We went to Miami earlier this summer. My wife and I have visited the Magic City for years, yet had never once stayed at a hotel on South Beach. On prior trips, we had patronized places like Fontainebleau and Brickell hotels like Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental.
Each time we had visited South Beach, we left feeling dirtier. Even in our 20s. The South Beach crowds were generally not, well, sophisticated. Not to mention the occasional violence. And the homeless.
This is all generally the case except for The Betsy.
We first discovered this immaculate hotel almost a decade ago when we were looking for a place to grab drinks on South Beach. After being grossed out at The Clevelander and accosted while looking for food on Ocean Drive, we stumbled upon this gem. It led to a decades-long love affair.
Finally, we decided to try staying for a week.
Simply walk inside…
The exterior of The Betsy blends in with the other early 20th century architectural marvels lining Ocean Drive. There are over 800 buildings, including The Betsy, that make up Miami’s Art Deco Historic district. And they are all located within one square mile.
I mean, look how stunning this place is:
The Betsy has a more colonial aesthetic from its exterior, with a long front porch ideal for drinks, dining, and people watching. The front windows are huge, and the double front doors welcome you into a regal space.
The first thing I noticed was the smell. They must pump in perfume like most luxury hotels, but this scent was more peaceful than fragrant. As if signaling to us we had entered an oasis inside the South Beach wilderness.
Valet was $45 per day, but that price seemed on market for the area. I was not trying to hunt for a garage myself. Plus, we were traveling with a one-year-old and needed help with all of our luggage (including two full suitcases just for the little guy).
The bellman was happy to help and greeted us with a smile. Notice I used the singular. Yes, there was only one bellman on duty at all times. This place is a boutique, far different from Miami’s larger hotels.
The Betsy was intimate. As if family friends had just invited us into their home.
The lobby flowed seamlessly into the in-house restaurant, LT Steak & Seafood. Our hotel package included breakfast, which was served in the lobby or outside every morning. The menu was extensive and filled with quintessential American offerings, with a few Cuban options too (molletes!)
On the other side of the lobby was the bar. It’s a strong contender for my favorite bar in Miami. And I do not say that lightly because there are many great watering holes.
This one at The Betsy though is special.
That family feel of the place extended to their bartenders, all of whom we got to know personally throughout our stay. And they were incredibly kind to our little guy, often giving him straws and plastic cups to play with and explore while we imbibed.
The mixology was top notch, as was the extensive wine list. The wine cellar was just off the bar, along with a large family restroom, which needless to say, we used frequently.
The big windows from the front of the hotel poured in incredible amounts of natural light. Large plants framed the space, giving it a tropical feel. And my favorite design element - books - appeared everywhere, from the coffee tables to the shelves.
The Betsy is, after all, a hotel that proudly celebrates the arts.
A hotel rich with art and culture
That giant balloon-looking thing behind us is The Betsy Orb. Inside is a hallway connecting the two buildings of the hotel. We stayed in the newer Art Deco wing toward the back. So anytime we wanted to walk to or from the hotel lobby, we had to pass through the Orb.
Different exhibitions are featured inside the Orb’s hallway. Currently, Robin Hill - a Miami and NYC-based artist - has his “The Art of the Orb” on display.
Art, books, and culture are themes present throughout the entire hotel. There is a library in the Art Deco wing, with ample seating space and interesting titles. Every room comes equipped with books for guests to enjoy throughout their stay, with the option to purchase. And my favorite element: The Writer’s Room.
The Betsy offers writer residencies and they’ve already worked with over 1,000 writers and creatives since creating the residency in 2012. Although I must say, the location of the room on the second floor just up the stairs from the bar is a bit dangerous. Especially if you are the Hemingway type who might enjoy a few Hemingway Daiquiris (my favorite drink at the hotel). It’s not the sweet concoction you’re thinking of.
A pianist entertained us in the bar and lobby almost every night. We checked in early most times because of our one-year-old, but the bar stayed lively until closing at 11PM. Even during the weekdays.
And while I did not appreciate the early close back in my 20s, as a 34-year-old dad, I’m grateful. No guest wants a club experience when they are trying to sleep. It’s also one way of preventing people who create that type of ruckus from entering The Betsy’s refined interior.
The lobby bar is not the only bar at The Betsy either. Let’s head upstairs to the pool atop the Art Deco wing.
The pool at The Betsy
The pool at The Betsy is located on the roof of the newer Art Deco wing. This is the back of the hotel, closer to Collins Avenue. When we exited the elevator on the roof, the ocean greeted us in all of its turquoise splendor. We were high above the chaos of South Beach, tucked into a corner, with the best of all worlds. City views, ocean views, and a great pool scene.
The only occasional disruption came from the hotel next door. It was a little lower in height, and far lower in class. They often blasted intense hip hop and featured a louder spring break looking crowd.
Back at The Betsy’s luxurious rooftop it was was easy to ignore. The pool was the perfect oasis with drinks immediately on hand at the bar. Ask for a spicy margarita.
They also offered food from lunch through dinner. The bartenders ran down to the kitchen and brought it up for the guests. It does not get much better than enjoying good food and drinks poolside with the ocean on the left and the sun setting behind Miami’s cityscape on the right.
Situated in the center of it all
As mentioned, we have tried a few hotels in Miami. Some in Brickell. Some further north in Miami Beach. The Betsy beats all of them in location.
First, it’s directly across the street from the beach. While it does not have the same services as bigger hotels directly on the beach like Fontainebleau, guests still have access to chairs, towels, and cabanas. It seemed like an outsourced team ran the beach setup. Regardless, we had no issues.
The Betsy is also in close proximity to Lincoln Road. This is one of our favorite places to walk, shop, eat, and drink on South Beach. It’s great for an outdoor lunch in the shade. Order yourself a pitcher of sangria while you people watch.
Also nearby are all of the restaurants aligning Ocean Drive. These can be hit or miss, with the most reliable being Finnegan’s Way. Although be careful if you sit on or near Ocean Drive. Homeless people walked by a few times and occasionally got aggressive. Overall though, these restaurants are pretty good, especially if you want affordable boozy breakfast deals.
Another restaurant corridor we didn’t have the chance to explore completely was Española Way. We ate at one Mexican restaurant there for lunch, and it was a great time. Lively music, fun people, great service. There were a number of other restaurants and shops that we didn’t get the chance to explore. And it’s only a stone’s throw away from The Betsy. We’ll be back.
Great stay, but not without faults
For as inviting as The Betsy was, our stay started with a few speed bumps. We arrived well after the 4PM check in time, only to be informed that our room was not ready. We had to wait another hour until it was. They did give us Prosecco while we waited, but they appeared to offer that to everyone who checked in.
For the inconvenience they told us we would get $100 in hotel credit. However, when we went to check out a week later, $100 was not deducted from the final bill. Always comb through the final bill in detail! Especially if you stay at a place for a week and frequently charge to the room.
They deducted the $100, but it was annoying. The little things make a big difference when spending money at luxury hotels.
One of the most alarming things though was finding our door unlocked and ajar one day. Nobody was in our room and everything appeared in order, thankfully. Housekeeping must have simply forgotten to close and lock the door. Regardless, it was unnerving.
When we told the front desk about it, they acted concerned and said they would look into it, but we never heard anything again. In fairness, we didn’t follow up either. But that’s probably the type of thing you should get closure on.
We also had a minor issue with the front desk when asking for help getting our car from valet early one morning. We had a very early appointment (long story…) in Downtown Miami where we needed to leave the hotel around 6AM. The valet service used a text messaging feature, but nobody immediately responded when I texted to request the car. Then nobody picked up the phone at the front desk. So I had to go in person a little before 6AM.
The person at the front desk was not very helpful. Yes, it was early, but no guest should ever have to beg someone to do their job. She finally called the valet herself and helped to connect us, but not before I wandered around outside looking for the valet myself (who wasn’t there until she called). The car eventually arrived on time, but the drama was unnecessary.
Would I recommend The Betsy?
These frustrating anecdotes by no means outweighed our overall incredible experience at The Betsy. If you want to enjoy the benefits of South Beach without having to endure its (trashier) costs, stay at The Betsy. It offers the best of all worlds, from the beach to the shopping, food, and nightlife. It’s a calm, beautiful oasis amidst a lively scene.
Overall I would give it a 9 out of 10. We will definitely be back. At the very least for another Hemingway Daiquiri.
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