Book Direct Benefits
- - Complimentary Bottled Water
- - Wine Hour
- - WiFi
- - Guest Discounts on
Espanola Way Restaurants
our story
SPANISH-FRENCH REVIVAL STYLE IN VIBRANT SOUTH BEACH
The five three-story villas that are now Paseo Hotel have always been a bohemian’s dream. Originally built in 1925 as apartment buildings in the Mediterranean Revival style, the hotel features elements of Spanish, Moroccan, Italian, and French architecture, like tile roofs, rounded archways and charming balconies. Not surprisingly, its stylish flair appealed to Cuban artists who came to live here in the 1950s and 60s, and for 25 years, the building was known as the Española Way Art Center, housing such notable artists as Kenny Scharf, Miralda, and Craig Coleman. Some of the rooms even have full-service kitchens, giving our guests that ultimate, Miami pied-a-terre experience. In short, if you feel the need to pick up a pen or paintbrush while you’re here, there’s a whole lot of history backing you up.
Once upon a draft table in the early 1920s, architect Robert Taylor imagined “places where artists and lovers of the artistic might congregate amid congenial surroundings.” He dreamed of Miami having a Latin Greenwich Village of fiestas and song, mantillas and lace. So he made a strategy. He modeled the street after some of the safest, most walkable and delightful places in Spain and France. Las Ramblas in Barcelona was of great inspiration, as were the villages of Biarritz, Cannes and Mentone in France. When finally built, Española Way was considered an ideal location for the wealthy, such as Harvey Firestone, J.C. Penney and Harry C. Stutz, to enjoy a secluded holiday, lined with shops and restaurants that rivaled Paris. Then came the roaring 20s and 30s, when the street came alive with parties, bookies and bootleggers. Al Capone ran a gambling ring here, and in the 40s Desi Arnaz ignited the rumba craze. Today, the block thrums with shops, restaurants, bars and still caters to wandering bohemians and artists at heart. Walk along it and you’ll simply know the feeling. It’s a special little alcove in the world, a totally different side of South Beach and a pretty cool cat of a street.
