I lived at Elysee Miami for eight months. Mid-40s floor, three-bed corner. We moved from Brickell because we wanted the bay and a bit more calm. (For a deeper dive into floor plans, amenities, and current listings, check out the Elysee condos in Miami Edgewater page.) Before that, I’d logged fourteen months at The Ivy along the Miami River, so the jump north felt like swapping boat horns for seabirds. Did we get it? Yes. Mostly.
Walking In: That Private Foyer Moment
The elevator was private. It opened to our own little foyer. No neighbors staring at your takeout. I liked that. When we opened the front door, the bay hit me first—wide, blue, and a little smug. On clear mornings, I could spot the cruise ships sliding out like they owned the place. I’d make a simple cafecito at 6:45, lean on the kitchen island, and just… breathe.
The ceilings felt high. The windows ran wall to wall. The kitchen had real muscle—big fridge, sturdy burners, and a vent hood that didn’t give up when we fried snapper. Storage was fine, not great. Think “Miami sleek,” not “Midwest pantry.”
And the balcony? It wrapped the corner like a hug. On windy days, you’d get a salty spray, light but real. My outdoor chair legs rusted a bit by month three. Welcome to bay life.
The Good Stuff That Kept Us Smiling
- Sunrise pool for laps, sunset pool for lazing. I used the sunrise side after school drop-off. Calm. No loud music. Just gulls.
- The gym faced the water. Treadmill with a view makes a 5K feel shorter. It was busy at 7 p.m., empty at 2 p.m.
- The steam and sauna actually worked. Not lukewarm. Hot-hot.
- The wine and dining room? We booked it for my sister’s birthday. Twelve people, long table, and a chef we hired. It felt like a movie, but the kind where you still laugh and spill sauce.
- The little theater room saved one rainy Saturday. We watched Moana and ate empanadas in the dark like kids.
- The kids’ room had soft floors and big blocks. On stormy afternoons, it was a gift.
- Work-wise, the library was quiet enough for calls. I snagged a corner seat to review a brand deck. No one bothered me.
- Staff mattered. Daniel at the front desk learned our names in a week. Valet found my car key fob after I dropped it in the trunk (at 11:40 p.m.—I felt dumb, they were kind).
Packages were a whole saga during Art Basel. The room was full, but they found my canvas print in ten minutes. Small miracles.
Let’s Talk Location: Edgewater Rhythm
Elysee sits by the water, away from the Brickell grind. It’s firmly set in Edgewater, which gives it a slightly slower pulse than Brickell yet keeps you close to the action. We walked to Margaret Pace Park on Sunday mornings. Right by the park, the 1800 Club rises with its own pool-deck views—worth a look if you’re comparing Edgewater towers. The bay breeze made it feel cooler than it was. We grabbed pastelitos from a little spot on Biscayne and ate them on a bench. Crumbs. Laughs. Birds eyeing us.
If you’re mapping out your own places to explore around the bay, Miami For Visitors has neighborhood cheat sheets that make planning stupid-easy.
Wynwood was 10 minutes by Uber. Design District was closer. Trader Joe’s in Midtown handled the weekly haul. If you time it wrong, Biscayne gets jammed, especially after 4:30 p.m. Scooters whiz by like they’re in a video game. You learn to look twice.
The Part I Didn’t Love (But Lived With)
- Noise spiked on weekends. Boats in the bay thumped reggaeton. During Ultra week, the bass carried across the water at night. Not loud inside, but you could feel it if you listened.
- Construction popped up on random corners. Beeping, hammering, then quiet again. That’s Miami right now.
- Elevators were fast, but move-in days slowed them down. Twice I waited seven minutes. Not drama, just annoying.
- Guest parking wasn’t cheap. Family learned to Uber.
- Our AC worked hard in August. The system kept up, but the electric bill nudged up. Salt air is no joke.
- The balcony got hot around 2 p.m. in summer. A simple shade helped, but I still retreated inside.
- HOA fees? High. Beautiful building, high service, high cost. We felt it each month.
One little quirk: hot water in the primary shower took a minute to wake up in the early morning. After 7 a.m., it was fine. Not a dealbreaker, but I noticed.
Storm Days and Small Wins
We had one loud thunder day. The glass didn’t rattle. The power flickered once, and the generator clicked on right away. Elevators kept running. I felt safe. I actually made soup and watched sheets of rain sweep across the bay. It looked like a gray curtain moving toward Miami Beach.
On a windy Friday, we saw a pair of dolphins arc by the seawall. Short show, but it made my week.
Community Vibe
It wasn’t a party building. People said hi in the elevator, then got quiet. Families, snowbirds, and folks who work from home. Dogs were everywhere, and there’s a wash station downstairs. The dog area on-site is small, so we still walked to the park. Worth it.
If you want the club scene downstairs, this isn’t it. If you want to read on a couch with a bay view, you’re good.
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A Quick Reality Check
- Book the dining room early for holidays. It fills fast.
- Bring balcony furniture that can handle salt air. Or buy covers. Trust me.
- Plan grocery deliveries for mid-day. Mornings got busy. The cold storage helped with milk and yogurt.
- If you’re a light sleeper, keep the bedroom door closed on Ultra weekend. Or lean into it and pretend you’re at the show.
My Favorite Little Moments
- 3:05 cafecito on the balcony when the sea breeze comes back. Miami folks know that hour.
- Laps at sunrise when the sky goes cotton candy pink.
- Watching tiny sailboats zigzag on windy Sundays. It looks like a postcard. A little cheesy. I still loved it.
Who It’s For
- View people. If the water calms you, this fits.
- Remote workers who want quiet spaces and a real gym.
- Families who like high service and good security.
- Folks who want Miami energy near them, not on top of them.
Final Take
Elysee Miami felt like a calm, glassy ship on the bay. The staff cared. The amenities weren’t just pretty; we actually used them. The price was high and the noise had moments, yes. But the balance worked for us.
Would I live there again? Honestly, yes—if the budget allowed and I still craved those easy mornings over the water. The view didn’t get old. Not once.