Una Residences and Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove are the two most prominent bayfront luxury developments in South Miami right now. Both sit on Biscayne Bay, both target ultra-high-net-worth buyers, and both deliver exceptional product. But they are fundamentally different buildings designed for different lifestyles. Here is an honest breakdown.
How Do the Locations Compare?
Una is located at the southern edge of Brickell, directly on the bay. It’s closer to the financial district, Brickell City Centre, and the Metrorail. If you work in Brickell or downtown, or if proximity to urban infrastructure matters to you, Una has a location advantage.
Four Seasons sits in the heart of Coconut Grove — a walkable, tree-lined village with outdoor dining, boutique shops, and a neighborhood feel that Brickell simply doesn’t have. If you value the ability to walk to dinner, stroll through bayfront parks, and live in a community with genuine character, the Grove is hard to beat.
They’re about 8 minutes apart by car. The practical difference isn’t distance — it’s vibe. Una feels like a private bayfront retreat at the edge of the city. Four Seasons feels like an integrated part of a residential neighborhood.
How Does the Architecture Compare?
This is one of the clearest differentiators. Una was designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, the firm behind the Jeddah Tower. The building’s yacht-inspired curves make it one of the most architecturally distinctive towers on the Miami skyline. AS+GG handled both exterior and interior design, creating a seamless vision from lobby to penthouse. Landscape architecture by Enzo Enea, envisioned by the chairman of Aman, completes the picture.
Four Seasons Coconut Grove takes a different approach — a more classical, understated architectural language that fits the Grove’s residential character. The interiors are designed with the Four Seasons brand standard in mind, which means polished, comfortable, and consistently excellent, but with a different aesthetic DNA than Una’s avant-garde approach.
Neither is better in absolute terms. If you want a building that makes an architectural statement, Una is the choice. If you prefer something that blends elegantly into its neighborhood context, Four Seasons delivers that.
How Do the Unit Sizes and Layouts Compare?
Una offers 135 residences across 45 stories, with 2 to 4 units per floor. Every unit is a corner residence. Sizes range from approximately 1,100 to 4,786 square feet, with 2- to 5-bedroom configurations. Ceiling heights are 10’8” standard, up to 12’4” in penthouses.
Four Seasons features a different unit mix and floor plate, with its own range of layouts. The key distinction is that Una’s all-corner-unit design means every residence gets multiple view exposures, while Four Seasons’ layout will vary by specific unit position.
For detailed Una floor plans, I can provide the complete library. For Four Seasons plans, visit my dedicated Four Seasons site or call me directly.
How Do the Amenities Compare?
Both buildings offer extensive amenity programs, but the philosophy behind them is different.
Una’s approach is rooted in the Aman hospitality DNA of its developer, Vladislav Doronin. The amenity program includes a private marina with boat slips (a feature Four Seasons cannot match), bayfront and lap pools, full-service spa, fitness center, movie theater, kids’ facilities, outdoor lounges, and access to the Grand Bay Beach Club in Key Biscayne. The lifestyle programming includes a house car, sommelier events, and a personal lifestyle curator.
Four Seasons’ approach leverages the hotel brand’s service infrastructure. Residents get access to Four Seasons concierge, housekeeping, room service, and the hotel’s dining and spa facilities. If you’ve stayed at a Four Seasons and loved the service, you know exactly what to expect. It’s a proven, predictable luxury experience.
The trade-off is clear: Una gives you a private marina and Aman-curated programming. Four Seasons gives you branded hotel services on demand. For boating enthusiasts, Una wins hands down. For buyers who want hotel-style service without thinking about it, Four Seasons has the edge.
How Does the Investment Case Compare?
From a pure investment perspective, there are different dynamics at play:
Una occupies one of the last bayfront development sites in this corridor. That land scarcity argument is powerful — there’s no comparable parcel available for a future competing development between Brickell and Coconut Grove. The low unit count (135) means limited resale supply, which historically supports pricing.
Four Seasons carries the weight of the brand, which has historically correlated with strong resale premiums in other markets (Beverly Hills, New York, Bali). Branded residences tend to hold value well and attract a global buyer pool that’s already loyal to the brand.
Una is near completion, which eliminates construction risk. Four Seasons’ timeline is different. For buyers who want to minimize delivery uncertainty, Una’s near-finished status is a significant advantage. For a broader market perspective, see my South Brickell market analysis.
Which One Is Right for You?
Here’s my honest read after working with buyers in both buildings:
Choose Una if: You want a boutique building with maximum exclusivity (135 units), you’re a boater who needs marina access, you value avant-garde architecture, you want to buy a finished product with no construction risk, or you prefer being closer to Brickell’s urban core.
Choose Four Seasons if: You want branded hotel services on demand, you love the walkable village vibe of Coconut Grove, you’re drawn to the Four Seasons name and its global recognition, or you have a family and value the Grove’s neighborhood character.
I represent both buildings. My job isn’t to push you toward one or the other — it’s to help you figure out which product genuinely fits your life. The best way to decide is to tour both. Call me at 305-321-7655 and we’ll do them back to back.