T+L’s Resort Overview of Dua Miami, Autograph Assortment

I moved to Miami greater than 20 years in the past, and through my very first go to, I instantly fell in love with the town’s wild, unrestrained vitality. I watched as new motels and eating places popped up and as established neighborhoods shed outdated identities and embraced new ones; to dwell right here is to witness the town’s fixed evolution. However maybe nowhere is that spirit of change extra apparent than in Magic Metropolis’s Brickell neighborhood. Over the previous 10 years, it is slowly remodeled from an all-business monetary district right into a retail and culinary vacation spot.

Certainly one of Brickell’s newest developments is the Dua Miami, Autograph Assortment, previously referred to as the SLS Brickell. In October 2023, one of many largest enterprise conglomerates in Albania, the Kastrati Group, bought the property from JLL Lodges & Hospitality. It is Kastrati’s first U.S. enterprise, and the resort’s new title, “Dua,” means “to need” or “to like” in Albanian.

A lot of the resort’s present furnishings are holdovers from its time because the SLS Brickell, however Dua Miami basic supervisor Leslie Weil says possession is planning a number of upgrades within the coming 12 months. However one factor that received’t change anytime quickly is its iconic kaleidoscopic exterior, created by German-born artist Markus Linnenbrink.

Situated simply minutes from downtown within the coronary heart of Brickell, Dua Miami occupies the primary 9 flooring of the buildings it is positioned in (the remaining is residential). Inside, friends will discover themselves immersed in inside design that pays tribute to the town’s eclectic artwork scene, with sculptures, work, and pictures scattered all through the area. The visitor rooms, dreamed up by avant-garde French designer Philippe Starck, replicate his signature minimalist, but playful model.

Interested by what the property was like after the Dua Miami takeover, I spent just a few days checking it out. Throughout my keep, I relished quiet mornings on my ninth-story balcony and feasted on grilled seafood on the resort’s smooth new restaurant, Ahu | Mar. It was too wet to hold poolside throughout my time on the resort, so I hit the gymnasium as an alternative, having fun with beautiful views of the town’s skyline throughout my exercise. The Dua Miami has the whole lot you could hold busy on-site, with a spa, poolside events, and a bustling cocktail hour. However, if you would like to discover, the resort’s handy location makes it simple to get round Brickell or journey to close by neighborhoods like South Seaside and Wynwood.

If you happen to’re contemplating a keep at Dua Miami, right here’s the whole lot you could find out about this artsy resort within the coronary heart of Magic Metropolis.

The Rooms

With 124 visitor rooms throughout eight flooring, Dua Miami has the vibe of a boutique resort, however the expansive pool deck and personal balconies make the property really feel a lot greater. There are 9 visitor room classes starting from the 300-square-foot superior double rooms (which supply a double mattress and a small workspace) to the roomy 1,800-square-foot presidential suite, with two bedrooms, a wraparound balcony, in addition to a separate eating and dwelling space.

Wiel describes Dua Miami as “dynamic, evocative, and indulgent,” and the resort is actually evocative. Massive mirrors, black-and-red carpets, and striped hallways all work in symphony to create a distinctly “Alice and Wonderland” ambiance.

Throughout my keep, I spent the weekend in a 450-square-foot deluxe king balcony room. Upon coming into, I used to be greeted by artsy, pastel pink partitions embellished with (deliberately) uneven black paint strokes. The flooring was additionally a murals: the black carpet was embroidered with white wings, eyes, keys, and bones. There was additionally a mirrored aspect desk and desk, white lacquer closets, and an outsized summary portray.

I used to be shocked to search out mirrors above the beds (a playful or naughty contact, relying in your take), and thought the compact all-white tiled toilet with a standalone bathe and single sink was completely ample for a solo keep. The design is a bit artwork deco, a bit “Miami Vice,” and eschews the standard South Floridian resort decor archetype.

Meals and Drink

There are two eating places at Dua Miami, Ahu | Mar and the Lounge. Ahu | Mar focuses on wood-fired seafood dishes and is helmed by chef Victor Rosada, who additionally ran SLS Brickell’s Fi’lia. The eatery has an all-day menu with gadgets resembling grilled octopus, ribeye steak, in addition to lobster and corn ravioli. Diners can select to take their meals within the heat, modern eating room or within the Miami sunshine on the out of doors patio. Breakfast is served right here, too — the buttermilk pancakes topped with blueberry compote hits all the correct notes.

Evening owls ought to head to the Lounge, a vibrant (however cozy) area positioned on the resort’s second flooring. Pleased hour on the Lounge spans from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, with small bites like oysters and ceviche obtainable to order. If you wish to dwell it up, a DJ often arrives round 10 p.m. and performs properly into the wee hours of the morning.

Actions and Experiences

Although it rained throughout most of my keep, Dua Miami’s fundamental leisure draw is its Altitude Pool Deck, which has two infinity swimming pools, a chilly plunge, and a jacuzzi. Day friends are additionally capable of entry the deck with a Resort Cross — costs begin at $30 per individual, per day. If you happen to work up an urge for food throughout your swim, meals and beverage service is offered from 11 a.m. to six:30 p.m.

SLS Brickell events have been legendary (assume superstar DJs, smoke machines, and bottle service), and Dua Miami is holding the enjoyable going. On the weekends, partygoers take over the striped lounge chairs and breezy cabanas whereas DJs spin data from midday to five p.m. However, for those who’re looking for one thing extra low-key, the resort schedules weekly poolside pet yoga, meditation, and sound therapeutic lessons.

The Spa

The eighth-floor Dua Spa has six remedy rooms in addition to saunas, a steam room, and a leisure lounge. Providers listed below are impressed by the heavens themselves, and friends can choose from a menu with remedy choices such because the rejuvenating “Aurora Borealis” pores and skin remedy or the “Star Gazing” {couples}’ therapeutic massage, which incorporates a chance to identify constellations with one of many resort’s telescopes post-treatment. I opted for the “North Star” Himalayan salt scrub and felt refreshed after the 50-minute remedy.

Household-friendly Choices

If you happen to’re touring with little ones, the resort has cribs obtainable upon request, however rollaway beds should not permitted within the visitor rooms. Households ought to contemplate upgrading to the one-bedroom premier king suite (it might accommodate as much as three individuals) in the event that they want the additional area. Alternatively, you can go for the two-bedroom presidential suite, which might sleep as much as 5. Each room classes have giant bogs with soaking tubs in addition to separate dwelling and eating rooms.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Three Premier Metropolis View rooms are outfitted with accessibility options (resembling roll-in showers and visible alarms) for people who find themselves exhausting of listening to, and two premium metropolis views are capable of accommodate wheelchair customers and/or those that are exhausting of listening to. Public areas at Dua Miami are additionally simple to entry. The foyer and ground-level eating places are fully stage, with no steps. And, if you wish to go to Altitude, there aren’t any steps between the resort entrance and the elevator.

Dua Miami has additionally adopted quite a lot of sustainability initiatives. Within the rooms, guests will discover bulk cleaning soap, shampoo, and conditioner. Agave straws and biodegradable to-go containers and utensils can be found in any respect eating shops. Behind the scenes, Dua Miami is partnered with Clear The World, an organization that recycles resort soaps and plastic bottles.

Location

As soon as a business-only neighborhood, Brickell is now abuzz with a wholesome providing of sights. Brickell Metropolis Middle, a retail and eating juggernaut, is only a brief 10-minute stroll away. If you would like to catch an out of doors live performance, Bayfront Park is about quarter-hour away by automotive. Kaseya Middle, a sports activities and leisure space, in addition to the Adrienne Arsht Middle for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, are 15-minute drives away, too.

Professional-tip: as an alternative of renting a automotive (valet providers at Dua Miami are $60 per night time, and discovering parking areas round city will be difficult and costly), decide to trip Miami’s Metromover, an automatic prepare that loops round downtown — better of all, two stations are positioned inside steps of the resort. However for those who do select to drive, Dua Miami’s central location makes it simple to discover different well-known neighborhoods round city — Coral Gables, South Seaside, Little Havana, and Wynwood are all about 20 minutes away, relying on visitors.

Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

Dua Miami is a part of Marriott’s Autograph Assortment and participates in Marriott Bonvoy, a rewards program that enables members to earn and redeem factors for his or her stays. The resort additionally runs specials, offers, and packages all year long, which might embody perks like late checkout, restaurant reductions, and offers on prolonged stays.