The Raleigh Hotel

08/07/06

The New Chez Walters restaurant has an excellent Miami Spice Menu, Beautiful Pool

by paullazziest at Citysearch

Breakfast and Lunch at the Chez Walters is among the best things in Miami Beach, Brunch on Sundays next to the most beautiful and truly an Oscar winning Pool is my favorite. The food is great with flavors for every taste along with the best tropical cocktails like the famous mojitos and frozen drinks, no to mention having a mimosa next to pool area. The service is very good and overall the Raleigh is the only real Art Deco Hotel / Restaurant left, classy and chic. Highly recommended!

• Pros: The Pool, cocktails, breakfast menu
• Cons: Price for dinner, Miami Spice menu is great. Parking can be an issue but you can use valet.

12/31/08

.Total hideaway!

by SoBelife at Citysearch

No better setting in SoBe or Miami, great food, great drinks, efficient friendly staff, cool Martini Bar, great scene. Escape from obnoxious mega hotels eating up South Beach.

• Pros: Great option to get away from obnoxious lounges and mega hotels in Sobe.
• Cons: Parking can be a tad tough, but valet is available.

05/29/07

Terrible Customer Service

by travelgal22 at Citysearch

Although the hotel has many great features (lovely wait staff, fun pool, etc) the customer service provided by the hotel management was terrible. The room we stayed in was nice and had great features, nice tv, ipod dock, etc. However nothing worked. The TV was broken, the minibar was locked and did not keep anything cold and the air conditioning unit (in the ceiling of the closet) dripped dirty water on all of our clothes. I had a brand new dress(price tag still attached) destroyed in the process and I had to argue with the manager to have it replaced. He agreed to credit the value of the dress off of room charges but when we checked out the value was less than promised and they refused to give us the value which had been agreed upon. I will never stay at this hotel again and would not recommend it to anyone.

• Pros: Friendly waiters and pool staff, great pool, easy access to boardwalk.
• Cons: The worst customer service I have ever experienced.

03/01/07

Fabulous Hotel

by nyc2u2 at Citysearch

The Raleigh is one of my fave hotels. It knocks other beach hotels out cold! The food is great and you can take your time and chill while eating. No rude waiters hovering around and making you feel uncomfortable. The rooms are really cool with all the high-tech stuff you need. Nice, quiet hotel with a very discrete staff. The pool is unbelievable. It's probably one of the best in the USA. Everyone here looks chic. You feel like you're a guest in a Manor. Each staff member treats you like a special guest. I can never get enough of the Raleigh!

• Pros: Coolest Pool, Best Hotel Service, Cool Crowd

Skip the Raleigh's legendary pool and dive into a martini instead.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
Visiting here is like stepping into the Miami Beach of the 1940s. The mosaic martini-glass design in the terrazzo floors is the first sign that this place takes cocktails seriously. In recent years, while other hotels were outfitting their lounges with funky, modern fixtures and decor, the Raleigh was meticulously restoring its cozy bar to the original feeling of '40s glamour.

06/08/06

Great On A Sunday

by qtgurljny at Citysearch

The outdoor bar at Hotel Raleigh offers something for everyone. Went on a Sunday with one of my friends and was told locals frequent on Sundays. The bar is chic chic but, still laid-back enough to escape a grand snob factor. There is something for everyone with multiple areas: a deck area, pool area, and beach/sand area with a bonfire going. People are laid-back yet trendy and drinks are average-priced. I can't begin to describe the awesome vibe that is present. Definately a great place to go and hang out.

Luxury waterfront hotel features a modern twist on stylish 1940s ambience and the most famous pool on the beach.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
Despite its rich history, the 1940s-style beachfront hotel feels fated for the 21st century. Its classic style was ripe for the picking when it was purchased by trendsetter Andre Balazs of New York's Mercer and Los Angeles' Standard fame. Placing a heavy emphasis on service, Balazs has taken this L. Murray Dixon-designed deco landmark and maintained its integrity while streamlining it for the hipster crowd.

The Details
Among the features he's showcasing are the scallop-shaped swimming pool (once graced by Esther Williams) and the 300-foot private beach (a real luxury in this overcrowded area). Of the 100 guest rooms and suites, the most spectacular is the 6,000-square-foot, three-bedroom penthouse with a nearly 2,000-square-foot terrace. Wining and dining options consist of Oasis Lounge, Legendary martini bar and the house restaurant, under guidance of Eric Ripert.

10/19/05

Cool Pool/Hot Bar

by tatishores at Citysearch

Can't miss here. Everything's perfect. The rooms are comfy.The lobby is funky and the meals are quite tasty. You can linger with your drinks, without being bothered by annoying employees. Baby, this place is something else. Even if you're a local, stop by. It's like nothing else on South Beach.

• Pros: way cool, incredible pool, cool guests