I MUST write this after reading Some of the other peoples reviews.
We just finished three days at the Inn, in summary, Exactly what I expected, Exactly what I needed, Exactly what I'd do again and again.
So the furniture is an older style, the bed had a little sag in the middle, WE like it that way (just like home). The bathroom was remodeled in 1960 something, it worked, was clean and an Incredible view of the 1st street draw bridge action.
It was Perfect that we locked our car in a gated lot for every day we were there.We walked into downtown every moment we could over a drawbridge that entertained the heck out of us, We ate, Drank and were very Merry all on foot from that Inn. We rode metromover, 4 blocks from the Inn, to every part of the city. We walked to and fro from the Inn through every neighborhood, feeling very comfortable.
Within 10 blocks of this Inn, IS, everything you can do in Miami to entertain yourself, be entertained and eat like no where else, anywhere.
Very rarely am I this entertained staying in a white box with a balcony. Our stay at this location WILL be repeated, again.
Great Time

I just finished a work trip staying at the Inn for a week. The Inn has been operating as an Inn since the beginning of Miami, over a 100 years ago and in a sense, it shows. What I mean is that it is an old wood building furnished with antiques, and with all the usual quirky issues of a National Register historic property. I found a couple small places that need touch-up paint, but overall the buildings are in better shape than many of the chains I've stayed in for twice as much.
My room was clean and comfy. My TV was tiny but I didn't visit Miami to watch television; it did suffice to catch up on the weather and the free wi-fi worked well. My shower was hot, and the AC was cold. The pool was very nice, as was the garden and veranda by the breakfast nook, which served homemade nut bread with coffee and fruit and yogurt.
The neighborhood is a working family neighborhood with joggers, fishermen, kids going to school, etc., and several parks within walking distance, but not dangerous by any measure; check with staff about parking options.
Also w/in walking distance (5 min) was Jamon Jamon Jamon, a wonderful tapas bar and restaurant (best anchovies I've ever had!). There is a sports bar/tropical bar on the river with a beautiful view of downtown reflecting on the water. Across the street is a working waterfront for lobster and stone crab, which you can get fresh at Garcia's restaurant over the bridge.
The helpful staff arranged a cab for early in the morning and it took us 15 min to get to the airport. If you want a great location, want great staff, want something pretty and unique, this is it. My nicest visit to Miami so far.

This review follows the last of three or four visits my wife and I spent at the Miami River Inn since the mid-1990s. It is inspired by a few recent reviews which reveal unrealistic expectations and failure to appreciate what the Inn has to offer. Instead of one reviewer's "quaint country inn", one finds a fenced, gated compound at the southwest corner of the intersection where the Flagler drawbridge crosses the Miami River. Across the river are downtown skyscrapers, across the road are a seafood operation, a park and a playground, while Little Havana lies to the south and west.

The compound includes an off-street parking area, a courtyard with swimming pool, and four clapboard two-storey buildings built in 1906 with porches, living rooms, and 38 guestrooms with private baths. It is ringed by tall palm trees, guarded by a resident group of ten or twelve cats, carries an historic designation, and is within walking distance of local and downtown restaurants. It is also a relatively quiet and peaceful spot in an otherwise bustling urban setting.

Beside peace and quiet, we find that the Inn's location provides ready access to Miami's highway network and that those who man the front desk ... Jane, Carlos, and Metris... are friendly and sufficiently knowledgeable to provide good directions and direct guests to worthwhile restaurants. Also, this is not a place with paper-thin walls and noisy, incponsiderate neighbors. (For those who may be disturbed by outside noise, I suggest that you choose a south or west-facing room). Finally, room rates are relatively low. Guests will therefore get value for money, which is all too rare in big cities.

I read several reviews before booking and gave this place a try to be away from the fancy miami hotels. We thought a quaint country Inn would be fun and have character. First of all the area is not to safe , we saw glass from smashed in car windows, so do yourself a favour and pay to park in there gated lot. Second of all the outside is very run down, the "E" in the name is falling off, the paint all chipped and needs repairs done. The outside furniture is dirty and mouldy. Inside it has charm when you first walk in, it has that old inn musky smell which gave it character.
The room was small and we felt like we were in a cute doll house. The view was of another building and the fire escape. The tv was a 9-10 Inch and had no remote and very limited stations. Our bathroom was dirty, hair from the previous person was around the tolet base and the sink. 30 minutes after we arrived there were over a dozen ants (large red one) all over the bathroom and came into the bedroom. there was some kind of dead fly/ant shells and dirty on the spare toilet roll. There was no hair dryer in the room.
The next morning we got up and a huge cockroach was walking around on our sink. We walked around. the property and it was very rundown and nothing at all like the pictures. The view of the river was hidden by a lobster ship yard.
When checking out the front desk did not apologize for the ants or roach just said he would check it out. We took photos to prove we were picky

We will not stay here again nor would we suggest it to friends