The Diva of Ocean Drive Is Coming Back

Here's one for anyone who's ever walked Ocean Drive and wondered about the tall, quiet building at 1220. The historic Tides Hotel in South Beach is preparing for a comeback, with new stewards securing $44 million to fund its restoration — and after years of standing dark on the busiest stretch of Miami Beach, that is plainly good news.

What happened

World Red Eye reported in mid-October that Safe Harbor Capital Partners has taken control of the Art Deco landmark, and the 13-story, 45-room hotel at 1220 Ocean Drive is expected to reopen next month following a multimillion-dollar renovation. The new team isn't stopping at fresh paint, either — they're in discussions with potential hotel operators and chefs to develop the property's food and beverage program.

That matters more when you know how long the building sat empty. The hotel closed in the fall of 2017, and for nearly a decade one of the great facades on Ocean Drive had nobody behind the front desk.

Why this building matters

The Tides isn't just another pretty hotel on a street full of them. It was designed by L. Murray Dixon in 1936 as the first Art Deco hotel he built on South Beach, and at the time it was the tallest building in the area. At 136 feet, it remains the tallest building along Ocean Drive in the Historic Art Deco District to this day. Look up next time you pass: asymmetrical design, decorative detailing, the Art Deco rule of thirds, and large porthole windows set this hotel apart.

It has the stories to match the architecture. Known as "The Diva of Ocean Drive," the hotel played host to famous guests ranging from Marilyn Monroe in the '50s to Spike Lee in the 2010s. And it's roomier than its neighbors: the original 115 rooms were long ago transformed into 45 spacious guest rooms, which is part of why people loved staying there.

The street around it

A relit Tides is a win for the whole neighborhood, because Ocean Drive is one of the rare American streets where the past is still standing shoulder to shoulder. Developed in the 1920s and 1930s, the street is the center of the Miami Art Deco District, which contains about 900 preserved, contributing buildings and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. That preservation didn't happen by accident — the Miami Design Preservation League fought against demolition of these historic buildings in the 1970s, and every restored hotel is another brick in that long, stubborn effort. It's the kind of place that inspired our whole Florida collection in the first place: pastel buildings, salt air, and architecture with a sense of humor about itself.

Go see it

If you're in South Florida this winter, build a slow afternoon around it. Start at the Art Deco Welcome Center, Museum, and Gift Shop at 1001 Ocean Drive, across the street in Lummus Park — the hub of all things Art Deco — then walk north past the Victor, the Tides, the Carlyle, and the rest of the lineup. The Tides sits in the heart of South Beach's most famous street for fashion, entertainment and people-watching, so even before the doors officially open, there's plenty to look at. Wear something that fits the occasion — our Good Times Miami Beach Tee was made for exactly this kind of stroll — and raise a cafecito to a 90-year-old building getting its lights back on.

Common questions

When will the Tides reopen?

The hotel is expected to reopen next month following a multimillion-dollar renovation, per World Red Eye's October report — so keep an eye out as the season gets going.

How long was it closed?

The hotel closed in the fall of 2017, meaning it sat dark for roughly nine years before this restoration effort came together.

Can I see the Art Deco District without staying in a hotel?

Absolutely. The district is a public streetscape, and the Art Deco Welcome Center at 1001 Ocean Drive is a natural starting point for a self-guided walk up the most photographed few blocks in Florida.

Reported by World Red Eye. Details as published at the time of writing.