Miami Art Deco Week : Hotels
From January 18-20, Miami Beach will celebrate the 48th Annual Art Deco Weekend, a free community cultural festival honoring Miami’s iconic architecture, history, arts and culture. Organized by the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL), the festival attracts over 50,000 locals and tourists every year. The festival’s theme for 2025 will be the Art Deco Centennial 1925-2025.
Here are some of Miami Beach’s most eye-catching art deco hotels.
The Betsy - South Beach
The Betsy is a 130-room, family-owned and -operated luxury oceanfront resort located within the South Beach Art Deco District in Miami Beach. The celebrated boutique resort opened in March 2009 following a restoration of the historic Betsy Ross Hotel. In December 2016, the property underwent a groundbreaking expansion to merge with the former Carlton Hotel (originally designed by architect Henry Hohauser, best known for his quintessential art deco styling) to become a single, unified property. Architect Allan T. Shulman, known for his unique dual commitment to historic preservation and contemporary design, and designers Diamante Pedersoli and Carmelina Santoro led the expansion. The buildings are joined by “The Betsy Orb,” an architectural marvel conceptualized by Shulman. The Orb serves multiple purposes, functioning as a bridge connecting both buildings, a public art piece and an art gallery. The original Betsy Ross Hotel is known today as the “Dixon Wing,” and the former Carlton Hotel is now known as the “Hohauser Wing” in honor of the original architect. Within the Hohauser Wing, guests can find The Carlton Room, the former lobby of the Carlton Hotel, now used as a communal “beach-chic” gathering space and event venue with walnut wood floors and raffia displays, paying homage to the building’s historical legacy. The Hohauser Wing also features the Rooftop Pool Deck, offering panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Miami’s skyline.
Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, Autograph Collection
Located along the Miami Beach boardwalk, Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, Autograph Collection is a 357-room oceanfront resort in the heart of Miami Beach’s Mid-Beach neighborhood at 39th Street and Collins Avenue. The art deco property, originally opened in 1940, was designed by renowned architect Roy F. France. It was remodeled in 2018 by interior design firm Bill Rooney Studio, which drew inspiration from the glamour and sophistication of the 1940s European Riviera. The modern resort has a preserved art deco aesthetic with original terrazzo floors in the lobby area, lush greenery and a wraparound mezzanine balcony overlooking the check-in and lounge area. Just beyond the lobby, guests will find The Lobby Bar and Riviera, a flexible-use public and meeting space leading to a grand terrace overlooking the expansive pool deck featuring two pools (an adults-only pool and a family pool) and private beachside service. Visiting guests can stop by for a glass of wine at Bungalow Beach Bar & Grill, the hotel’s charming beachside bar; settle in for an authentic Italian meal at the signature restaurant, Donna Mare; or grab a quick snack at Il Merkato, the Italian market, coffee bar and gelateria.
The Balfour Hotel
The Balfour Hotel is a historic property (formerly known as The Lord Balfour Hotel) with 82 guest rooms and suites spread out over two art deco-style buildings connected by an enchanting courtyard. Designed in 1940 by Anton Skislewicz, an important architect from Miami Beach’s art deco history, The Balfour Hotel caters to design-conscious visitors with a unique style and undeniably timeless appeal. An elevated plunge pool with an underwater window provides the perfect Instagram shot of swimmers behind a glass wall. Terra-cotta mosaic tiles, chaise lounges and rattan lounge seating invite guests to sunbathe and enjoy seasonal refreshers, including frozen grapes and fruit smoothies.
The Gates Hotel South Beach
The Gates Hotel South Beach is a stylish playground ideally located on Collins Avenue, just a short stroll from Ocean Drive, South Beach’s vibrant nightlife and the Atlantic Ocean. A modern take on South Beach, the hotel’s 235 guest rooms and suites creatively combine vintage throwbacks with contemporary details. The art deco style reflects South Beach’s inimitable vibrancy with midcentury design and tropical touches.The Gates was built on the foundation of the historic 1954 Motel Ankara, originally by the architecture firm Reiff & Feldman. It was designed in the futuristic Googie architecture style, which was popular nationwide from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s. The swimming pool, also completed in 1954, was designed by architect R.P. Witt. Elements of the Ankara were cleverly arranged for residential and commercial advantages. Its room wings form an “L,” which embraces the pool deck and frames diagonal views up and down Collins Avenue.
