The best hotels in South Beach Miami

This eco-chic hotel spans the entire oceanfront block between 23rd and 24th Streets of Collins Avenue, placing it at the point two Miami beaches meet – find the frenetic decadence of South Beach to the south and sophisticated Mid Beach to the north. A pool on an elevated plaza faces right onto the ocean and the rooftop, featuring another pool, commands 360-degree views. A 900-metre living wall, farm to table dining concepts and an electric Audi house car exemplify the eco focus that runs throughout areas of the hotel home to several chic dining venues and a Bamford Wellness Spa.

An oceanfront location on Collins Avenue and 22nd Street gives each contemporary, light-filled area of this design-led hotel uninterrupted ocean views. Outdoors, an enormous pool is encircled with palm trees, lush greenery and poolside cabanas. Several of the hotel’s buzzy venues also spill outdoors, from the American-Tuscan focused Restaurant at W South Beach to the Living Room Bar set apart by its mixology, not to mention Irma’s outdoor cocktail bar and the poolside Wet Bar & Grille. The warm and inviting wood-and-white Away Spa is the setting for an Ahana Yoga studio, with tennis and basketball courts on the rooftop.

The Setai is set in the more low-key, sophisticated northern stretches of South Beach. Here, oceanfront luxury comes with privacy and tranquillity. In design, the hotel draws inspiration from Asia for its sleek interiors and central courtyard in which palm trees and pagoda-like structures surround reflection pools. Three infinity pools mirror one another with harmonious effect. Facilities within the oceanfront sanctuary include a Valmont Spa, the courtyard Asian restaurant Jaya, the ocean-air beachfront Ocean Grill and the courtyard’s mother of pearl cocktail bar. Rooms are split across an Art Deco building and separate glass tower.

Housed within a historic resort, built by Morris Lapidus in 1953 in the Art Deco district, The Ritz-Carlton South Beach embodies Miami’s take on mid-century modern glamour. Beyond an exterior resembling a streamlined ocean liner in its curvature, a high-ceilinged, terrazzo-floored grand lobby (also home to Lapidus lobby bar) leads to a collection of light, modern rooms and suites with city or ocean views, The Ritz-Carlton Spa and two restaurants. Dine on ocean-to-table cuisine at DiLido Beach Club or go for mezze at the all-day Zaytinya restaurant, which is under the direction of Michelin-starred chef José Andrés.

A family-friendly option, this oceanfront resort – a block south of Lincoln Avenue on Collins Road in the Art Deco district – wins guests over with its position on the beach, abundance of facilities and family programming. In this impressive white landmark, which includes the historic St Moritz building, smart guest rooms and luxurious sea- and city-view suites are joined by four restaurants and bars, the Sea Spa, a zero-entry pool with cabanas and the SoBe Kids’ Club. Of the restaurants, Rao’s Miami Beach pairs southern Neapolitan Italian cooking with home-style family ambiance while Preston’s Market focuses on farm-to-table American dishes with a South Beach twist.

SLS exudes a clubby polished vibe in an Art Deco skyscraper found one block north of Lincoln Road. The renowned French designer Philippe Starck came up with the interiors for this South Beach hotel, which fuses contemporary luxury with a touch of whimsy and rock ‘n’ roll edge – the hotel even enlisted Lenny Kravitz to envision the interiors of the Villa and Presidential Penthouses. Among the trendy venues drawing a crowd here are the Hyde Beach Miami pool bar (known for its legendary daytime pool parties) and Katsuya South Beach offering an artful take on Japanese cuisine.

A 1940s Art Deco gem is the setting for this design-centric boutique hotel, which is distinguished by its subtropical clubhouse appeal. Located just a couple of blocks off the beach on Collins Park, opposite The Bass Museum of Art, the luxury hideaway shows you a more subdued side to this famous neighbourhood. One of the hotel’s biggest draws is the celebrated Japanese restaurant, Blue Ribbon Sushi – found just off the lobby – with Seasons Café then providing a more casual dining option. Perhaps the most inviting corner of the hotel is the sunny courtyard pool area, which has more of a South of France than South Florida feel.

On the west side of South Beach, a few miles away from the main tourist zone of Collins Avenue, the Mondrian places you on shores overlooking Biscayne Bay and downtown. The hotel has recently emerged from a multi-million-dollar property-wide transformation, which now takes on the look and feel of a modern tropical oasis and encompasses the new Baia Beach Club bayfront destination with indoor and outdoor dining, Gem Bar, a spa and pool. Suites make up all the accommodation options. Each light, airy suite pairs custom design elements, like rugs and wall coverings, with views over the surroundings.

Esmé Miami Beach is the result of a multi-year restoration transforming a 1927-built site, once an artists’ colony, on lively and historic Espanola Way. This village-like property spanning several buildings are instilled with Latin and Spanish design influences, with common areas like a rooftop with bar and pool joining the individually styled, colour injected rooms. The coastal-inspired Drexel restaurant serves Mediterranean dishes, including from the wood grill, in an elegant light-filled space. The Roof restaurant and lounge then offers casual plates and cocktails by the rooftop pool.