The Biltmore Hotel Review: Coral Gables, FL

The Biltmore Hotel is a 273-room historic resort in Coral Gables, about 10 minutes from the University of Miami campus. We stayed here three nights for parents weekend, and while the property has some impressive features—particularly the public spaces and pool—the guest rooms feel dated and tired.

The Biltmore opened in 1926, and the Mediterranean Revival architecture and grand lobby still look great. But the rooms haven’t kept pace with the nightly rates the hotel charges. You’re paying luxury prices for accommodations that feel more like a mid-tier property that needs a refresh.

While I would not recommend this property over others in the area, if you are going to stay here, make sure you book with a preferred partner rate to get the extra benefits.

Location

The Biltmore is in the heart of Coral Gables on Anastasia Avenue, about a 10-minute drive from the University of Miami campus. The hotel is set back from the street with a long driveway through landscaped grounds, so it feels secluded despite being in a developed area. You’re in a residential neighborhood with tree-lined streets and Spanish Mediterranean architecture.

The immediate area around the hotel doesn’t have much in terms of restaurants or shops within walking distance—you’ll need a car or Uber to get anywhere. The main commercial strip in Coral Gables (Miracle Mile) is about 5 minutes away by car.

For University of Miami parents weekend, the location works well—it’s close enough to campus that you’re not spending your whole visit in the car, but far enough that you’re staying at a resort-style property rather than a generic hotel near campus. Just plan on driving or using rideshare for everything including meals, since walking to restaurants isn’t really an option.

Lobby

The lobby is the most impressive part of the hotel and the main reason you can tell this place opened in 1926. It’s a massive space with 45-foot vaulted ceilings, hand-painted beams, ornate tile work, and huge arched windows that let in natural light. The Mediterranean Revival architecture still looks great—this is the kind of grand hotel lobby you don’t see built anymore.

The check-in desk sits along one side of the space, and there are sitting areas with period-appropriate furniture scattered throughout. Everything feels authentic to the era rather than recreated, which gives the lobby real character. You’ll also see a lot of decorative tile, antique chandeliers, and architectural details that clearly cost serious money to maintain.

The problem is the contrast between these stunning public spaces and the actual guest rooms. The lobby sets expectations for old-world luxury that the rooms just don’t deliver. You walk through this impressive entrance and then take an elevator to a room that feels dated in all the wrong ways.

Rooms and Suites

The Biltmore has 271 rooms total, including 173 suites spread across the tower. Standard rooms start at 300 square feet, which isn’t huge by resort standards. The hotel describes the color scheme as “plums, silver sage, and regal gold,” which sounds elegant in theory, but it’s actually very dated and heavy.

We stayed in a junior suite, which the hotel lists as 360 square feet and includes a separate sitting area. The layout included a small sitting area with a couch and chairs, as well as a sleeping area with a king bed.

The bathroom was the biggest disappointment. It was extremely dated, with an old tub-shower combination whose finishes had chipped. The kind of wear you’d expect to see fixed immediately at a property charging luxury rates, but clearly hasn’t been addressed. The bathroom looked like it was last renovated 15-20 years ago and has been slowly deteriorating since then.

For what the hotel charges per night, the room quality doesn’t match. You’re paying for the historic building, the location, and the pool—not for modern, updated accommodations.

Restaurants and Bars

The Biltmore has several on-site dining options: Palme d’Or (French fine dining with a Michelin-starred chef), Fontana (Italian restaurant around the courtyard fountain), Cascade at the pool, The 19th Hole near the golf course, a coffee shop, and afternoon tea service in the lobby. We didn’t eat at most of these since we had other plans during parents weekend.

We did have lunch at Cascade by the pool one afternoon, and the food was not very good. It’s standard poolside fare—burgers, sandwiches, salads—but executed poorly. We ended up eating off-property for the rest of our meals.

The Biltmore Bar off the lobby features live jazz nightly, which seems nice if you’re planning to spend evenings at the hotel. We had a drink here one night, and it was very nice.

Spa, Pool and Fitness

The pool is very impressive and easily the best feature of the property. At 23,000 square feet (about 225 by 150 feet), it’s one of the largest hotel pools in the continental United States, holding 600,000 gallons of water.

We used the pool one afternoon during our stay, and it was well-maintained with plenty of loungers available (though that might change during busier seasons).

The fitness center is 10,000 square feet and includes separate areas for cardio and strength training, plus three group exercise studios offering 100+ weekly classes. It has plenty of gym equipment and offers personal training sessions if you want them.

The Biltmore Spa is located on the seventh floor with panoramic views of Coral Gables. It’s a 12,000-square-foot facility that offers the standard luxury spa menu—massages, facials, and body treatments —along with a Himalayan salt stone sauna and an eucalyptus steam room.

Final Thoughts

The Biltmore works well for University of Miami parents weekend if you want to stay at a resort property rather than a generic hotel near campus. The location is convenient—about 10 minutes from campus—and the pool is genuinely impressive. But you need to set your expectations accordingly for the rooms.

The disconnect between the stunning lobby and public spaces versus the dated guest rooms is the biggest issue here. You’re paying luxury hotel rates—easily $400-600+ per night depending on the season—for accommodations that feel more like a mid-tier property that needs a renovation. The extremely dated bathroom with chipped finishes in particular doesn’t match what you should expect at these prices.

If you’re coming to Coral Gables specifically for University of Miami events and value the historic property, iconic pool, and resort atmosphere, the Biltmore delivers on those fronts. Just know you’re paying for the building’s history and the impressive public spaces, not for modern, well-maintained rooms. For a pure leisure trip to Miami, where you want updated luxury accommodations, there are better options at similar or lower prices.

Booking Options

As you can tell from this review, I would not recommend staying here because of the mismatch between price and quality. However, if you are required to stay here, you might as well book a rate that will provide you with some extras, like the Preferred Platinum Partner Rate