Summer is considered the off-season in Miami, and so now is the best time to book a hotel — if you’re looking for a Miami getaway — because rates are at their lowest.

Miami is often associated with South Beach and its downtown, but I wanted to stay in a different area this time and found a hotel that could be its own oasis. In fact, I’m writing this from my hotel’s terrace with its own garden, and it feels like I’m in a tropical rainforest.

Originally known as the Mayfair Hotel & Spa, the Mayfair House Hotel and Garden has been an iconic hotel in Coconut Grove since 1985. Its architect Kenneth Treister was inspired by the work of Spanish architect and designer, Antoni Gaudí. For comparison, these two photos show what the hotel looked like back then.

Courtesy of Mayfair House Hotel & Garden

Courtesy of Mayfair House Hotel & Garden

The hotel underwent a two-year, $50 million renovation from interior design studio Goodrich and reopened in September 2022. In 2023, it’s making lists (Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure)  as a “hot” and “it” hotel, and so I decided to check it out for myself. Rates to stay here start at $359, and there are eight room types to choose from. No two rooms here are exactly the same.

I stayed in the Dracena Suite. It has the bold tones of teal and mustard yellow, carved wooden headboards, an outdoor shower and a tub outside of the bathroom.

The tub is standalone and commands the room as an “open bath” concept.

Courtesy of Mayfair House Hotel & Garden

Matthew Goodrich, Principal at Goodrich, explains its placement. “The original design for the hotel features hot tubs on the outdoor terraces. We wanted to keep them, but it proved impossible,” he shared. “So we were inspired to create an engaging bathing experience for the guestrooms that referenced this history.”

Not only is the tub part of history, but there’s a typewriter on the desk. It greeted me and reminded me to start writing. I didn’t need to go far for more inspiration as sitting outside on the terrace, looking at the greenery, and listening to the birds chirping provided the ideal environment.

It’s not just the terrace that captivated my attention. The uniqueness of this hotel can be seen right away when you walk in through the wooden doors that were kept and restored from 38 years ago. Go a little bit further inside, and the garden is all encompassing. It’s serene with water fountains, lit by the sun, and alive with vibrant, green plants. If you look closely, there are orchids too. The beauty of it all is how many ways this atrium space can be used to take in the views of its botanical garden. It serves as a resting place, a workspot and a dining area.

The hotel’s restaurant Mayfair Grill sits guests outside in the garden to take it all in while eating food from a wood-fired grill. The menu here ranges from wood-grilled octopus to wagyu picanha steak and charred cauliflower wood oven Sonoran flatbread. The spiced citrus honey on this flatbread won me over as one to try and the charred taste matched up suprisingly well with the sweetness of the honey. It didn’t disappoint!

Charred cauliflower wood oven Sonoran flatbread (herb pesto, roasted garlic, chihuahua cheese, spiced citrus honey)

And there’s a grilled cocktail to match — a grilled peach cocktail with tequila and vermouth, grilled peach, angostura bitters and orange bitters.

Grilled Peach

For more of a lunch or afternoon pick-me-up spot, the hotel has Sipsip (named for the Bahamian word for “gossip” or “sharing news”) on the rooftop next to the pool. The menu has salads, fish tacos, a lobster roll and a jerk chicken sandwich. In addition to the food offerings, the rum bar offers some refreshing Caribbean and Polynesian cocktails. The bar seating is especially inviting with plants raised up to look at too.

Jerk Chicken Sandwich

Hemingway Daiquiri (bacardi superior rum, lime, grapefruit)

Sipsip’s food and drinks can be served directly to a lounge chair or daybed. The pool is big enough for swimming laps, and it’s also a place to relax for locals and tourists alike on the weekend. The backdrop seen behind the pool is a flower and plant art mural that was hand-painted by Bahamian artist Angelika Wallace-Whitfield. Her inspiration for it came from Bahamian folk art.

While I never quite felt indoors at this hotel, I did venture outside of it. The area is walkable with restaurants, stores and bars nearby. And this hotel offers an interesting option for those who didn’t rent a car. To ride around Coconut Grove, there’s an electrified Moke. It costs $125 hourly or $475 daily, and it can be reserved online.

As seen even on the Moke, outdoor plants are a continuous aesthetic throughout the hotel. No matter the days or length of a stay, Mayfair House is a getaway for those who are looking for a hotel that is out of the ordinary with nature at its center.