The 15 Best Hotels in Miami
- Courtesy Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
Kimpton EPIC Hotel
Why you love it: The Kimpton EPIC Hotel, housed in an elliptical 52-story curved glass tower, is just the right distance from the crowds. It sits on the water, where the Miami River meets Biscayne Bay, at a lofty remove from the frenetic pace of downtown. Each sophisticated room—though closer to a suite in size—has its own private balcony, and most enjoy memorable views of the bay or city. Go for a swim in one of the two rooftop pools, and reserve a private cabana for extra seclusion.
- Courtesy Faena
Faena Hotel Miami Beach
Why you love it: To say that Faena Hotel Miami Beach is over the top might not be hyperbolic enough. A stay at this glossy beachfront pad (designed in part by Baz Luhrmann and his wife, Catherine Martin) is like taking a trip down a wacky, if well-curated, rabbit hole, where common areas tend toward the fantastically theatrical. The lobby, dubbed the “Cathedral,” glitters with gold-leafed columns and floor-to-ceiling murals teeming with imagery of wild animals and religious allegories. A 22,000-square-foot spa, a bi-level 220-seat dinner theater, and prolific art installations don't feel at all out of place.
- Courtesy 1 Hotels/©Eric Laignel
1 Hotel South Beach
Why you love it: 1 Hotel South Beach, on Miami's Mid-Beach stretch, is for those who need a breather from the city's excesses. Despite its size—with 425 rooms and suites—the hotel feels especially low-key, perhaps owing to the use of recycled and repurposed natural materials (check out the rough hewn oak platforms that cradle the beds in some rooms), preserved moss, petrified branches, and driftwood lighting. Don't let your eye linger too long on all the Zen details, though: You might miss the hotel's lounger-lined, adults-only, 110-foot rooftop swimming pool, possibly its best feature.
- Courtesy Biltmore Hotel
The Biltmore Hotel Miami — Coral Gables
Why you love it: The Biltmore's tony reputation precedes it: During the Jazz Age, a number of high-profile guests walked its marbled halls, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Bing Crosby, and Ginger Rogers. Now, well-heeled guests arrive at the Moorish- and Mediterranean-influenced hotel—about a half-hour west of Miami Beach proper—and park themselves in chaise lounges by the pool, beside the Roman statues and potted palms, before scheduling a tee time at the hotel's famous golf course.
- Courtesy Washington Park Hotel
Washington Park Hotel
Why you love it: It doesn't get much fresher than the Washington Park Hotel right now—the 181-room complex, which spans a collection of five historic Art Deco and Craftsman-style buildings across an acre, reopened just a few months ago following a massive interior overhaul. The 1943 landmark has stayed loyal to its Art Deco roots, at least outwardly—but inside, it's been completely reimagined, with light, neutral fabrics, warm woods, and the occasional bold piece of art brightening the guest rooms and suites. Make plans to come this winter, once Employees Only, a New York-based, speakeasy-styled cocktail bar and restaurant, opens at the hotel's Coral Rock House.
- Courtesy The Betsy
The Betsy — South Beach
Why you love it: The stylish Betsy — South Beach has always been a good bet—it's the work of L. Murray Dixon, creator of many of South Beach's coolest and curviest Art Deco gems—but it's about to get even better. The Miami stalwart will soon reveal the results of a year-long renovation that'll nearly double the 61-room, Georgian-style hotel's sleeping space. There's also a 3,000-square-foot rooftop pool complex in the works that should bring The Betsy up to snuff in this sun-obsessed town.
- Courtesy Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach
Why you love it: You can't ask for much more at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, a 375-key oceanfront spot. Beyond its beautiful bones—it inhabits a painstakingly restored 1953 Art Moderne building by Morris Lapidus—it sits right in the middle of Miami's Art Deco district on Lincoln Road, the 10-block, pedestrian-friendly esplanade with some of the city's best shopping, dining, nightlife, and people-watching. The décor isn't necessarily fresh or modern, but any lack of excitement is more than made up for by the hotel's ocean-facing pool.
- Courtesy W South Beach
W South Beach
Why you love it: It's hardly a stretch to say that the W South Beach is in perpetual party mode: The 20-story glass tower, which sits at the northern end of South Beach, is a veritable playground where high heels are de rigueur at all hours, and there's a daily competition to see who can sport the flashiest designer bling. Its top-tier art collection (yes, that's a Basquiat painting in the lobby) and super-spacious rooms notwithstanding, the W South Beach is a dream world where speedboats and tennis pros are at your disposal. Consider one of the hotel's two new suites—the E-WOW Presidential, and the Penthouse—for your next stay, where 3,000 square feet of prime ocean views, plus a dedicated butler service, will help you keep the party going.
- Courtesy Loews Hotels & Resorts
Loews Miami Beach Hotel
Why you love it: This 790-room Art Deco District hotel caters to the whole family. The resort recently completed a $50 million renovation that ushered in new features like a revamped pool deck, an adults-only section at the St. Tropez-style SOAK Cabanas & Daybeds area, and a state-of-the-art Kids Camp. You'll have your pick of five different dining options, but we'd put our money (and our appetites) on Lure Fishbar and its seafood tower.
- Courtesy Ritz-Carlton
Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami
Why you love it: This Ritz outpost has a decidedly quieter scene than the other hotels on the Miami circuit—the Coconut Grove neighborhood, about 25 minutes west of Miami Beach via the MacArthur Causeway, is known for its high-end boutiques and museums rather than its VIP lists. It still doesn't skimp on the features: The lobby alone is a confection of purple, velvety banquettes and funky mood lighting. One other feature we can't get enough of? The private balconies in each of the 115 rooms and suites, and views of Biscayne Bay amplified by floor-to-ceiling windows.
- Courtesy Mandarin Oriental
Mandarin Oriental, Miami
Why you love it: The Mandarin Oriental is one of the better non-beach hotels, not far from Downtown Miami, Wynwood, and the Design District. Rising over the petite island of Brickell Key in Biscayne Bay, the hotel grants views of the Downtown skyline to the west and Miami Beach to the east. To make up for a lack of natural beachfront, the hotel has created a 20,000-square-foot private beach on the bay, plus a three-story waterfront spa and the two award-winning restaurants, Azul and La Mar by Gaston Acurio, that are frequented by visitors and locals alike.
- Courtesy EDITION Hotels
The Miami Beach EDITION
Why you love it: Ian Schrager's new Mid-Beach outpost of his EDITION label attracts style-conscious A-listers who care as much about design as thread count. There's a bit of 1950s South Beach glamour here; the white lobby feels like a period movie set, and the pool area, coined “Tropicale,” recalls the 1950s Havana nightclub Tropicana, dense with exotic flora and hanging gardens. Dinner at Jean-Georges's Matador Room is a must—but follow the pulse downstairs to Basement Miami, an underground nightclub complex with a bowling alley, an ice skating rink, and a ‘micro-club’ said to give off Studio 54 vibes.
- Courtesy Surfcomber
Surfcomber
Why you love it: The 186-room Surfcomber is like the cooler, more casual little brother of the towering, traditional behemoths on the beach. The hotel hangout is unpretentious with plenty of opportunities for socializing—there's a daily wine hour and the aptly named Social Club restaurant overlooking Collins Avenue. Thankfully, it never tends toward the tacky.
- Courtesy Fontainebleau/©Moris Moreno
Fontainebleau
Why you love it: The Fontainebleau—Miami Beach’s largest hotel—feels like a luxury cruise ship on land (in a good way). Between 1,504 rooms (including 658 suites), 12 restaurants and lounges (including Hakkasan and Scott Conant’s Scarpetta), multiple swimming pools, and plenty of beachfront, there’s constant excitement at this iconic Art Deco landmark.
- Courtesy The Standard
The Standard Spa, Miami Beach
Why you love it: True to its name, the main draw of this 1960s Morris Lapidus-designed motel is its European-inspired (and very group-friendly) spa scene. A day of treatments might include time in the 90-degree Turkish hammam, birch leaf–brushing in the cedar sauna, or DIY-body painting outdoors in the bayside mud lounge. Note that the hotel sits on the Biscayne Bay island of Belle Isle, about a 10-minute drive from the Lincoln Road promenade—but the distance from downtown makes it that much easier to check out.