Kimpton EPIC Hotel by IHG

Area 31 had amazing staff and the food was okay. Pedro, our waiter, was top notch. The location is beautiful, with plenty of sights and local cuisine nearby. Our stay was okay, but the service didn’t feel as personal or focused on loyalty as I expected given my history with IHG and that this was my second Kimpton stay. I’d taken my family to the Kimpton Seafire before, and that was a 100/10 experience. This stay made me feel the Kimpton name doesn’t mean much, even though I’d thought of it as a luxury staple from the photos, some reviews, and amenities. This location’s track record seemed neither great nor terrible from other reviews, but we still ran into issues. Someone hanging around the driveway asked us for money and wanted us to send him some. We’d also requested early check-in in advance, though it was very early, around 9-10 a.m., and waited a few hours for the room. The Diamond perks didn’t go as far here as at Kimpton Seafire. In particular, a room upgrade was supposed to depend on availability, and I could see one in the app, but they said none was available despite the Diamond status guarantee if a room is open. I’m less interested in IHG luxury now and will stick with whatever basic option gets the job done. The front desk was okay. Some staff were polite, while a couple were honestly rude. Getting food or groceries delivered didn’t feel seamless either. They seemed to use a sticky note system, and one order we came down to collect was briefly misplaced, even though we were there to pick it up within 1-5 minutes. One other thing: valet was a mess. Cars were packed in like a grid, trapping people who were trying to get out, while the valet team kept adding more as we maneuvered through. Several people sounded upset and confused. We also saw someone rubbing the spot where a valet had slammed a car door, and I thought the owner was about to scream.

The hotel was fully booked during a very busy Miami week with the Grand Prix happening, but the event we organized there ran smoothly. The team was responsive, organized, attentive, and quick to find solutions from planning through the on-site event. Catherine deserves special thanks for coordinating and supporting us, Francesca for helping with the guestrooms, and the on-site team for making everything easy. We really appreciated their care, professionalism, and attention to detail. One of our best hotel experiences.

We stayed with our dog, and they gave him a goodie bag with things he needed for the visit. The room was spacious, very clean, comfortable, and had an amazing bay view. Valet was right on point. We never waited more than five minutes for the car, and usually it was ready by the time we reached the front desk. The doorman was always attentive. The location is perfect, with malls, parks, a cinema, pharmacies, and Whole Foods within walking distance. The restaurants in the building are really nice, and there are lots of other options nearby too. I didn’t get a chance to try the Spa, but everyone raves about it, so I’ll definitely try it next time.

The staff made us feel welcome right away, and the check-in was smooth. Everyone was professional, friendly, and attentive. We did have a problem with the room we’d originally booked, but they apologized, accommodated us, and fixed it quickly. The service throughout was a real highlight, with staff smiling and offering help before we had to ask. The room was clean and very comfortable, especially the soft bed and quality linens and pillows. The facilities were well kept and relaxing, and the common areas were nice for unwinding. The on-site amenities felt thoughtfully put together, and I can’t recommend the SPA enough. It was relaxing and inviting. The location made it easy to get where we needed to go while still feeling peaceful and comfortable. This was one of our best hotel stays. We’d absolutely come back and recommend it to anyone visiting the Miami area.