TL;DR

Location: Nestled in South Beach with soft elegance and Mediterranean flair.
Style: Spanish-Mediterranean design with lush greenery, striped awnings, and warm lights.
Atmosphere: Feels like a small village combining Paris, Havana, and Magaluf vibes.
Check prices here

This classic Miami boutique hotel is a longstanding favorite for visitors to South Beach and we too appreciate its soft elegance and Mediterranean flair.

Miles away, architecturally, from flashy, glass-covered city centerpiece hotels, Esme is a quiet amalgam of Spanish-Mediterranean design surrounded by lush greenery.

Decidedly chic touches then like striped awnings and strings of warm lights bring it all together.

The buildings, the plants, and the design enclose a small area that feels like home, if you lived in some amalgam of Paris, Havana, and Magaluf that once housed Al Capone.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 145
Design: Plush velvets, rich tile, tassel bar stools, friendly mural work, and sumptuous monochrome color schemes.
Sizes: Signature Suites 400+ sq ft to cozy 180 sq ft Classic Kings.
Amenities: Bellino linens, HD smart TVs, espresso machines, minibars, and complimentary newspapers.
Luxuries: Private balconies, separate seating areas, and nice views from many rooms.
Bathrooms: Charming tiled baths with Grown Alchemist products and wide mirrors.
See each room in detail here

Esme is referred to as the Esme Village by the hotel with Casa Matanza being the centerpiece and the site of many of the rooms.

Others line the surrounding paseos, and all offer the same levels of comfort, consideration, and design.

Esme has a decidedly sumptuous aesthetic woven from the various influences of the area. You’ll find plush velvets and rich tile, tassel bar stools and friendly mural work.

The rooms sport rich monochrome color schemes, gorgeous bespoke wardrobes and cute matching poufs.

You have many choices of room at Esme, from 400+ sq ft signature Suites to cozy 180 sq ft Classic Kings.

Basic amenities include Bellino linens, HD smart TVs, espresso machines, minibars, and complimentary newspapers on request.

Many rooms have added luxuries like private balconies, separate seating areas, and gorgeous views.

Bathrooms are charmingly tiled and come with Grown Alchemist bath products and simple, wide mirrors that fit the rest of the decor perfectly.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Main dining: The Drexel serves wood-grilled Mediterranean fare in a breezy, bright interior.
Casual options: Quick croissant and coffee along the Paseo, or lunch at the Rooftop lounge.
Rooftop: Dinner and drinks by the pool, exclusive to guests.
Beach access: 5-minute walk with complimentary beach chairs and Gymage passes available.

As a village, Esme offers a host of options for dining and drinking. The flagship is The Drexel, of the eye-catching black-and-white awnings, simple, wood-grilled Mediterranean fare, and bright, breezy interior.

You can enjoy a quick croissant and coffee along the Paseo each morning or a nice lunch up at the Roof.

This rooftop lounge stays open into the night, with dinner offerings and an endless supply of excellent drinks you can enjoy by the pool.

The pool and deck are exclusive to guests and the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon in the sun. If you’re more of a saltwater fish, the beach is a 5-minute walk.

Take your most stylish towel or ask at the front desk for a complimentary beach chair. Ask for a pass to nearby Gymage while you’re there, and take advantage of some high-end fitness facilities.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Beach proximity: 5 minutes to South Beach with lifeguard towers, playgrounds, and activities.
Coastal drives: Head north to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Shopping: Shops around Washington Ave for a quick retail fix.
Art & culture: Miami Contemporary Art, Botanical Garden, country clubs, and museums nearby.
Kid-friendly: Tidal Cove water park, Museum of Science, and zoos accessible.

With the trip to and from South Beach being a mere 5 minutes, it’s easy to spend all your time on the sand.

Visit the brightly colored lifeguard towers, pop over to the playground, detect some metal, there’s a lot to do.

A coastal drive north takes you to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach if you want to check out some other nearby beaches.

If you need a break from the sun, check out the shops around Washington Ave, or head to the nearby museums.

Miami is a hotbed of Contemporary Art (who remembers the banana taped to the wall?) and you’re sure to find something interesting.

The Botanical Garden is also a nice visit, as is one of the nearby country clubs for the golfers among us.

Guests with kids can head inland to Tidal Cove water park, the Museum of Science, or to check out one of the zoos.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

”The location and service are the strongest points. Located on Espanola Way, two blocks from the beach, surrounded by restaurants. The service was excellent, even when something had to be corrected, Diego stood out, but all the staff were very friendly and available. The room was very comfortable, although it could have been a little bigger. It was important to have chairs and towels available on the beach for hotel guests. It’s one of those hotels where you leave with the conviction that if you return to Miami it will be your first choice…..”

”We loved our stay and wish we could have spent a few more days. We loved the charm and amenities. We loved the location. It was exciting and absolutely perfect for restaurants and proximity to the beach. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”It’s been our third stay at the Esme by now. The eye for detail was impeccable, but this time around there were little things that need refurbishments on the Roof. But other than that it’s still great…..”

”Our room was lovely but a little tight in terms of space…..”

> Read all the reviews right here