Hotel at a Glance: Essex House by Clevelander

Guests at the Essex House by Clevelander are within walking distance of the nightlife, shopping, and ocean-view attractions scattered around Miami Beach. By day, they might grab a bite from the complimentary continental breakfast and walk across the street to beach access. Or, if shopping suits them, they can take a short stroll to Ocean Drive for browsing designer boutiques and dining at nearby restaurants and cafes. And by night they have their pick of fun—whether they fancy dancing at nearby nightclubs or staying in to enjoy the live entertainment at the hotel's Pool + Patio bar.

• Greet the day with a daily coffee and pastry at Bacon Bitch.
• Direct beach access: From this hotel’s doors, it’s only a short trek to the public beach.
• Art Deco-style building with access to lounge and rooftop terraces that overlook the city.
• Room amenities like two water bottles, a walk-in shower, a flatscreen TV, Keuring coffee maker, and beach towels.
• Live entertainment at the sister hotel, Clevelander South Beach, including DJ's and dancers along with live experience games.
• Outdoor pool and patio with three different bars and event space equipped with flatscreen TVs.

Miami Beach, Florida: White-Sand Beaches, Glamorous Nightlife, and Cuban Cuisine

Miami Beach is a small barrier island situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, a shallow lagoon that separates the beaches from downtown Miami. People from all over the world come here to enjoy the white-sand beaches, shop the high-end boutiques, and party at the legendary see-and-be-seen nightclubs the city is known for. The red-hot center of this sexy, international social scene is South Beach, a 20-block stretch filled with upscale lounges, rooftop bars, and ultrahip hangouts behind velvet ropes. Lummus Park beach is packed by mid-morning, and the clubs on Ocean Drive and Washington Avenue—many of which stay open until 5 a.m.—vie for the limelight with VIP service, celebrity DJs, and dressed-to-the-nines crowds.

Beyond the fast-paced luxury of South Beach lies Miami Beach’s softer side. A leisurely stroll through the Art Deco District reveals hundreds of beautiful, candy-colored buildings, including Versace Mansion—a 1930 manor modeled after a palace in the Dominican Republic that belonged to Christopher Columbus’s family. The centerpiece of the city’s arts scene, the Bass Museum of Art displays works from Peter Paul Rubens and Sandro Botticelli, and modern-design objects and propaganda arts fill three stories at the Wolfsonian-FIU museum. There’s also a handful of vibrant ethnic enclaves to explore here, and Little Havana is among the most notable. The neighborhood is lined with family-owned restaurants and Caribbean-style marketplaces, making it a great place to discover some of the country’s most delicious Cuban food, from sugary guarapo juice to pastelitos, or Cuban pastries.