The National Hotel Reviews

After visiting several venues in Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, we decided to venture into South Beach, and once we saw The National
Hotel, we never looked back. From the moment you pull past the hyperrealistic Carole Feuerman ballerina statue and into the National’s roundabout, you enter into a refined, art deco-style paradise you won’t experience in other parts of South Beach. The lobby smells great and has ornate design and artwork featuring 20th century movie stars. As you walk through the lobby to the patio, you’ll be taken aback by Mareva 1939, the hotel’s delicious, Spanish-style restaurant.

As if the hotel’s beautiful interior wasn’t enough, we were amazed by the pooldeck, featuring the longest infinity edge pool in Miami Beach. The National’s team was very patient in walking us through all of the event’s layout and answering our questions. Once we discovered The National
Offered packages that included security, the cocktail hour appetizers, multiple courses, linens, Chiavari chairs, tables, the cake, and a complimentary night’s stay we were sold!

We were able to choose from several menus, and then to taste those items during a personalized experience with Ivette and Chef Sergio. The food was absolutely delicious. For our cocktail reception, we had Chicken Empanadas with Chimichurri Sauce, Vegetarian Spring Rolls, Sweet Chili Dressing, Spanish Shrimp Skewer with Red Pepper and Lobster Salad with Celery Lemon Mayo and Open Brioche Sliced. For our first entree we had Heirloom Tomatoes and Burrata Salad with Basil and Olives, and we offered Braised Short Ribs, Boniato Purée, Wild Mushrooms, Baby Kale, Panfried Salmon, Creamy Quinoa, Sundried Tomatoes, grilled artichokes and pan-seared chicken breast with wild mushroom rice, grilled green onions and port reduction for the second entree options. For dessert, we chose vanilla cake with buttercream and dulce de leche frosting and funfetti cake with cream cheese frosting from Earth and Sugar.

Throughout our planning process, Ivette and her team were very patient and accommodating. Ivette not only answered all of our questions, but provided the National’s preferred vendor list, which made planning a destination wedding a lot easier to manage.

Luciana was a joy to work with in managing our room block, and we and our guests found the rooms comfortable, unique, and charming. The concierge and bellhop team were very helpful as we loaded decor in and out of the hotel.

We cannot recommend The National Hotel more highly, 10 out of 5 stars!

Ivette and the team at The National Hotel made my husband's and my wedding beyond special. The venue is stunning, the wedding suite is palatial and Ivette is a godsend. Thanks for dealing with my Groomzilla moments with grace and for being continually accommodating. You helped make our special day one we will cherish forever.
(Photos by the talented Lenisse Komatsu)

Our son's wedding at The National Hotel was everything and more than we had imagined. Because of COVID-19, we went from a 50-guest to a 30-guest event. At first we were bummed but, in no time at all, we went from feeling sorry for ourselves to feeling sorry for everyone who backed out. The staff took care of our every need. And, it wasn't just the service; everyone was genuine and hospitable. Now that the event is past, we can't get over how amazing the pictures are. The glamorous, art-deco theme, the rich foliage surrounding the pools, the romantic lighting in all of the outdoor gathering spaces proved to be the perfect backdrop for an elegant, celebratory event that our family and close friends will be talking about for years to come. The National Hotel was the perfect place for all of us!

We had our after party pool party here after my wedding and it was INCREDIBLE! My guests still can’t stop talking about it! Ivette made it super easy to organize and was so accommodating! The food was incredible and the drinks! Everyone was living it up in the sun and their amazing pool! It was just amazing!

Ivette Davalos and her team at the National Hotel made our wedding day a perfect day!!!! When we started planning for our wedding, we decided we wanted a fully outdoor wedding ceremony and reception. We did our research and visited a few hotels that provided that. Every other hotel either had an unresponsive events coordinator, or they couldn't accommodate a fully outdoor party or their food/beverage packages couldn't be modified. On my first visit to the National, I was blown away by Ivette's professionalism and kindness and the beautiful outdoor space of the hotel. It was literally, love at first sight. Pictures don't do justice how beautiful this hotel is during the day and at night.
Ivette was an absolute pleasure to work with! She was always available for anything we needed. She customized the food/beverage package to exactly what we wanted. The weekend of our wedding, her and her staff were very accommodating to us and all our family/friends that visited from out of town and stayed at the hotel. Her and her staff ended up taking care of setting everything up, which was not part of the plan. But like she said to us, she wanted to make sure everyone enjoyed the day. The food and the service was spectacular, just like it was the day of our tasting.
Ivette, thank you for all the hard work you put towards making sure our day was perfect!!!!

We had our destination wedding in Miami (we're from the UK and have never been to Miami before), which meant planning our wedding was quite tricky as we had to do everything via email and we couldn't visit anywhere before the event

After looking at lots of photographs, doing lots of internet research and relying heavily on Wedding Wire, I found The National Hotel. We had some really specific ideas about how we wanted our venue to be, and Ivette at The National wanted to make it all possible for us right from the start. We wanted a morning wedding, drinks beforehand, a beach ceremony followed by outdoor cocktail hours with free flowing drinks and food which was easy to eat whilst standing up (just to name a few). Plus our wedding was taking place mid-week, shortly after Miami Music week had finished which meant the hotel and the staff had been very busy.

Ivette was always so positive, quick to reply and nice to work with, which helped us to decide on The National quite quickly. She made the entire planning process an exciting delight, even up to the day before when we had the cake topper lost in the mail. Staff at The National made us a cake topper by hand out of copper wire, on the night before our wedding...such care and attention, which we really appreciated!

Everything was perfect and the venue was a dream come true. I believe that it was mostly due to Ivette, she was incredible! Thank you Ivette, and all staff at The National for helping to make our wedding exceptional!

My husband and I traversed the country looking for the perfect venue for our destination wedding for 120 people, and we found that at the National Hotel, right on Collins Avenue in South Beach, Miami.

We worked directly with Ivette from across the country, and she was truly amazing. I absolutely loved her level of professionalism and the fact cares so much about the finer details as I do. She loves her job and you can tell, she is brilliant at it.

With regards to the wedding itself, we had an outdoor wedding reception for 120 people and it was nothing short of breathtaking. We enjoyed a magical evening underneath swaying palm trees and danced with the sea breeze on our back. Not only was the venue fantastic but the food, drinks, and staff were terrific as well. We, in fact, had guests stay on after the wedding as they enjoyed the hotel and hospitality so much.

We are beyond thrilled with Ivette and her team at the National and the service for our wedding. We were given amazing treatment both the night before the wedding and the night of. We had everything outside and the hotel accommodated all of our requests. We were able to stay outside until close to midnight with out DJ and it was a blast. I would do it all over again. It was such a relief to have everything in one place and run smoothly and under control. Our wedding planner worked closely with Ivette to ensure everything worked out and it was just perfect.

I could not be more impressed with the National and with Ivette, their in-house wedding coordinator. We had our ceremony, cocktails, and reception at the National, and had our guests stay there as well. Truly phenomanal service all around-- they really know what they are doing! The food was spectacular (we went with the buffet-- beef currasco, mahi, rice and beans, plantains, heart of palm salad, etc.) and they even specially make pastelitos for a little late night snack, which were OUTSTANDING! When the unexpected happened (the Delano threw a bumpin' pool party without a permit from the city), Ivette was on it with a great backup plan for our outdoor ceremony, and we moved to the opposite end of the pool and had a gorgeous, super intimate ceremony that I absolutely loved. Ivette came to me with a solution in hand, which made my life so easy-- all I had to do was say yes! We also had to move the band area (lest they be drowned out by the Delano's music) and the whole National team was quick to accomodate and get everything re-organized. No one had any idea that anything was out of place or not according to our plan! We had an amazing night under the stars and felt totally taken care of every step along the way. I cannot recommend enough that you treat yourself and your guests to an amazing wedding at the National!

From the moment I walked into the National Hotel I knew it was the hotel that I was going to get married in! The hotel and the grounds are absolutely gorgeous. The art deco theme inside and laid back/relaxed feel of the pool area is the perfect location for a wedding. We got married on 5/12/2018. For the food- we were able to custom pick for a Latin feel to our 115 people reception. The food was fantastic! Guests could not stop talking about the Live paella/ and steak with chimichurri. The food was served HOT, there was PLENTY of food, and the staff did a fantastic job of getting people up and avoiding lines!! The Brunch the next day for 60 people was also delicious! People are saying it was their favorite wedding food EVER! The wedding coordinator Ivette was super nice, responsive, professional and easy to work with. She answered all questions/concerns in a timely manner. Unfortunately due to rain we had to move the event inside at the LAST minute- BUT because of the excellence of Ivette and all staff no one knew this was even a back- up plan! All details (and believe me I had a lot!) were moved inside and done perfectly- I would not have changed a thing! The package that the National Hotel has with outside vendors allows you to choose from a variety of linens/ tables and chairs- so you are able to put your own touch to the event! All staff were very professional. Bartenders/ servers all knew about the wedding and made all guests feel important and taken care of during their stay. The upper management was also super involved and helpful. Yaser (The general Manager) went out of his way to make sure everything during our stay was perfect!! Nicole (Director of sales) was super helpful and attentive especially during the planning process and helping my parents in finalizing some details for their stay. Overall everything was executed perfectly, we would not have changed a thing and we cannot wait to go back!! We highly recommend The National Hotel!!
Cesar and Meg

We just got married at the National on January 14 and everything was perfect!! We are from NYC and had 80 of our closest friends and family stay at the National for the week of our wedding. Everyone knew it was our big day and treated our guests like royalty! Yaser and his team truly understand how to throw an amazing wedding and we’re attentive and patient every step of the way!!! I am so so happy we had our wedding at the National and can’t wait to go back again! If you are looking for an intimate wedding where you leave feeling like the staff is family, choose the National!

If you’re planning on getting married here, think again. My parents spent close to 30k so that when it came time to take pictures next to the scenic pool and hotel scapes, I had to wait in line like it was a fucking buffet. Another bride was allowed to take pictures on the premises by the event coordinator on MY wedding day. I was humiliated when we had to delay our photos because the other woman and her photog wouldn’t leave. When the event coordinator was confronted, she simply said that she didn’t think it was a problem, and that she thought they would have left before we arrived. Spend your money elsewhere.

The National Hotel hosted our beach wedding, cocktail hour, and reception last weekend. We booked them 1) because this GORGEOUS venue fit our Great Gatsby theme perfectly, and 2) their wedding package is very inclusive and INCREDIBLY reasonable in price - especially for South Beach.

Things did not start out smoothly. We booked in January for an October wedding. February - June were very stressful months because The National changed their catering/event manager twice. Both times I had to contact the hotel directly in order to find out about the staffing changes. Each time, I'd connect with their new event manager for a week or two, and then get ghosted until finding out about the staff change. By July, I was at my wits' end with the staffing uncertainties and it was too late to book another venue....

Thankfully, Rose Figueroa, their newest event manager reached out to me in July and soothed my frazzled nerves. Rose is FANTASTIC - she's professional, organized, easy to contact, and charming! She has a great eye for planning, and thought of many details I'd have missed. As a result, our wedding day looked like a bridal magazine editorial that you'd favorite on Pinterest. The food, bar, decor, and honeymoon suite were all wonderful, as promised. Rose and her staff were also very accommodating of everyone's needs - even one unruly guest I didn't know about (Sorry, Rose!).

Overall, this hotel is a gem of a wedding venue. I'm surprised that they aren't getting more good reviews or press. Maybe the past staffing changes have something to do with it? Thanks to Rose and her team, our wedding turned out better than I could have ever imagined. As is, I highly recommend having your wedding at The National!

This venue is absolutely beautiful and we were ultimately very happy in the end. Definitely some frustrations along the way. Make sure you're as clear and detailed as possible when communicating with both the catering and reservation teams (if you're doing a room block).

There is no better place in South Beach than getting married at the National Hotel. Wedding Ceremony can be done on the beach as a beach wedding (thats what we did and it was great) or by the pool area, they even have a rain back-up on the terrace or inside. From the first moment on we have been taken care of. When getting married in this hotel, you are treated like a VIP - there is only one wedding, so no other brides around. The hotel special rates for family and friends to stay at the same hotel are fair for South Beach, rooms are great and food is amazing. Allow yourself a massage by the pool - priceless. The entire staff at the hotel were aware of our wedding and did everything possible so that our day was perfect. Catarina - the event planner - was the best! Without her, we wouldn't have had the perfect wedding we had after all!!!! Go for it, you will not regret it!

We had visited several venues including other hotels before we met with Catarina at the National. We fell in love with the National within minutes and didn't want to look at any other venue. The National is breathtaking and fit with our vision perfectly. It also provided amazing photo opportunities for our first look. Catarina and the whole team were wonderful to work with throughout the planning process and took amazing care of us during our stay. We really felt like royalty! We had our rehearsal dinner on the terrace and treated our out of town family to a brunch on Sunday. Our guests raved about the food and service. We also had a few food allergies that needed to be accommodated and they were beyond helpful in taking care of us. It was a perfect wedding weekend. We would highly recommend the National and hope we can return sometime soon. Thank you, Catarina and the National team!

Yaser, the General Manager and Catarina, the catering manager, were great. The place is wonderful! The only issue was that they forgot to give our guests the souvenirs we had for them at the end of the event.

The event was great. My only complaint of the evening (and should have addressed it at the time) was we ran out of white wine 30 minutes before the event was scheduled to be over. We had paid for open premium bar and this should never happen. Always better to have more than enough and return what is not consumed.

We had an absolutely magical wedding at the National. Our 120 guests arrived Friday for a welcome reception held on the patio, Saturday we had the wedding and reception poolside, and lastly on Sunday we treated our guests to a breakfast buffet at the hotel. The staff at the National made our entire group feel special, pampered, and exclusively catered to. If you are looking for an absolutely gorgeous venue with the most relaxed and logistics free location I highly recommend Catarina and the National. Our guests are still raving about the most beautiful destination wedding they've ever been to!

We searched plenty of venues and reviewed packages and more packages and the National was the best choice for us. Our package included linens, cake, food, bar, Chavari chairs and all the settings but best of all it included MICHELLE (our wedding coordinator). Honestly, throughout the entire process she was very professional. She provided years of experience and was very flexible to work with. The weeks leading to our wedding we provided her with all our final details from vendors, seating charts and bridal party information and she ran with it. During our wedding rehearsal she took full control and was very calm and collective in dealing with some of our guests.

The hotel itself is beautiful the 205ft pool is the setting for spectacular photos. This Art Deco hotel left our guests very impressed. The staff during the reception was very attentive and provided excellent service.

The vendors included in our package were just as wonderful to work with; Elegant Temptations (cake) and Gables Linens.

We highly recommend this location.

We had an absolutely amazing time having our wedding at the National. From the minute we walked in for information and to tour the hotel until the very end, every minute was handled professionally and with so much fun. The food was so good, and I know that our guests had a blast!

Planning a wedding in Miami is very expensive. I was so close to just eloping until I found the National Hotel. I had both ceremony and reception at the National. Michelle was amazing!!!!! She was there for me at all hours, very responsive and warm. The entire staff was wonderful and respectful. Michelle managed the coordination 100% and was a pleasure to work with. Without her I don't know how my day would've been. I am very happy I chose the National.

The National Hotel was the perfect venue for my wedding. I love the Art Deco style and I love that it has been renovated so the furniture and colors are rich and sophisticated. (Not flamingo pink and turquoise blue).

Everyone associated with the hotel was polite and attentive the entire day not just during the festivities. Huge praise must go to the social catering manager Michelle. Not only did she handle all of the details before the wedding, she was also the day of coordinator. The day of the wedding she was so calm. I didn't have to stress about anything. I can't sing her praises enough.

I looked around for months for the right venue that didn't break our budget and being such a small, intimate wedding several other places wanted to stick us in a small room in the back where my guests would have to use an entrance separate from the beautiful grand entrance reserved for their larger parties that would be booked the same night. The National books one event per day and I had my choice of locations within the hotel for both the wedding and the reception. We chose the Aqua pool for both but the indoor spaces were gorgeous and available in case it rained.

I had the most perfect wedding at the National. Michelle, Julio and the entire National Hotel staff 100% bent over backwards for my entire wedding group! They even upgraded our room to one of the most fabulous suites on the property. The food was wonderful and the party was perfect. All of my guests will be returning to the National when they come to South Beach and of course, we will. Thanks again to everyone at the National for making our wedding the best day of our lives!