Lifestyle, Travel

The Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach

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I’m back with another fun hotel review that I’m excited to share with you! Last month I visited Miami, Florida and stayed at the Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach. This was my second collaboration with Sonesta Hotels, if you recall I visited the beautiful Yorkville Royal Sonesta last year.

The Hotel

The Nautilus hotel is conveniently located on Collins Ave, a trendy street in Miami Beach. It’s close to restaurants, shopping and night life. The hotel has a wonderful vintage tropical vibe to it. As you walk into the lobby you’ll notice lush greenery, wicker furniture and lots of tropical prints. I love anything tropical so I immediately loved the aesthetic of this lobby.

At the end of the lobby is the elegant bar which seamlessly pairs vintage charm with trendy libations. The gold flamingos in the the centre of the bar really give the place a tropical vintage vibe. I really liked the colour scheme in this area too. They also offer a daily happy hour from 5-7pm, I’d highly recommend checking this out.

The Nautilus also boasts a vibrant collection of Art by notable artists like Any Warhol. The hotel regularly hosts an event called Whiskey, Wine and Warhol featuring a live jazz band paying tribute to the Gatsby Era of sound and lots of creative cocktails. Admission to the event is free and guest get to experience the hotel’s exclusive art collection.

The Rooms

The Nautilus is housed in a historic building on Collins avenue and has undergone an extensive renovation. The rooms offer views of the ocean or city but are a little on the smaller side. Our room had generous space in the sleeping and lounging area but the bathroom was a little small for my liking. I would recommend booking a junior suite or suite at this hotel, as they look lovely and spacious. Oceanfront balcony rooms sell out fast so it’s best to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Dining + Beach Access

The hotel offers ample choices for dining, there is a coffee shop located in the lobby, the lobby bar and the Nautilus Cabana Club which offers indoor and outdoor seating. We liked having breakfast outside each morning. The seating area was lovely with views of the pool, lawn and lots of tropical chic decor. Since the weather in Miami is hot I opted for an iced coffee each morning to start the day off.

One thing we loved about this hotel is the direct access to the beach. You can take the hotel’s famous walkway right down to the beach. Hotel guests have access to loungers and towels. You can also order drinks at the beach. If the ocean is not your thing the hotel also offers an outdoor pool with loungers and cabanas. You can rent a cabana for the day for approx. $250. This is a great option for groups, families and couples. I love being near the water so I enjoyed spending the day in the cabana and working by the pool. There’s also amazing music to listen to while you relax.

If you’re looking for a hotel that mixes retro style with modern luxury and is centrally located then the Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach is the hotel for you! There’s so much to see at the hotel and surrounding areas you will certainly enjoy your stay at this hotel. Thank you to the staff at the Nautilus Miami for hosting us.

 

 

 

Lifestyle, Travel

The Yorkville Royal Sonesta

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I’m back! And this time I’m sharing one of my favourite hotels in Toronto with you, the Yorkville Royal Sonesta. Yorkville is my favourite part of Toronto, its’s just so posh and chic. Whenever I’m in the city I always make it a point to stop by this neighbourhood. I’d always wanted to stay in Yorkville and enjoy a classy weekend getaway in Toronto so when I came across the Yorkville Royal Sonesta I was totally thrilled.

The Hotel

Located just steps away from stores like Holt Renfrew, Louis Vuitton and Harry Rosen the Royal Sonesta is the perfect hotel for a weekend getaway in Yorkville. This boutique hotel located close to Mink Mile offers chic and stylish guest rooms and suites with views of Queen’s Park and Toronto’s famed skyline. The hotel is also just across the street from the Royal Conservatory of Music and close by to the University of Toronto and the Rogers Centre.

Our experience at the Royal Sonesta was seamless and easy. We were able to take advantage of the onsite valet parking and text to have our car ready whenever we needed it. Check-in was smooth and we received a warm welcome from the front desk staff. Pro-tip you can ask for bottled water at the front desk on your way in or out of the hotel.

The Empress 

As you walk down the hallway to the elevators you will be greeted by the hotel’s mascot The Express of Yorkville. Her portrait can be seen hanging at the end of the hallway between the elevators and Signatures Restaurant, but just who is she? The Empress is a fearless lioness ruling over her kingdom of Yorkville with pride. Lionesses are symbols of elegance, strength and courage; and just as a lioness watches over her pride the staff at the Yorkville Royal Sonesta strive to work together to provide guests with an empressive stay at their hotel.

We stayed in a studio king suite which was spacious and featured views of Toronto’s skyline including the CN tower. There was ample space to work or even host a business meeting in this suite. The bed was comfortable and the room was also well lit. I loved the modern finishes in the bathroom and of course the multiple selfie mirrors!

In addition to two restaurants the hotel also features an indoor rooftop pool, business center and gym.

The Food

There are two restaurants located inside the hotel; Signatures Restaurant which offers upscale cuisine and a variety of dishes inspired by Toronto’s vibrant communities and Proof Bar and Patio which offers cocktails, light bites and the dining dome experience.

We had the pleasure of dining at Signatures for breakfast as the restaurant offers an a la carte breakfast selection with so many dishes to choose from. My favourite was the Yorkville Elite which is a great way to start the day! The restaurant also offers a lunch and dinner service, and is a popular spot for business lunches.

Perhaps the most prestigious offering the restaurant has is High Tea with the Empress. If you’ve been following me for a while you know that I simply adore afternoon tea and Signatures did not disappoint. The High Tea service is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm-5pm. The service features  a selection of black, green, herbal, white, oolong, and rooibos teas. The tea service also include a variety of savory pastries and snacks along with sweets and scones.

On Saturday evening we had the pleasure of experiencing the dining domes at Proof Bar. The outdoor dining domes are heated igloo type domes which are just perfect for a cozy and romantic winter dining experience. Each dome has its own lighting, seating area, blankets and heaters. There are two types of experiences to choose from: the light lounge menu which features seasonal cocktails, shared appetizers and a selection of individual desserts for $65 per person plus HST and the prix fixe fine dining menu which features a three course meal with prosecco for $140 per person plus HST, perfect for a date night in Toronto.

The Verdict

We really enjoyed our stay at the Yorkville Royal Sonesta. This was a special weekend as we were celebrating our 5 year anniversary and the hotel staff went above and beyond to ensure we had a memorable experience. We are already planning our next trip to Toronto and I can’t wait to stay at the Royal Sonesta again.