Leslie Hotel, Miami Beach | A Sizzling Ocean Drive Experience

I’ve visited Miami a couple of times for work, leisure and girlfriends getaway but I’ve never stayed at any South Beach hotels before until my recent trip to Miami Beach earlier this month. The South Beach is famous for its Art Deco Historic District with over 800 buildings that were built between 1923 to 1943. I stayed at the historic Leslie Hotel located in the heart of Ocean Drive. 

Based on my experience of staying at Leslie Hotel, let me give you a virtual tour of this magnificent property!

About Leslie Hotel’s History

During the time of the Great Depression, Miami Beach had a building boom and today it is celebrated as a National Register Historic District. The Leslie Hotel is a beautiful product of that boom and it is one of the well-renowned buildings of the Art Deco era. 

In 1937, Ed Singer received a construction permit from Miami Beach to build a three-story hotel at Ocean Drive. His hotel was designed by renowned architect Albert Anis. Singer named his new hotel the “Edsinger”. During World War II the “Edsinger” was leased by the US Army-Air Force’s Technical Training Command for military use during the war. Miami Beach became the training ground for over 500,000 troops from 1942 to 1945. The Miami Beach Hotels served as barracks, restaurants became mess halls and the nearby golf courses and beaches were drill fields. The “Edsinger” was returned to civilian use in 1944. Ed Singer sold this property the same year and later it was renamed as “Leslie Hotel”.

In 2014, after 77 years of its birth, Leslie Hotel re-opened its doors after a profound renovation setting new standards to this historic Ocean Drive property. Alquimia Hospitality Group and DN’A Design & Architecture teamed up to transform Leslie Hotel into a 35-rooms boutique hotel. Their objective was to bring modern functionality and comfort to a small historic property without diluting its original magic. 

My First Impression

I’ve to admit that I’ve stayed in a few of the most splendid resorts & hotels during my earlier trips but it was my first time staying in a historic hotel. Therefore, I had no idea what to expect! As an architecture lover, I was quite impressed by the building of the Leslie Hotel at its first glance. The classic Art Deco exterior with a symmetrical facade, strong horizontal and vertical elements and a ziggurat roofline. The striking sunshine yellow and pearly white exterior colors scream tropical vibes and brighten up The South Beach strip. 

The Lobby

Stepping inside the lobby, you’ll notice terrazzo floors and pink marble stairs in the center. It has been restored to its original. The reception is on the left side. There’s a sitting area with couches on one side of the lobby and tables and chairs on the other side for guests to relax and soak the Ocean Drive vibes.

The right side of the lobby has a limestone fireplace and perimeter wood wainscot that has been also restored from the past. There are a few dazzling metal lighting fixtures setting a perfect South Beach elegance. 

As soon as I parked my car in front of the hotel, the valet boy greeted me with a smile and helped me with my luggage. Please note that there’s no hotel parking but the hotel has outsourced a private valet company that will take care of your vehicle. The valet parking was $37 per night which was a bit pricey. Although there are many parking garages near the hotel but you need to be very fortunate enough to find a parking space. I preferred giving my car for valet rather than hunting for a parking space on Ocean Drive. 

When I stepped inside the lobby, I was greeted by a lovely lady at the reception and had a smooth check-in in less than 2 minutes. 

The Room

My room was a Leslie King that featured one king bed, a flat-screen TV, coffee-maker, locker and a mini-refrigerator. The decor of the room was modern and minimalistic. The bed had a comfy mattress and clean white linens. 

There were silk curtains from ceiling-to-floor to give intimate privacy as well as minimize the noise. 

The vanity area was on the left side of the bed. It made the room look spacious. The room had wooden flooring that looked neat. 

There wasn’t any spectacular view from the window of my room. It was just a back alley view. The hotel also offers a complimentary WiFi with great speed. Feel free to connect as many devices as you want. The only thing that I found missing in the room was free power sockets near the bed. As a digital nomad, I had to work most of the time on my gadgets. Therefore, I love working on a bed where I can connect all my devices simultaneously. 

What I loved most about the room was that it was fully-soundproofed. Therefore, I couldn’t hear the sizzling buzz of Ocean Drive even at midnight. The room was so peaceful at times that it was hard to believe that we were in the heart of the South Beach. 

The Bathroom

The bathroom was small and clean with a separate shower area and regular toiletries. The toiletries were from French bath & body brand DAMANA enriched with the herbal extracts. 

Food & Drinks

La Trattoria is an in-house indoor/outdoor cafe of the Leslie Hotel that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It serves Mediterranean cuisine and a wide selection of hand-crafted drinks and signature dishes. Whether you prefer in-room dining, on the terrace or near the pool, you can order from the cafe.

La Trattoria also provides a complimentary breakfast during your stay at the Leslie Hotel for a limited menu. However, you’ll always have an option to order whatever you like. I really loved their parfait and it was incredibly delicious!

I had breakfast on all the days during my stay and enjoyed the patio dining South Beach experience. The cool breeze, swaying palm trees and splendid view, you couldn’t ask for anything more!

The Roof Top Pool Area

If you love spending time in a pool, you’re going to love a rooftop pool of the Leslie Hotel. The rooftop area features a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sunbeds and full-service cabanas with a view of Ocean Drive, South Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. 

Lounging around the pool was one of my favorite parts of staying at Leslie Hotel. It was a perfect way to end the day or should I say start the buzzing South Beach night!

The View From The Roof

Let the below pictures speak for themselves!

I spent a lot of time on the terrace just soaking the view of the Ocean Drive and a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean.

The South Beach

The Leslie Hotel is located between the 12th and the 13th street of the Ocean Drive. Therefore, you’ll be just a way across from the ocean. The hotel provides complimentary beach chairs, umbrellas and towels that you can ask from the front desk. The best part is that you don’t have to struggle about finding parking near South Beach when you stay at the Leslie Hotel. 

Don’t forget to take pictures of Miami Beach Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Towers. There’s plenty of it in so many vibrant colors. If you’re regular to my blog, you know my obsession with yellow, so I couldn’t resist this Lifeguard tower. 

Other Amenities

The Leslie Hotel also has a business and fitness center. A weekly yoga Aerobics class is also hosted near the pool. 

The Verdict

The Leslie Hotel provides an exclusive Miami Beach boutique hotel experience. If you want to live in the heart of Ocean Drive where all action takes place, Leslie Hotel at Miami Beach would be an ideal choice. I had a wonderful stay at Leslie Hotel. The staff was helpful and friendly. 

Thanks to the entire team of Leslie Hotel for making my amazing stay!

Perfect For: South Beach vacation, couple, friends or girlfriends getaway

Address: 1244 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Do share your experience if you’ve stayed in the Leslie Hotel in the comments below? If not, what do you think about this South Beach historic hotel?

Till then, happy wandering!

Love,
Ana

Disclaimer: My trip was hosted by Leslie Hotel. However, all view are 100% my own. For more information on my disclosure policy, you can check here.

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