MIAMI—Living a green lifestyle doesn’t always mean having to make sacrifices.
Mr. C, a luxury hotel in the Coconut Grove area of Miami that stresses sustainability, offers posh amenities like a rooftop pool and cabanas overlooking Biscayne Bay while being certified gold-level by the Florida Green Building Coalition.
Having opened in the spring of 2019, a year before the COVID-19 pandemic began sweeping the country, Mr. C is still rolling out new features, like the BeAtala spa that debuted this year.
Thanks to avoiding single-use plastics and unnecessary food waste, and using energy-efficient lighting as well as water-efficient systems, the property is tagged with a “Travel Sustainable Badge” on Booking.com.
“With the rising concerns about the environment and global climate change, people everywhere are looking to find ways to do their part and have a positive impact, even while on vacation,” actor and environmental advocate Adrian Grenier, who partnered with Booking.com to promote the Sustainable Badge effort, wrote on Instagram. “When planning your next trip, look out for the properties with this badge which confirms they’ve taken significant steps to make sure your stay is more sustainable, enjoyable, and environmentally responsible.”
New Yorkers may recognize the Mr. C name, first, because the Miami hotel is the third Mr. C lodging, following the original Beverly Hills location that launched in 2011 and Mr. C Seaport, which sprung up in Lower Manhattan in 2018. The brand also has ties to the Big Apple in that it’s run by fourth-generation members of the Cipriani family, famous for Italian restaurants like Harry’s Bar in Venice and several eateries around New York City and the world.
While the 100-room, six-story boutique hotel in Coconut Grove prides itself on sustainability, its design didn’t suffer in the process. With the building standing on stilt-like beams honoring the houses of nearby Stiltsville off the Florida Cape, the rest of it is also nautical-inspired.
“We wanted to capture the timeless charm of Italy’s iconic coastal style, with high gloss timber paneling, chrome or lacquer detailing, and comfortable curves in the furniture,” Martin Brudnizki, the hotel’s interior designer, said in a statement.
“We’ve then added a layer of mid-century Italy, as Murano glass chandeliers hang above large-scale terrazzo floors,” Brudnizki added. “The combination of the shapes and materiality of the mid-century yacht-style works perfectly with Miami, a city famous for its oceanfront and also one famous for its own modernist architectural style.”
Two Italian eateries at Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove are ready to serve hotel guests as well as visitors. Bellini, named for the Prosecco and peach purée cocktail that was first served at Harry’s Bar in Venice, is a rooftop restaurant serving brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Starters at Bellini include Burrata with Heirloom Tomatoes ($24) and Free Range Grass-Fed Beef “Carpaccio” ($27), while mains range from Grilled Domestic Lamb Chops with Carrot Purée ($43) to Bucatini “Cacio e Pepe” (spaghetti-like pasta with cheese and pepper) for $26.
For more casual dining, try Il Giardino, a creperie and outdoor terrace cafe. Open all week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Il Giardino serves a variety of sweet and savory crepes, as well as Bruschette, salads, desserts, and cocktails.
At Bellini Bar, you’ll find a massive cocktail and wine list, including the Bellini, made with white peach purée and Mr. C Prosecco for $18. The menu points out that it’s the same drink that was created in 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani, the founder of Harry’s Bar.
The newly opened spa, BēAtala, is named for the Atala butterfly, which is from South Florida and is found in Palm Beach, Miami, the Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos. The spa’s treatments include facials and massages, as well as weight loss programs.
For guests looking to explore the area around the hotel, it’s close by to CocoWalk, an outdoor shopping mall filled with stores and eateries.
Also nearby is Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a scenic estate on Biscayne Bay nestled among 10 acres of gardens. The National Historic Landmark includes a main house that was built between 1914 and 1922 by industrialist James Deering.
Modeled after an 18th-century Italian villa, the structure is surrounded by pretty landscaping and hosts a farmers market every Sunday, as well as other events. Tickets to visit Vizcaya cost $25 for those 13 and up and $10 for kids ages 6 through 12.
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