If you’re a sun-seeking vacationer, you probably have Miami Beach on your holiday bucket list.
There’s the Art Deco architecture, charming beachside bars, world-class dining, and, of course, an endless selection of water sports. Not to mention miles of opulent beachfront resorts. To ensure you get the luxury experience you deserve, it’s essential to know the very best hotels in Miami Beach before you book.
Are you looking for a suite with your own hot tub and views of the ocean? Perhaps you’re interested in getting up early for rough-and-tumble surf and coming back for a long nap in a luxurious bed fitted with Egyptian cotton sheets. No matter your preference, you’re bound to find the right fit among the four and five-star and boutique accommodation this stretch of sandy shore has to offer. So if you’re planning a trip and looking for the best hotels in Miami Beach or curious to see if it’s the spot for your next vacation, watch on for our top VIP hotel picks in this exciting, any-season destination.
Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club
The Surf Club has a long history in Miami Beach. It opened way back in 1930 in Surfside, a little south of Bal Harbour, and was taken over by Four Seasons in the late 2010s. The iconic building is the brainchild of American architect and artist Richard Meier, famed for his use of white and geometric shapes. Inside, designer Joseph Dirand brings the outside in with natural hued walls, marble, and pops of color taken from palm trees and the sea. The views of the Atlantic Ocean through the floor-to-ceiling windows are unmatched, as is the proximity to the beach, the luxurious pool, and the on-site, internationally famous restaurant, Le Sirenuse–imported to Miami from the Amalfi Coast.
1 Hotel South Beach
1 Hotel is one of the largest luxury resort complexes in South Beach. This carefully curated accommodation features over 400 bright and airy suites. With an average size of 700-square-feet per room, they’re among the largest in the area. Book a stay at this hotel, and you’ll enjoy soaking tubs crafted from Carrara marble, rainfall showers, oak-framed beds, and high-end, ultra-soft cotton mattresses. Outside, there are four pools to choose from–family pools, a lap pool, and a rooftop pool with a bar.
For the eco-conscious, 1 Hotel is surprisingly wholeheartedly committed to sustainability. The wood is reclaimed, the linens organic, and there’s an enormous living wall in the foyer. Here’s a top tip: head to the roof for incredible 360-degree views of the ocean and downtown Miami.
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The Villa Casa Casuarina
The Casa Casuarina is another hotel that embodies the glamor of vintage Miami Beach. This 1930s original villa boasts opulent Old World and Greco-Roman revival architecture inside and out. In fact, this spot was considered so quintessentially Miami that fashion designer Gianni Versace purchased it in 1992, spent over $30 million kitting it out as his private accommodation. Sadly, the designer didn’t have much time to enjoy it: he was murdered in 1997. The villa changed hands a few times before becoming the luxury boutique hotel it’s known as today.
This exclusive stay has only ten suites, all featuring trompe l’oeil walls, frescoed ceilings, and leopard-print furniture. Be sure to keep an eye out for the 24-karat gold tiles that bejewel the swimming pool when you take a dip.
Faena Hotel Miami Beach
Have you ever wanted to vacation on the set of a movie like Moulin Rouge? Well, in Miami Beach, you can! Renowned Argentine hotelier Alan Faena teamed up with Oscar-winning film director Baz Luhrmann and costume designer Catherine Martin to create the Faena Hotel. The resort features a unique retro-glam aesthetic, over 160 rooms, a grand lobby aptly nicknamed The Cathedral. There’s even a wooly mammoth skeleton that was covered in 24-carat gold by controversial British artist Damien Hirst. Oh, and don’t let’s not forget the beachfront pool and spa, 24-7 butler service, and not one but two of Miami’s most top-notch restaurants. Tempting to say the least!
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
If you’re looking to relive the Miami Beach of the heady 1950s and 60s, take a trip down memory lane by booking into Fontainebleau. This classically croissant-shaped resort was built in the 1950s. With all those balconies, it looks more like a cruise ship than a hotel. And what could be more appropriate for Miami? There are a whopping 1,504 suites to choose from, so every level of comfort is catered for. Many choose to stay at the Fontainebleau to follow in the footsteps of some of America’s most iconic stars: Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin to Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. And with eleven swimming pools, a 40,000-square-foot spa, and seven restaurants, you’ll never have to leave the grounds.
The Miami Beach EDITION
EDITION is another 1950s glamor-soaked resort, this time created by serial luxury hotelier Ian Schrager. As such, it’s the perfect spot for sun-seeking design lovers. Think white marble floors and columns, golden-tile mosaics, and dense tropical landscaping. Eat at the Jean Georges Vongerichten-helmed restaurant; party all night in Basement, a club with its own bowling alley; or spend your days chillaxing by one of the two pools.
There’s even a secret (shhh) hammock garden! EDITION is a favorite of a slew of A-list celebrities, so you’ll be rubbing shoulders with the greats if you book a room here. Oh, and don’t forget about visiting the beach, too. It’s literally right at your doorstep, after all.
St. Regis Bal Harbour
The St. Regis Bal Harbour nods to Miami’s Art Deco past with elegant interiors designed by Yabu Pushelberg. More than $1 billion was spent renovating this strategically located hotel back in 2014, and it’s attracted some of the beach’s most high-rolling vacationers ever since. There are over 240 rooms spread over 27 floors, each with a private 210-square-foot balcony with unimpeded sea views. There is not one but two infinity pools, ensuring the demure solo and coupled-up travelers don’t have to mix with noisy families. If you’re after a bit of me-time, be sure to book a session at the Zen-like Remède Spa.
Acqualina Resort & Spa
Acqualina spreads out over 51 floors of marble, yellow portico, ornate fountain, and chandelier opulence. As you might guess from the name, the interiors are inspired by Mediterranean locales like the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento. Luxury-inspired architect Isabel Tragash is the genius behind the interiors and exteriors–she manages to keep things chic without going over the top.
There are just under 98 rooms in this boutique resort, and they fill up fast, with over 50 percent of guests returning again and again. So be sure to plan your booking well in advance. Best of all, the hotel has a beach club for kids, meaning it’s a great spot for parents looking for some adult time by one of the five pools, cocktails in hand.
The Setai
If you’re more a fan of sleek and stylish than vintage, The Setai is the stay for you. This beachfront resort is decked out in bronze, stone, teak, and lacquer–from the floors to the furniture to the accents. There are just 135 suites packed into the glass skyscraper, with a few scattered into the 1937 Dempsey Vanderbilt Hotel right next door. In each room, you’ll find enormous granite soaking or jacuzzi tubs, ultra-fancy Acqua di Parma amenities, and luxe Duxiana beds.
What more would you expect? Though there is a well-appointed spa and the sandy shore at your feet, the reason most people choose to stay at The Setai is the amazing side-by-side infinity pools. They’re each maintained at a temperate 75, 80, and 90 degrees.
Mandarin Oriental, Miami
This luxury resort has an equally luxurious location. You’ll find the Mandarin Oriental Miami on Brickell Key, just offshore from Brickell and Downtown. What’s the benefit to this, you ask? Aside from great neighbors and easy access to everything Miami has to offer, you’ll also have an impressive view out over Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. If you’ve stayed in the Mandarin Oriental before, you’ll know the signature decor lives up to the name. There are contemporary nods to luxe Asian design everywhere.
Since you’re away from the crowds of South Beach, this 300-odd roomed spot offers more privacy and relaxation than other hotels, including an exclusive pool replete with a sandy beach.
Kimpton Angler’s Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach
There are just 132 rooms in this recently renovated Mediterranean Revival boutique hotel. The Kimpton Angler’s Hotel in South Beach offers a true private sanctuary among the hubbub of tourists, surfers, and sunbathers of Miami’s most famous bay. Expect a relaxed, coastal feel: clean white walls, wicker furniture, geometric floors, and lava rock tables. There’s a distinct focus on wellness in this slick accommodation offering. Take advantage of the loan bicycles, in-room yoga mats, and more.
Do you prefer an all-inclusive resort-style beach stay? Or is a boutique hotel with luxury amenities and just a few individually designed rooms more your style? Discuss the merits of each with your fellow VIP travelers in the comment section below. If you want to watch more videos like this one, head over to the Viewcation channel and subscribe. Hit that notification bell while you’re there. Oh, and don’t forget to give this video a thumbs up and share it with your friends, family, or travel companions.