With its gleaming glass façade, rooftop pool and unbeatable downtown location, The Elser Hotel Miami brings a sort of ‘cooler than you’ energy into the city’s hotel scene. Equal parts residence and hotel, it draws a fun mix of travelers, including business folk and couples on city breaks, all mingling with Miami locals.
On entry, you’ll be offered a signature mango and tequila welcome drink while you take in the hotel’s aesthetic: it’s all relaxed and hyper-modern, with warm lighting, industrial-chic decor and a signature Diptyque scent wafting through the lobby. Add to that art-lined elevators and a carefully curated playlist and you already know that this is going to be a standout stay.
Rooms here feel more like apartments, with full kitchens, washers and dryers, as well as well positioned balconies offering sweeping views of Biscayne Bay. Studios to three-bedroom suites make it a smart pick for couples, families and extended stays, while the rooftop pool, with its skyline views, is about as Miami as you can get. The aesthetic is contemporary and minimalist, with large TVs in both the living area and bedroom, spacious closets, and comfy beds.
On the food front, Elser guests flock to ViceVersa, an Italian aperitivo bar with Neapolitan pizzas, smash burgers on Mondays and (we’d even go so far to argue) one of the city’s best negronis. For a lighter bite, breakfast and cocktails on the rooftop terrace are a treat, if a little pricey. Steps from the Kaseya Center, Bayside Marketplace, and major museums, you’ll rarely need a car if you stay here. But if South Beach is calling, guests have access to a beach club: loungers, towels, and umbrellas all included.
Time Out tip: Don’t miss the two-level gym—classes, including yoga and mat pilates, are free for hotel guests.
Address: 398 NE 5th Street, Miami, FL 33132
Price: From $199 per night
Closest transport: Miami International Airport is a 20-minute drive