Suite Dreams: Edgewater Hotel, South Beach, Miami

By Paul VanDeCarr

It was a hotelier—Conrad Hilton—who emphasized the importance of “location, location, location” in real estate. The folks at the brand-spanking-new Edgewater Hotel (it opened up in February 2011) must have taken that injunction to heart, as they occupy a fantastic spot right across the street from Miami’s South Beach, at Ocean and 14th.

That means it’s far enough from the bustle just down the street as to be quiet, but close enough that you can put on your flip-flops for a jaunt into the action. That includes the gay Palace Bar (which has an open-air counter facing the sidewalk, making cruising rather easy), and the gay section of the beach, both at 12th Street.Plenty of other nightspots, like Twist, are within a short walk. And what of the hotel itself? The newly renovated building retains its handsome art-deco façade from 1939, and its 45 rooms each have a kitchenette, and a simple, attractive design that accentuates the light and views. (Rooms can be decorated in advance for birthdays and romantic getaways, including in “Adam and Steve” and “Oprah and Gayle” themes.)

For a small extra charge, the “Spoil Me Plan” gets you beach chairs and towels, wireless service, and a continental breakfast and daily happy hour on the rooftop terrace. Those gatherings, as well as the attentive staff, give the Edgewater the personal feel of a boutique hotel, even as it has the hum of a mid-sized place. Barely a month old as of this writing, the Edgewater does not yet have a defined personality, but that’s sure to change as its amenities—including a hotel restaurant, planned for summer 2011—increase. In any case, there is that fabulous location. (The Edgewater is a member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association.)

• MIAMI: Out Guide
• EDGEWATER: http://www.edgewatersouthbeach.com
• PALACE: http://www.palacesouthbeach.com
• TWIST: http://www.twistsobe.com
• OTHER GAY BARS: http://www.sobegayinfo.com/nightlife.asp <http://www.sobegayinfo.com/nightlife.asp&gt;
• PHOTO: Edgewater Hotel rooftop terrace. By Paul VanDeCarr.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.