Roney Palace at 2301 Collins Avenue is one of Miami Beach's most storied oceanfront addresses. The original hotel opened in 1926 and over the following decades hosted Orson Welles, Rita Hayworth, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and Desi Arnaz, who famously broadcast his "Babalú" radio program from the property. In 1999 the building was rehabilitated and converted into a full-service condominium; today it holds roughly 565 residential units on 18 stories, directly facing the Atlantic Ocean with 600 feet of beach frontage.
The building and its history
Roney Palace was commissioned in 1925 and opened in 1926 under the direction of developer N.B.T. Roney, whose vision was a luxury resort anchoring what was then the northernmost high-style stretch of Collins Avenue. It spent its first seven decades as a hotel before being acquired by Roney Associates and converted to condominiums via a gut renovation completed in 1999. HKS Architects led the 1999 redesign. The original hotel lobby was preserved as a public-facing amenity space; the guest rooms above were reconfigured into residential units ranging from studios and 1-bedrooms to larger 3-bedroom combined plans on higher floors.
Residences
Unit mix runs from compact 500 sqft studios through two-bedroom 1,100+ sqft layouts, with select combined three-bedroom penthouses on the top floors. Direct ocean-view lines trade at a meaningful premium over city-view and partial-ocean lines. Most units were delivered in 1999 with hurricane-impact windows, granite kitchens, and modern HVAC; individual renovation quality since then varies widely by owner. The building's flex-use licensing allows owners to lease short-term under specific conditions, making it one of Miami Beach's stronger cash-flow options for investor-owners.
Amenities & location
- Oceanfront pool deck and private beach service
- Spa, fitness center with ocean views, and wellness facilities
- 24-hour front desk and concierge
- Valet parking
- On-site restaurant and café
- 600 feet of deeded beach frontage
The building sits at 23rd and Collins — mid-Beach, a short walk from the Miami Beach Convention Center, Lincoln Road, and the Setai/Delano/Faena entertainment district. It is close enough to South Beach to walk the beach in either direction and far enough north to avoid the immediate Ocean Drive crowds. Commute from Roney Palace: Brickell 15–20 minutes via MacArthur Causeway, Miami International Airport 25 minutes, Aventura 20 minutes.
Who it suits
- Buyers who want full-service oceanfront with mid-beach calm rather than South Beach density.
- Investors running short-term rental programs — the building's flex-use rules and direct beach access produce strong bookings.
- Second-home buyers looking for a traditional Miami Beach lock-and-leave with hotel-grade service and an iconic address.
For context on Miami Beach oceanfront pricing more broadly, see our Miami condo market analysis and HOA fee breakdown by area.
Current pricing, active inventory, and $/sqft benchmarks are shown in the live statistics widget on this page.
