Casa Cañita, a new boutique hotel conceived by designer Nicolette Bernstein in collaboration with chef Michelle Bernstein and partners Orestes Pajon, Davide Borgia, and David Martinez, is now open on historic Ocean Drive in Miami Beach.
At its core, Casa Cañita is a deeply personal and transportive hospitality experience rooted in the cultural legacy of sugarcane, inspired by Cuba’s Golden Age, and interpreted through a modern Miami Beach lens.
“To me, Casa Cañita began as a vision of a home somewhere in the Caribbean, shaped by memory, culture, and gathering,” said Nicolette Bernstein in a statement. “From sugarcane comes rum, from rum comes music, and from music comes connection. This project is about bringing that story to life in a way that feels layered, personal, and entirely immersive.”
To bring that vision full circle, Nicolette partnered with her sister, James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein, whose culinary perspective anchors the experience in authenticity and flavor.
Located just steps from the beach, Casa Cañita builds on the spirit of La Cañita and expands it into a fully realized world of its own: a celebration of Cuba’s Golden Age, expressed through design, music, and a sense of place that feels both nostalgic and entirely new.
Located at 1200 Ocean Drive and 12th Street, Casa Cañita features 24 guest rooms, ranging from ocean view kings to a two-bedroom, two-bathroom ocean front suite each uniquely designed.
With interiors led by Nicolette Bernstein, the property is intentionally residential in feel, rooted in the idea of being welcomed into a home rather than checked into a hotel.
Oversized velvet beds sit atop turned wooden legs lacquered in coral tones, subtly referencing the ocean just across the street. Handmade chairs from Nicaragua evoke collected pieces from local mercados, while botanical wallpaper, layered textures, and vintage artwork create warmth and depth throughout.
Hallways enveloped in dark wainscoting and bespoke tropical prints offer a moody, transportive contrast
At the heart of Casa Cañita is La Cañita, the restaurant that inspired the hotel and continues to define its energy.
The menu draws from regions shaped by sugarcane production across the Caribbean and Latin America, creating a layered expression of cuisine that feels both rooted and globally influenced.
Dishes range from croquetas and empanadas to slow-braised ropa vieja, pulled oxtail pasta with truffle, and citrus-forward seafood preparations. Shareable plates like conch fritters, jerk-spiced chicken wings, and marinated shrimp reflect the diversity of the region, while staples are reinterpreted with depth and refinement.
The bar program centers around rum and sugarcane-driven spirits, with a range of mojitos from guava and passionfruit to mango alongside signature cocktails and elevated classics grounded in Caribbean cocktail heritage.
Each evening, live music featuring percussion, guitar, maracas, and flute flows from the dining room onto Ocean Drive.
At Casa Cañita, whether it’s an intimate escape or a moment worth marking, guests can elevate their stay with curated experiences including private cigar rolling sessions, cocktail-making classes rooted in Cuban tradition, and dance lessons that bring the rhythm of the Caribbean to life.
The La Vida Cañita package pairs overnight accommodations with a Cuban Caribbean tasting menu at La Cañita.
At night, hotel guests can stream live nightly performances at La Cañita, directly to their in-room televisions allowing them to engage with the music and ambiance on their own terms, whether in private or as part of the nightly rhythm below.
In each guest room, a fully integrated lighting system allows guests to intuitively shift the atmosphere, from soft daylight to more intimate evening tones, mirroring the natural rhythm of the day or the mood they wish to create. Bathrooms carry this sensibility further, with adjustable ambient lighting designed to feel both seductive and immersive, offering a more sensorial approach to daily rituals. Comfort is equally considered, with features such as heated Toto washlet systems seamlessly integrated into select bathrooms.
Directly across Ocean Drive, guests enjoy beach access, with their room key unlocking chairs and umbrellas just steps from the sand. For a more curated experience, picnic packages from La Cañita can be arranged for afternoons along the shoreline or exploring South Beach.
With just 24 rooms, the property can become entirely yours, accommodating up to 60 guests across the hotel, with La Cañita’s restaurant, open air patio, and private dining room ideal for intimate gatherings and spirited celebrations, steps from South Beach.
For more information or to book, please visit www.casacanita.com.
