Historical Art-Deco Hotel in Miami Beach

In 1941, just before America entered World War II, entrepreneur and world traveler Peres Seltzer’s main business was importing zippers from Japan. When he realized trade with Japan would likely cease in the coming months, he built a hotel in Miami Beach instead, one that mimicked the grand style of ocean liners. The hotel, called The Richmond, has been located directly on the beach ever since. It’s still owned by the same family, and its clean art-deco lines, beach location, and iconic neon sign make it a popular upscale destination.

Many guest rooms overlook the city or the hotel’s courtyard; oceanfront units have full or partial views of the water. Rooms are decorated with art-deco touches such as authentic period lamps and stylish bathroom tiles. The onsite Verandah Café serves breakfast and lunch; you can spend the rest of your day soaking up the Miami sun next to the pool or the ocean.

The hotel is located in Miami Beach’s famous Art Deco District, where historic architecture lines the streets. Within a 10-minute walk of the hotel, you’ll find the lively restaurants and nightclubs of Ocean Drive. Back at the hotel, dive into the heated outdoor pool, which is surrounded by palm trees and white cabana tents, or stroll to the shoreline along the one-of-a-kind Love Bridge.

Miami’s South Beach: World-Famous Nightlife and Art-Deco Icons

Just east of downtown Miami, on the barrier island that forms Miami Beach, you’ll find one of the world’s nightlife capitals: South Beach. The clubs along Ocean Drive are legendary for their boisterous, all-night blowouts—and for good reason. With all the rum-soaked mojitos, colorful neon, and celebrity sightings, it can feel like an endless party. Perhaps that’s why the area pops up so often in film and TV shows, including Burn Notice and ­The Birdcage.

The coast of South Beach is known as Lummus Park, which Frommer’s calls Miami’s “best beach for people-watching.” While the bleached sand and curving palms are gorgeous, they’re almost overshadowed by the chiseled beach-goers dotting the sand. From here, a wood-slat boardwalk runs all the way up to North Beach, attracting joggers and roller bladers. Head across the bay, to South Pointe Park or Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, for quieter, more secluded shores.

It’s easy enough to spend the entirety of a trip to South Beach face-down on a beach towel, but that would mean missing out on the city’s other offerings. The famous art-deco district, with its iconic, streamlined hotels in pastel shades, was the first 20th-century neighborhood to be recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. Every morning at 10:30, local experts from the Miami Design Preservation League lead a 90-minute walking tour that highlights the neighborhood’s signature architecture.

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