Essex House By Clevelander

The hotel is super close to everything, and we regretted renting a car. The front desk had good customer service, and Jalen, I believe, was awesome and accommodating. Room service could have been more consistent about bringing extra shampoo and body wash and taking out the trash, though the staff we found were nice. We’ll definitely be back.

There’s some history in the 1938 architecture, and the location is convenient, very near the Art Deco part of South Beach. Our room was spacious, with clean sheets and towels, a comfortable bed, and a wide window facing Collins Ave. Staff were mostly friendly and at least promised to sort things out. A few things didn’t work well. The toilet was small, and hot water took ages to come through the shower. The in-room coffee machine never worked. The bedside lamps also failed at first. After several follow-ups, maintenance got them on, but there was no switch, so at night we had to unplug them from a point somewhere behind the headboard. Guests got complimentary coffee and pastry in the morning, but we were told to eat them in a corner and not at the main patio seating, even when it was completely empty. It made us feel like second-class guests for taking something complimentary. The free rental bikes were pretty dated and had no brakes or bells.

On my second stay, the suite felt extra special. I loved the classic deco look paired with updated comforts, and the location was perfect. It was surprisingly quiet, too. They sure don’t build them like they used to. Check-in was easy, and Godfrey went above and beyond to make sure I had what I needed. I’ll definitely be back.

The location is the main thing this place has going for it. They call the doors soundproof, but they absolutely aren’t. Workers started heavy machinery before 8am and woke us up. The shower head leaked, and I waited ten minutes at the counter for a receptionist who seemed clearly drunk. It’s confusing where to eat breakfast and what there is to do, and the place is definitely a party spot. At checkout the receptionist wasn’t there. What if I’d had a car or Uber waiting out front? They could have left without us. Service was very poor and slow. Ok at best.