Inexpensive art deco hotels in Miami

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Published: 12:00am, 25 Apr 2004

Ian Schrager's Delano hotel spruced up Miami's Collins Avenue and officially relaunched the art deco district in

1995. At No. 1685, it is situated in a fiercely competitive high-end hotel zone that also boasts the Shore Club (another Schrager venture, with a Nobu restaurant and Miami's Skybar) at 1901, the Sagamore at 1671 and the new Ritz Carlton (actually at 1 Lincoln Road, where it meets Collins). All waver around the 300-room mark with prices

up to HK$4,000 a night, but smaller, more authentic and cheaper art deco establishments beckon at the beginning of Collins, closer to South Beach. All rooms, unless specified, start at about $800 during the low season (April to October).

The Hotel (pictured)

The work of fashion designer Todd Oldham (in the shell of the old Tiffany Hotel, which opened in 1939), this boutique spot has been faithfully restored but with a shiny twist: all its rooms gleam with lavish, brightly coloured tiling and mosaic details. Check out the rooftop poolside bar at cocktail hour, where le tout Miami sip their drinks containing electric 'lightcubes' (plastic ice cubes that light up when immersed). Rates are higher - $1,521 a night in low season and rising - but The Hotel specialises in giving good deals on its 52 rooms through its website. It's not on the beach but the pool makes up for this fact. The Hotel boasts a staff-to-guest ratio of 1:1 and its restaurant, Wish, is also a place to see and be seen (801 Collins Avenue, tel: 1 305 531 2222, www.thehotelofsouthbeach.com).

Lily Leon Hotel

This eye-catching hostelry, the facade of which is painted a startling blue and yellow, is the result of a merger between competing establishments: Lily Guesthouse, built in 1921, and the newer Leon Hotel next door. There isn't a pool, but there is a large sun terrace and a happening bar. The rooms are faithful to the deco creed, which can make them a tad dark, but the prices more than compensate. Suites starts at $975 a night and the most fabulous, No. 103, sleeps six. Service is attentive too (835 Collins Avenue, tel: 1 305 535 9900, www.lilyguesthouse.com).