Unlike Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Dolphins way out in Miami Gardens, or American Airlines Arena, the Heat's home arena in the heart of downtown Miami, the Marlins play in a sort of middle ground. The stadium sits in Little Havana, a neighborhood with its own personality and rhythm. It's close enough to downtown for visitors to catch a game and romp around the city in a single evening, but removed enough that no one need book a hotel room downtown just see the Marlins. All this can make it somewhat confusing to pick the best hotel, or even the best neighborhood, to stay nearby. Here are a handful of hotel options we especially like.
SpringHill Suites
Courtesy of SpringHill SuitesThe accommodations may be basic, but you can walk to the stadium in about 20 minutes from this Marriott offshoot. Just across the river from the stadium in Civic Center, SpringHill Suites provides the bed, pool and breakfast you need in a Miami hotel, and it won't tempt you to stay inside on a beautiful Miami day when you should be out exploring the town.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Miami
1311 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL 33136
Life House Little Havana
For something nearly as close to Marlins Park with a bit more personality, check out Life House. Decorated like "a high-born expeditionist's tropical mansion," as the hotel website puts it, the hotel is outfitted with chic rooms, a Cuban-inspired cafe, and tropical plants galore. Take a stroll through the neighborhood on your way to the Marlins game to get a feel of the real Little Havana neighborhood that inspired the hotel's furnishings and vibe.
528 SW 9th Ave, Miami, FL 33130
Aloft Miami
Courtesy of Aloft MiamiStaying in the bumping Brickell neighborhood means you don't have to cross the Miami River to reach the stadium over in Little Havana. Another Marriott property, the Aloft hotel sits on the west side of Brickell, making it an easy 10 minute drive to the stadium. The vibe is youthful but simple, the W XYZ bar supplies cocktails and bar grub to hungry visitors, and the backyard patio offers a place to relax in South Florida's magnificent weather.
1001 Southwest 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33130
EB Hotel
If your only objective in Miami is to catch a game and get out, it's best to pick one of the many hotels near the airport, and EB is the best of the bunch around MIA. The suites are elegant and armed with soundproof windows to keep out the sounds of planes taking off nearby. Since the hotel is west of the park in Miami Springs, there's no need to worry about downtown traffic here either, and a decent restaurant means you can simply come back to the hotel for a midnight snack after gorging yourself on ballpark hotdogs.
4299 NW 36th St, Miami, FL 33166
Four Seasons
If you're look to optimize convenience and luxury, book a room at the Four Seasons, also in Brickell and also outside the prime madness of downtown. Five-star amenities and plush accommodations make it worth it to stay at any Four Seasons, but the biggest draw of the Miami outpost is the two-acre rooftop pool terrace, which is lined with palm trees, sunbathers and terrific views. We'll know where to find you when you're not at the game.
1435 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
