When you gaze at this lobby, one of the best-preserved interiors in the deco district, you’re getting a glimpse of South Beach’s gangster heyday. Beyond that the Essex has helpful staff, rooms furnished with subdued colors and a side verandah filled with rattan furnishings that’s a particularly pleasant people-watching perch.
Though close to the beach, the Essex is a quieter option than South Beach hotels on the strip. The pool here is small, but guests can take a dip at the larger, livelier Clevelander around the corner door.
