Cavalier Hotel South Beach

If I'm honest this was not the hotel I intended to book for this trip, but the ones I know were either full or ridiculously priced, and the Cavalier seemed to offer a decent location/amenities/price combination for the couple of nights I was here. Well, forget my initial doubts, I was in fact really impressed by the hotel and will come back with some enthusiasm. The location is excellent, in the art deco area of South Beach, directly on Ocean drive. This is one of the prettiest parts of Miami beach to walk around and one very well equiped in small hotels, restaurants, bars, etc. My room was beautifully decorated, with a tropical feel, dark woods, and colourful highlights due to contemporary colourful reinterpretations of classic portraits. Bed was very comfortable, and whilst I usually prefer rooms with bathtubs, the showerroom was very nice with dark woods and golden mosaic highlights and a very good shower. Toiletries were good quality and generously stocked and towels were fluffy and nice. There is an empty mini fridge which was great as I was there during very rough weather and this allowed me to stock up on food till tropical storm Nicole moved away (the restaurant was closed for lunch and dinner for a couple of days as a result of the weather). Like many (most?) Miami beach hotels, the Cavalier charges an annoying resort fee (around $25/day I think), I hate those, but at least in this case, you know what you are paying for: you get a simple but nice breakfast every morning: a choice of one dish (fried or scrambled eggs with one meat, scrambled eggs with vegetables, pancakes, or yoghurt and fruit, alongside coffee or tea). You get access to beach chairs at a nearby cabana on the beach (Esteban's about 5 minutes' walk - basically the hotel is at the corner of 13th and the beach is off 15th). You get the towels from the hotel itself. Umbrellas cost extra if you want them. You also get decent internet and coffee and tea in the lobby all day. Personnel was very nice, especially the young man who checked me in and again checked me out a couple of days later (didn't get his name but he was nice, helpful, and friendly). The hotel is small. ground floor + 2 levels up, the building itself is very pretty and well renovated, the lobby is nice and pleasant and when the weather is good, the restaurant also has tables outside on ocean drive. The bottom line: this is a real boutique hotel, not one of those 200 room places which call themselves boutique just to claim to be edgy. It is small, friendly, individual and has personality and a decor that makes a statement. It has the limitations of a small and relatively old hotel (so no swimming pool, no balconies, etc unlike the big modern buildings you find a bit further up the beach) but also the charm and friendliness that those big hotels often lack and it was beautiful, comfortable, and very well located. The free breakfast is a big bonus and I appreciated the empty mini fridge too. I'll surely be back!

Loved staying at this hotel!!!! Very friendly staff, amazing service and so much history at the hotel!! We booked our trip on Expedia and we are we’re happy living there! The views and the staff are amazing.

Very nice hotel that is clean and very well kept. Excellent location on ocean drive. Staff was very polite and housekeeping superb. Very relaxing stay. Only reason I did not rate the Cavalier perfect was because of the $28 per night resort fee. That fee is not uncommon in south beach and wouldn’t be an issue except that it wasn’t disclosed when I booked and paid for my stay. I booked the stay on Sam’s club travel so not really sure which to blame for the omission. Would definitely consider staying there again however because it is a really nice place.