M HOTEL

Converted from a 1950s Art Deco apartment block on Abbott Avenue, M Hotel keeps its original terrazzo lobby floor while the rooms above were rebuilt with kitchenettes for extended stays. The North Beach location sits a five-minute walk from the sand, away from the South Beach crowds.

No restaurant on-site, but the surrounding blocks hold Argentine and Italian delis open past midnight. Free parking is rare this close to the water; M Hotel offers it on a small side lot.

A three-star, budget-minded pick for travelers wanting beach access without South Beach prices.