Clevelander Hotel, Miami

Built in 1938 by the famous architect Albert Anis and restored in 2009, this beautiful hotel is an icon in the heart of Miami’s Art Deco district and is located right across the street from the Art Deco Welcome Center. It appeared in many episodes of the popular TV show Miami Vice and became the quintessential South Beach experience.

In the early 20th century, Miami Beach was primarily known as a winter retreat for wealthy northerners seeking a respite from the cold weather. However, during the Great Depression, many of these visitors stopped coming, and the local economy suffered as a result.

In response, the city of Miami Beach embarked on an ambitious campaign to promote tourism in the area. As part of this effort, the city's leaders encouraged the construction of new hotels and other tourist amenities. The Clevelander Hotel was one of the first hotels built as part of this effort.

The hotel was designed to be a luxurious and modern destination for visitors to Miami Beach, with features like air conditioning, a rooftop terrace, and a swimming pool. It quickly became popular with tourists, and its success helped to spur the development of other hotels and businesses in the area.

The hotel recently went through an extensive renovation while retaining its original Art Deco flavor of the 1930s. The hotel features a stylish patio bar and a nightly schedule of live entertainment, including live DJs, fire shows, and go-go dancers.