Known for its long, golden beaches (the clue is in the name), Miami Beach, Florida, is the place to come for sun, sea, and sand on a bustling city backdrop. This destination is also famous for its storied 20th-century architecture, with its very own Art Deco Historic District an Instagram-worthy delight to any traveller with an eye for design.
When it comes to staying in Miami Beach, the key is finding an amazing hotel. While there is no shortage of incredible hotels to choose from, narrowing down the choice so you’ve got only the best of the best is a great place to start — and that’s what you’ll find below.
1. Carillon Miami Wellness Resort
Source: booking.comWith 229 metres of private beach on offer, Carillon Miami Wellness Resort is the ideal place to stay in Miami Beach for simply relaxing on the beach. Even so, there’s a lot more to this fantastic hotel than its private beach credentials, as good as they are.
Rooms here are sophisticated and mature, with sea views, warm wood furnishings, and a sense of minimalism to make them feel very stylish indeed. Onsite, guests will find four pools and four hot tubs, more than 40 fitness classes to join daily, a rock-climbing wall, and a walking trail that runs through its sprawling grounds.
Location: Jungle Island and the storied Art Deco District are within a 20-minute drive of the hotel. Most notably, the hotel has its very own slice of beach right on the doorstep for guests to enjoy.
2. Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club
Source: booking.comThe rooms at Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club are supreme luxury. With their cool, calming tones and fine furnishings – as well as their gleaming, impeccably decked out bathrooms – staying in them is like reclining in the pages of a magazine.
The luxury doesn’t stop there. Guests can choose to eat at the gorgeous Le Sirenuse Miami with oceanfront views, and utterly pamper themselves at the holistic spa. There’s also a kids’ club, so parents can enjoy a day of luxury to themselves.
Location: Though Bal Harbour Shops is around a 15-minute walk from the hotel, it’s also very close to beaches: Surfside Beach is just 100 metres from here, while Miami Beach is 650 metres from the hotel.
3. W South Beach
Source: booking.comW South Beach is super stylish. Boasting a rooftop tennis and futsal court, the hotel is all about its polished elegance, with attention to detail in everything from its fashionable restaurant to its romantic terrace for beachside dinners under the stars.
With a delectable onsite spa for guests to enjoy, as well as multiple pools, the rooms at this fresh Miami Beach hotel have chic furnishings mingling with colour pops and a minimalist feel for a very stylish stay in the city.
Location: Practically on Miami Beach itself, there are numerous restaurants and bars in the vicinity (even though W has excellent dining options). There are a few attractions nearby too, such as Bass Museum of Art and Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts.
4. The Setai, Miami Beach
Source: booking.comSet in a beautiful historic building in Miami Beach’s iconic Art Deco District, The Setai is a suitably chic hotel. Boasting Japanese-inspired interiors, rooms feature incredible views and polished furnishings for a decidedly high-end finish.
The hotel boasts three infinity pools, as well as an onsite spa with all manner of indulgent treatments on offer. Guests have the option of dining at one of the four onsite restaurants, including a very hip courtyard bar.
Location: Set in a prime position on Miami Beach, this hotel is set in the city’s famous art Deco District, making daytime wanderings very doable. The Bass Museum of Art is just on the doorstep, as is Miami Beach Botanical Garden.
5. Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Source: booking.comA sweeping giant of a hotel, Fontainebleau Miami Beach has some of the best views out over the city. The rooms have a calming atmosphere and are decorated seemingly in perfect balance with the blue of the ocean, viewed from the private balconies.
Fans of swimming rejoice: there are six outdoor swimming pools, all surrounded by chic cabanas (which have their own TVs and a butler service for each one). Fans of food will also fare well here, with nine restaurants to choose from. There’s even an onsite night club.
Location: Situated on Collins Avenue, this hotel is set in Mid-Beach, just 200 yards from the sand. Miami Beach Golf Club is only a mile and a half from here.
6. The Ritz-Carlton South Beach
Source: booking.comWith a design reflecting the city’s Art Deco heritage, the rooms are modern and minimal yet luxurious, with pops of colour amongst all the whitewashed walls and crisp furnishings. This 5-star hotel wows throughout, from the very moment you walk in the doors, with an eclectic sense of style.
There’s a lot going on here: a stunning outdoor pool overlooking the Atlantic, a selection of lovely onsite eateries, as well as a luxurious lobby bar for evening drinks. Guests can also make use of the beachfront Beach Club.
Location: Set in Miami Beach’s wonderful Art Deco District, close to the city centre, the beach is right on the doorstep of this hotel. There are a host of bars and restaurants within walking distance.
7. The Miami Beach EDITION
Source: booking.comFull of Miami Beach style, this incredible hotel is full of unadulterated elegance, with natural wood furnishings, a calm colour palette, and luscious plants and greenery throughout. There are also a lot of unexpected amenities going on here.
There’s a bowling alley, an ice skating rink, two outdoor pools, a fitness centre, and a night club. That’s without even mentioning the incredible onsite restaurants and bars that you can spend seemingly endless evenings in, soaking up the ambience.
Location: Close to Bass Museum of Art, the hotel is situated near to the Bayshore district, with Miami Beach on the doorstep for time spent lounging around in the sun. Versace Mansion is just over a mile and a half away.
8. The St Regis Bal Harbour Resort
Source: booking.comGlittering and glamorous, this Miami Beach hotel is a definitive slice of opulence. Rooms are accented with pastel tones and decked out in high-end, minimalist furnishings; some even have their own kitchens and jaw-dropping ocean views.
Featuring an indoor-outdoor Mediterranean restaurant, there is also the chance for guests to dine at the grill or wine bar, either choice making for a memorable evening. The resort also offers a selection of spa services.
Location: Set in Bal Harbour, Bal Harbour Beach is just 200 yards from the hotel. Surfside Beach is also nearby, as are all the shopping opportunities that the area affords.
9. Nautilus by Arlo
Source: booking.comNautilus by Arlo is an oceanfront hotel set in a 1950s era building. The interiors, with all their chic design details and mid-century modern furnishings, are decidedly retro to match. The bar is also very cool with its parquet floor and patterned walls.
Guests will find a lovely outdoor swimming pool surrounded by lounge chairs and complete with a drinks service. Meals are served throughout the day on the outdoor terrace or inside the dining room.
Location: Situated just a ten-minute walk from the South Beach district, guests have direct access to the beach, while other amenities are close by, such as Miami Beach Golf Club. The cafes and boutiques on Lincoln Road are a stroll away, too.
10. The Plymouth South Beach
Source: booking.comSet in a four-storey Art Moderne building that oozes the classic Miami aesthetics, The Plymouth is definitely one of the coolest hotels in Miami. There are palm trees, black and white tiles, and a retro pastel colour palette, most evidently in the hip pool area.
Rooms are minimal and clean, and onsite drinking and dining opportunities are scattered with old-school furnishings. You can enjoy hand-crafted cocktails and sushi at the hotel restaurant.
Location: Situated a 14-minute walk from Lincoln Road and all its shops, this hotel is practically next door to the Bass Museum of Art, with Miami Beach Botanical Garden within very easy walking distance. Miami Beach itself is also a short stroll away from the hotel.
11. Faena Hotel Miami Beach
Source: booking.comFaena Hotel Miami Beach is a stylish place to stay in Miami Beach. With rooms boasting fashionable furnishings and minimal retro design, complete with some real Versace-style finishes to the decor (including some palatial bathrooms), it’s certainly funky.
Alongside the truly 1980s Miami vibes going on, there’s also a South American style spa to enjoy. Otherwise, you could simply lounge around the pool and enjoy the drinks service. There are two restaurants onsite, serving international dishes using local ingredients.
Location: Just yards from Miami Beach, this hotel is close to a host of different restaurants. The Versace Mansion and the Art Deco Historic District are around two miles from here.
12. Kimpton Angler’s Hotel South Beach
Source: booking.comIf contemporary luxury is what you’re looking for, then this top Miami Beach hotel could be for you. Set in a historic Mediterranean Revival-style building, throughout, it is tastefully decorated with splashes of blues and whites.
The elegant guest rooms boast beautifully tiled bathrooms and come in a selection of sizes – from studios to bungalows and everything in between. Guests will be wowed at the rooftop pool with its bar and lounge.
Location: Located two blocks away from South Beach, Miami Beach Arena is also a short walk from the hotel. Close by, guests will also find the iconic Ocean Drive and the Art Deco Historic District, which will certainly keep you entertained.
13. The Betsy Hotel, South Beach
Source: booking.comThe Betsy is a beautiful hotel. The rooms here feel homely yet polished and are adorned with chandeliers, marble bathrooms, artsy adornments, and balconies.
In terms of amenities, the rooftop ocean deck provides 360-degree views out over the sea and the city. There’s also a pool and a cocktail bar to enjoy. The hotel boasts a selection of restaurants. And when you really need to relax, the Wellness Garden is the place to go.
Location: Set on Ocean Drive, this hotel is surrounded by luxury shopping opportunities, high-end dining, and entertainment galore. Miami Beach is mere steps from the hotel, and Versace Mansion is right nearby. A prime location, all in all.
14. The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami
Source: booking.comServing up some serious sophistication, this top Miami Beach hotel is definitively grand. Guests will be wowed from the moment they enter the lobby, with its vaulted ceilings and pillars. Rooms on offer are sumptuously decorated in subtle colours, with large windows providing incredible views.
Amenities on offer at the hotel include an outdoor pool, complete with private cabanas where you can get drinks and snacks delivered. The hotel also has direct access to the beach, which is a major plus.
Location: Situated right on the beach in Bal Harbour, the hotel is close to Collins Avenue and Haulover Beach Park.
15. 1 Hotel South Beach
Source: booking.comSet inside a historic oceanfront building, this place boasts two outdoor swimming pools that overlook the ocean, with incredible sweeping views of the sky. The guest rooms have a beachy vibe to them, with natural woods and a whitewashed colour palette.
Guests can enjoy the onsite fitness centre or take a trip to the spa for an indulgent treatment. There is also a private beach area and a choice of restaurants.
Location: Very close to Lincoln Road Mall, and a very short drive from all the nightlife of South Beach, this hotel is located on Collins Avenue. Miami Beach Golf Club and Bass Museum of Art are within walking distance.