Where do I start...do I start with the unpleasant smell when you first walk in the lobby. Or do I start with the dingy looking hallways. Or do I start with the room itself. The room isn't as chic looking in person as it is in the pictures. It looks more like cheap. The ceramic tiles are cracked, there is only one over head light. The shower had mildew in the grout joints and above the tile by the ceiling. The air conditioner was on high when we got to our room and stayed that way the entire night only the room did not cool down. We were there in Jan so the outside temp was 76. The complimentary drinks and continental breakfast aren't even at the Penguin. Great location but I would not return. Way over priced!!!

I booked a Air Hotel Package deal through Expedia to attend a trade show. I arrived to the hotel Penguin and was charged an additional mandatory “Resort” fee. This place is about as close to being a Resort as Jackie Gleason was to being skinny! This was not clearly disclosed on Expedia. For $15 you receive a lousy breakfast, towels and internet and you have no choice. I would have left but I had that Expedia package hanging around my neck like a milestone.

My first night I noticed a bad musty odor in the room. Later, I found that the shower redesign had the water run down a short glass partition but the tub sloped out to the floor, smell located. The walls are so paper thin I could swear I heard the people next door breathing, it was a noisy place.

In the morning while shaving, a large cock roach crawled onto the mirror in front of me, despite repeated whacks it managed to get away. Generally the cock roach could not find a better place the floors coloring hides the dirt, I was amazed at the filth on the back of the floor mat.

The Art Deco redesign is a sham, its execution is at best amateurish and the functionality is absurd. bathrooms that are too small with large deco sinks in a small space, shower doors that don’t fit and are to big so much so you need to scrunch against the shower wall to close them. The quality of the work done is so poor I suspect they may have been better off leaving it alone. The designer should be ashamed to put his name to this Art Deco on a budget deign faux pas.
Basically when you look at this place in the daylight it is filthy the floors the halls the bathrooms perfect for pests.

On the up side I had the opportunity to explain in front of two pending guests that I had just maimed a large cock roach (they left faster than the bug). So they moved me to their sister estate the Presidents Hotel same conditions but no bugs.

This hotel is typical for the Art Deco South Beach Style. Upon check-in there was a slight musty smell but they did say they were having the Air Unit repaired. That smell was no more for the 3 nights we were there afterward. The rooms are small and the hotel is a little dated but clean. We had the top floor room and it was well worth it! The front desk clerk wasn't lying when he said we had the best room. Wonderful view of south beach nightlife and the beach when you wake up. The bed seemed like 2 full beds put together but they were comfortable. We didn't stay much in the room as we were out all day, so its perfect if you don't plan on being in a hotel room. Not very luxurious but comfortable and affordable. Breakfast was at the sister hotel and you also got complimentary drinks. Walking distance from everything. Apart from one rude staff member the staff was generally friendly and helpful. I would stay here again, but in that room.

Great location at the north end of South Beach across the street from the beach. Rooms were OK but we weren't in the room, we were on the beach... Helpful staff and if you time your stay right you can find parking close on the street for less than the valet parking... Everything you need is within walking distance and directly across street from the beach!