cascade (poolside) restaurants was an absolute treat.

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Days can be spent at the grand Biltmore pool, one of the biggest hotel pools on the east coast at 23,000 square feet invoking a Venetian lagoon. Whether dining at Cascade, the poolside restaurant, or working out at the gym, facing the pool, or the spa, the Biltmore’s pool is teeming with the life of the property: people of all ages, guests and Coral Gables residents. The golf course, fine dining, a culinary academy, incredible architecture, the Biltmore truly makes it difficult to leave.

Check out my 60 seconds at the Biltmore Hotel video!

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