We arrived at the King & Grove Tides at the tail end of the SoBe Wine and Food Festival on a Sunday afternoon, spending the previous 2 nights in quiet downtown Miami. The streets were packed with people, and as the hotel is located right on Ocean Drive with no dedicated driveway, the taxi had to stop in the middle of the street to allow us to disembark with our luggage. Even before getting to the hotel, we could hear the sound of music playing from a few blocks away, and as we eventually arrived, it became clear that the source of the noise was to be right next door to our hotel. Based on previous reviews, we were aware that the hotel is flanked by bars on either side, which did not deter us from booking, however we didn't quite realise that the music would be playing at such an early time of the day. Sadly, our first impression of the hotel played a big part in our decision to remain.

We were greeted at reception by a lovely lady called Fabiola, who was extremely courteous and accommodated our request to be placed the highest floor available within our category having become aware of the noise. She escorted us to our room, which was to be located on the fourth floor and had views of the ocean, though a bit hazy due to dirty windows. Despite the double glazing, the noise from the downstairs bar was still very audible. Fabiola asked us to get settled and see how we would get on.

The room was spacious, with a generously-sized walk-in wardrobe, bathroom with a separate WC and a large comfortable bed. However, the room didn't smell fresh, but had a lingering musky scent. The bathroom fittings looked tired and dated. You could see mould starting to creep into the mirrored tiles above the sink, and the temperature mixer for our shower was also not properly affixed, and would come off if you turned it the wrong way. Even worse, the bath screen, although made of glass and looking smart, was installed so poorly that there was a near 10mm gap between the edges, which should normally abutt and form a sealed area to prevent water sifting through. Hence, after I had finished taking a shower and was stepping out of the tub, I nearly slipped as a massive water puddle had formed beside the tub. I rang reception to inform them of the problem, and they sent a maintenance person to our room to examine the situation. His explanation was that unfortunately, we were assigned a room designed for wheelchair access, and hence the shower screen had to be installed as a bi-fold mechanism. It would appear that other rooms had a different shower layout. Against our first impression earlier, the incessant pounding of music coming from the downstairs bar, this issue with the leaking shower was the final nail in the coffin. My husband and I decided this was really not the right place for us and we decided to check out after our first night.

We proceeded to reception and it must be said that Fabiola and the rest of the staff were not only very understanding, but also apologetic. She honoured our request to check-out after one night, having booked a 4-night stay as part of a special promotion, without imposing any penalty. She also kindly offered to find us an alternative room at an even higher floor, but we simply felt it was best to find accommodation elsewhere, away from the loud bars.

The music stopped at around 11:30 pm, and with the help of a pair of earplugs, we managed to get a decent night sleep. From 7 am in the morning, the hotel provides complimentary tea, coffee and fresh croissants in the lobby, which we enjoyed while sitting on the terrace.

We couldn't possibly fault the hotel for its unfortunate location - and no doubt even the staff would love to be in a position to provide a tranquil and quiet environment for its guests. Their poise and professionalism given the circumstances is commendable. That said, I would expect that at nearly $700/night for a regular stay, the hotel would make every effort to ensure all of the in-room amenities are in proper working order and greater care is taken to achieve the highest standard of cleanliness.

I just got back to Dallas but my heart and mind are still @ King & Grove.. The hotel service is impeccable as well as the finish, quality and design! Breakfast, coffee and Wi-fi are all free which is nice to see and should be standard in this price range. The VALET is one of the best in the country and his name is Alan! If you want a 5 STAR yet personal not big box experience right in the middle of the action, this is your getaway! It was pretty quiet on the 3rd floor overlooking the ocean! So dont think twice about booking at Delano, FB, Satai etc etc.. You found the right one @ King & Grove Tides!

We've stayed here several times, but it has been a few years since our last visit. We love the location--it's just at the north edge of the noisy part of South Beach. As others have pointed out, sometimes the noise spills over, but it's also fun to walk just south of the hotel past the Versace mansion and absorb the South Beach vibe, something some of the hotels further north miss out on.

We were in the second day of a planned 4 day stay when we found out we would have to leave early due to an emergency at home. The Tides was very nice about changing our plans at the last minute. Throughout our short stay we enjoyed great service, and it's nice that they don't surcharge you for everything--the bottle water, wifi, and beach chairs and umbrellas are all included.

We'll definitely be back soon.

My first reaction on walking into this hotel was 'thank god'. The hotel is exquisitely designed in a way that is posh and comfortable at the same time-- no stiff ambience or garish faux-designy stuff in the way that many hotels err. The first floor especially is just a treat to be in: lovely bar, tables, couches, even the bathrooms feel good. The bedroom is the same way: wonderfully comfortable and stylish at the same time. Excellent job with the design. I spent a lot of time in the restaurant and wasn't as impressed with the service there as I was with the decor: service was slow and sometimes nonexistent, and definitely not professional at the level the hotel suggests it might be. I was disappointed with the wine menu which served mainly California wines by the glass-- I imagine the heavily European clientele might get frustrated with that as I did. But service issues aside I would say that this is one of the better beachside hotels I've been to and I am a big fan of what they've done with the spaces and general vibe of the hotel.