Shore Club South Beach

My wife and I stayed at the Shore Club from March 9th to the 12th leaving just a few days before the country went into full-blown shut down mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was not our first time staying at the Shore Club, in fact we have been coming to the Shore Club for years dating back to when it was owned by Morgan’s Hotel Group and Shorething Sunday’s was one of (if not the best) pool party in South Beach. Since then the hotel has gone through many changes from ownership, to staff, to almost being converted into condos (very glad that didn’t happen) but even through all those changes it has always managed to keep its charm :) This was a really tough stay to rate being that we were on the cusp of COVID-19 being labeled a global pandemic yet the hotel was at full capacity in the midst of spring break. That said, even though my entire stay was very stressful (for unrelated reasons i.e. the stock market) the hotel management and staff were fantastic and made us feel at home (as always). We arrived early and even though our room wasn’t ready we were able to change, store our luggage and lay by the pool until check in. During that period I stopped by the front desk to check if there might be another room that was ready and the young woman at the front desk insisted that we wait for the room she had assigned us as it was a great room. I trusted her and she wasn’t wrong. We were assigned room 1762 which was supposed to be a Partial Ocean View King Room which actually had a FULL Ocean view with a nice little balcony, tucked away in the corner of the hallway. As in most Shore Club rooms, the decor was clean, modern and minimalistic with more than enough space for our luggage and in typical Shore Club fashion a massive bathroom with great shower pressure (worth noting). We were also surprised by a delicious bottle of champagne and fruit basket when we finally checked in which was the perfect cherry on top (thank you!!). Our favorite part about the Shore Club is the landscaping and the pool. Throughout the entire hotel there is lush landscaping and an abundance of plants and flowers that add to its Art Deco charm. The pool (in my opinion) is probably the best pool in South Beach based on size, amount of chairs and daybeds, along with amount of sun exposure (it matters, trust me). Amongst the lush greenery around the pool you might even be able to see a couple lizards or iguanas roaming around. As is with most pools in South Beach you have to go through the pool attendant to get a chair and Elijah was there every day to take care of us with a big smile. The pool bar staff is also always attentive. Luis ,one of the bartenders, has been there for years and is always a pleasure to chat with when we are there. The food has also stood the test of time - their chicken ceasar salad and burger being two of our all-time favorites. The one complaint I would have about the pool staff during this stay is that the servers were not very attentive and were rarely making rounds, even though most days the pool was packed. Aside from spending time at the pool and in our room we didn’t do much else at the hotel during our stay - therefore I cannot comment on the gym, Diez y Seis restaurant, or the beach staff. What I will say is that one very neat feature that seemed to have recently been added is the VIP concierge. Upon checking in we received a text from the concierge introducing himself and telling us that he was at our disposal. On Wednesday morning, we asked if he could get us dinner reservations at Baoli - which was a big ask as Wednesday is their big night - and after making some calls he was able to secure us a table for two which was fantastic. All in all we had a great stay even with everything going on and I will add as a last note that even before the pandemic was announced the hotel was diligently cleaning all public areas on a very frequent basis for which I commend them for being proactive.

This hotel is not new. If you keep that in mind, it's a great deal. Large active pool with food and drink service. There is also a sectioned off area for hotel guests on the beach with chairs and umbrellas. Walking distance to Lincoln Road and infinite restaurant and bar choices. Quick and friendly check-in check-out service. Quick valet parking service.