The Mantell Plaza

The Mantell Plaza is a five-story apartment building with a portion of units available as vacation rentals, and typically hosts younger single travelers and couples. Designed in 1942 and renovated in 1994, the jewel box-style building has an interior showcasing the sharp lines, pastels, and marled stone of the Art Deco movement. The lobby's high ceilings are inlaid with blue, yellow, and turquoise trim -- a color scheme seen throughout the airy room, with tall windows that allow in lots of natural light. Classic arm chairs, circular couches with pastel tropical print cushions, a vibrant sun mural, and several tropical plants in white stone pots complete the space. The Great Room is a hodgepodge of pink and blue, from the walls to the couches, offering a cozy place for guests to watch movies on the flat-screen TV.  Outside, stone pathways wind through the grounds, which are laden with gardens full of various types of Palm Trees, lilies, and night-blossoming Jasmine. The rectangular pool is surrounded by leafy trees and tropical plants in clay pots, with simple lounge chairs and a few white tables and chairs with umbrellas around the stone deck. 

The hotel sits in a residential neighborhood at the edge of Flamingo Drive, known as Millionaires Row. While well-situated for tourists seeking a quiet place to sleep, it's a ways from the nightlife and action of South Beach -- about a seven-minute drive or 15 minutes via the bus departing from Washington Avenue and 13th Street. The hotel is just a five-minute walk from the beach and Bass Museum of Art, and the cafes and Art Deco buildings of Collins Avenue are just a few minutes' walk. The Miami Beach Convention Center is a 15-minute walk or three-minute drive, and the airport is about 15 minutes by car. 

Studio and one-bedroom apartments are available, and some can fit up to three people. All are individually decorated and modern, with flat-screen TVs and kitchens equipped with sinks, full-size refrigerators, two-burner stoves or full-size ovens, toasters, coffeemakers, microwaves, cutlery, and dishware. Decor is colorful and eclectic, with modern art and unique accessories that lend a sophisticated, international feel. The Mar View Suite is bright and sleek, with a black, gray, and yellow color scheme. The Ballet Suite has a feminine, 1960s vibe with touches of mustard yellow and polka-dot pillows. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos, and towels and toiletries are provided. Some of the rooms are oddly configured; for example, the Balcony Suite has a double-bed sandwiched between the TV and a stainless steel refrigerator. 

The property doesn't offer too many extra features, but its historic building, quiet location, and lushly landscaped grounds are tough to beat. There's a small fitness center with a few cardio machines set against windows overlooking the gardens; it also has a handful of weight machines and free weights.  The coin laundry room has several washers and dryers. Guests can use the board games, books, and movies stacked on the shelves of the Great Room, which also has a flat-screen TV and several brown tile tables for meeting space. Some apartments offer parking, and all have free Wi-Fi. Free welcome baskets with snacks and fruit are presented on arrival.