The Moore

Condé Nast Traveler

13-06-2025

Why book?
This boutique hotel in the heart of the Design District, Miami's luxury retail hub, is built into the 100-year-old Moore building. It has excellent dining, access to a members-only club, and blue-chip art amidst high-style rooms.
Set the scene
Opened in 2024, this 13-room hotel is nestled inside the four-story landmark Moore building, which also houses a posh coworking space, private club, art gallery, and restaurant on the ground floor. Upon walking inside, you're immediately struck by the Zaha Hadid site-specific installation Elastika that spans the light-filled atrium connecting the different levels with stretches of web-like material. It's both cheeky and iconic.
With all the different elements at play, the building now functions as a clubhouse for the city's creative set to gather over dinner or cocktails, attend cultural programming, take a meeting, or spend the night. Light-filled corridors surround the hotel's central atrium, and as you explores the different floors, a warren of beautifully designed spaces emerge: handsomely designed offices and 'Zoom booths' on the coworking floor, a cozy karaoke room, a speakeasy, cocktail lounges, private dining rooms (the one outfitted in pineapple decor was my favorite), and an indoor courtyard with soaring ceilings and terracotta tile floors. The crowd that circulates through the multiple floors varies from digital nomads and executives with flexible work commitments to artists and fashion lovers who work in the neighborhood's upscale boutiques.
The backstory
The 90,000-square-foot building dates back to the 1920s when architect and entrepreneur David P. Davis built the Art Deco jewel on a former pineapple plantation. Over the years, it served as a furniture showroom and event space, and in 2005, developer and Dacra founder Craig Robins transformed the building into a cultural hub by hosting the inaugural DesignMiami fair there, ushering in a new era for the neighborhood. WoodHouse, a hospitality company, is the developer and operator of the new hotel within the building.
The rooms
Sometimes, in high-concept properties, the finer details can get overlooked. That's not the case here. The residential-style rooms were conceived by Los Angeles firm Studio Collective in collaboration with iCrave and feature an inspired mix of custom furniture, art, and decorative elements by furniture brand Mous and Sossego, a sustainably-focused collection based out of Brazil. The minibar in my suite was stocked with full-sized bottles of liquor and a fancy Chemex pour-over coffee maker. My king-size bed was from Swedish brand Duxiana and delightfully plush with nice, crisp bedsheets, and the shower amenities were the divine-smelling Byredo Mojave Ghost, also Swedish. The rooms all feature oversized soaking tubs and bathrooms outfitted with porcelain slab walls and floors. You're not missing much by booking the cheapest room—the action is in the public areas—but if you feel like splurging, the suites include dining tables and seating areas with boucle-covered sofas.
Food and drink
The main spot here is Elastika, located on the ground floor of the atrium and named after the sculpture that hovers above the impressive dining room. The menu focuses on farm-sourced, modern American cuisine and includes dishes like heirloom tomato gazpacho with house-made focaccia and roasted local mahi with celery root puree and Champagne sauce. Guests of the hotel can also dine on the second-floor balcony restaurant that is part of the members' club. My lunch there included a delicious hen-of-the-woods mushroom pizza and spicy tuna crispy rice from the sushi bar.
The neighborhood/area
If you love art and luxury shopping, this location is an advantage. High-end retailers like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel are all within walking distance, as is the Institute of Contemporary Art. You'll also find a world-class collection of public art and murals scattered across the neighborhood. Wynwood and Downtown Miami are a quick cab ride away, and the beach, though a bit farther, is just over the causeway. For guests who want to stick their toes in the sand, the hotel has partnered with the W South Beach to offer access to beach chairs and service (although you're on your own for transportation to and from the coveted spot).
The service
The staff are warm, friendly, and helpful—from the front desk attendants to the folks who take care of members at the coworking space to the servers in the restaurants.
For families
The hotel caters mostly to an adult crowd and business travelers, but families with small children can book suites that offer separate sleeping quarters.
Eco effort
Both the restaurant and bars work with sustainable, local suppliers whenever possible.
Accessibility
There are elevators and ADA-compliant rooms available.
Anything left to mention?
A major perk of staying at the Moore is the chance to moonlight as a private club member during your stay, and gain access to wonderfully designed spaces like The Courtyard, a chic living room of sorts, featuring museum-quality art and two signature bars: The Banyan Bar, where bubbles and caviar await, and Miwa Sushi Bar, serving sake and Japanese-inspired dishes. There's also a game room, cigar room, photo booth, and The Chapter Room, filled with curated books and art. Weekly programming includes artist talks, musical performances, and fitness events. During city-wide events like Art Basel and Formula 1, the place is a hive of activity.