Chez Felix
Maison Felix (North Beach)
GETAWAYS • North Beach
Last winter, a new high-design, budget-friendly boutique hotel opened quietly on a residential stretch of Harding Avenue in North Beach.
Hiding beyond a hedge of native palms and birds of paradise, Maison Felix is a two-story, 29-room hotel anchored by a courtyard swimming pool inside a restored midcentury-era building.
The bungalow-like compound’s architectural style is typical of Miami Beach from that time period, but my friends and I couldn’t help but remark that it feels a bit like Melrose Place, with rooms wrapping around and overlooking the central pool. Here, rows of stylish green and white woven rattan lounge chairs in a chevron print bookend each side of the pool, while ground floor rooms with Juliet patios open directly onto the deck.
Room interiors take a bold approach in a palette of burnt orange and black, with floors embossed in a custom pin-stripe pattern reminiscent of a teak yacht deck (which extends to the pool deck). They’re decorated with local art, sculptural lighting fixtures, and woven textiles. With a range of suites (some including separate living rooms), coupled with the residential setting, and low-profile (yet friendly and available) staff, it’s easy for Maison Felix to feel like a home away from home in North Beach. Exceptionally comfy king-sized beds piled with pillows also help.
There’s no on-site restaurant, but a basic complimentary breakfast spread and coffee are offered every morning. Still, you’re better off venturing to nearby La Sandwicherie, Manolo Argentine bakery, or Carrot Express for your morning routine. Barely two blocks to the beach — the hotel provides complimentary chairs via Boucher Brothers — and practically at the foot of the Miami Beach Bandshell, a stay at Maison Felix is a thoroughly local experience. It’s an ideal spot to direct visiting family and friends, or for a low-key staycation of your own. –Shayne Benowitz
→ Maison Felix (North Beach) • 7418 Harding Ave • Summer rates from $202/night.