Is SLS Brickell (Dua Miami) worth it? Honest pros and cons
Short answer: SLS Brickell (now operating as Dua Miami, Autograph Collection) can be worth it if you want a centrally located, design-forward hotel in Brickell with rooftop pools, event space, and on-site dining. It’s best for urban travelers, wedding/groups, and guests who plan to use the rooftop deck and nearby Brickell amenities; compare current branding, policies, and rates before booking.
In this guide
What changed: the rebrand you should know
The property formerly marketed as SLS Brickell at 1300 South Miami Avenue has been rebranded and now operates as Dua Miami, Autograph Collection. Third-party sites and older listings may still show the SLS name, so confirm the current branding before you book.
Some operational details changed with the rebrand: the official Marriott listing shows a 4:00 pm check-in and 11:00 am check-out, with a minimum lead-guest age of 21. Older SLS-era listings sometimes show different check-in times and ages.
- Address: 1300 South Miami Avenue, Miami, FL (Brickell district).
- Current branding: Dua Miami, Autograph Collection (previously SLS Brickell).
- Confirm check-in policy and times with the property or your booking agent before arrival.
| Item | SLS-era listing | Current Dua Miami listing |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in time | Often showed 3:00 PM (older OTAs) | 4:00 PM (Marriott/Dua Miami) |
| Minimum lead-guest age | Some listings showed 18 | 21 (Marriott/Dua Miami) |
| Brand name | SLS Brickell (many cached listings) | Dua Miami, Autograph Collection |
Location and neighbourhood — who should pick this hotel
The hotel sits in Brickell, Miami’s financial district, within easy walking distance of Brickell City Centre, the Miami Riverwalk, and Metromover connections. Brickell is compact and walkable, best suited to city exploration, restaurants, bars, and shopping rather than beach time.
If you want fast access to South Beach or Key Biscayne beaches by car, those are reachable in roughly 15–25 minutes depending on traffic; Brickell itself fronts Biscayne Bay walking paths but not a swimable ocean beach.
- Walking access: Brickell City Centre, Miami River (about 5–10 minute walk per property copy).
- Transit: Free Metromover nearby for short city trips.
- Airport: Miami International Airport is the nearest major airport; travel times vary with traffic.
| Nearby | Typical time noted |
|---|---|
| Miami River | About 5 minutes on foot (per site) |
| Brickell City Centre / downtown shopping | About 10 minutes on foot |
| South Beach by car | About 15–20 minutes (traffic dependent) |
Rooms and in-room basics
The property’s published room types include Suite, 2 Bedrooms (Lux); Room (Lux); and Studio (Lux). Room configurations list King, Queen, Double, Twin and Queen/Double options depending on the type.
Free Wi‑Fi is available throughout the property. In-room conveniences and services historically included dry cleaning, a front-desk safe, and optional in-room dining; confirm current inclusions with the hotel before arrival.
- Room types (exact names): Suite, 2 Bedrooms (Lux); Room (Lux); Studio (Lux).
- Free Wi‑Fi across rooms and public spaces.
- Some rooms include kitchenettes or dining areas per older descriptions — check the specific room listing.
| Room name | Typical bed options noted |
|---|---|
| Suite, 2 Bedrooms (Lux) | 1 King Bed and 1 Queen Bed OR 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed |
| Room (Lux) | 1 King Bed OR 2 Queen Beds |
| Studio (Lux) | 1 King Bed |
Pools, rooftop lounge, spa and fitness — what to expect
The hotel features two outdoor rooftop pools and a rooftop pool lounge (previously called Altitude Pool & Lounge under the SLS name). Pools, cabanas, umbrellas, and poolside bar service were part of the rooftop offering; cabanas are generally available for an additional fee.
There is a full-service spa and a fitness center; spa hours and exact treatment availability varied across listings and could not be reconciled to a single current schedule, so confirm directly with the property for appointments and offerings.
- Rooftop: two outdoor pools and a poolside bar/lounge with live programming in some reports.
- Cabanas and poolside services often carry additional surcharges.
- Spa and fitness center available; spa treatments and hours vary by source.
| Amenity | Notes |
|---|---|
| Rooftop pools | Two pools on the rooftop terrace; pool programming reported under new ownership |
| Altitude Pool & Lounge | Rooftop pool bar/restaurant offering drinks, DJs and al fresco seating (legacy name) |
| Spa | Full-service spa with steam room historically listed; hours vary across sources |
Dining, nightlife and event space
Historically the property included several on-site venues: Altitude Pool & Lounge on the rooftop, Fi'lia (Italian), Bazaar Mar (José Andrés — seafood), and The Lounge for cocktails. Some of these outlets have closed or changed with the rebrand; verify current restaurant openings and reservations before travel.
The hotel has substantial event space and is frequently used for weddings and meetings. The George Ballroom and other meeting rooms offer a range of capacities and configurations for small meetings up to larger receptions.
- Rooftop dining/drinks: Altitude Pool & Lounge (legacy name) with happy hour and weekend DJ programming on older schedules.
- Event spaces: George Ballroom (4,284 sq ft) plus multiple breakout rooms and large total indoor/outdoor event space reported.
- Weddings: the property has packages and hosts only one wedding per day according to event materials.
| Event room | Size / capacity notes |
|---|---|
| George Ballroom | 4,284 sq ft; listed capacities up to ~300 reception style |
| George I & II / II & III etc. | Multiple divisible ballrooms and meeting rooms with varying capacities |
| Smaller rooms (Clyde, Louie, Cornelius, Albert) | Rooms for board meetings and small breakouts (capacities range from ~25–75 depending on configuration) |
Practical pros and cons — quick checklist
Here are distilled strengths and weaknesses based on published details and the rebrand research to help you decide if this property fits your trip.
Remember: some services, outlet openings, and policies changed when the property rebranded to Dua Miami; always double-check current status before you finalize a booking.
- Pros: Central Brickell location within walking distance of Brickell City Centre and the Miami River; rooftop pools and lounge; substantial event and wedding space; free Wi‑Fi.
- Cons: Property changed branding and some outlets or spa operations may have closed or been renamed; valet parking and cabanas typically cost extra; not a beach hotel (Brickell fronts Biscayne Bay paths, not ocean swimming).
- Good for: business travelers, wedding groups, urban visitors who want rooftop amenities and walkable dining/shopping.
- Less suitable for: travelers seeking a resort-style beachfront stay or guaranteed availability of specific legacy restaurants without checking current status.
| Amenity | Worth noting |
|---|---|
| Pool deck | Two rooftop pools; cabanas and programming reported, fees likely |
| Spa | Full-service historically, but hours and status vary across sources |
| Parking | On-site valet parking available for a fee |
Booking tips and final recommendations
Confirm current branding and policies (Dua Miami vs. SLS Brickell) before you book — many OTAs still show the older SLS listings with different check-in hours and age requirements. The Marriott/Dua Miami page reflects the updated check-in time and minimum lead-guest age of 21.
If rooftop pool access, event space, or a Brickell location are priorities, this property can fit your needs. If you need a guaranteed beach-front stay, look at beach hotels instead. For weddings or large events, contact the events team to confirm capacities, single-wedding-per-day policy, and any included room perks.
- Ask the hotel or your booking agent whether the restaurants you want are open under the new branding.
- Confirm spa hours, pool cabana fees, and valet parking cost before arrival.
- If traveling with children, note the property welcomes guests of all ages but the lead guest must meet the minimum age requirement listed at booking.
| Before you book | Action |
|---|---|
| Branding confusion | Confirm property is listed as Dua Miami, Autograph Collection (or verify SLS-era listing details) |
| Check-in policy | Verify minimum lead-guest age and check-in/check-out times |
| Specific outlets | Call to confirm restaurants, spa services, and rooftop programming are operating |
