The JW Marriott Marquis in Downtown Miami caters to all comers
By Kylie Wang
It’s not uncommon to see businesspeople crowding the elevators of the JW Marriott Marquis, moving back and forth from a conference downstairs to the suites above. It’s also not uncommon to see children roaming around the pool or game room. This is a place where work and a family vacation can intersect, where kids can find myriad ways to distract themselves while the adults join clients over dinner at Boulud Sud, the chef-driven Mediterranean restaurant in the lobby, or take meetings at the office buildings crisscrossing Brickell and Downtown Miami.
With two ballrooms and 10 meeting rooms, the Marquis has positioned itself as a business-friendly hotel first, with over 80,000-square-feet of total meeting space that’s been used by groups ranging from the San Francisco 49ers football team to the Independent Women’s Forum. The Metropolitan Grand Ballroom takes up the entire third floor, equipped with a lighting system and big screen for conferences and events like the Miami Film Festival, which was hosted at the hotel last year. Meeting rooms line the fourth and fifth floors, with a Junior Ballroom on the fifth. All can be accessed by elevators or escalators, making for fluid travel between meetings, events, and the coffee bar on the second floor.
For families or individuals looking for something to do between meetings or trips to South Beach, the recently renovated entertainment lounge on the 19th floor is the place to be. It features a mini bowling alley, a billiards table, air hockey, and other table games, as well as a golf simulator. There’s also a 10,000-square-foot NBA-approved basketball court that can be used by anyone, including visiting pro teams who occasionally train at the facility when they come to play the Miami Heat. It also doubles as a tennis court during the Miami Open for enthusiasts who want to get in a game of their own.
Following the sports theme, the Marquis has a Mariano Bartolome golf school with a shop and instruction, and a pool – though don’t expect to get a tan or a drink here; most of the pool patio is shaded by the neighboring Monarc building and there is no bar. However, a nighttime dip when the sun goes down affords an excellent view of the downtown and Biscayne Bay. All of these amenities are included in a fee each guest pays during booking, a $25 daily charge per room, which also includes Wi-Fi, a 10 percent discount at Boulud Sud, and access to the gym.
The fitness center is among the best hotel gyms we’ve seen, with an array of equipment encompassing both weightlifting and aerobic machines as well as items like yoga mats, medicine balls, free weights, and more. With complimentary towels, water, snacks, and earbuds, guests don’t need to bring a thing, and the views from the 20th floor looking onto the downtown and the bay are a constant reminder of the luxuriousness of both the city and the hotel itself.
The Enliven Spa & Salon on the same floor is mostly focused on facials and massages with basic salon offerings like blowouts and gel manicures. While the menu is not as robust as other hotel spas, the offerings are perfect for the businessperson on the go who’s looking for a quick treatment rather than a full spa day.
For food, the Marquis offers a nice range. A complimentary continental breakfast is served from 6:30 to 11 am at the 345 Restaurant for guests staying in a Concierge Level room, or for Marriott Rewards members with Platinum status or higher. The second floor features the Intermezzo Coffee Bar (coffee and pastries), a wine store, clothing boutique, and the Met Cafe & Bar. The bar has an American menu with the usual offerings, as well as beer, wine, and cocktails. While it might be considered overpriced anywhere else, for a hotel restaurant in Miami, an $18 sandwich is almost a steal.
A highlight of what the Marquis has to offer is Boulud Sud, open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. The brainchild of Michelin-starred international chef Daniel Boulud, the restaurant is under the daily supervision of Chef Michael Hernandez, a Miami native who’s spent time at several high-profile restaurants in the area, and General Manager Gregory Delaunay, a Parisian with a gift for wine pairings. The food is Mediterranean with a large wine list and seasonal desserts rooted in traditional French patisserie.
With the hotel undergoing renovations to the lobby, rooms, and meeting spaces this year, the Marquis is aiming to become even more business-centric while also adding “space to focus on what really matters,” connecting with the self as well as family. This is how the JW Marriott Marquis likes to operate: kid-friendly amenities and a location in Downtown Miami, just across the river from the Brickell financial district.
