Beyond the view, who actually gets to touch the water
Marina access in Brickell is nearly impossible to build today.
These few buildings already have it and they’re not what you think.
In Brickell, land isn’t the rare commodity anymore. Water is.
Towers rise. Penthouses flip. Developers compete on spa menus, golf simulators, and cigar lounges. But there’s one feature even the most ambitious renderings can’t replicate: a marina.
Not a valet to a nearby dock. Not a concierge partnership with a boat club. We’re talking about real, on-site, private marina access, where your residence connects directly to the water, no middleman required.
In a city built on the idea of water as lifestyle, it’s surprising how little of it you can actually own.
Especially in Brickell, Miami’s most vertical neighborhood and financial core, where new buildings stretch taller, sleeker, and more speculative, yet remain landlocked when it comes to actual marine rights.
The reason? Not scarcity marketing. Scarcity, full stop.
The Permit You Can’t Buy
The handful of Brickell condos that offer private marinas didn’t win the lottery, they got in early.
In the 1970s and ’80s, when Miami was expanding fast and Brickell still felt like the edge of the city, waterfront land came with water rights. Developers could build docks with relatively little oversight. Zoning was flexible. The environmental review process was a fraction of what it is now. The idea of building a residential tower and a marina wasn’t a loophole, it was standard.
Then came the change.
As the city matured and Biscayne Bay’s fragile ecosystem became a political priority, the permitting landscape tightened. Marine life protections, most notably for manatees began dictating development rules. New shoreline projects became subject to environmental reviews, water quality assessments, and a web of overlapping federal, state, and local agencies.
In today’s Miami, securing a new marina permit is somewhere between Herculean and impossible.
Which is why every single new development in Brickell, with one major exception, skips the dock entirely.
Rooftop pools, yes. Helipads, maybe. But direct access to the water? That’s a different game.
The Legacy List
If you want the freedom of walking from your unit to your boat, your options aren’t just limited, they’re fixed.
Here are the buildings that still have it:
Santa Maria Marina | Photo by Nadia Bouzid
Santa Maria: A classic. Gated and discreet, positioned on the quieter southern end of Brickell. The marina is directly on Biscayne Bay, not offshoot canals or shared slips. It’s reserved for residents, and when slips come up, they’re handled quietly, often through word-of-mouth deals, not public listings.
Brickell Place: Understated but smart. This isn’t a branding play; it’s for people who know what they’re doing. Marina access includes power and water hookups, and the building offers something almost no new project does: real storage. For gear, tools, parts, the things boaters actually need.
Villa Regina: A product of 1980s Miami, when developers integrated architecture and utility. Villa Regina combines bay access with a distinct art identity, the building itself is a visual statement. Its wooden marina deck has a clean line of sight across the bay, and the docks are private to owners.
Skyline on Brickell: Functional, quiet, and efficient. You won’t find it on glossy magazine covers, but that’s the point. Boat slips are occasionally available to lease, and demand stays consistent. For long-term residents who use the water, not just look at it.
The Imperial: Bold for its time, and still holding strong. The Imperial has a modest, functional marina, well-maintained and secure. It’s a small, tight-knit community of owners who understand what they have and don’t feel the need to advertise it.
Brickell Harbour: Boutique and rare. One of the only properties where you can grab Japanese takeout (OBBA Sushi) on the ground floor and be on your boat minutes later. A handful of slips, no nonsense, and a building that’s more lifestyle than luxury showroom.
The New Exception: St. Regis Residences, Brickell
St. Regis Brickell | Courtesy of Developer
The only new development in Brickell that will offer a small number of private boat slips is The St. Regis Residences, currently under construction next to Santa Maria. And it’s no coincidence they’re side by side, that stretch of waterfront is grandfathered into legacy marina zoning.
But this isn’t a hotel-residence hybrid. There’s no transient traffic, no vacation turnover. This is built for permanence, a curated residential tower with a rare asset: the right to tie your life to the water, literally.
Only a few slips will be offered, and they'll be for sale not lease. That distinction matters in a market where long-term value and control are everything. The inclusion of a marina isn’t just an amenity. It’s a signal of long-term strategy. A play for legacy.
Why This Matters, More Than You Think
To a certain kind of buyer, the kind who already owns in Fisher Island, Gables Estates, or abroad this isn’t about amenities. It’s about optionality.
It’s the ability to land at MIA, step into your unit, walk downstairs, and go. No calls, no waitlists, no external memberships. Just access. On your schedule.
And from an investment perspective, marina access creates a moat, both literally and economically.
These slips aren’t just for boats. They’re a hedge. Against overdevelopment. Against commoditization. Against the sameness of “luxury living” that’s become too easy to replicate.
Buildings with private marinas hold a structural edge. Their value is tied to an asset that no developer can rezone into existence. Like limestone buildings in Paris or pre-war co-ops in Manhattan, they’ve become category-definers, not because of what they offer, but because of what no one else can.
If you’re shopping in Brickell and ignoring marina access, you're missing one of the clearest differentiators in the neighborhood and one of the hardest to recreate.
The truth is, anyone can build higher. Few can offer true waterfront access.
In a city where every other amenity can be replaced, renamed, or remodeled, this one can’t. You either have it, or you don’t.
Buy the dock. The rest can be upgraded.
Because in Miami, the view isn’t the flex anymore.
The dock is.
Let’s Chat
📱 786.879.9502
📧 nadia@hlrealestategroup.com
Here is a list of Buildings in Brickell with Marinas
Brickell Place Marina | Photo by Nadia Bouzid
1. Brickell Place: Located on the waterfront, Brickell Place offers residents a marina experience. The marina features boat docks for residents, providing easy access to Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Residents can enjoy a range of amenities, including storage facilities. Additionally, if you own a slip at Brickell Place, power and water are included, making it even more convenient for boat owners.
Buildings in Brickell with Marinas | Photo by Nadia Bouzid
2. Santa Maria: Santa Maria is a luxury condominium also on the waterfront in Brickell. On 16th street and Brickell just a few blocks away from all the commotion/ on the quieter side of the neighborhood. The condominium features a private marina with boat docks for residents, offering direct access to the bay and ocean. The marina has boat slips that sometimes come available for sale.
3. Villa Regina: Villa Regina offers residents a private marina with some slips. The marina features wooden decks, providing residents with a serene and relaxing environment to enjoy the waterfront views. Additionally, the marina is equipped with all the necessary amenities to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable boating experience for residents.
4. Skyline on Brickell: Skyline on Brickell is a waterfront condominium that offers boat docks for its residents. The docks provide convenient access to the bay and ocean, allowing residents to enjoy a variety of water activities. The marina is well-maintained and offers a range of services to residents, including boat slips and storage facilities. With its prime waterfront location, Skyline on Brickell offers residents the opportunity to enjoy the best of waterfront living in Miami.
5. Brickell Harbour: Brickell Harbour is another condominium in Brickell that offers boat docks for residents. The marina provides residents with direct access to the bay and ocean, making it easy for them to enjoy boating and water activities. The marina is equipped with all the necessary amenities, including boat slips and storage facilities, to ensure that residents have a comfortable and enjoyable boating experience. Additionally, the building has a Japanese restaurant “OBBA” on site where you can easily order “take away” and pack for your boating activities.
6. The Imperial: The Imperial is a condominium in Brickell that offers boat docks for residents. The marina provides residents with access to the bay and ocean, offering opportunities for boating and water activities. The marina is equipped with amenities to enhance the boating experience for residents, making it a desirable feature for those who enjoy waterfront living.
