Cavalier Hotel South Beach

The room itself was fine for space and style given the price and location, and the staff were super friendly. There’s also plenty to do nearby on foot or with a short drive. But two problems made our stay much worse, and nearly sent us looking for another hotel. The new room we moved to was colder, so it fixed the temperature issue, but the noise was awful. Sound carried from the hall as if it were right by our bed. The restaurant there meant clattering plates, cups and cutlery, along with people talking. We had a horrible time falling asleep on the next two nights, especially the last one, when we had an early flight. Our friends on the second floor also complained about noise, though it seemed less noticeable there. The first room was too warm, including compared with the hall and our friends’ room. The AC is central, so we couldn’t adjust it. I woke up sweating several times that first night. Staff checked after we complained the next morning, but said nothing could be done for that second-floor room, so we switched to one on the first floor near the hall. There’s no free parking. The hotel valet is $45 per day with unlimited in-and-out access. A public garage a minute’s walk around the corner charges by the hour, up to $20 for a day, but doesn’t allow in-and-out. If you need to drive out and back up to 2-3 times a day, it may work out better. Breakfast is included, but it’s served at the restaurant by the front hall, which isn’t part of the hotel. You pick one of about 5-6 items from an à la carte menu. The food was good, though you can’t combine a hot dish with fruit or cereal without paying extra. The portions may feel small if you like a bigger breakfast. For me they were just okay. Better ventilation and soundproofing in the bedrooms would make this a much stronger recommendation.

Coffee wasn’t available around the clock. Staff had to make it after arriving in the morning, and it wasn’t ready until 8:15. I suggested putting out a self-service machine for early risers. Still, breakfast itself was great, and the location, cleanliness and staff were incredible. We stayed two nights, and the experience was one of the best we’ve had at a hotel. We booked by mistake, but when I first called, Juan made sure our needs were met and then some. William was also a pleasure to deal with and helped make our stay perfect. We’ll definitely be back soon.

Being right on Ocean Drive is a real win. The beach is just steps away, and the public parking behind the hotel has direct access through the back door, so coming and going was easy even in such a prime spot. The building is old, but that gives it a timeless historic character you don’t find in newer places. It’s exceptionally clean and well maintained, so the vintage feel comes across as intentional, not neglected. The staff made the stay even better. Everyone was warm, and Philip at reception stood out for being helpful, smiling and making things smoother for us. The place has comfort and character, and the location is hard to beat.

The beach chairs were a nice extra, and everyone was welcoming. Emmanuel worked really hard every day I saw him, and Phillip was great too. I didn’t catch the names of the rest of the staff, but they were all amazing. Our room was clean, with room service, and there was free water and coffee in the lobby 24/7. For a 3 star hotel, it was a great stay. I had very little confidence going in because of the location and star rating, so I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. Thanks, everyone. I’ll be back!