Balfour Miami Beach, a Registry Collection Hotel

Eight decades after its Art Deco debut, the Balfour still holds its original terrazzo lobby floor and porthole windows on Ocean Drive, in the heart of Miami Beach's historic district. Rooms above face either the drive's palm-lined promenade or the quieter Collins Avenue side, a useful distinction on weekend nights.

The beach itself lies directly across the street, no shuttle or crosswalk maze required. South Beach's Lincoln Road shopping strip is a ten-minute walk north, making this a practical base for travelers who want nightlife and sand within steps rather than a taxi ride.