The South Beach area of Miami Beach is famous for its boutique Art Deco hotels. Had it not been for a group of visionary preservationists in the late 1970s who saw the area's architectural importance, this ultra-cool enclave might not be what it is today. The National Register Art Deco District in the heart of South Beach runs from 6th Street to 23rd Street. It's home to the Art Deco Historic District, one of the largest collections of Art Deco architecture in the world, making for one of the most unique skylines you’ll ever see.

Start here with a primer on these iconic buildings and where to find them.

Colorful Art Deco floral embellishments — Experience South Beach's classic Art Deco with stunning floral embellishments

What is Art Deco Architecture?

Art Deco is a design aesthetic popularized in 1920s Paris that spread worldwide in the 1930s and through World War II. Most of Miami Beach's Art Deco buildings were built during the 1930s and 1940s and are considered part of the second wave of the Art Deco movement, known as Streamline Moderne. With Miami Beach's tropical, seaside influences, the buildings are sometimes called Tropical Deco, characterized by pastel colors, floral and aquatic embellishments, and nautical design motifs reminiscent of ocean liners.

One of the most prolific Art Deco-era architects in Miami Beach was L. Murray Dixon. He designed a number of notable hotels, apartment buildings and private homes in the area. You might notice that many Miami Beach hotels have two names on the front – for instance, The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach façade also bears the name DiLido Beach Club. This is due to a measure to preserve the original architecture, so the buildings' original names must also remain.

Porthole window & ivy wall — Discover the charm of classic Art Deco with porthole windows in South Beach

Explore Art Deco Architecture in South Beach

If you find yourself ambling along Ocean Drive or Collins Avenue, you’ll see some of the hallmarks of Art Deco architecture on the exteriors of the hotels you pass by. These include overall symmetry, ziggurat (stepped) rooflines, decorative friezes, eyebrow window overhangs, relief façades, porthole windows and neon lighting. Inside some hotel lobbies, you’ll notice terrazzo flooring, glass-block details, chandeliers and idyllic murals. Curved edges and corners are common in both interiors and exteriors of Art Deco design.

Art Deco Marvels: Miami Beach's Top Hotels

Streamline Moderne at the Avalon

Ocean Drive is lined with three- and four-story Art Deco boutique hotels overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Lummus Park. Built in 1941, the Avalon Hotel features many of the hallmarks of South Beach's Streamline Moderne architecture movement, including eyebrow window overhangs, neon lights and curves reminiscent of an ocean liner.

Ocean Drive Dreaming at the Pelican

Just a block north on Ocean Drive, the Pelican Hotel cuts a similar Streamline Moderne silhouette – but with an arresting green façade. Like many hotels along Ocean Drive, you'll find an inviting sidewalk cafe to tuck into for an afternoon of prime people-watching in the heart of the Art Deco District.

Hotel Victor South Beach pool with lounge chairs, umbrellas, and palm trees overlooking the ocean — Dive into luxury at the Hotel Victor South Beach's stunning pool

Art Deco Magic at the Hotel Victor South Beach

A landmark Art Deco hotel by L. Murray Dixon, the Hotel Victor South Beach was built in 1937 and retains many of its historic charms. In the lobby, you'll find original terrazzo flooring, chandeliers, decorative logo-paneled walls and a mural by Earl LaPan depicting a scene from the Everglades. You’ll see ice-block detailing in the lobby bar and along the edge of the ornate pool, with an elevated deck overlooking Ocean Drive, Lummus Park and the Atlantic Ocean.

Colonial Touches at The Betsy - South Beach

Near the northern edge of Ocean Drive, The Betsy - South Beach was also designed by Dixon. Built in the 1940s, it's a rare example of Georgian Revival colonial-style architecture – with its arcade portico, columns and dentil work detailing – in the heart of the Art Deco District. Thanks to its symmetry, stucco façade and the time period in which it was built, it's still considered an architectural symbol of the Art Deco era, melding multiple movements.

Collins Avenue Charm at The Marlin Hotel

A block inland from Ocean Drive, The Marlin Hotel is another Dixon masterpiece that occupies a charming corner of Collins Avenue. Its façade features a lovely pastel decorative frieze, curved lines, eyebrow overhangs, and a symmetrical ziggurat stepped roofline, making it one of the prettiest Art Deco hotels in South Beach.

A Dash of Mediterranean Revival at Esmé

Fresh off a modern-day restoration, the Esmé on Española Way has been transformed into one of South Beach's most stylish boutique hotels. Española Way, a palm tree-lined pedestrian street with string lights twinkling overhead, was conceived as a historic Spanish village in 1925. Esmé's soft pink Art Deco façade has touches of the Mediterranean Revival architectural movement, which is also popular throughout Greater Miami & Miami Beach. Take note of the hotel's romantic Juliette balconies, arcade windows, Spanish tile roof, and green-and-white striped awnings, as well as the porthole-style window on its symmetrical façade.

Iconic 205-Foot Infinity Pool at National Hotel Miami Beach with palm trees lining the poolside — Immerse yourself in the iconic 205-foot infinity pool at the National Hotel Miami Beach

Art Deco Interiors That Wow at the National Hotel Miami Beach

Situated on Collins Avenue, a block north of Lincoln Road, the National Hotel Miami Beach stands 13 stories high. It’s representative of the taller Art Deco hotels in this stretch that were built slightly later in the movement. The National opened in 1939 and was designed by iconic Art Deco architect Roy France. Today, the property is a Historic Hotel of America, retaining its original terrazzo floors, chrome sconces, curvilinear recessed ceiling and polished hardwood bar. The oceanfront poolscape is equally iconic, with a 205-foot-long infinity pool.

Faena Hotel's Art Deco Modern Aesthetic Lobby — Step into the Art Deco splendor of Faena Hotel's lobby, photo by Nik Koenig

Art Deco Meets Miami Modern at Faena Hotel Miami Beach

While technically located north of the historic Art Deco District, the Faena Hotel Miami Beach was originally built in 1947 by George Sax. It epitomizes the transition between Art Deco and the mid-century Miami Modern aesthetic that would sweep the Mid Beach area of Miami Beach. The Faena blends Art Deco symmetry with Miami Modern architecture's space age-inspired acute angles. Today, it's been reimagined by hotelier Alan Faena into one of the most luxurious properties in Miami Beach.

Explore an Art Deco Wonderland

If you're looking for a deeper dive into Art Deco architecture and Miami Beach's fascinating history, the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) is the organization responsible for designating much of Miami Beach's terrain into historic districts. The Art Deco Welcome Center, located at MDPL's headquarters at 10th Street and Ocean Drive, is a great place to begin your exploration. Regularly scheduled historic walking tours depart from here.

If you're visiting in January, Miami Beach honors its architectural heritage during Art Deco Weekend, a festival celebrating Art Deco architecture, automobiles, music, fashion and art.

Looking for more? Here’s a comprehensive list of boutique hotels in Greater Miami & Miami Beach.

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