Boutique Hotels in Miami

Freehand & Generator Miami

Great for couples, solos, friend groups and families.

A few months back, I joined a group of FORA advisors in Miami Beach to do site visits at eight hotels, all FORA partners and all entirely different from each other. I am really drawn to the relatively new concept of hospitality of the hostel boutique model because it appeals to all types of travelers and it never lacks in personality and flair. I was pleased we could do a site tour of the Miami Beach Freehand+Generator Hotel, which is a FORA Reserve partner meaning extra “cultivated” perks are included in bookings. From the moment we stepped through the door and were greeted by the friendly and effervescent Grace Duncan, Area Director of Commercial Accounts, I knew this gem of a Miami boutique hotel was one to behold. They immediately guided us into the Hoja Taqueria for lunch and a craft cocktail. The food was fresh and delicious (especially the guacamole), and the fish tacos paired very well with my spicy margarita!

Lunch at Hoja Taqueria

After lunch, Grace took us on a tour of all of the spaces. The merger between Freehand and Generator has led to a brand offering options to attract all types of travelers, with Freehand offering more luxury-style accommodations and Generator offering more hostel style accommodations. Lodging ranges from private bungalows to superior suites to 10-person dorm rooms and everything in between. There are also female only dorms.

Rooms are minimalistic, crisp and clean!

I wanted to feature Freehand+Generator for two reasons: for one, because I preferred it to the boutique hotel I did stay at while there, and two, because it was such a unique mix of design elements with fun landing places arranged around (like the floor cushions in the lounge area that I imagined was once a big atrium with large fronded plants) all housed in a beautiful old Art Deco building. The place definitely evoked an aura of the past and I sensed many fun times had been experienced there.

The lounge area is retro art deco and inviting with floor pillows!

Pool area is nice and private in a courtyard-type setting.

Right next to the pool area is a really neat bar called the Broken Egg, serving as an additional outdoor space to enjoy seasonal street food specialties while hanging out with friends or people watching and then hitting the beach which is a mere 100 feet away, if that is the day’s desire!

As stated on the website, this boutique hotel in Miami is “both an escape from the bustle of the strip and an ideal access point to the best of the city.”

And, for those who want to venture out to dine, it always helps to have intel on restaurant recs from a long time local, so I emailed an old friend, and the following are a few of his favorites to help narrow down your choices, great for both the food and people watching!

• Prime 117, Steakhouse

• Milos, Greek Mediterranean

• Carbone, Italian

CitizenM BRICKELL Miami

My second pick for boutique hotels in Miami is the CitizenM in Brickell. Brickell is an area I had heard about and had friends that had lived in, but never had the opportunity to explore. I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and maintained it was. I walked around a lot and never at one time felt unsafe or uncomfortable. From afar, it looks like just a bunch of big, mirrored buildings, but once you get inside, it is special!

Great for business travelers, couples and solos.

A boutique hotel in Miami located in the perfect location, in the middle of Brickell!

This hotel embodies the soul of a boutique hotel without adhering to the traditional constraints of twenty-five rooms or less.

At first glance, the thought is a young hip vibe, and as the property unfolds; the nuances within present a property that ticks all the boxes. I can pretty much bet the collaboration on this brand was/is very multi-generational!

After a two-night stay, and hanging out in the common spaces and observing, I realized every age group was staying there and many different languages were being spoken in the elevator and the hotel was always abuzz with energy.

After entering the nondescript door to the lobby on the ground floor (that looks like an adult Legos playroom, a little bit artsy with one bench in the middle to sit on) you proceed to the elevator and the second floor. The check-in process is an online kiosk and assisted by a hotel host that is there to be of service when needed. From the check-in, if you look to your right, there is the inviting large canteenM bar and bar area with booths and a few high tops. If you look to your left, there is a couch-filled, eclectic living room gathering space, and farther past that is an outdoor terrace that can also be enjoyed and utilized for private gatherings. All along the perimeter from the check-in area to the bar is an outdoor ledge lined with barstools. A nice comprehensive breakfast buffet is served each morning in the bar and brewed coffee is complimentary as they do not have coffee makers in the rooms.

In the rooms, everything is highly efficient, from the fact they provide filtered water through the tap to the completely techie approach regarding room ergonomics and comforts. Just hit the dot on the iPad to change your mood lighting or lower your blackout blinds for the night.

The rooms are tiny (European style) rooms (14 sq m) but because of the East-facing direction, the rooms are flooded with light which gives the illusion of space during the day. The bed and fluffy comfy white bedding nestled in the windowed wall, and you almost feel like you are sleeping in a treehouse. I was on the ninth floor, about midway up and had a great view of the city skyline.

Then, when you can’t locate the iron in the room and you inquire, you are directed to a room next to the elevators with an ironing board and an iron ready to go. Each floor has an ironing room and what a novel idea that is! The way they did things made me cognizant of how smart industrial engineering along with great amenities can be presented with style and affordability all the while feeling like the customer is reaping the reward of value and a wonderful place to stay, knowing the company is business savvy and making money too equaling a win/win for all parties involved.

In addition, from this perfect Miami boutique hotel location, you won't have to venture far for great dining, nightlife and shopping. There is also a monorail surrounding the city to connect you to areas outside Brickell, but the whole area is very walkable.

More dining intel, across the street from CitizenM, is Sexy Fish, a restaurant to see and be seen. If you prefer more ambience and like Northern Italian cuisine, go to II Gabiano and dine on the back patio with the Biscayne Bay as your backdrop.

I could actually see the restaurant my friend and I went to from my window. The name of it was Moxies, and we sat outside across from a large courtyard tree sprinkled in little white lights. It was a nice setting to share a bottle of wine, have long missed girl time, have our inside giggles, and discuss our stuff! Not to mention, the sushi cones and vegetarian power bowl we split were really delicious.

As usual, I used Waze and walked to my destination the next day in town and along the way, enjoyed the energy on the streets.

After a busy day, I came back to my cozy little room, changed and made my way up to the rooftop to redeem my free drink ticket that was given to me at check-in. The rooftop pool area had an amazing ambience; there is a bar just off and to the side and three of the sides are surrounded by views of the city and water. Perfect evening/sunset/nighttime setting to meet up with an old friend or work colleague and catch up or just relax under the stars and ponder life, which is what I did.

Rooftop at night reminded me of living on the 23rd floor of a high rise in Hawaii, always loved being up high.

There are comfortable loungers for two lining the pool and then enough chairs and tables to seat many. Along the back wall is the gym with the treadmills facing the pool and the view! Very thoughtful design.

Kept the blackout blind up so I could see the sky as I drifted off to sleep. Next morning, went for coffee and was greeted by the same nice attentive barista guy as the morning before, and then headed out for a walk along the water, a short block away…circled Brickle Key and breathed in the ocean air, while observing the morning routines of the dad’s accompanying their kids to school on foot and the businesspeople heading to work.

As a sidenote and worthy of an article all its own: An important box to check before setting foot in Miami is to take a look at the festivals and events schedule as it can get crazy busy there.

So, while I went in with no expectations, I left completely satisfied, so much so, that I actually gave CitizenM a glowing online review. What I like so much about Generator+Freehand is I believe they offer a great alternative (hybrid) to people that are looking for style and uniqueness without giving up quality all the while still being affordable.

Sophia Hatchett's quote on Generator+Freehand:

"I stayed at the Freehand Miami and LOVED it. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. The vibe is very atmospheric and you definitely feel like you are in the heart of Miami Beach. The onsite food options do not disappoint and it draws non staying guests to create a very local vibe."