The Delano was THE PLACE to stay in Miami Beach in...

The Delano was THE PLACE to stay in Miami Beach in the 1990s. I know because I stayed there back then. ;) (room rates started at $295) Back then, the rooms were tiny, the service snooty and the clientele was the A list of Hollywood, London and NYC. Today - 2 decades on? The rooms are still tiny, the service is now great and the clientele is the B List from Europe and South America.
GOOD: Those bones! A timeless, gorgeous building, gorgeous gardens and gorgeous pools. Rooms have been spiffed up (still tiny) but the beds, most importantly are super comfy (excellent sleep). Pet friendly, Staff at the pool were AWESOME! Front desk staff - super friendly and very patient, unlike other Miami hotels they hire outside from Miami it appears (huge improvement from the 90s)
BAD: Bathrooms are TINY! Housekeeping takes forever (often rooms weren't cleaned until 5pm) and the clientele is really stuck up and full of themselves for no good reason. Valets are hit or miss, some awesome, some extremely lazy. The Hallways smell bad, those need to be renovated and deep cleaned.
OVERALL - still a stunner after all this time, a MIAMI CLASSIC. Rates are kinda crazy considering the competition however if you are eagle eyed enough, there are excellent last minute deals to be had ($300 for ocean view oftentimes).