The first time I stayed at the Essex House many years back, I loved the location, but was less than thrilled with some of the furniture, which had more stains than a CSI crime scene.

The Art Deco Exterior of the Essex House

Looking for a place to stay recently, I had heard the Essex had renovated its rooms and decided to give it another try. I’m glad I did as it was vastly improved.

Originally built in 1938, the hotel has retained its Art Deco stylings and is actually situated over two separate buildings with a small courtyard between them. The suites, where I stayed, were in the back building and up a flight of stairs.

Now, when booking in Miami Beach, in the older hotels, you can expect the rooms to be smaller, which is why I splurged on the suite. The king bed sat in the back area of the room, with a small sitting area near the entrance.

But the best part of the suite was the marble bathroom with a jacuzzi bathtub. I almost think the bathroom was bigger than the standard room found at some budget South Beach hotels. And they offer upscale toiletries by Gilchrist & Soames (no shampoo/conditioner/bath gel combo bottles here).

A Suite at the Essex House in South Beach

The room also came with free wifi, a coupon for a complimentary drink at the lobby bar and small pay-per-use mini-bar in the room.

The hotel does have a small pool and a on-site lounge. It also features a location only two blocks from the heart of Ocean Drive, so you’ll be within easy reach of South Beach’s restaurants and hot clubs. Not to mention the world-famous beach area itself.

The only negative parts of my entire stay were the valet parking, which was a whopping $29 for 24 hrs of in and out privileges, and the fact that even though I did get a non-smoking room, there was enough of a faint smoking smell in the room that it triggered my allergies.

A Suite Bathroom at the Essex House

It should also be noted that the hotel itself does not have a restaurant. However, there are more than enough dining options within walking distance, that it’s not a problem

It’s not the most luxurious hotel in South Beach, but for a mid-price hotel (my suite was $179 for a weekend night plus tax) with an excellent location, I would definitely say the Essex House fits the bill.

* * * * * * * * * *

Essex House
1001 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 1-305-534-2700

* * * * * * * * * *