Do “Miami Beach” and “Art Deco” almost seem like clichés? That style of architecture, with its soft pastels, geometric lines, and patterns, dominates the landscape in this famously glamorous city. So, it might be forgiven for being associated with its signature look. The town is also separate from Miami, both in terms of municipality and geography. Additionally, Miami is all about modernity, with its sleek skyscrapers and ongoing construction. Miami Beach has spiffed up its past and embraced it.

One of the dozens of hotels in Miami Beach is the Gale South Beach, which was one of the first hotels designed by L. Murray Dixon in 1941, inspired by the Art Deco style. Taking the original style from Paris two decades earlier, he created his own version with Tropical Art Deco, which took Florida’s natural colors to give it a more local feel. The result is what you can see all around South Beach and at the Gale.

I spent the night here before embarking on a cruise on the Carnival Celebration and attending a travel advisor seminar at sea. Like all my other half-dozen pre-cruise stays in the Miami area, this was a new-to-me hotel. I do have my favorites, but I like staying in different places to appreciate what each is like. In some senses, I can add Gale South Beach to this list.

Accommodations

There are eight types of rooms at the Gale, three of which feature terraces, and one of which boasts 500 square feet of luxury space. I stayed in the signature double, which is their base entry room and has half the square footage. But it was more than enough for me, mainly because it was a corner room and afforded plenty of space. I also loved the bed, which was just the right amount of firmness and fluffiness.

I also appreciated the bathroom, which included a spacious marble shower with a rainfall head, a separate water closet, and a well-lit vanity with high-end bath products. The room was decorated with a few vintage photos, similar to those found around the hotel, along with vintage furniture and beach-inspired décor. What truly came in handy was the terry-cloth robe, which I changed into after I got caught in a little more than drizzly rain outside. However, the one complaint I had was that most of the television channels were offline, so I probably had five working ones to watch.

Amenities

This aspect of the hotel was mainly fantastic. Given its limitations with space, the Gale has made the most of its property. It’s actually two hotels combined, with the former Regent being absorbed into the Gale in 1964. With its older architecture, it’s not surprising that I encountered some renovation, which closed off the elevator that would have enabled an easier transport of my baggage. Instead, I had to climb a few stairs, but luckily, the staff aided me here (more about their service later).

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the hotel’s offerings was the rooftop pool. This seems to be a common feature of the older hotels in South Beach, and maybe that’s also due to their age. However, I enjoyed my brief time at this place, which was just minutes before I checked out. Guests enjoy a superb view of the surrounding area and a glimpse of the ocean, with a large cabana available for those who secure it early. But the one amenity I didn’t like was the fitness room, which was also a result of the older structures. It was probably once a storage room or office, and it was quite cramped with weight equipment, one treadmill and a Peloton, which I couldn’t use because I couldn’t adjust the seat to my height.

Food, drink and service

While Dolce does have full food service during its remodeling, I didn’t have dinner there. As guests enter, a coffee bar is available. The prices were reasonable, even less than what you might pay at Starbucks, but I didn’t try a coffee drink. What I did have was a small welcome glass of prosecco, which I thought was a nice bit of South Beach luxury. The next morning, I enjoyed avocado toast with scrambled eggs for breakfast, thanks to an included credit for my stay. The only complaint I had was that there was an overabundance of arugula and not enough of the main ingredient.

I mentioned before that the staff was helpful, especially with taking my luggage up the short flight of stairs from the entrance to the lobby. This was especially helpful because I have some mobility issues with my legs and hips. Having their staff help me each time was highly appreciated. They also asked me if I needed a restaurant recommendation for dinner. I didn’t, but I liked how they offered.