Why book?
For an eclectic, art-filled, and scene-y stay in the heart of downtown Miami. While I visited the hotel on a solo trip, I also recommend it for group, celebration, or even business travel. It’s a true gem for weekend getaways, with easy access to all the best dining, views, and entertainment that Miami has to offer.
Set the scene
The hotel’s design embodies Miami’s personality. With lush greenery juxtaposed against sleek Art Deco finishes, the space was lovingly curated by Sieger Suarez Architects. It’s a buzzy scene, with all sorts of travelers (and residents who live in the hotel itself): groups of friends in their twenties, families with young kids, pet parents with small dogs—you name it. The 49-story property towers over the neighborhood at 571 feet tall, offering the perfect view of its naturally beautiful neighbor, the Atlantic Ocean, through massive floor-to-ceiling windows. Plush seating is placed throughout the first floor alongside a library of books and walls lined with alluring contemporary works by Venezuelan artist Paul Amundarain. The expansive space is adorned with hues of terracotta and gray, among the abstract lighting and fixtures leading to the check-in desk. The interiors were imagined by Cotofana Designs, which took inspiration from the buzzy city and South Florida’s natural landscape. A favorite of the Miami art scene, the uber-cool and trendy Andrew Antonaccio provided the incredible urban art pieces that adorn the elevator cab interiors.
Overlooking downtown Miami, Biscayne Bay, and the large (and picturesque) waterfront Ferris wheel Skyviews Miami, resides the hotel’s true prized possession: the event lawn and rooftop pool (and sun) deck. Offering heaps of lounge space with green turf and pops of blue couches, the space boasts a full bar and a buzzy scene, with groups celebrating the views and easy-to-order cocktails. And thanks to its spacious design, it doesn’t feel overcrowded at all. The 132-foot resort-style pool is also expansive, wrapping around the corner of the deck, where it meets with a 16-foot poolside LED screen (perhaps playing a seasonal sports game). The space also includes eight electric grills, perfect for a group barbecue.
The backstory
Elser’s rich historical presence in the Magic City dates back to the 20th century when Miami was rapidly transforming from a small coastal town to a bustling metropolis. German immigrant Frederick Elser envisioned and developed a grand pier in 1913 on Biscayne Bay, near what is now downtown Miami, for Miamians and tourists as a destination for entertainment and leisurely views. It soon fell into a golden age, becoming the center of the city’s entertainment scene and host to vaudeville shows (similar to circus shows and popular in the US from the mid-1890s until the early 1930s, featuring magicians, acrobats, comedians, trained animals, jugglers, singers, and dancers), movie screenings, a roller-skating rink, and dance halls. It was then destroyed by a hurricane in 1926, which devastated much of South Florida. Nearly a century after its destruction, the Elser Hotel Miami opened its doors alongside the pier in 2022 as a tribute to the Elser family and the location’s cultural significance.
The rooms
The property boasts 646 hotel rooms and residences, all including fully equipped kitchens and washers and dryers. Ranging from studios to three-bedroom suites, each room features a balcony with gorgeous waterfront or city views. My room, a bayview studio suite with a king bed, was a haven of space, taste, and convenience—it even featured a convenient TV stand that allowed the television to spin around so guests could watch a movie from the living room or bed. A stay of indulgence: I enjoyed the sunset from my balcony in a facemask—to which I fell in awe of all of the colors reflecting on both the bay’s surface and the surrounding skyscrapers. There’s no beating the balcony that comes with each suite here: While you’re within the heartbeat of downtown, you also feel far removed from any sense of chaos. There’s also space to lounge and rest, which is an impressive design move to pull off in such a glitzy, glamorous, always-on-the-up city like Miami.
Food and drink
You should take advantage of the pool bar and café, which offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But, you also shouldn't miss the hotel’s dining highlight of ViceVersa, just off the lobby. The Italian aperitivo bar, from acclaimed bartender Valentino Longo in collaboration with (previously loved and now closed) Jaguar Sun’s Will Thompson and Carey Hynes, has a unique Miami twist. In a self-fulfilling outing, I enjoyed a solo night out here: The bar offers a dimly-lit yet playful vibe as well as a great atmospheric buzz and the most decadent service. (In response to my fascination with the space’s Italian influence, my waiter brought over vintage amaro glassware that the head chefs brought over from Rome, which [I believe] he stated was created back in the 1930s—all for the two of us to nerd out on.)
At ViceVersa, the modern aperitivo cocktails are served with unexpected ingredients alongside Italian spirits, vermouths, bitters, and Amari. The cocktail menu features 14 drinks in three categories: the Negroni family, martinis, and of course, their signature craft cocktails. Guests can also enjoy aperitivo-approved dishes, centered on simplicity yet pointed execution. Of note, the Neo-Neapolitan pizzas feature daily stretched mozzarella and dough made from local flours that undergo a 24-to-48-hour cold fermentation. Personally, I ate—and adored—the clam pizza pie and a separate appetizer of saucy mussels with toasted bread to dip and savor the flavors. I ended the meal with my favorite order of all: their perfectly sweet and edgy affogato martini.
The neighborhood/area
The Elser is ideally located near some of the city’s best attractions. It’s just over a 10-minute drive to Wynwood, a 15-minute drive to the Design District, and a 20-minute drive, just over the bridge, to Miami Beach and South Beach’s historic Art Deco District. If you don’t have a car, it’s best to use ride-share services like Uber or Lyft to get around. It is also within walking distance of cultural attractions and museums, including the Kaseya Center, Adrienne Arsht Center, Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, and Pérez Art Museum Miami (home to fabulous photography exhibits that you must check out). Plus, it's conveniently located a 20-minute drive from Miami International Airport (MIA). The nearby Brightline train station also allows visitors to easily extend their adventures (with trains to and from Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Orlando).
The service
The downtown hotel offers a robust list of programming, from personal training upon request in the fitness center to luxury airport transport to $50 daily valet parking (for those traveling with a car). More exclusive and elevated experiences include a private helicopter charter, where you can book a 30-minute private helicopter tour of the South Florida area, starting at $3,450. The helicopter tour departs from both MIA and Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport and has a maximum of six passengers, depending on weight. There’s also a yacht experience, where hotel guests can reserve a private four-hour charter. Starting at $5,000, the booking includes overnight accommodations in a residential-style suite with a balcony overlooking the bay, the private charter, and curated culinary experiences by the hotel’s executive chef and champagne breakfast in bed the following morning. A more affordable yet similar activity is a local two-and-a-half hour cruise for $350 per participant (including gratuity, services fees, and three alcoholic beverages for those over 21 years old, of course). The hotel also offers experiences with BouYah Watersports, with locations nearby and at the beach to rent Jet Skis, Jet Ski tours, Banana Boats, kayaks, and paddle boards. And finally, in partnership with Itavi, a premium accredited childcare service, the Elser provides families with reliable and safe childcare during their stay, with a starting price of $290. Guests can book their experience directly from the hotel website, or by speaking with a concierge at the hotel.
Eco Effort
Guests can enjoy bulk bathroom amenities that reduce plastic consumption, and WaterSense-certified toilets designed to conserve water usage. Each guest room is home to energy-efficient appliances and LED lighting, and the building is home to an innovative elevator system with the Petra Energy Saving System. Both food and beverage services provide biodegradable packaging and compost of organic food waste, In the guest rooms, eco-friendly packaging is offered throughout, as well as refillable Path water containers (to eliminate single-use plastic bottles), and bamboo toothbrushes. The hotel has a partnership with Green Tomato, a local produce delivery company with a commitment to supporting the community while maintaining sustainable practices. At the Poolside, guests can find and use Supergoop, a reef-friendly sunscreen.
Accessibility
For those who need it, there are heaps of accessible rooms with ADA-compliant features such as wider doorways, roll-in showers, grab bars, lowered countertops, and accessible closet space. Each of these rooms also offers visual and hearing assistance, including visual alarms, notification devices for doorbells and phones, and accessible television settings. All floors, including amenities such as the rooftop pool and fitness center, are accessible via elevators. All common areas, including the lobby, restaurants, meeting spaces, and pool deck, are designed for wheelchair accessibility (with ramps and lifts throughout). The Elser is a service-animal-friendly property for those in compliance with ADA regulations. The rooftop pool and 16-person swim spa hot tub are both equipped with accessibility lifts for ease of entry and exit. You can find more amenities and accessibility information available on their website.
Anything left to mention?
For those traveling with pets, the hotel is a pet-friendly property—with a $100 non-refundable deposit due at check-in. Though of note, there is a limit of two pets per room, with a weight limit of under 75 lb. each.
While there’s no spa at the Elser Hotel, there’s no shortage of fitness and wellness experiences for hotel guests. Alongside views of the bay, the gym is open 24 hours and includes a cardio wall with an assortment of stationary bikes, rowing machines, treadmills, and ellipticals. The modern space also has a free-weight area with a variety of dumbbells and weighted circuit machines. The Elser’s onsite Fitness Ambassador is available five days a week to ensure every piece of equipment is functioning at an optimal level and that guests understand how each works—making suggestions on ways to use the equipment and passing out various fresh juices for guests to enjoy for recovery. On the air fitness desk, there are also boxing, boot camp, HIIT, pilates, and yoga classes available—as well as an indoor yoga studio with city views complemented by mosaic artwork on the hotel’s exterior. For those looking to relax and recharge, the hotel has a sauna and a hot tub.
398 NE 5th St, Miami, Florida 33132
United States
https://www.instagram.com/paulamundarain_studio/?hl=en
+1 (786) 472-1000