Balfour Miami Beach — Hotel in Miami Beach

I am extremely disappointed with my recent stay at the Balfour Hotel in Miami Beach. As a frequent visitor to Miami (7n times in 2024), I've stayed in the SoBo area multiple times, and my previous experience at the Balfour Hotel was exceptional. However, my latest visit was a letdown. I stayed  in this hotel in September  and back in December, and things  changed  a lot to the worst.

I had high expectations, especially since I was bringing my parents to experience the hotel's hospitality. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse from the moment we arrived. The lobby looked abandoned, and the reception desk had been relocated, leaving a large empty space with an unpainted wall.

Our assigned room was dark and small, and faced a busy street despite my specific request for a quiet room. I wanted to cancel our reservation on the spot, but I didn't want to stress my parents by searching for a new hotel. Instead, I requested a room change. The new room was slightly better, with more natural light and a side street view. However, the shower leaked constantly, making a mess on the floor. The air conditioning unit produced a disturbing noise, making it difficult to relax. Although I was offered the option to cancel, I chose to stay to avoid causing additional stress for my parents. Unfortunately, my loyalty to the hotel was not rewarded.

What truly matters to me is not the room size or issues like a leaking shower, as I spend most of my time outside. What I value is how the hotel staff and management treat their guests.

I must commend the staff behind the bar and reception desk - they were consistently welcoming and friendly during our interactions.

However, my experience with the management and ownership was vastly different. As mentioned in a previous review, the hotel changed ownership during our stay. Unfortunately, this transition made me feel miserable for several days.

I observed numerous meetings between management, staff, and business partners in the lobby, but not once did anyone acknowledge me as a guest. No one greeted me, asked about my stay, or showed any interest in my experience.

What's more surprising is that I even encountered the owner and management outside the hotel on multiple occasions. We crossed paths on the street outside of the hotel, and I nodded in greeting, expecting a basic acknowledgment. However, I was met with complete indifference - no smile, no hello, no recognition whatsoever. It was as if I was invisible.

Furthermore, the lobby was undergoing construction during my stay, with workers flooding the area. I even tripped over tools left on the floor, and management was present but failed to acknowledge the incident.

To add to the disappointment, it was the week before Christmas, and the hotel lacked any holiday decorations, leaving the atmosphere feeling cold and unwelcoming.

As a paying guest, it's disheartening to feel ignored and unvalued. It seems that management is more focused on making money from guests rather than providing a welcoming and personalized experience.

This lack of attention to guest satisfaction is unacceptable, especially considering the hotel was not fully booked during our stay, and only a few people stayed  there.

Given my previous positive experience, I'm saddened to say that I no longer recommend the Balfour Hotel. The decline in quality and service is noticeable, and I hope the hotel management takes steps to address...

Perfect location, chic but over-priced rooms, with service hit and miss.

The location just south of 5th Street is the best in my opinion for a quick visit to Miami Beach. You’re close enough to the buzzing bits of Ocean Drive and Collins Ave but far enough away not to be disturbed by noise or crowds. That is the Balfour’s best selling point. Just be aware that there is a block of buildings in between the hotel and the beach.

Pleasant decor in keeping with art deco theme and rooms themselves are a good size. But be warned the bathrooms (at least in the old building) are absolutely tiny with barely enough room to move around and to sit. In-room safes are not attached to anything, so next to useless. Lavazza coffee machines are a real plus, but coffee pods (you get three to begin with) don’t seem to be replenished by housekeeping. Nor does bottled water but there is a water dispenser in the reception/bar area.

Room was spotlessly clean, although I did notice the raindrop shower head had several nozzles blocked by accumulated limescale - something that could be fixed very quickly but clearly isn’t part of the cleaning routine. Some rooms in the traditional old building face into courtyard, meaning you’ll need to keep your blinds drawn.

Housekeeping is daily however, a positive compared to many hotels these days. Plentiful USB ports and wall sockets. Comfortable bed and extremely plump pillows. Maybe a personal preference, but I found the toiletries to all have an unpleasantly overpowering artificial citrus scent.

Two large industrial humidifiers, attached to the upper floors of the old hotel building, ruined the ambience of the interior courtyard and could be heard in bedrooms. These may be temporary. When I stayed the reception area had just been remodelled and perhaps the upper rooms are being renovated too.

The tiny, tiny pool is for the most part a gimmick for photos, but can provide a refreshing dip if temperatures soar. Keep in mind Miami Beach swimming conditions can be too treacherous to swim, so if you are intent on being able to swim ensure you stay somewhere with a proper pool.

Beach towel and lounger/umbrella operation works well. You take towels from reception and then make your way to a cabin on the beach where loungers are assigned.

I asked twice whether I could check out late, being perfectly willing to pay extra, and was told both times that the hotel was fully booked the following day. This was a lie as three rooms the same as mine were available online and I even received a promotional text message encouraging me to stay an extra night at a 25% discount.

Be warned there is no secure left luggage facility. Bags are simply left in the open reception area without any form of tags/labels. The change over of staff means that anyone could wander in a claim a bag as theirs without any chance of being challenged. For me, this was one of the biggest disappointments.

On-site bar and restaurant Mehzcla is handy and outdoor patio overlooking the quieter part of Ocean Drive makes for a relaxing environment for breakfast or a nightcap. Just be aware you won’t be getting an ocean view. They execute a limited breakfast menu relatively well, although service can be slow (albeit friendly) and cocktails are hit and miss with only...

Dirty and could be WAY better.

Pros: Great and friendly staff. Within walking distance to Washington and the strip and all the shops and food. Very comfy beds. I mean very very comfy. And great pillows too. The rooms have a fridge for your take home items and they come with an espresso machine which is a nice touch. The restaurant downstairs is great. Food is very good. Dessert menu is limited but a really great bar and qualified bar staff. Good WiFi. and you get beach pass with access to chairs and umbrellas just a few steps from the best parts of south beach. All great stuff.

Cons: The room and especially the bathrooms are a little small and they are pretty dark. The lighting may be why cleaning crew leaves the rooms really dirty. I saw this in a few other reviews warning it was dirty before booking, but I’m confirming that it is an actual problem.

First indication that it wasn’t clean was the smell.. the room smells like smoke when you walk in. To be clear the hotel does not allow smoke indoors, but there was a waft of smoke smell when we entered our room. It eventually fades, but you get the sense it’s embedded like in the woodwork or something.

Next up: The room was actually kinda gross especially the bathrooms. See the pictures below for details. The grout on the floor in the bathroom was black and in the shower it’s white. Spots of spills and soil dirt all over the floor. And there is this black chalky buildup everywhere. On the sink fixtures the glass door the shower drain.. we actually had to put towels in the shower and the floor and wore our flip flops everywhere in the room. Worse than the bathroom at my gym.. . Also the windows and under the beds which are elevated look like they were not cleaned in a long while. but the absolute worst was opening one of the towels and seeing some stuck on food particles in between. I can only guess that this may have been vomit from a previous guest and the the laundry didn’t manage to get it all off. Totally disgusting. For over $600 a night during April vacation you expect way more. Three stars because it could be so much better if it were just clean.

Also. The AC in the room sounds like there is running water all day. It was actually like white noise and I think it helped us sleep.. the pool is currently under renovation and you can hear construction during the weekdays. They do have passes to another pool across the street for guests.

Finally is location which is really good but again a slight miss. Its just ever so slightly off the strip and so it’s mostly hotel guests and residents and not as great for people watching as one block up the strip. That’s the whole point of south beach.

BTW if you do stay here and hit the bar outdoors.. try the old fashioned. That was a very good drink. Thank you.

To the hotel if you read this. I don’t mean to be critical and I tried to be fair.. I wrote this not just for other guests. I would come back if it were cleaner. The price is online and slightly below other area hotels during the same period. The place could really be great and has all the DNA needed. I hope this helps you with some of your...