Art Deco by Goldman Properties
Why “The Tony?” The Tony Hotel South Beach, formerly named The Hotel of South Beach, was re-named in 2022 in honor of Tony Goldman, the legendary neighborhood placemaker and historic preservationist who restored the hotel to its glory and is widely credited with revitalizing South Beach in the 1980s and 90s.
The Tony Hotel South Beach
The Tony Hotel South Beach is a distinctive Art Deco retreat in the heart of South Beach, just steps from the Atlantic Ocean. With 73 thoughtfully designed rooms, an exclusive rooftop pool and bar overlooking the ocean, and complimentary beach chairs and towels, the hotel offers a relaxed and intimate Miami Beach experience.
The hotel is also home to three unique food and beverage destinations along Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive. Wish Café offers relaxed al fresco dining in a charming courtyard, as well as food and drinks by the rooftop pool. A South Beach institution, News Café brings its iconic Ocean Drive legacy back to life, blending its historic character with a fresh, vibrant atmosphere. Just steps away, Oh Mexico! serves authentic Mexican cuisine, casual bites, and refreshing cocktails in the heart of Miami Beach.
Our History
Built in 1939 by renowned architect L. Murray Dixon, The Tony Hotel South Beach is part of Miami Beach’s iconic Art Deco heritage. Dixon’s distinctive architectural style can be seen throughout the hotel, from its streamlined curves and geometric details to its signature rooftop “Tiffany” spire, which has overlooked Collins Avenue for more than 80 years.
The hotel’s story is also closely connected to Tony Goldman, the visionary developer who helped shape the renaissance of South Beach. After discovering the neighborhood in 1985, Goldman saw its potential and dedicated much of his life to preserving its architectural heritage while transforming South Beach into the vibrant, pedestrian-friendly destination it is today.
Goldman acquired and carefully restored the hotel, later working with renowned fashion designer Todd Oldham in 1998 to bring the bold colors, shapes, and textures of the Art Deco era to its interiors.
In 2022, ten years after Tony Goldman’s passing, the hotel was renamed The Tony Hotel South Beach in his honor.
Who was Tony Goldman?
The words “visionary” and “pioneer” are often overused, but not in Tony Goldman’s case. He was no ordinary real estate developer; he was a hopeful romantic who was more interested in revitalizing and reinventing blighted neighborhoods into enclaves of creativity, inclusivity, and diverse pedestrian activity than in building high-rises. His Midas touch helped turn these neighborhoods into global destinations. For Tony, it started in 1968 on the Upper West side of NYC, converting brownstones into lofts. He set his sights on Soho in the early 1970s, where he helped convert old manufacturing and industrial buildings into artist lofts, art galleries, and supper clubs, all while preserving the cast-iron architecture that differentiated Soho. He loved to sing, recorded two albums, and often performed at his own Soho supper club, the Greene Street Café. Tony Goldman made “edgy” cool.
On December 1, 1985, to the great fortune of the City of Miami Beach, Tony Goldman made a left turn on Ocean Drive at 5th Street. He instantly fell in love, looking past the problems that plagued South Beach at that moment and instead envisioning its future as the American Riviera. He would later recognize that moment as the yellow brick road on his way to the land of Oz. The moment was unmistakable: the collection of art deco architecture and the spectacular expanse of beach would drive him to spend decades of his life working with many others to preserve the historic character of South Beach. Nothing motivated him more than being doubted and told he was crazy. He invested virtually every penny he and his wife Janet had into purchasing and restoring art deco style buildings along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue. He brought the fashion industry to South Beach and curated unique tenants in his properties, including the iconic News Café that is part of The Tony Hotel South Beach.
Tony Goldman led by example and remained deeply committed to his own vision in the face of many naysayers. His energy and passion were contagious, which inspired many others to follow his lead. His service to the City of Miami Beach was unmatched in his era. He was its most visible, vocal, and passionate ambassador for tourism. He served as chairman of the Ocean Drive Association for 10 years, and as the two-term chairman of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. His legacy in Soho and South Beach earned him the highest award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation — the Louise du Pont Crowninshield Lifetime Achievement Award (2011). In 2012, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce (2012). In 2021, Tony Goldman was posthumously inducted into the Miami Beach Hall of Fame on a unanimous first ballot.
Tony Goldman left his mark on other neighborhoods as well, including Center City Philadelphia and Wynwood in Miami, where he turned an old industrial garment district into one of the largest collections of outdoor street mural art in the world, including creating the iconic Wynwood Walls. Tony Goldman lived his life to leave an imprint on the world — a legacy on which people of all races, religions, and preferences could agree that Tony Was Here!