Riverside Hotel Fort Lauderdale

Wonderful experience during our two-night day over Father's Day weekend at the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas Blvd in Fort Lauderdale. Our weekend stay began with dropping off our car with the valet service (very professional and cordial) and a quick stop at the registration desk. We were early on arrival, so, as expected, our Suite was not quite ready. ALAN HICKS at the front desk was great! Helpful, also professional, and knowledgeable. He directed us to the Water Taxi pick up point, where we boarded with family and had a wonderful four hour boat ride up and down the Intracoastal Waterway in the Venice of America, aka Fort Lauderdale. Alan gave us a call to advise our room was ready, which was perfect timing as we were about to return. Alan seemed to work 24 hours, always available to answer questions and make recommendations.|The next day hubby enjoyed the sauna in the workout center, and later in the day we enjoyed cocktails at the Boathouse Restaurant (part of the hotel) with family.|The entire weekend was a great success. Our room was great, comfortable, and beautiful. The hotel is a classic and appears to have undergone a recent update. Prices for breakfast and a late snack were very reasonable. Furnishings and paint were fresh throughout the property. We hope to stay again.|One question: What brand mattress does the hotel use? We had two wonderful nights sleep and would love to know the brand.

This hotel was lovely … however, just 2 things I didn’t enjoy too much of… that the window closest to the bed had a white film on the lower part of it…therefore not allowing me to see well outside. And Then the window with the better view, had the TV in front of it So I didn’t have a view out of that one either. There was a window in the bathroom. And thanks to that one. I had a view of Las Olas Blvd 😆🤦 The Blvd is very noisy at night. Until about 1am. I also struggled with the AC in the room… split unit… There were times that room was a bit hot during the day. The staff was very good, and very friendly, especially the valet guy and the waiters who took care of me. Parking $27 a day. You need to take a Water Taxi or Uber to the beach. It’s a far walk. Location very nice… (except for Blvd noise from cars/music at night). Plenty of places to eat. Shops nearby. I loved eating at the Boatyard restaurant behind it. Great food and view of the river.

Riverside is a charming hotel! We loved the welcoming atmosphere, decorations, ambience, and cleanliness. The room was spacious and nicely cleaned. They had quality white towels, and even a shower cap. It's in the middle of the fun! Approach the front door, and you're in the middle of the fun. Go the back door, and you're on the river. Overall, this is our new favorite hotel.

We have stayed at the Riverside Hotel in Lauderdale several times and are booked to go again: • If you are looking for a spotlessly clean, excellently staffed, classic hotel with all the amenities, the Riverside is what you are looking for. • Located on the beautifully landscaped River Walk, which is a pleasing stroll and great place to people-watch, you can grab a drink outdoors as you watch the boat traffic make its way through the channel. • The hotel itself has a wonderful outdoor pool, several restaurants, in- house entertainment and an inside lobby with a piano bar. Right outside is a garden retreat...which is (FYI) a place where people may smoke. • The neighborhood around the hotel's front entrance is loaded with hip shops and eating/drinking establishments. The neighborhood feels quite safe.

This hotel is in an excellent location. The personnel is friendly and tries to help with what they have to work with. The hotel is old and shows it. Room has no overhead light and lamp has dimmest bulb possible. I am literally writing this review by using the flashlight on my phone. No valet service during day. Waited 30 minutes to finally get someone to give me keys to get my car. Room was clean. Main problem they need to improve lighting.

The location of the hotel is excellent and there is a the water taxi stop right outside, which is perfect for sightseeing. Unfortunately, we had an issue with the room after check-in and initially did not receive great customer service when it was reported. The matter was resolved in the end but it did sour our stay somewhat and after complaining to the manager, we did recieve the type of customer service you would expect from a hotel like the Riverside. We had an economy room or micro as they called it, and with hindsight, I wish we had booked a slightly larger room as the micro room is very compact and I stubbed my toes on the bed a few times. Overall, we did enjoy our stay in Fort Lauderdale but could have done without the initial hassle and rudeness.

We were welcomed very warmly. I was very impressed by the staff’s courtesy and friendly nature. Yasin was extremely polite and respectful . He helped us with our baggages to our room. He inquired if we needed to be helped in anyway. The room was clean bright. We would definitively comeback again. The overstay was a pleasant experience and the service was excellent .

We thoroughly enjoyed our vacation at the Riverside. The valet Kevin was particularly helpful and pleasant. He brought our luggage to the room got us ice and was very welcoming to Fort Lauderdale and the Riverside. Our car was always brought to us promptly. Kevin was a terrific ambassador for the Riverside. We will definitely consider the Riverside the next time we visit Fort Lauderdale.

I was taking a 20-day cruise on the Crystal Serenity and, as is my custom, I fly in at least a day early to ensure I make embarkation on time. After flying 15+ hours (HNL to LAX to ATL to FFL), plus the taxi ride, I needed to check-in, shower and relax. My friend recommended Riverside due to its location and I booked a Junior Suite. The hotel was built in 1936 and is rated 3 stars. Check-in was fine and I was given a room on one of the upper floors in the original wing, looking West. The room was largish, as are rooms in older hotels, with a small closet, a sofa, table, desk with coffee maker and a king bed. The bathroom was fine with a tub. What did I miss? There wasn't a shower wand, and the toilet was just a standard unit. I'm spoiled by my Toto at home. I went outside onto the balcony and looked at the river to my left and Las Olas Blvd to my right. All and all, a much nicer room than I expected, given the hotel's 3-star rating. Call me pleasantly surprised. I walked around to familiarize myself with the hotel, finding the bar, Wild Sea restaurant, a small sundries store and a clothing store located next door but with an entrance from the hotel. There are two ballrooms and a large patio on the 9th floor. The one place that showed the hotel's age was its elevators. There were only two, relatively small ones servicing the wing I was in. When I checked in at 6pm, there was a long line of people waiting to go up to the ballrooms. My friend was spot on about the location. I walked up and down Las Olas Blvd and found a myriad of shops, coffee places and restaurants. It's a very pleasant area with a mix of commercial and residential. The New River winds behind the hotel and one can walk along the river. Upon disembarkation from the Serenity 21 days later, I caught a taxi and found myself back at the Riverside for one night before returning home to Hawaii. My Junior Suite was on a lower floor than my first visit and there wasn't a balcony, nor were there nice views. I didn't care, I was there only because one can't fly to Hawaii after 10am. This second room was identical to the first except for the lack of a balcony. What did I think? I loved the location and the rooms were fine. If I return to Fort Lauderdale, I will definitely consider the Riverside for accommodations ... Recommended!

Updated review: Stayed in th new towers, still hard to get someone on the phone but all of the staff are very kind and accomodating. Shout out to Alan and the rest of the front desk staff as well as Alfredo. The pool was wonderful and both restaurants had delicious food with reasonable pricing. Also, unless renovations have been made to the older towers, definitely request the a room in one of the newer ones - it's like night and day.

Love the Riverside Hotel! The rooms recently renovated and beautiful! Spotless, modern and beautiful! Perfect location on Las Olas and the New River!! The staff are always friendly, attentive and welcoming! Michael at the Front Desk assisted me on Thanksgiving Day.. very accommodating! The Restaurants are amazing! Especially The Boathouse! Great views of the Yachts on the new river! Beautiful pool!! Close to the Water Taxi! ! The lobby is so warm and welcoming! Very Pet friendly! I highly recommend! What's not to love!!

We had a Junior suite facing the new river on the 12th floor. Our view was fantastic. The room was spacious and newly remodeled and furnished. Everything was excellent. The Riverside Hotel has multiple ventures for food and beverage. We especially like the Boat House for lunch. It is open air dining on the new river. We will stay there again.

The only hotel on Las Olas strip in East Fort Lauderdale. I have stayed at this location several times. Its an old building with a relaxed feel. Very tiny slow elevators. Great weekday rates for the hotel online for about $189.00. In the morning, I have breakfast on the outside patio restaurant. For happy hour we would get appetizers and cocktails at the bar behind the hotel on the water with amazing views of yachts coasting by. It will get slammed on the weekends so suggest a weekday to eat and drink. The nightlife is fabulous with tons of bars and restaurants up and down the strip. Most of the stores close by 9pm but some bars are open late.

I discovered this hotel when looking for a boutique hotel in the Fort Lauderdale area that is good for meetings. What drew me immediately to the Riverside Hotel were the images of it right on the water and the accessibility to a water taxi. The hotel also had a certain charm that felt very different from the chain hotels and I liked that and thought our meeting attendees would find it charming as well. It didn't hurt that there were two bars on site and it opened onto Las Olas Blvd that had a number of highly rated restaurants in immediate proximity (Big City Tavern and Voodoo Bayou are right across the street). Depending on the floor in which your room is located, you may have a slightly older room with more charm to them than those located on floors 8-12 in the newer tower area (also houses the meeting and banquet spaces). I was on floor two and was near the elevator that only catered to floors 2 and 3. It was a small elevator that housed maybe 4 people if yu help your breath. There is another elevator down the hall that cater to floors 2 through 6. To get to the tower, you need to go down to the first floor (lobby level) and take the elevators marked for the tower. When we were coming back from dinner one night, four of us remarked how tiny the one elevator was and a bellman stated that it was the elevator for the building from 1936. I wish there was a sign that said that as that is pretty darn cool. The rooms were well appointed, but the water pressure is just meh and the shower head is lower on the wall than I am tall, and the pedestal sink really had no counter space. Besides the bathroom, the room was nice, had a fridge, and all the other amenities one needs from a boutique hotel. It is definitely worth staying at and is staffed by extremely helpful and friendly people. I need to give a shout out to Martine and Paige from their sales team as they helped me plan a meeting there and were so incredibly helpful. On site, the banquet personal and maintenance people were quick to help us with everything we needed as well.

We stayed here the night before we had a cruise leaving out of Port Everglades. The hotel is centrally located right on Las Olas Blvd, and there are tons of dining options, bars, etc at the hotel and all around, across the street, next door, etc. We arrived a little after 4p, and I was disappointed to find that our room wasn't yet ready. The woman helping us at the reception desk asked us to wait while a room was being prepared for us, and she offered us $50 in credit at one of the hotel restaurants where we could wait for our room to be ready. It took about an hour for our room to be ready, and we were pleasantly surprised to find that we were upgraded to a large suite that had a separate sitting area and balconies. It was a lovely gesture on the part of the hotel to make up for the late room availability. The room was a bit dated in terms of its look and feel, but it was spacious, clean and had everything we needed. They even had shower caps which I feel like hotels don't have anymore. The location of the hotel is a bit tricky as you'll want to be dropped off in the back of the hotel because traffic gets very congested. The hotel connected us with a shuttle driver that transported our entire group from the hotel to the port.

Always wondered what it was like to stay here and now I know! Front desk was very friendly. The room we had was pretty nice, but it was a bit noisy as the hotel is replacing flooring throughout the building. Parking is $26 per day for self-parking and I think $36 for valet, so that's certainly not cheap, but also not unexpected for the area. Location is great, but that goes without saying.

We had a great experience, the hotel is located right on Las Olas blvd, a Florida night spot with plenty of daytime shopping and eateries. Our visit was hampered by rain and wind which cancelled the Christmas winter boat parade, but we were able to make to best of our weekend with plenty of romantic places, a short distance from the beach. The hotel has been there for decades yet it looked clean and like a time capsule preserving the art and time of its origin, a historic hotel provided a look back into area history while looking like new. The rooms were reasonably prices considering we booked for a high volume weekend, our only complaint was the cost of parking. It ranged from 25-45 per night, so factor that in in the cost. Have fun and enjoy. I hope this helps your decision.

Not thrilled with the status of our suite. Lighting was awful and even with blinds open it was way too dark inside. The TV in the living room was not working. Heck there were no cables at all. The bathroom door made awful noises. Dogs were barking in another room and after calling the front desk it still didn't stop. When I complained again the apology was less to nothing. On the other hand the hotel is beautiful and in a great location. I would stay again but will complain asap.

I was from out of town for a wedding. The hotel is location is awesome for the night life and fine dinning. The parking is horredous unless you pay the $26 a night. In my case, it was waved for the "locals" attending the wedding but not for the guest staying at the hotel for the venue (go figure). The hotel is old but cozy. My biggeat surprise was the cleanliness of the room specifically the bathroom. There was still hair.on the floor and shower. The shower drain was partialy cligged (slow drain, puddle) and the mirror had been wiped with a dirty rag. Overall it was OK but I expected better considering its nightly price tag.

They don't have a place to drink water for free. Not a single fountain in the building. Bulls***. Tap water is yellow, and they have water bottles for $7 in the room. Highway rip off, would not recommend staying. Room quality is lousy, found hairs everywhere in the bathroom and the lights flickered. Would not come back.

The front desk at check in was fast and pleasant. The gentleman greeted me with a smile. The hotel location is right in the middle of Los Olas down town....in the middle of all the shops. The rooms are old, but clean. Not a fan of shower curtains. The room has fridge and the bed is comfortable.

let me start by saying I'm writing this review at 4am.... because it's been the worst night of sleep ever! Staying in a two queen standard room.... newly remodeled crap! The bed is the most uncomfortable camping mattress I've ever slept on. literally you feel the springs with every move. I can't tell you enough how uncomfortable the bed was. If I had driven here I would have gone and slept in my car. Ohhh the pillows were no better. Noise level.... yes I heard all of the hallway conversations and the big ole dog barking at 12:45am. (Dog do bark so there's that). The neighbors had a decent movie on... that was fun. Two stars... the location and restaurants are great. Just don't stay here if you plan on sleeping at all.

First things first -- you're springing for one of the rooms in the executive tower with a balcony, right? Right. Otherwise don't bother. OK, now that you're in the right room, you can enjoy what this hotel has to offer. The primary thing is location. As far as I could tell, this is one of the only hotels right on the riverwalk and the only one that's not a dull chain affair. The pistachio green paint job helps it stand out and it's literally right on the waterway, so you can do the riverwalk just by stepping out the door. It's also right in the main strip of Las Olas, so there are scads of restaurant, bar, and shopping options within a few blocks. (Just a note about my experience -- I was there during the omicron wave of the COVID crisis and people in S. Florida were NOT diligent about masking or social distancing, so there were lots of businesses I did not feel comfortable entering. Hotel employees were better about it for the most part.) My room in the executive tower was very large and well-furnished. The bathroom is standard (tub/shower combo but plenty of counter space at the sink) and the balcony is large enough for a table and two chairs. I had a terrific view with a straight shot down the waterway. There's an enormous condo building next door with lots of people on their balconies, so make sure your robe is closed. If I had to quibble about the room, I would say that the mattress wasn't high-end, but it still provided an adequate night's sleep. The service was ok. Check-in was pretty efficient and the ladies working the desk seemed to know what they were doing. (One note -- they charge a $75 fee for early check-in. I'd never encountered that before and it seemed to me that it would just be a nice service to provide rather than a revenue grab. But since I was there before 10am and being able to get into the room would make the rest of the day much better, I paid it.) People in the restaurant Wild Sea were nice enough, but it was a long wait for everything. The seafood chowder was great, the grouper sandwich fresh but a little plain. The lobby looks a little '90s with its square-tile floor, but it has plenty of seating if you have to wait for something and there's a handy little sundries shop. All in all, this was a good base to do the Las Olas area from.

What a beautiful building - see my photographs, for a slice of History. See below for what I found out about it. There is some English history here people!!! On December 13th 1936, the Riverside Hotel quietly opened on Las Olas Boulevard. At that time, it was called the Champ Carr Hotel. Its grand opening was just a few days later on December 17th. The hotel was started by two brothers from Chicago named Preston and John Wells. They were from a wealthy family. Their parents had originally been from Shakespeare county in England and as boys, the brothers were taken every year to the family's country estate there. People often remark that Las Olas Boulevard seems to be European in its atmosphere and the Wells brothers were exposed to Europe from an early age so their influence has been shaping the boulevard for seventy five years. In the early thirties, John and Preston started coming to Fort Lauderdale for the fishing - sports fishing attracted many people to the area. It was clear that the city needed more accommodation and Preston bought a rooming house on Las Olas Boulevard. It was opposite where the Riverside Hotel now stands. When they went out fishing, they used the services of Michigan native Captain Franklin Merritt and his charter boat. Merritt, his family and his employee - his first mate - used to stay at the rooming house. When the brothers decided to build their hotel on the river, they needed a manager. Franklin's employee seemed very suitable. His name was Champ Carr and they named the hotel in his honor. The hotel was designed by Francis Abreu, who had already built the Las Olas Casino and several luxurious homes in the area. It originally had eighty rooms.

We have been vacationing at this location for many years. We really enjoy the location with many excellent dining options within walking distance. The hotel and rooms are always very clean. The staff is alway friendly and helpful when needed. During our last visit, February 2023, the fire alarm went off no less than 1-2 times a day. The very first night, it went off at 0500. We put on pans and walked down 11 floors to the street, only to find out that it is a common occurrence. We will not stay at this location until this issue is resolved.

Stayed here the night before our Caribbean cruise and we found the location up be close to he restaurants area and walking distance to the ferry boats that gave tours. Our room in the new side of the hotel was great, overlooking the Los Altos Blvd. the restaurant inside the hotel had good food at great prices, and service was attentive. We're definitely going back here in May, when we hoard our next cruise.

A great experience! We live locally and stayed here for a staycation, and it was everything we wanted it to be. The hotel is very nice and clean, lots of dining options, and the perfect location. Right on Las Olas, the hotel is walking distance from a lot of restaurants and shops. I took off a star because: -the hours for the dining options listed are not correct. We planned to go to the wine & martini lounge and checked the hours ahead of time. When we got there, it was closed. -we paid for a parking pass, but the desk forgot to actually give it to us. We realized on our way out walking to dinner that we didn't know how our car was designated as allowed to be there. We called the desk and they said we could get towed if we didn't go to the garage, take a picture of our license plate, then go back to the desk to get the pass. It worked out, but it was annoying and made us late to dinner. A tip: looks are misleading. The hotel looks small from the main road, but it's actually really big, with awesome amenities and restaurants, and rooms at the top with great views.

This hotel is the perfect spot for hanging out in the Las Olas entertainment district! We stayed here last weekend and had a great time. There are all kinds of restaurants and bars around the hotel, as well as River Walk is just steps away. The hotel staff treated us well, providing free self parking due to their pool being shut down for maintenance. Our king room was a bit small but was clean and comfortable. It contained a coffee maker and mini fridge, but without any freezer. The lobby was elegant, containing a piano and courtyard to sit in right outside. We would not hesitate to stay here again.

The Riverside Hotel was an absolutely perfect place to host our corporate event. We used the Himmarshee ballroom which accommodated all our guests, the F&B both in terms of the quality of the food as well as the staff was amazing, the sound and AV team was incredibly on point. It was a little chilly but we were able to use the balcony which has a lovely view of the river. I definitely recommend.

We recently stayed for 5 nights at the Riverside Hotel in a suite. The room was nice with a balcony. However, the room was never serviced on the second day and the third day it was serviced with the exception of the bathroom..???? The room keys did not work after the third day and the fire alarm went off 3 out of 5 days of the stay. Also, the tv in the living room did not work. The front desk gave us a $75 credit on the room for the lack of being serviced. The location was good but would look around for alternative accommodations in the future.

Check in was good, good service, friendly person, Room looked good, but not modern. There are no outlets in reach of the bed. New TV with a non-working remote, my first call to maintenance. They brought a new one in the AM all good. NOT! Grabbed a little food for the refer, which I found was not working. Call two. The person who came to fix it asked me what was wrong with the refer. What an idiotic question, there is only one thing that could be wrong. It's not cold you idiot. He then wants me to solve the problem. This person had a terrible attitude and was not to bright. Not to mention the front desk person only made things worse, she needs training. He brought a working one, which was hot! Really! Grab a cold one out of vacant room! My happy afternoon with a little wine and a bite was ruined by the lack of attention and incompetence of the staff. The main reason for a vacation is to relax and unwind. You hope to leave your everyday problems at home. If you have to deal with broken refrigerators and the lack of tv remote you might as well save money and stay home!

I am so surprised by the bad views. I came for a wedding with my mother and the whole experience was wonderful!!! The staff was so friendly and helpful. The rooms were clean. They were a bit small but I do not care cause I was only in there to sleep. Loved the old time feel and the small elevators. All the restaurants were great. Location is awesome!! 2 entrances - one in the back where you get Ubers and valet and the one in front where all the action is. Walking distance of so much. Shout out to Lori, Corinna and Elizabeth. Lori actually walked us to the Carrie B. Unbelievable customer service. So helpful and friendly. Elizabeth....oh Elizabeth. :) She was very gracious when I had a hair emergency on Sunday morning and she helped cut out my pony tail holder. And Corinna was also so friendly and helpful. The staff was amazing. The wedding we went to was Amazing! They have a little store in the lobby and the "owner" or "manager" was so friendly and helpful. I enjoyed talking to her. Monica at the bar was great. Sally the hostess was so friendly. I keep using the same adjectives but everyone was so friendly. I would definitely go back and stay and recommend.

I don't get the poor reviews! Is there a big spring break in Ft. Lauderdale these days? Our stay was outstanding! Location is A+++. The staff was abundantly helpful. Room was very clean and serviced daily unless we requested otherwise. Our event space had plenty of flavorful food and drink with very helpful and courteous staff. Pool was clean and comfortable right next to the river. Wild Oats restaurant was a great breakfast option! The Lion(?) hotel bar was Great! The surrounding area had plenty to entertainment. Everything about our stay was perfect! Thanks for your hard work!!

Both stars are for the location. I'm writing this review from bed since I can't sleep. There was so much commotion all night long. People yelling and walking up and down the hall all night. You're in a nightlife/wedding location so that is what you get. I never stayed asleep more than an hour at a time. At 4:30am, as I was laying in bed, I shushed someone loudly talking in the hallway and they heard me and started talking back tauntingly. I took my shoes off and walked to the bathroom to brush my teeth and to the bed and my feet were covered in dirt. The room smelled damp. It looks like an old turd with a fresh coat of paint. The harps on the lamps still had plastic on them. Not to mention on the other side of me was the entrance to the hotel. Light blaring thru the windows. I had to rig the curtains to stay in place. This should be a fraction of the price. All you're paying for is location and drunk people. I have another night booked next weekend but I'm cancelling it and finding elsewhere. When I checked in I was asked if I needed an accessible room. No, I don't. I got one anyway. DO NOT accept a room on the ground floor. Maybe it's better in other parts of the hotel. Who knows.

This is a long overdue review and I apologize for the delay. I should have been writing more reviews but I was truly lagging so here goes... Should I give the Riverside a -2 stars for the worst mattresses ever or the ant issue that made us sleep on the floor back in November 2017? Pix to prove. I called the front desk and the didn't give an ants ass SO I escalated it and contacted the delightful manager who was mortified!! He offered us all types of things like reversing the charge on the company credit card which was so sweet and generous. The problem was Bf was chewed alive by ant attacks on his legs due to the lame attempt at pest outta control. Here's a word to the wise.. if you are spending $350/night plus tax and resort fees Please get some decent mattresses and anti ant weapons!!

Stay at this hotel because it's close to my office. It could def use an upgrade but that's not my complaint. I went down for breakfast. There are approx 10 4-top tables and 10 2-top tables. There is not one customer sitting out there. I asked if I could sit at the 4-top to be away from the road and to put my luggage next to me. "I can't do that." The waiter says. I said there's literally no one else sitting out here. "Yeah, sorry." Jackass.

We arrived and were greeted by a great valet who was friendly and took the time to escort us to the restaurant. We sat in the bar area and were the only people eating on that side. The ambience was wonderful and the seating comfy. We ordered our breakfast and once it arrived we never saw our server again, we had to go to the bar to pay. The meal was bad!! The eggs were overcooked, the hashbrowns were old and floating in grease and the coffee was cold and burned. The salt was in a solid lump and wouldn't come out of the shaker. We wanted straws and a napkin to go under our water glass but couldn't get any ones attention. The prices are very reasonable but we couldn't eat much of what we were served!

I checked in solo for a friends wedding November 2020. The lobby was all decked out for Christmas and was absolutely gorgeous. Seeing 2 roaring fireplaces next to glistening Christmas decor is rare in South Florida so I appreciate it when I see it! I was just staying for the evening because I was going to get dressed in my friend's suite with the rest of the bridal party in the morning. I opted for the cheaper hotel room in the older side of the hotel for this reason. After check in I literally just tossed my bags in the room and headed downstairs for dinner. By time I returned around 11pm I realized the AC (wall unit) wasn't working. I called the front desk and they sent maintenance to check it out. He spent a few minutes and confirmed that it was broken. I asked if they could please change my room and he said he would check and get back to me. He left and I waited about 30 minutes before I called the front desk to check on the status of the situation. No answer. One hour passes, 3 unanswered calls to the front desk and still no word. I decided to get ready for bed since it was getting late and I had to be up early for the wedding. Luckily it was a cooler Florida night when I stayed so it was not blazing hot in the room. But it was definitely not comfortable. I know I should have walked down to the front desk but honestly this was my first time staying in a hotel by myself and I really didn't feel comfortable walking down the long corridor to the elevator so late at night alone. Like I mentioned the next day I got dressed in the suite with the bridal party. Her room was beautiful, spacious and cool. The newer side of the hotel seems to be more well-kept and in order. If I ever stayed here again I would splurge on spending the night on the new side of the hotel to avoid any issues.

Take a step back in time when you enter the Riverside Hotel. You are instantly greeted by a well-tailored and professional staff in the midst of a glamorous hotel lobby befitting a 1950's classic film. It is truly hard to fathom, unless you are entirely lacking in nostalgia, how one could not rate the Riverside a 5-Star experience. This being my fourth stay at this darling downtown Lauderdale boutique hotel, I am entirely familiar with its amenities and the surrounding area. Just outside the doors on Las Olas Boulevard there are several upscale dining, dessert, shopping and gallery choices to entertain you. That is, if you can force yourself to leave the quaint Riverside confines. The rooms at the Riverside are not palatial--this is an old, classic hotel, and the guest rooms of that era were not often made for large families. The experience at the Riverside is more suited to the business traveler or an intimate couple's retreat. However, within the guest rooms you will find crisp, white linens on each comfy bed, custom branded toiletries, and all the comforts you might need for a relaxing stay. If you've never stayed at the Riverside, do yourself a favor at least one time and forgo the boxy, built for the masses hotel chains, and experience this grand ol' lady of a hotel. Her hospitality and old-world charm will leave you eager to get back for another visit.

My complaint centers on Darlene, who supposedly runs the administrative department at the Riverside Hotel. In the wake of a distressing vehicle burglary incident on the hotel's property, her lack of knowledge, empathy, concern, and basic understanding of the situation were shocking and utterly unacceptable. Her dismissive attitude towards the severity of the situation displayed a blatant disregard for guest safety and well-being. Instead of addressing the issue with any sense of urgency or compassion, she showcased a complete disconnect from the distressing experience guests faced due to the lack of security measures. It's abundantly clear that Darlene is not fit for her role, as she failed to comprehend the gravity of the situation and failed miserably in providing any semblance of support or empathy. Her incompetence and lack of understanding in a situation that demanded immediate attention and empathy highlight her unsuitability for a position that requires genuine care for guests' welfare. In my opinion, based on this disappointing display of incompetence and indifference, Darlene should be relieved of her responsibilities at the Riverside Hotel. Guests deserve better, and her presence only contributes to the hotel's lack of empathy and understanding towards their patrons' concerns.

I had a great experience and stay here. The staff was very helpful and even upgraded my room at no cost when checking in. The 3pm check in time is earlier then most the other hotels in the area. The rooms are huge. Some may say that the hotel is a bit outdated. I actually love that they have kept this place close to original. The price is fantastic for what you get. They have there own parking garage as well. I only stayed for one night but will definitely be staying again when in town for future work trips.

You will think you just walked home. The comfortable, casual, carefree feeling because you were greeted with such a warm and welcoming smile by Genisha will make you feel so relaxed. This hotel has such wonderful, friendly, efficient staff. The hotel is very spacious with lots of lounging areas; inside the relaxing lobby area, the bar area, outdoor garden area all by the new river. The hotel is meticulously clean and for being built in 1936, eight is cleaner than brand new hotels. After you witness Genisha's smile you will be on cloud 9.

Great location on Las Olas. Hotel in a little on the older side and rooms are somewhat dated but clean and quaint. Staff is friendly and courteous. Price is right.

what a crap show! First they jacked up the price because of an event, then the carpet in the room turned my feet a lovely black. Then apparently the did not have time to dry the shee properly so they where wet. Theeen the air did not work properly so it was either freezing or hot. Theeeen the fire alarm went off in the room woke me up so I had to get dressed and leave the room. So I checked out a day early and they wouldn't refund the 400.00 dollars For that night.

Why 5 stars? Because the location and price can't be beat. --- --- --- I was in town for a work event about half a mile from here, so this was really an ideal location for me. I'd spent some time in Ft. Lauderdale before, but I hadn't ever actually stayed in a hotel here. After two days, I'm ready to declare that I kinda wish I lived here! I walked virtually everywhere that I went and really loved the vibe of the area. My walks were extremely safe and full of lots of bars/restaurants that were quite lively. I even walked nearly a mile from coffee that was a bit away from the action, but it was still very pleasant and leisurely. As for the room itself, these are always my points of emphasis: -Bed comfort: 5-stars. The bed and the pillows were great! I accidentally ended up sleeping in pretty late on the first day because of this. -Room temperature: 4-stars. The first night, it was like an ice box, which is exactly how I like to sleep. The second night, it was a bit warmer. When I went to adjust it, I realized that there was no way to actually do so. Kind of weird for the temperature to fluctuate that much, but even more bizarre for you to have no control over the temp in your room., -Shower temperature: 5-stars. The water definitely got nice and hot! -Shower pressure: 3-stars. Not the worst, but far from the best. Definitely on the lighter side. -Price: 5-stars. Perfectly within my budget. -Location: 5-stars. As I mentioned, this was in a great, walkable area that was right in the middle of Downtown Ft. Lauderdale. The room itself was nice and updated, and there was a lot going on at this hotel while I was there, with weddings and other special events. I nearly stopped by the bar at night, but ended up being lame instead. It was nice to know it was there as an option, though! I would definitely stay here again and have no idea why the overall rating is so low!

I read some of the reviews on Expedia before I booked this hotel. Some complaints on Expedia but the place was great. It is located right on Las Olas Blvd where all action is. The hotel is an older hotel but it was clean and comfortable. Stayed for two nights and no complaints except the bathtub drain kept staying close but I fixed it. The bed was comfortable. Check in and check out was fast. The hotel staff all wore masks. They were great. I would stay here again when I come back to Fort Lauderdale

This is a beautiful hotel right in the heart of Las Olas Blvd. The lobby is well appointed and smells so clean (something I rarely notice in hotels these days. We were greeted by a front desk attendant named Christopher and he was AWESOME! He provided great service and was so so so funny! He provided room, WiFi, and event information and knew exactly what we needed to have a great overnight stay. The room itself was in the tower and was roomy and beautiful. The view to the Riverwalk was gorgeous as well. I highly recommend this hotel for a night stay before or after a cruise.

I always get my cakes from the Riverside Hotel. Their pastry chef is so talented. Her cakes are delicious. I love the cakes because they are very light. They aren't like those cakes you eat and you can taste a ton of sugar. The buttercream frosting, the chocolate covered strawberries, the details. Best cakes I've tried, hands down! Today I needed a last minute cake and I was able to get this 4inch cake that feeds 6 people. It was perfect! highly recommend!!!

I've stayed here a bunch for work. The staff is always super helpful and nice. If you're in the old corridor the rooms tend to always smell musty and moldy, leaving you feeling very stuffed up. The tower (newer rooms or maybe renovated) are much larger and have no musty/moldiness. The beds here are all very comfortable, great pillows and blankets. Each room has a tub which I love. Pool is across a small street through the restaurant which is a little odd. It tends to always need picking up, there's always rubbish in the pool area. You can watch all the ridiculous huge yachts go down the little river there which can be very entertaining. Their restaurant has great food and happy hour specials!

I debated between a 3 or a 4 star rating for this hotel but obviously ended up with a 4. It really is more of a 3.5. We came for a 3 night stay here and there were definitely some good things about it and things that could have been better. The customer service was inconsistent. The woman who checked me in was so helpful and so kind, but she almost seemed to be the only one. I wish I could remember her name. Everyone else was a little unhelpful. I wasn't sure where to park so I just parked on Las Olas to check in and when I asked another woman if that was okay she just said to park behind the building and she would give me a pass. I found a public parking area and figured that must be it. When I came back inside and was helped by the helpful woman if that was right she instructed me that I should actually park in their parking garage which was a little further down! I don't know how I was supposed to know that with the little information given the first time. I was lugging around my things for a third attempt at parking in the right area. The room itself was nice. We got upgraded and had a really great view which was so wonderful and unexpected. However when I came to the room I saw a toolbag and eventually a repair man tried to come in not realizing anyone was there. Thank goodness I latched the door closed. He was very apologetic and very nice. He quickly finished his repair and left. I really enjoyed having a bigger room and a nice view. The hotel is rather old and it does show. The decor was a little outdated but overall I couldn't complain about the room... except maybe that they could have had softer sheets. The rest of the hotel also seemed outdated with some things but I liked the art and the coziness of it. The best thing about this hotel is the location. It's right on Las Olas which makes it walking distance to some of my favorite restaurants and a close drive to the beach and anything else you want to do in the area. Overall I did enjoy my stay there, I just think it could use a little bit more polishing as a whole.

Renovated older hotel with the best location right on Las Olas. The staff, specifically Lori from reception and Amy from Boathouse were exceptional. They both provided superb service and made the trip with me and my 5 friends super fun and easy. The hotel: The hotel is split between an older side and the tower. Both are nice with the older side being more affordable for the average Joe and still getting all the perks of the newer tower. The only draw back to the older side is the lack of bathroom counter space. The tower side has much bigger rooms, huge bathroom counter space, and a table seating area. Some of the rooms have balcony's as well. The pool and gym: The pool is a nice size and is heated with salt water instead of chlorine. Has plenty of chairs around to lounge in and you can walk right over to the boathouse to get drinks, if they're not busy they'll even bring some out to you! Believe the deepest part is 8ft, great place to hang and overlooks the river so you can see boats constantly passing by. The gym is incredible, nicer than any hotel gym I've seen. Even if you aren't going to work out, definitely pop in to look at it. The boathouse: Great restaurant! They have a happy hour from 4-6:30 I believe and everything we ordered was great. Our favorite is the key west fritters but the mahi sandwich, pepperoni flatbread and fingerling potatoes were also delicious.

I'm wildly unimpressed with the Riverside Hotel. Let's start with the good: The staff is friendly and the location is great. On to everything else. So I catch a long, convoluted flight and get to the hotel at midnight. That explains why they put me in the oldest room in the hotel, main hallway, right next to the workout room. I suppose I'm just glad they didn't sell my room out from under me. I get to the room and my keycard doesn't work. No big deal, I go back and get it reprogrammed. Finally get into my room and it absolutely reeks of mildew. By this point it's almost 1am, screw it, I'm gonna shower and get to bed. I get into the shower, and the ring around the shower head has come loose, giving me a view into the wall. Wonderful. When I open the closet to hang my suit, several screws just fall out of the closet door, onto the floor. My impression is that this room is literally falling apart around me. I'm exhausted, I go to bed, resolved to try and get moved to another room the next day. I tell ya, falling asleep and waking up to mildew smell...not the best way to begin or end your day. As I'm trying to fall asleep I discover that passing car headlights shine directly into the room and, surprise, surprise, the track for the curtains is broken, so they don't close all the way. Due to work, I'm not able to visit the front desk until the next evening. I mention only the smell, (which the young woman at the front desk assures me isn't mildew) and am told that they will do everything they can to accommodate me. Which apparently is nothing. I didn't hear a single word from anyone. Just a bill slid under my door the next morning. I'd highly recommend looking elsewhere if you stay in this part of Ft. Lauderdale

Although the location is great, the rooms, room amenities, and staff leave much to be desired. We had the largest suite in the place, 900 sq Ft. Upon arriving at our room, there was no glassware, just paper cups everywhere. The sofa in our living room was ancient, and reminded me of my grandma's house in 1982 (maybe it was). The chairs were no better as we had to stack pillows on the sofa and chair to gain a small sense of comfort. We ordered a bottle of fine wine from room service and not wanting to drink from paper cups, we asked for wine glasses.....they brought us one and told us that was all they had. I could further embellish, but I'll end by saying that our 5 AM wake up call never came (I slept with one eye open anticipating no call). For $909 per night, the place is miserably overpriced.

This classic hotel offers great value for what you get! I've stayed here on several separate occasions in 2021 and each time the stay has been very pleasant. Prime location right on Los Olas Blvd and the New River with beautiful views of the river, downtown and out to the ocean, within walking distance to everything Los Olas offers. Restaurant & convenience shop downstairs which fronts Los Olas leaves the necessities within close proximity. They have had some active construction on the main floor during my stays, but they do their best to ensure the construction is as little of an inconvenience as possible. I would note that the pool was closed each time we stayed which was a bit of a disappointment, but certainly not the end of the world. Overall, highly recommended hotel in great location for fair rates.

Every employee here is just super really.....you can't ask for more customer service! Thank you for all of your attention to detail. Julie

Top notch place on the river walk. Love the ambience of the place. Step outside your room and hit the street for all the shops and restaurants as you take in downtown Las Olas or walk the river walk and enjoy the outdoors and all the boats. Employees are top notch and it's the place to be!

This Hotel is ok. We are paying big bucks. Bathroom floor is filthy, really filthy, it has not been mopped in days. Nothing looks clean at all, they upgraded us and after seeing our room, I'm like upgrade from what?? Lol. From!???? . The Hallways from the rooms are so dirty. No one vacuums it. Lobby has some perfume smell that is really strong. Maybe lavender instead?? They upgraded our room but you cannot sit on the balcony as the food smell from the restaurant below will kill you. The view is amazing but we cannot sit on our balcony. Really disappointed in this hotel. Now. The nightlife is awesome. Soooo close to food and shopping. Love that. Restaurants are great closely. Watching the boats come down the channel. Wish we could sit outside our balcony and breathe outside as I would still be out there. But you choke on the food smells from the vents. Ugghhh. The hotel itself is nice. I do love the comfort of the big bed and linens are nice on it. But maybe they should run a vacuum over the carpet. And we have 3 more nights. So will see.