Miami Beach
Florida


The Experience

Once Andre Balasz got a hold of this diamond in the rough -- originally built by L. Murray Dixon in 1940 -- in 2003, the beachfront property on Collins Avenue was restored to its former Art Deco glory. The Raleigh reeks of Old Hollywood glamour once again, and as a result, draws celebrities who have tired of the Delano and want to kick back in the poolside cabanas (look -- there's Madonna and Guy!). Expect the requisite wannabes and gossip columnists too, so if you're seeking a quiet retreat, look elsewhere. If cocktails at the 300-feet-long private beach (a rarity in Miami) and star-spying is your idea of a good time, however, this is your home away from home.

The Rooms

The glamour is carried into the rooms, where white beds and terrazzo floors are given a splash of attitude with retro throw pillows and bamboo furniture. Rooms aren't exactly large for the area (they start at 240 square feet), but then, you're staying here for the hipster quotient, right? To get the best of both worlds, upgrade to an oceanview suite; for the ultimate in panorama, book the 6,000-square-feet duplex penthouse and order up a massage on your 2,000-square-feet deck.

The Service

This is the Miami hotel where celebrities go to hide out in a poolside cabana, so the staff have to be able to deliver on unusual requests. And since they appear to have been cast from a modeling agency look book, we're willing to cut them a little slack when the margarita shows up in 10 minutes instead of five. But generally, they get things right -- which is a big draw for humans and celebrities alike, who have dozens of hipster-heavy Deco hotels on South Beach to choose from.

The Highlights

You can't walk into this hotel without making a beeline for the palm-fringed pool, that fleur-de-lis remnant of Deco's glory days, made famous by water muse Esther Williams. In an attempt to trump other hotel cuisine in town, the Oasis Restaurant is overseen by Le Bernardin's Eric Ripert (though there are rumors he may leave), which means the fish dishes are divine. Then there are the finer points, which were certainly not overlooked: Kiehl's in the bathrooms, outdoor showers by the pool, an open-air gym and an intimate martini bar that has been open since the 1940s; it's so authentic, it may have you drinking Sidecars again.

-- Heidi Mitchell

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