I’ve spent three nights at the Kimpton EPIC Hotel in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood and really enjoyed my experience. It’s a combination of value, location, and the hotel room itself.
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Location
Located on the famous Biscayne Boulevard and across the bridge from Brickell, the area around the Kimpton Epic is a series of highrises and intercoastal waterways giving a sense of Manhattan and Venice mixed. There are several other premium properties in the area, across the street is a celebrity chef restaurant, Daniel Boulud (Boulud Sud), and across the street, Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. It’s an ideal location for those visiting downtown, the beach is a 10-15 minute cab ride, and the cruise port a bit less.
Address: 270 Biscayne Blvd Way, Miami, FL 33131
Phone: +1 (305) 424-5226
Property
The property is in a mixed-use building with condos and office space throughout. The hotel occupies floors 1, and 14-30 with the pool, restaurant and bar all sharing space on the 16th floor; the 14th floor is home to meeting space.
Pool
The pool consists of two very large spaces on an open area underneath the rising tower of the building. It’s important to note that the pool receives excellent sunshine all day long (neighboring properties like the Marriott Marquis aren’t as fortunate.) Cabanas are available for reservation during the day, and staff service guests at loungers on the entire deck.
Benefits
I haven’t been a fan of IHG’s loyalty program heretofore. It’s change to IHG One was something I didn’t give much attention. However, due to prior stays with the brand, I am Diamond in the program and enjoyed breakfast throughout my stay in the hotel’s restaurant. Frankly, the food was stunning, and the prices were reasonable for the quality and the area. Still, breakfast will guests back about $15-30 per entree depending on what they order.
During my stay I also received a welcome amenity of a “suite treat” snack for my nine-year-old daughter and charcuterie for my wife and I along with a card.
Water is provided for guests on a nightly basis, but it’s important to note that additional water on either nightstand run a staggering $10 per bottle. Drink the free ones, be careful with the ones marked with $10 on the top.
I stayed in both a standard water-view guest room and a one-bedroom suite during my stay.
Standard Guest Room
Standard bedrooms open to a traditional hotel rectangle with a closet to the left, bathroom to the right, before entering the bedroom proper. The space was more than enough and the view from the balcony was exceptional. Massive ships and yachts passed through the waterway below.
Bathroom
The bathroom featured an oversized shower, a double vanity, and a separate water closet.
Most of the room was to a high standard, but a towel rack that needed to be reattached was a correctable flaw.
One-Bedroom Suite
The one-bedroom suite uses an open floor plan rather than a closed door and wall for the bedroom. Normally, I’d prefer the separation to be behind a door, but because of the windows and light, it made sense that the room was a little more open. There was a partial partition between the bedroom and the living room with a ceiling-mounted TV on a swivel. The couch pulled out into a bed for my daughter, which the staff was happy to make for her at turn down.
Bedroom
The bedroom had plenty of space with access to the corner balcony.
Living Room
In addition to the couch, a small coffee table and a pair of chairs offered a place to relax. We had a crib placed in the living room as well.
Bathroom
This bathroom was larger than most New York hotel rooms. Guests can perform cartwheels if they are so inclined with the door closed.
For those that prefer to soak, a bathtub with jets is available (helpful for families too.) The shower is huge and is not over the tub. At the wall, a huge vanity, and in the corner a closed-door water closet just as with the standard room.
Value
Florida hotel prices fluctuate substantially between high and low season. In high season, the Kimpton Epic prices standard rooms at $350-450/night. For its location, decor, and service, it’s worth that, especially if you’re a Diamond elite with free breakfast for two. In low season, prices drop to the low $200s out of season (May-October) where the Kimpton Epic becomes an outright bargain. For point redemptions there are sweet spots. In high season, it priced just a shade above 50,000 points for my sample searches, but only dropped to just over 40,000 points in low season when the same room is half price when paying in cash. For guests using points, there is great value in the winter, but in the summer, save your points and pay cash.
What do you think? Have you stayed at the Kimpton Epic? How was your experience?
$10 water on night stand is scam and nothing more.
Looks nice, but as long as Kimpton insists on levying “destination” or “amenity” fees at these kinds of city hotels, they won’t be getting a dime of my vacation budget. Especially egregious considering they charge $10 for water on top of the $39.55 “amenity” fee.
“During my stay I also received a welcome amenity of a “suite treat” snack for my nine-year-old daughter and charcuterie for my wife and I along with a card.”
My wife and me.
Come on. Proper grammar is not difficult.
It’s also not charcuterie- just cheese, fruit and crackers.
But he is trying.
I stayed at this hotel for a quick business trip downtown and liked it fine . . . until I checked out and had a big undisclosed “resort charge” on my account. Never again.