Ocean View Hotel

Overview

The Ocean View Hotel is a hotel located in Ocean Beach, Vice Beach, Vice-Dale County, that is set to appear in Grand Theft Auto VI. The hotel is a returning location from earlier entries in the series in the Vice City corner of the franchise, where it served as a starting safehouse. In GTA VI, the Ocean View Hotel has been completely reimagined for the HD Universe with modern graphics and updated architectural details while maintaining its iconic identity.

The hotel first appeared in GTA VI's first trailer at approximately the 0:33 mark, situated on the unnamed Ocean Drive-inspired road in Vice Beach. It has also been featured in official Rockstar Games screenshots.

Design and Architecture

The Ocean View Hotel has a large pink neon sign bearing the hotel's name, which is visible above the entrance and is one of the building's most recognizable design elements. The overall structure remains similar to its 3D Universe predecessor, maintaining the art deco styling that defines the Ocean Beach district.

A notable addition in the GTA VI version is the outdoor bar attached to the hotel's ground floor. This bar is a rendition of the outdoor bar and pool at the real-world Clevelander Hotel, which also operates as a beach club. The outdoor bar area suggests the hotel functions not just as accommodation but also as a nightlife and entertainment venue in its own right.

Key Facts

History and Legacy

The Ocean View Hotel holds a special place in Grand Theft Auto history. In earlier entries in the series in the Vice City corner of the franchise, the hotel was the first safehouse that players unlocked, serving as a base of operations. The hotel also appeared in an earlier entry in the series (2006). For many players, the Ocean View Hotel is one of the most memorable and nostalgic locations in the entire franchise.

However, as GTA VI takes place in the HD Universe, which is separate from the 3D Universe of the original Vice City, this is not the same Ocean View Hotel that longtime fans will remember. It is an entirely new iteration of the location, reimagined for the current generation of hardware and the new game's timeline. Whether the hotel will serve a similar gameplay function, such as acting as a safehouse, has not been confirmed.

Real-World Inspiration

The Ocean View Hotel draws its design from the Clevelander Hotel, located on Ocean Drive in the South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach, Florida. The Clevelander is one of the most recognizable art deco buildings on Ocean Drive, known for its lively nightlife scene, outdoor bar, and pool area that doubles as a beach club. The hotel was built in 1938 and was designed in the Streamline Moderne style of art deco architecture.

The addition of the ground-floor outdoor bar in the GTA VI version further strengthens the connection to the Clevelander, which is just as famous for its bar and pool as it is for its rooms. The pink neon signage is also consistent with the Clevelander's colorful neon aesthetic, which has become synonymous with South Beach's art deco historic district.

Trivia

• The Ocean View Hotel is one of the most iconic returning locations from the original Vice City, alongside other landmarks that have been spotted in GTA VI's trailers.

• In an earlier entry in the series, the hotel was located on Ocean Drive in Ocean Beach, and the GTA VI version maintains the same general placement on the Ocean Drive-inspired road.

• The outdoor bar and beach club element is a new addition for GTA VI, not present in the 3D Universe version of the hotel.

• Fans have speculated that the hotel could serve as a safehouse once again, potentially offering property ownership through the game's economy and properties systems.