Hotel photography: Lifehouse South of Fifth, Miami Beach
Once an artist’s eclectic Tudor-style beach cottage, Lifehouse South of Fifth is now a boutique hotel just steps from the ocean, situated on Collins Ave. A light and airy retreat in Miami Beach, coastal details such as shiplap walls and ceilings, and curated layers of art, color and texture nod to the nearby beaches.
Check-in time is after 3:00pm (check-out time is before 11:00am) and was a breeze. We found ourselves deep in conversation with the concierge, chatting about our previous stays at other Lifehouse Hotels (one of our favorite hotel management companies) and discussing the best restaurants in Miami.
While you can opt for on-street parking — and you may luck out with a spot directly in front of the hotel — Miami Beach can be busy in the warmer months, so if you find yourself circling or simply want the ease of in-and-out privileges, South of Fifth offers valet parking for a very reasonable fee. We opted for this from our second night and on, and concierge and the valet were both on top of things every time — anticipating our needs before we even had to ask, and keeping the wait time to an absolute minimum.
Standing out among the countless Art Deco hotels or high-rise condominiums, Lifehouse South of Fifth is for those seeking a quiet, intimate stay. Feeling almost residential, 26 rooms range from Standard Queen, to an Artist’s Suite, to lofted bunks that can sleep up to six. Clean and effortlessly styled, even the smallest room — the only one still available for our spontaneous, last-minute trip — was more than comfortable. We lucked out with a corner room with windows on two walls. Push-up roman shades let in plenty of light during the day, while keeping the room dark and cozy at night. No phone, microwave or fridge (though it seems others have the cutest retro mini-fridge) was in our room, but it did have a minibar and Smart TV (which we were to busy exploring the city to watch). Beds were extremely comfortable, especially after spending all day on our feet, and outfitted with Revival NY linens. Even fully-booked and on a weekend, the hotel was mostly quiet, with only brief sounds coming from guests as they walked down the hallway — nothing too disruptive, and we easily slept through the night.
The bathroom, unusually, consisted of only a shower and toilet, while a luxury vanity, sink and ample shelving to store toiletries was situated in the room itself. Though the set up was different than what one might expect, we found it intriguing and functional. As expected with Lifehouse Hotels, both washing areas had Le Labo bath products that smelled so good we had to stop at the brick and mortar location in Wynwood to bring the scent home.
Complimentary drip coffee is available in the lobby, but we opted to walk to a local institution and eatery we stop at every time we visit Miami, Las Olas Cafe, for a cafe con leche and guava pastries.
No pool was at this location, but they do have a small tropical-inspired patio at the front of the hotel, as well as a similarly decorated lobby with wood accents and indoor seating.
We were hoping to eat at Swell, as we’ve enjoyed slow evenings relaxing at Lifehouse’s other on-site restaurants, but were surprised to hear it has been closed for about a year, with no immediate plans to re-open. Not to worry though — Miami has plenty of other places to eat, and we ended up at one of our tried-and-true favorites, Old’s Havana (their raspberry mojitos are a must!). If you don’t want to drive to Little Havana, from the hotel, walk to Washington Ave (just a block or two away) for local bars, restaurants, and entertainment. Less than a five minute walk in the opposite direction is the world-famous Art Deco District on Ocean Drive, or continue a few steps further where you can baske in the tranquil turquoise waters so clear you can see the sandy bottoms — after all, this is what you came for, right?! When you’ve had enough fun in the sun, hit up the lobby to cool off with ice cold water before heading to your rooms. The refreshments sit by the entrance in a glass dispenser with blue or green handblown glasses available for guest use.
South of Fifth is a perfect escape. If there was ever a style that perfectly encapsulated the slow-living, beachy lifestyle that feels like home no matter where you are, this is it. A light and airy coastal retreat, the little details really stand out here. Life House’s small collection of hotels, both in Miami and beyond, are all rooted in local narrative — a philosophy these two storytellers can easily get behind. Consistently impressed by staff, service, and amenities alike, this visit was no exception. During the time of year we went, prices were still below peak-season, so we felt it was a good value, and we loved how centralized these particular accommodations were to some of our favorite Miami Beach must-do’s! We’d definitely stay here again.
