The Sagamore Hotel

The Sagamore is a self-proclaimed “art hotel”, and the attractive lobby feels like an empty gallery. Inside and out, the hotel is almost entirely white. Tall ceilings and vast walls in the sparsely furnished lobby showcase a wide-ranging art collection. Floor-to-ceiling windows keep the space bright, and the tiny, glass-topped front desk sits demurely to the side, while the ultra-modern restaurant and bar take the all-white theme perhaps a tad too far, resulting in a borderline clinical feel. Hallways and exteriors feature striking murals, artists’ quotes, and sculptures -- even a life-size helicopter installation. The palm-lined pool deck attracts a mix of twentysomething vacationers and all-age art enthusiasts.

Located just north of Lincoln Road on Collins Avenue, the Sagamore occupies a prime piece of South Beach real estate and access to Lummus Park’s boardwalk. This is the heart of the Art Deco Historic District, and Espanola Way and Ocean Drive’s numerous restaurants are within walking distance.

• Eight-minute walk to Lummus Park and Miami Beach Convention Center
• Nine-minute walk to Lincoln Road Mall
• 11-minute walk to Espanola Way and Miami Beach Botanical Garden
• 14-minute walk to Holocaust Memorial and Colony Theater
• 20-minute walk to Ocean Drive
• Seven minutes to Jewish Museum of Florida by car (10 minutes by public transportation)
• 16 minutes to downtown Miami by car (42 minutes by public transportation)
• 17 minutes to PortMiami by car (47 minutes by public transportation)
• 18 minutes to Miami International Airport by car (37 minutes by public transportation)
• 25 minutes to Miami Amtrak station by car (58 minutes by public transportation)

Like elsewhere in the hotel, decor in the air-conditioned suites is mostly white, though some cream makes it a little less blinding. Giant button-effect padded headboards add grandeur, while framed prints and objets d’art dot the spaces. All but the cheapest rooms have separate lounges with dining tables and queen-size white corner sofa beds. Duplex Ocean Front Bungalows incorporate stylish spiral staircases. Most suites feature sparsely furnished balconies with attractive garden or ocean views. The 1,800-square-foot (167-square-meter), three-bedroom Penthouse has an enormous terrace with lovely ocean panoramas.

All suites sport kitchenettes complete with full-size refrigerator/freezers, microwaves, and wet bars. Pricier rooms add stoves, toasters, and dishwashers. Other amenities include 32- to 42-inch TVs (mostly flat-screen, though we did spot one or two tube-style TVs on our visit), phones, Wi-Fi (included in resort fee), safes, minibars, coffeemakers, bathrobes, hairdryers, miniature toiletries (Aveda products in pricier categories), irons, and ironing boards. Some rooms have DVD players and iPod docks.

Bathrooms, with cream walls and white floor tiling, are ample but don’t feel particularly upscale. White pedestal sinks have incorporated vanities, and cheap plastic shower curtains somewhat undermine the jetted tubs with fixed showerheads.

Note that some furniture shows slight wear and tear, and late-night noise from the pool area and neighboring hotels was a problem when we visited (common for the area). Guests have also reported some maintenance and housekeeping issues. 

The best feature here is direct access to stunning South Beach. There’s also an attractive pool and deck with sunbeds, tub seats, and cabanas (steep charges apply), plus easy beach access. The small, non-air-conditioned gym is decently equipped but lacks weightlifting machines; there’s also a full-service spa. The video garden has wicker benches and TV screens among shrubbery, and there’s a lovely rooftop terrace. The breakfast buffet (costs extra) gets mixed reviews, but all-day Canvas restaurant and bar serves good international a-la-carte dishes, and there’s a low-key pool bar, plus 24-hour room service. Beware of extra charges: hefty resort fees cover patchy Wi-Fi, beach chairs, and local calls. Parasols and cabanas cost extra. Valet parking is pricey, but that's common in the neighborhood. Event spaces accommodate up to 1,000 people.