Dream South Beach

Housed in a twin pair of three-story whitewashed buildings, Dream South Beach has a quintessential Art Deco look on the outside. Inside, the decidedly glam interiors are part '70s nightclub, part South Beach chic -- and the party gets started on arrival with a free glass of sparkling wine. Glitzy accents can be found throughout, from the long, rectangular silver beaded light fixture in the lobby, to the chandeliers and geometric cutout headboards in the bedrooms. The on-site Mexican restaurant -- Naked Taco -- is contrastingly more colorful, with red walls and booth seats, and golden-colored star-shaped glass lanterns suspended from the ceiling. Hallways are even brighter, with recessed blue or golden lighting over the doors that give them the feel of a lounge bar plus loud patterned carpets. 

Most guests who stay here are couples or groups and friends in town to hit the beach and party, though as the property is upscale, it doesn't get a huge influx of budget-conscious spring breakers. The Sunday pool parties with live DJs, however, draw all sorts and are a happening time.

Dream South Beach is located right in the Art Deco District of South Beach, a two-minute walk from a wide range of attractions, including Miami Beach and the Wolfsonian Museum. It's a three-minute drive to the The Bass Museum of Art and a five-minute drive to the Miami Beach Marina, Lincoln Road Mall, and the Miami Beach Convention Center. Downtown Miami's Perez Art Museum Miami and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts are a 10-minute drive from the hotel without traffic. 

• 15-minute drive to Miami International Airport
• One-minute walk to the beach
• Two-minute walk to Ocean Drive, lined with hotels, bars, and restaurants
• 10-minute walk to Espanola Way, an area of shops and restaurants steeped in history
• Three-minute drive to Lincoln Road's shops and art galleries
• Four-minute drive to Miami Beach marina
• 10-minute drive to the American Airlines Arena, home to Miami Heat
• 11-minute drive to downtown Miami

Rooms at the Dream South Beach are as glam as the rest of the property -- so glam that you might feel like you're in Studio 54 rather than a hotel guest room, especially at night when the colorful mood lighting kicks in. Geometric cutouts in the headboards and foyer doors, dangly beaded chandeliers, leather or velour seating accents (in some rooms), and sculptural white tile in the bathroom only add to the effect. Color palettes vary, but most have lots of white and a single accent color -- often pale eggshell blue. 

Amenities found across room types include iPod docks, large flat-screen TVs, safes, and minibars. Bathrooms are modern and chic, with high-ceilinged walk-in rainfall showers with muted mood lights, small vanity areas (with not much counter space), waffle-comb robes, and colorful miniature bottles of Etro-brand toiletries.  

Entry-level room types include Silver Deluxe King and Bronze Parlor with Full Size Murphy, both of which measure 270 square feet (82 square meters); the only major difference is that the former have king-size beds, while the latter offer Murphy Beds that can be converted into sofas. The slightly pricier and larger Gold Deluxe Double Double units offer two full-size beds and are wheelchair accessible. Gold Junior Suites are the same size as the Double Doubles (but, interestingly enough, not quite as expensive) and have similar amenities but slightly larger TVs. One of the snazziest suite options is the Platinum Sun Suite King, an 850-square-foot (259-square-meter) duplex-style suite with its own rooftop terrace, complete with an outdoor shower. The hotel also offers a Duplex Penthouse Suite (also called the Guesthouse), a 2,000-square-foot (610-square-meter) one-bedroom unit with a covered rooftop deck. It can also be used for events for up to 50 people. 

Features at the hotel are aimed at those looking for a trendy, party-centric South Beach experience and include a heated rooftop pool surrounded by lounge chairs and cabanas. There's also a spa -- Shala Spa -- with a good range of massages, body polishes, and Ayurveda-inspired treatments, plus its own small gift shop. However, the lack of fitness facilities may put some guests off. 

The hotel's on-site restaurant -- Naked Taco -- offers traditional Mexican food, including Ensenada street food, plus a selection of around 125 types of tequila. There's a daily breakfast service with continental options and a wide range of egg dishes. Room service is also an option. The hotel also has a poolside bar -- High Bar -- that opens in the morning and stays open until around 11, with a three-hour-long daily happy hour.

While this is not the best place for business events, there is a printer and an Apple desktop for guests to use. The hotel offers both High Bar and the Guesthouse as event rentals. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.