Leslie Hotel

The Leslie Hotel is on South Beach’s Ocean Drive, in the center of the Art Deco Historic District. The Leslie is more modern and upscale than many neighboring properties, and the sunshine yellow and South Beach white color palette throughout gives it a cheery but elegant vibe. The atmosphere is sophisticated and chic, and families are welcome -- refreshingly, there's no attitude here. The hotel combines Art Deco architecture with contemporary artwork and furniture, including gilded coffee tables made from tree stumps. Attention has been paid to detail, and everywhere the eye falls it lands on something interesting. The sidewalk Cala Cafe Restaurant serves Mediterranean food with organic options -- very South Beach. Guests who want to get away from the street scene for a while can lounge by the rooftop pool, which has views of the beach and ocean. While the pool isn’t large, it is exceedingly stylish, with plenty of shade and white couches for reclining, as well as poolside cabanas, and cocktails. Yellow, white, and touches of silver add to the retro feel. For a touch of old South Beach style without “historic” plumbing and mattresses, the Leslie Hotel is a good bet.

The Leslie Hotel is easy to find in South Beach’s Art Deco Historic District, as it's right across the street from the beach. Ocean Drive is Miami Beach's mecca, and the area is popular with tourists. The local nightlife scene is a few minutes’ walk south of the Leslie, which means the streets can get very loud in the evening. The immediate area is filled with hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops. The Collins Avenue shopping district is a few blocks away, and Lincoln Road Mall is within a five-minute drive or 15-minute walk of the Leslie. The Art Deco Museum and Art Deco Welcome Center are a five-minute walk from the hotel. Miami International Airport is a 25-minute drive away without traffic.

The Leslie's 35 rooms come in three varieties: Ocean View Suites, King, and Queen. Guest rooms have one king or two queen beds and start at a generous 350 square feet (330 square meters). Guests might want to pay more for ocean views, as some rooms overlook alleyways, and suites have separate living areas. Decor -- in grays and golds, with splashes of rich purple -- is stylish and sophisticated, with a touch of Deco glam. High-end textiles and quality warm woods look smart alongside dark, subtly patterned period wallpaper that almost makes the large flat-screen TVs disappear (when not turned on, of course). Attractive gilded mirrors and Deco-influenced light fixtures complete the look. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs with premium channels, iPod docks, safes, minibars, and toiletries. Bathrooms, done in blacks, grays, whites, and reds with elegant tile and super-modern fixtures, are truly gorgeous. Most have shower/tub combos, but the suites have separate spa showers and tubs. Rooms facing the busy street get some noise that might be a problem for light sleepers; third-floor rooms allow easy pool access. All rooms are smoke free. 

The Leslie Hotel features a beautiful rooftop pool and hot tub, surrounded by a sunny deck and plenty of shaded couches and tables that seem to be blank slates for cocktails. The hotel provides free beach towels, chairs, umbrellas, and toys for guests to carry to the beach. The modern fitness center is spacious and well-equipped with cardio and weight machines, as well as a nice choice of free weights. There is a 24-hour computer station with artistic wooden furniture and a pair of up-to-date Mac computers. In addition, there is a small but striking meeting room with smart white furnishings. The hotel also has a game room for gamers -- young or old. Free breakfast is served on the indoor/outdoor Cala Cafe, which otherwise serves a Mediterranean menu all day. The offerings include many organic options and the restaurant receives enthusiastic reviews. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and babysitting services can be arranged.