Brickell Arch, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Miami

The views across the bay at Mare at AKA Brickell are stunning, and the elegant décor still feels welcoming. What really made lunch stand out, though, was the service. Leandro, the Manager, was attentive and clearly cares about the guests. Luis and Julianna were knowledgeable, thoughtful, and made us feel valued throughout the meal. The open-bar setup, cocktail hour, and main event were all well done and worth celebrating. Great views and atmosphere are lovely, but the personal attention is what would bring us back. Five stars.

The room was huge, with a bedroom, living area, kitchen, washer and dryer, and a large balcony. It was serviced every day but one, and a call to the front desk sorted out that missed service quickly. I also enjoyed the hearty complimentary breakfast through Amex, especially the overnight oats and French toast. The hotel is right in the heart of Brickell, with lots of shops and restaurants nearby, and the area felt safe even late at night. The people mover is across the street. There’s plenty of parking in the attached garage. Self-parking is $30, and at $16 for up to 10 hours, even paying again when you return can cost less than the $50 valet. Service was immaculate, but the TVs felt about 20 years old, a real time warp when you want to stream. The bathroom was dated too, and the shower nozzles need cleaning because water sprayed everywhere.

The only things I liked were the comfortable bed and the location near the metro mover. Everything else made for a really disappointing stay at AKA Hotel Miami. Construction noise went on most of the day and night, the pool is in another building and has no staff or service, and the spa staff were unfriendly. The elevators are bizarre, with separate trips needed to get to the lounge or lobby. Cell reception was poor throughout, and the unsecured Wi-Fi was spotty and made me log in several times each session. The carpet and couch had stains, and the place felt worn and dated. Staff weren’t very friendly. The food was wildly overpriced for its quality. Breakfast in particular was mediocre, and $60 for one person to make their own toast felt ridiculous. It seems to be run on a shoestring by amateurs. I’d suggest staying somewhere else.

Getting to the room takes a while because you have to use two different elevators, and there’s yet another for the pool. It also takes time to get outside. The room itself was nice, though its shape was awkward. The bathroom is large, but without ventilation it gets a bit smelly. Service was just okay. I couldn’t get anyone at the front desk, and the staff didn’t know much about the hotel’s amenities. Several things included with my room took some chasing to get. For the price, it felt overpriced. I can see a lot of potential if they pay more attention to the details.