The Best and Most Famous Hotels in Miami Beach

Fun is the focus at this collaboration between the Marriott group and boutique hotelier Ian Schrager. Described as an urban resort, the hotel has every thrill you never knew you wanted including the largest hotel beach in the city, organic popsicles by the pool, a gold punch fountain in the lobby and beach movie screenings. Want more? Head to the basement for the Studio 54-inspired nightclub with its own neon-lit bowling alley and ice rink.

Get the real Miami experience by staying in this esteemed Art Deco property, constructed in 1939 by architect L. Murray Dixon. Since the 1990s, the hotel has become a magnet for top music stars like Jay-Z and Mariah Carey thanks to its in-house recording studios and hip history. Everyone is treated to thoughtful home comforts in the 33 luxurious rooms and suites, with 55-inch 4k flatscreens, spa-quality robes, Babyliss flat irons and even beach bags packed with towels ready to hit the sand.

Take in dazzling ocean views from your private balcony at this chic hotel on Collins Avenue, where the beautiful people flock to dine in on-site restaurant Mr Chow. Rooms have some serious wow factor with glossy kitchenettes, spa-like bathrooms decked in Italian marble, natural oak herringbone floors, floor-to-ceiling windows and 24-hour music playlists. Elsewhere, there are free bike rentals, an outdoor heated pool, rooftop tennis and basketball courts and a glamorous spa.

Expect all-out glitz when you stay at the Faena, which was designed in part by film director Baz Luhrmann and his costume designer wife. Think lavish touches of animal print, lipstick-red leather and pops of turquoise, plus candy cane-striped beach umbrellas, cabaret performances in the hotel’s own theatre and two Damien Hirst sculptures. Food is equally memorable at the award-winning Argentinian restaurant Los Fuegos and modern Asian hotspot Pao by Paul Qui.

Designed by Philippe Starck, this celebrated property on South Beach is a wonderland of billowing white chiffon, soaring ceilings, playful artwork and a discreet party atmosphere. Rooms are jaw-dropping, in all-white with oversized Monstera plants, hand-felted rugs, Ciel Reserve bath products and a Bluetooth soundbar. Follow the magical garden path to discover the hotel’s renowned swimming pool too, with direct ocean access, live DJs and exclusive cabanas for world-class people-watching.

Even by Miami standards, Fisher Island is seriously lavish. The members-only private island can only be reached by ferry or helicopter and is home to 800 residences with one of the wealthiest postcodes in the US. Glimpse how the other half lives by booking one of the 15 exquisite Mediterranean-inspired suites within the original Vanderbilt mansion, built in the 1920s. Each has its own golf cart to whisk you to the island’s deep-water marina, private aviary, star-gazing observatory, theatre or private beach where cocktails appear at the touch of a button.

Luxury is second nature at The Setai, a sleek retreat within walking distance of South Beach. This hushed enclave has a Swiss spa, three temperature-controlled pools, a stretch of beach and an exclusive Asian restaurant. Spend the night in the restored Art Deco building or shining glass tower overlooking the ocean, where all rooms have Acqua Di Parma products, Nespresso machines, Samsung sound bars and plush Frette linens.

This hip hotel, overlooking Miami Beach, is more than just a place to bed down. Set in a 15-storey tower at the northern end of the Art Deco district, the members-only property is made for mingling, with a library, screening room, rooftop pool, restaurant and bar where the local glitterati rub shoulders and make plans. There are just 50 bedrooms, which allow guests access to all the facilities including the famed Cowshed spa and not-to-be-missed tequila bar.

Glamour oozes from every corner of this classic Miami Beach resort on Collins Avenue. There are three pools with plenty of cabanas for posing, a sprawling spa, striking lobby bar with jaw-dropping chandelier and the in-demand Malibu Farm waterfront restaurant. Well-heeled locals also flock to dine at the hotel’s outpost of Nobu, famed for its delicate Japanese dishes and the best sushi in town.

This 1950s oceanfront resort is smack bang on the so-called Millionaire’s Row one mile from South Beach. It cost a gob-smacking $1billion to restore and doesn’t skimp on wall-to-wall extravagance, with an enormous pool complex, manicured grounds, a blindingly bling lobby and top restaurants including London’s Hakkasan and award-winning Scarpetta. Want to rub shoulders with the who’s who of Miami? Head to the hotel’s super-trendy, 22,000sqft (2,000sqm) nightclub LIV where superstar DJs such as David Guetta are regulars.

Hotels don’t come much more iconic than The Villa Casa Casuarina. Built in 1930, it is most famous as the former home of fashion designer Gianni Versace, who turned the property into a sumptuous Miami landmark before being killed on its front steps in 1997. Guests can now stay in one of ten ornate suites to marvel at the restaurant which is lined with pebble mosaic walls, a rooftop lounge and a pool that looks like it has been transported straight from a Roman palace.