The Cavalier is a funky decco hotel perfectly located on a lively but not mental strip of Ocean Drive, right on the best part of the beach and next door to Gloria Estevan's hotel The Cardoza. My wife and I, both in our forties, thought the hotel had a hip, hole in the wall quality we found very romantic. There is no actual lobby. Guests enter through a restaurant / bar called CJ's Crab Shack. The food is pretty good, and the place is full of hipsters all night long. The front desk is tucked in a corner by the bar. Next to the desk is a vintage 3 passenger elevator, complete with a hinged door and one of those scissor cages. Every time I took the elevator I felt like I was in a Cagney movie. We had a room on the third at the very back of the hotel so it was pretty quiet, although like all decco hotels the walls are thin. The bedding was decent, the bed was good, and the tile floor looked new. There was a walk in closet with open shelves, but no storage otherwise. The bathroom was small and a little run down looking, but everything worked and there was lots of hot water. Central ac worked well, and the temp was in the mid 80's while we were there. I found the hotel staff excellent. The front desk crew were polite and helpful on the phone, and absolutely charming in person. The maid was also first rate. We tracked sand all over every day, and every afternoon the room was made spotless again. If you are expecting Holiday Inn, you'll probably hate the Cavalier, and South Beach for that matter. But anyone looking for a cool place to crash after a day in the surf and a night in the lounge will love it. And the price can't be beat.
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