Art-splashed Wynwood gets its first hotel with the design-forward Arlo Wynwood. The boutique lifestyle hotel is home to a spacious indoor-outdoor rooftop bar serving creative craft cocktails and an inviting rooftop pool.
Location 8/10
Situated on the corner of North Miami Avenue and NW 22nd Street, Arlo Wynwood is planted squarely in the heart of Miami’s highly walkable and rapidly evolving neighborhood known for its street art. In the morning, you’re less than a block to The Salty Donut, which has rightfully earned a cult following for its pillowy soft artisanal donuts. Another block over, you’ll find The Bagel Club Miami. Across the street, Oasis Wynwood is home to an al fresco food hall, which includes a sit down café and the YO BK yoga studio (which offers free classes in partnership with the hotel). The neighborhood is also a nightlife and dining mecca, filled with indoor-outdoor breweries (Veza Sur), trendy restaurants (Pastis recently moved in), classic bars (Gramps) and newer hotspots (Dante’s HiFi).
Design 8/10
Over the last 20 years, the formerly abandoned Wynwood warehouse district has transformed into a destination for art galleries, nightlife and restaurants. And now it’s seeing a vertical growth boom with construction cranes dotting the skyline and new apartment and office buildings shooting up. Arlo Wynwood is a part of that boom and a welcome addition to the neighborhood’s offerings. The newly built nine-story property was designed by renowned architecture firm Meyer Davis with a raw concrete, industrial-style façade and geometric murals by Douglas Hoekzema and the Milagros Collective that blends in with the area’s aesthetic.
Inside, the bright, airy lobby is filled with stylish seating areas, lush plants and more than 250 pieces of original art. There’s a variety of common spaces for co-working or social gathering, including flexible meeting space and seating areas with a pool table. The hotel’s overall vibe is hip, youthful and inviting.
Amenities & Hospitality 7/10
Not all rooftop pools are created equally and Arlo Wynwood’s is impressive at 75 feet with a spacious deck lined with cabanas and lounge chairs, plus a bar and restaurant.
I was immediately charmed by the front desk staff who jotted down their names on my key card envelope and gave me the hotel’s run down, including complimentary yoga and dance workouts by local studios on an outdoor deck adjacent to the gym. However, it took three requests before my room was finally cleaned after my first night’s stay.
Rooms 6/10
Arlo’s rooms are compact and basic by design. The hospitality group, with multiple hotels in New York City, is part of the growing “lifestyle hotel” category, which typically translates to high-design with an emphasis on common areas and city exploration over plush accommodations at an approachable price point.
At their Wynwood hotel, rooms are outfitted with a white oak bed frame lofted with enough space to slide your luggage underneath plus coordinating nightstands and wardrobe. A grey cushioned bench lining one wall doubles as a seating area and additional storage. The spacious bathroom was plenty pretty with a backlit vanity mirror and glass rainfall shower with glazed sage green and white tiles. For a newly built hotel, however, I was surprised that the bed wasn’t more comfortable and the shower pressure wasn’t stronger.
“It’s three o’clock. I came back to my room, well aware that I’d be quite unhappy, true to the past: a hotel abroad, afternoon, solitude…”
Annie Ernaux, ‘Getting Lost,’ 2001
Food & Beverage 6/10
Arlo Wynwood is home to a lobby bar and cafe; a jungle-like, indoor-outdoor rooftop bar; and a poolside bar and restaurant. It awaits a new anchor restaurant by local chef Brad Kilgore after his previous concept at the hotel shuttered. Breakfast is served at the cafe where a variety of grab-and-go options are available all day.
Value 8/10
Rates from about $199 in low season and $299 in high; Book
The Bottom Line
As a longtime South Beacher, waking up and going to bed at Arlo Wynwood made me kinda fall in love with the neighborhood. It was fun to set out and explore on foot as the area is constantly changing. It felt vibrant, fun and alive.
Contact
2217 NW Miami Court, Miami, 33127; 786-522-6600; Arlohotels.com/wynwood
