Park Central South Beach — Hotel in Miami Beach

I stayed at The Gabriel South Beach, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, for a few days while in town for business. I’ve been a Hilton Honors member for over 25 years, and while I love the brand and its global consistency, this particular property left me feeling mixed.

Let’s start with the positives: the location and views are absolutely beautiful. My room had a balcony overlooking the ocean, and that alone made mornings special. I specifically booked here knowing I wouldn’t have time for the beach, so the view mattered to me — and it truly delivered.

The pool area was pleasant but definitely needs some updating. A refresh to the patio furniture and layout would make a world of difference. The hotel is split into two buildings, and I stayed in the secondary tower above an Italian restaurant. The space was nice and quiet, but I would recommend that Hilton consider improving security access between both buildings for added guest comfort.

Now, the not-so-great part — room service. I’ll be honest: it wasn’t up to Hilton standards. The presentation wasn’t clean, and the use of plastic utensils at a Curio-level hotel felt disappointing. For the rate guests pay here, I expect proper setup and cleanliness. I didn’t raise it during my stay — I prefer to remain polite on property — but I wouldn’t recommend ordering room service again. You’re better off grabbing a coffee and croissant across the street or heading to one of the many local cafés nearby.

As for dining, Meet Dalia, the on-site restaurant, was good — not exceptional, but convenient. Dinner was fine, brunch before I left was much better, and service was friendly. It’s the kind of place that’s easy if you’re already staying here but not one I’d go out of my way to revisit.

One pro tip for travelers: during holiday weekends or large events, Ocean Drive often closes to traffic. Be sure to check with the hotel in advance. In my case, the bellman personally walked me and my luggage to the valet around the block because the streets were blocked — handled professionally, but it’s something to plan for.

Would I stay again? For the view, possibly — but for overall experience, probably not. If you’re a beachgoer who loves the energy of South Beach, it’s convenient. But for business travelers like me, there are better Hilton options nearby....

ADORABLE! I booked a stay at the Gabriel (now the Park Central) Hotel for my fortieth birthday along with two friends. The location on Ocean Drive is superb - close to shops, easy to walk/bike around and great for outdoor dining. Upon arrival that morning, we were greeted warmly by Tanesha and Evelina at the front desk. Our room wasn't ready but Kevin and Oscar at the valet desk were able to stow our things so that we could enjoy a full lunch with Sara at Meet Dalia. She kept us in stitches and recommended some amazing dishes and drinks - all while giving us and other seated patrons the best service imaginable. To our surprise, we also got a free show as a video crew was filming a local TV spot for the Art Deco district. It was amazing to watch the process happening in front of the hotel as well as in the lobby. We were introduced to Eric, the hotel manager, who went out of his way (several times, in fact) to deliver a level of service we could only dream about. Even when difficulties occurred with the air conditioning unit in our room, Eric personally made sure that the next room was a step above with an oceanfront view (!) and cold as an igloo (to the gentleman with the curly hair from the front desk - thank you for the tour). Even with the sights and sounds of South Beach going past the hotel, we slept like the dead. Every time we passed through the lobby, we were greeted, asked how our trip was going, and given recommendations on local attractions. Upon finding our beloved in-room coffee machine unresponsive in the middle of our trip (after a particularly social evening out), we even had delicious coffee made by Luis brought up to the room by our very own Eric. When I say the level of service was amazing, I really mean it. So many memories were made due to the generosity and care that was provided by the hotel staff. We will be coming back soon - honestly, we didn't want to leave in the first...

I rarely leave negative reviews, but this experience warrants one. I booked The Gabriel Miami Beach (a Hilton Curio Collection hotel) in February 2025 for two stays in October. A week before my trip I learned, on my own, that the property had been ||I called the hotel to confirm my reservation. Although it was still in the hotel system, Park Central was not a part of the Hilton Honors program. When I explained that I was neither contacted not did I provide my consent to the transfer, the hotel acknowledged that not all guests had been informed of the management change. |No email, no call, no heads-up. Just a surprise downgrade to a hotel that didn’t meet the standards I booked for.||To make sound like they had done something they told me my rate would not change. Really? Without informing me of the change, offering an upgrade or alternatives? When I stated I had called twice before my stay AND sent an email with no follow-up. They offered nothing. No resolution, no apology, no ownership.||Service at Park Central is not on par with the Hilton Curio brand. The service (with the exception of Oscar and Stephen) was indifferent, the amenities were lacking, and the new $300 security deposit was not disclosed in advance. ||This experience was a complete failure in customer service and...