The Best Beach Hotels to Book in Florida

Priding itself on its historical lineage – The Breakers was founded in 1892 – this hotel sits on a prime stretch of Florida sand. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame ocean views, while rooms and suites boast a unique mix of tropical and old-world decor that includes sea-swirl carpets, padded headboards and floral-patterned statement walls. If you don’t want to want to dip your toes in the Atlantic, there are four pools and five whirlpools to choose from instead, including an infinity pool. You won’t go hungry, either: there are ten bars and restaurants to choose from, from pan-Asian plates and creative cocktails at the crimson-walled Echo to catch-of-the-day at the casual Seafood Bar and nostalgia-tinged comfort food at Henry’s.

Overlooking the Lantana Municipal Beach in Palm Beach, here’s a beach hotel that deals in big patterns and bold design statements when it comes to decor. Expect contrasting primary colors, patterned headboards, wraparound balconies (Commander-in-Chief suite) and hanging egg chairs on garden terraces of ground-floor suites. Looking out over Lantana Municipal Beach, When dining out, choose between modern American, Italian, and Floridian/Southern cuisines – and a cocktail terrace bar overlooking the ocean. Visit the wonderful Loggerhead Marinelife Center, the hotel’s charity partner – the only sea turtle hospital in Palm Beach County, which has rehabilitated hundreds of sea turtles and thousands of hatchlings so far.

This is Palm Beach Island’s only five-star, five-diamond resort – private beach and all – ensuring that yours is a top-of-the-range luxury experience. The rooms and suites are decorated in soft pastels, from soft pinks and light blues to smoky grays. If you’re a water sports enthusiast, staff can arrange anything from stand-up paddleboarding to kayaking. As you might expect, the dining is top-notch: Florie’s utilizes live-fire cooking to conjure up modern Italian dishes in partnership with stellar chef Mauro Colagreco, while Florie’s Bar serves garden-inspired original cocktails. A Palm Bach signature massage at the spa seals the deal.

This beachside bolthole oozes understated luxury and sophistication. Apart from generously-sized, wood-paneled rooms, decorated in neutral shades, there are luxury bungalows with private sun decks; opt for a Bungalow Suite to get your own plunge pool. Apart from the two hotel pools overlooking the ocean, family-friendly perks include a basement bowling alley and ice-skating rink. Michelin-starred Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten prepares Latin dishes at Matador Room, accompanied by craft cocktails, while his more casual offering – Market at EDITION – is modeled after a modern food bazaar.

An iconic Art Deco building houses one of the most glamorous hotels in one of the world’s most glamorous cities. The rooms and enormous suites combine clean lines and largely monochrome decor with splashes of color, designer furniture and, of course, unobstructed ocean vistas. Dine on Spanish, French and Greek dishes, accompanied by original cocktails involving herbs at the Dilido Beach Club, or opt for Latino flavors and flame-grill cooking at Fuego y Mar, with a side helping of pool and ocean views.

Located on Miami’s Sunny Isles Beach, this cheerful skyscraper hotel comprises rooms and suites that combine understated furnishings with silk and satin textures, cool grays, soothing whites and spacious marble bathrooms. If on a romantic vacation, book a couple’s experience at the Royal Spa Treatment Suite, then dine out on Mediterranean cuisine at Costa Grill, classic Italian dishes at Il Mulino New York, or Japanese fusion at Ke-uH. Alternatively, the hotel provides gourmet picnic baskets so that you can canoodle with your sweetie by the ocean.

Sustainability is a priority at this hotel overlooking Miami’s South Beach; expect vertical gardens and energy-efficient heating and cooling at this LEED-certified property, where you also get sustainably-sourced bedding, organic cotton mattresses, and light, bright rooms with reclaimed wood paneling. Look out over the bright lights of Miami from the rooftop pool, then dine on Peruvian-tinged Japanese cuisine at Watr, or perhaps opt for plant-based dishes at Plnthouse. If you opt for the Retreat Collection package, you get paired with a Personal Guru who arranges VIP access to attractions (and presumably provides you with pearls of wisdom).