Dua Miami, Autograph Collection — Hotel in Miami

SLS Brickell is brand new and gorgeous. The amenities are mostly spotless, my original room had a nice view of the city and the robes they provide you with are HEAVENLY. our check-in was seamless, with Carlos the bellhop doing a wonderful job helping us. Great kid with an infectious smile.

Unfortunately, the first and second nights were a disaster. I called in advance to ensure a completely silent room, as my friend and I have very bad sleep problems with noise (any at all.) We had cancelled a reservation at the Kimpton Epic because staff were honest and told us that they could not guarantee a totally silent room. Same conversation was had with the SLS Brickell staff and we were told they could do this for us.

They put us on the 10th floor (which is as high up as the hotel part goes- don't be misled by the sky scraper building as the top half is for residents). We were right across from a nightclub which was so insanely loud, it was terrible! We spent our first night in this gorgeous hotel completely sleepless.

Second day, I asked we be moved to another room. We were moved to a lower down floor, on the same side of the building (still facing the nightclub) and a couple of doors over. The noise was much worse. I called the night manager to tell him and had a very unpleasant experience with Esa (not sure how to spell his name.) He asked if he could come up to our room and exclaimed that he couldn't hear anything after standing in our room for 5 seconds. Well, that's nice, but we wouldnt be calling you to change our room for the third time just for sh*ts and giggles. He did not take us seriously but said he'd look to see what was available.

At first he told me for the time being, there was nothing better available. Then, he said he had a room with one bed (instead of the two doubles we're paying for) in a quieter room. He told me I could sleep on a cot. I said this wasn't acceptable and then he said for the time being, just so I could get some rest, I could stay in that room alone for the night. He called back one minute later to tell me he made a mistake and he couldn't do that. I told him that I was very disappointed, as we had been promised a quiet room, and this was not quiet. He was very rude and raised his voice over the phone, telling me that he couldn't do anything because "he hadn't heard anything" after standing in our room for 5 seconds. Then i began to get angry. I was not looking for confirmation about how loud the room was. If we are reporting a problem and asking to be moved for the third time, there is a PROBLEM. The staff should do everything in their power to make sure it is resolved- whether it's putting us in a fancier suite for the night or moving us to another area of the hotel with silence. I didn't care! I just needed some rest.

At midnight we were moved into this room and I was forced to sleep on the tiniest cot ever. It looked like a small hospital bed with bars on either end. I was exhausted and delirious and lost my phone charger in the move- I went downstairs at around 1 AM to ask if they had any to spare. Instead of suggesting I use the one they have in the room (I forgot this was an option as I hadnt slept in days) he just told me they didn't have anything.

I didn't sleep at all that night either. The next day, I spoke with Day, who was AMAZING. She moved us to a beautiful room on the 10th floor a bit further from the nightclub although we were still facing it. I was nervous because we had very loud neighbors, but the hotel took this seriously and reprimanded them. The rest of our stay was perfect and comfortable. Day is an incredible manager and she really made our stay special.

I enjoyed Ciel spa, the pool areas, and the restaurants. Pool food/drinks are unsurprisingly very overpriced but delicious. I would recommend this hotel, but if you are a light sleeper, proceed with caution. There is no room in that hotel that's completely silent. You will hear every door opening/closing in your hallway. Very thin walls. But overall, we enjoyed the second half of our stay and...

So incredibly disappointed with our stay at the Dua. I travel a great deal (100 nights in a Marriott property in the last 12 months) and we have stayed at a variety of hotels. From the initial reception by valet where I had to find someone working to park cars to inquire about parking my vehicle for $60 a night and then waiting for someone else that could actually take the car and provide a ticket to the woman at the front reception counter, no one could have been less personal. The receptionist was more concerned with the people leaving the property than thoroughly checking us into our room. I could barely understand her accent (European) making it difficult to know where to go and how to get there.

The room was equally as disappointing as the service. It was very small. My knees actually hit the door when seated on the toilet. The door for the toilet doubled as a door for the shower although you couldn't have a door on both at the same time as it was a slider, and you had to choose. The bath vanity was very small and sink faucet was of such a unique design that it took 15 minutes to determine how to turn it on and how to change from hot to cold.

There was one very small chair at a table under the television. Aside from that the bed was the only other furniture in the room. There was no refrigerator but a fully stocked mini bar where an incredibly small bottle of vodka could be had for just $60! The menu of items available lists everything from snacks to power chargers and alcohol but the prices were astronomical.

We ventured to the pool and spa in the afternoon. Beautifully designed there are three pools and two Jacuzzis with a small bar. Surprisingly, the drinks were reasonably priced for Miami....far less than making your own with the mini bar in the room. All that having been said, right next door, literally a stone's throw from the chase lounge chairs, is a construction site where they are building another high rise. Complete with cranes, workers and jack hammers, the noise and dirt blowing to the pools was more than one could bare.

To top off the stay, we returned from dinner with a tip from our guests on a new Netflix series that we decided to watch. I turned on the television and was instantly confused. The customary process is to snap a picture of the Netflix UR code on the screen and log into the account on my iPhone. Not at the Dua. Here you must download an app, access your Netflix account through the APP and stream through their Wi-Fi to the television. When I called the desk, the woman that answered said I am sorry I am new and can only tell you what I know about the streaming which isn't much. She phoned back to walk me through the instructions and had a terrible speaking problem. She could only talk over me and apparently was born without the ability to listen at all. Poor Girl! I was trying to tell her that not only did the WiFi not work but that the APP could not be downloaded to my phone. She could not grasp this, so I simply hung up.

For the cost of a room here I would stay at any of another two dozen or more hotels for a much better experience. They do not understand that they are in the HOSPITALITY business, not the hotel business. There was nothing hospitable about our stay and we will simply choose to stay elsewhere in the future. Perhaps the Springhill Suites or Residence Inn that has managed to install smart televisions for streaming in their discount rooms would have been a better selection. Aside from telling everyone you stayed at an Autograph Collection hotel in Miami I really see absolutely NO benefit for the premium price for...

I really wish I could have liked this place more but being honest, it’s a 3/5.

Looks great on TikTok, not built for real life

I stayed at Dua Miami for 10 nights on a work trip. This place photographs beautifully and has big “TikTok hotel” energy. If you’re looking for cool lighting, dramatic mirrors, and an Instagram story moment, this place delivers. If you need to work, sleep, or function like an adult, it gets trickier.

What worked The bed was genuinely comfortable. Housekeeping kept the room spotless. The TV was easy to use and casting worked well.

Room design Visually striking, but not meant for actual use. There are mirrors everywhere, including behind the bed, on the bathroom door, and along the walls. It feels less like a hotel room and more like a set for a fitness influencer GRWM reel. The sink splashes everywhere. Storage is either too small or broken. The desk is more of a shelf with aspirations. Outlets are placed wherever you don’t need them.

Work and rest Not a place for business travel. The layout isn’t functional and the room doesn’t support working comfortably. Noise from the street starts around 5 AM and doesn’t really stop. If you’re hoping for a peaceful night, bring earplugs and a sleep playlist.

Service I requested early check-in multiple times before my stay. One week before arrival, then again two days before, one day before, and the morning of. I never received any response. When I showed up, the front desk acted like it was the first time they were hearing about it. As a Marriott Titanium member, I wasn’t expecting special treatment, just the bare minimum communication.

Food and drink The avocado toast is $20 and comes as a single overloaded slice of bread on a plate too small to hold it. It falls apart the moment you touch it. Would it kill them to serve two slices of bread on a normal plate? Orange juice is $10. The presentation tries to be upscale, but the execution is sloppy and inconvenient.

Service is slow and passive. You have to flag someone down for basics like cream, ketchup, napkins, or even the check. The staff are polite but verbal communication skills need polishing, which makes even simple requests take longer than they should. No one checks in after food is served, and there’s no effort to anticipate what a guest might need. If I order coffee, ask if I want cream. Don’t just assume I drink it black. This isn’t a five-star experience. It barely rises to the level of an airport Starbucks.

To top it off, birds regularly fly through the restaurant. It’s not charming. It’s unsanitary. The whole setup feels more like a concept café than a functioning hotel restaurant.

Parking Valet only at $60/night. There’s a garage across the street for a $50/night.

Final thoughts This is the kind of place that looks incredible in a 12-second video but starts to unravel the moment you try to live in it. All aesthetic, not much function. Probably great for a quick couples weekend/content trip. Not recommended for anyone who needs peace, service, or a flat surface...