It has been just over ten years since I last visited Miami, one of Florida's most sought-after destinations, but the first memory that comes to mind when I look back to those two weeks is the warmth of sunrays instantly hitting my skin as I stepped into the street. It isn't a coincidence that two of Miami's most popular monikers, the Sunshine City and the Magic City, hint at the radiance, and that another one, the Gateway to the Americas, describes it as a meeting point between cultures; as a bridge between the US, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
If the brightness and sprawling tropical vegetation were the first things to catch my eye when visiting Miami, it was the city's rich cultural diversity — reflected in everything from its English-Spanish bilingualism to its boundary-defying gastronomy, arts, and architecture — that captivated me even more. This is on display at the best hotels in Miami, whose interiors capture the metropolis' storied history, heritage, and ongoing transformation.
Selected not only for their unique contributions to contemporary hotel design, but also for their ability to immerse visitors in the city's celebrated Art Deco design tradition, tantalizing culinary fusions, and inspiring expressions of craftsmanship, these are the stays turning every vacation into a cultural full-immersion — from Miami Beach evergreen institutions to 1930s Tudor-style mansions turned artist's retreats in affluent South of Fifth.
1. Esmé Miami Beach
1438 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States
Originally built as an artists' colony, Esmé Miami Beach is every creative's wonderland. With richly layered, neo-Spanish-Mediterranean revival-style interiors characterized by deep browns, petrol greens, and argilla hues, its rooms stand out for the glazed tiles and plush, patterned fabric plastering their surfaces, masterfully orchestrated by NYC-based designer Jessica Schuster.
Balancing Jazz Age glamour with modern sophistication, the hotel expands across eight interconnected buildings, inviting visitors to make their way through its eclectic maze of cultural and stylistic references. Straddling modern rustic décor and 1920s' bohemia, the 145-room boutique accommodation is one of the chicest in town.
It is also of the favorite getaways of foodie adventurers, thanks to the five dining and drink locations scattered across the property, bringing Spanish, Mediterranean, Latin, and global sensations to the heart of Miami Beach.
What else makes the Esmé Miami Beach one of the best hotels in Miami?
Highlight: Hard to pick, but the pastel-shaded rooftop pool of Esmé Miami Beach, where the eponymous restaurant and cocktail bar is sited, is the ultimate sightseeing spot for vintage-minded travelers.
Great for: Located within close proximity to South Beach and the Art Deco District, Esmé Miami Beach makes an ideal destination for young, design-savvy vacationers wanting to immerse themselves in the pulsating cultural and nightlife scene of the Magic City.
Book your stay at Esmé Miami Beach.
2. The Standard Spa, Miami Beach
40 Island Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States
A fan of indoor-outdoor living? For your Miami vacation, look no further than the Standard Spa (formerly known as the Lido Spa), a cutting-edge wellness sanctuary scenically floating on Belle Isle's waters, opposite Biscayne Bay.
Those seeking a well-executed example of minimalism in interior design will find the answer in the 100 rooms of this exclusive stay, where pale wood-drenched suites suspended between coastal and Scandinavian style use neutral-hued, textural surfaces, crunchy linens, and nautical details to gift guests a calm and life-reinvigorating experience.
Filled with the finest mid-century modern furniture and surrounded by plants, the hotel dissolves the boundaries between the inside and the outdoors, prompting travelers to get lost in nature.
What else makes the Standard Spa, Miami Beach one of the best hotels in Miami?
Highlight: As an art and theater lover, I might well be biased, but I have rarely come across a hotel lobby boasting expansive wall tapestries and stained glass window mosaic more fascinating than the ones on show at the Standard Spa. These were conceived by Cristina Colichón and SHD studio during a recent renovation of the property, and A. Herbert Mathes, respectively, the latter being one of the mid-century architects involved in the development of the original Lido Spa, led by 'MiMo'-style architect Norman Giller.
Great for: An adults-only retreat, the Standard Spa is the best solution for wellness seekers and couples interested in enjoying the perks of a secluded, high-end accommodation, at once repaired from and perfectly connected to the hustle and bustle of Miami Beach.
Book your stay at the Standard Spa, Miami Beach.
3. Mayfair House Hotel & Garden
3000 Florida Ave, Coconut Grove, FL 33133, United States
The ideal location to soak in the community life and cultural buzz of Coconut Grove, one of Miami's most scenic, flourishing neighborhoods, the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden is a truthful manifestation of the district's complementary sides.
An original, mid-1980s' project by Kenneth Treister, this charming accommodation isn't just a urban oasis punctuated by lush greenery, but it also expands on Miami's architectural and artistic savoir-faire through a number of standout bespoke elements, including copper sculptures, immersive mosaics, and an organic approach to conceiving spaces.
Newly renovated by NYC's studio Goodrich, the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden features some of the most spacious, soulful rooms in town, with earthy tones, and sinuous, groovy lines that, coupled with spectacular abstract art, nod to the comforting and uplifting essence of the playfulism décor trend.
What else makes the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden one of the best hotels in Miami?
Highlight: The botanical, immersive gardens and sprawling inner courtyard of the hotel, fusing the organic architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright and the whimsical design explorations of Catalan genius Antoni Gaudí, are absolute must-sees.
Great for: Art, design, and shopping enthusiasts wanting as much inspiration from their holiday base as they look for from their surroundings, where they'll find independent galleries, boutiques, and farmers markets to wander into throughout the day, and a just-as-animated nightlife.
Book your stay at the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden.
4. Faena Hotel Miami Beach
3201 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140, United States
There is something quite eccentrically pompous and proudly bold about Faena Hotel Miami Beach. It contains multitudes of pop culture artefacts. Contributions from The Great Gatsby's director Baz Luhrmann and life-and-work partner Catherine Martin, the designer behind some of the filmmaker's most flamboyant costumes, sit alongside a 24-karat gold woolly mammoth skeleton by artist Damien Hirst all under one roof.
Crafted by London-based firm Foster + Partners, this masterpiece sums up the foremost principle of maximalism in interior design, where there are no rules to designing a space so long as it lives up to its genre-bending style. The dining space, above, is just a taste of what you can expect to find at this lavish getaway, whose red, sea green, gold, and white-shaded interiors transport you to a one-of-a-kind fantasy fit for the cinema world.
What else makes the Faena Hotel Miami Beach one of the best hotels in Miami?
Highlight: Sun and relaxation-seekers should make the most of the retro-inspired, palm trees-lined pool of the Faena Hotel Miami Beach, but another design-forward itinerary highlight comes courtesy of the stay's own Faena Forum, a 42,560-square-foot, colossal creative center designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and the OMA team under the leadership of Japanese-born Shohei Shigematsu.
Great for: Art insiders, luxury travelers, and anyone keen to sojourn at a truly unexpected hotel created as a reflection of Miami's irreverent aesthetic scene and nightlife offering.
Book your stay at Faena Hotel Miami Beach.
5. Life House, South of Fifth
321 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States
Brought to life by a joint design effort led by Henriette Kockum, Camilla White, and Rachel Przyborski, Miami's Life House, South of Fifth channels that home-away-from-home feeling with innate creative flair.
Housed within a historic Tudor-style manor near the beach, this petite, 26-room holiday solution comes plastered in seaside-inspired tones, organic textures, and vibrant accents, including, of course, plenty of original artworks, from captivating paintings to sculptures and more.
Envisioned to bring the atmosphere of a Miami artists' colony in the 1920s to life, the space brims with creative inspiration, spilling into its communal garden patio and warm living room. Its space-optimized, whitewashed wood bedrooms equipped with Le Labo beauty products and Marshall speakers, finished with nautical accents, and vaguely reminiscent of the perfect order of Japanese style décor make the ultimate WFH station, too.
What else makes the Life House, South of Fifth one of the best hotels in Miami?
Highlight: The welcoming, inspiring, and laid-back atmosphere of Life House, South of Fifth adds to the allure of the place, nurturing unexpected encounters and social interaction.
Great for: Creative tourists and Florida locals looking for a work-from-hotel-friendly accommodation alternative that doesn't feel dull, but puts them at the heart of the city's artistic pulse, with the beach, local parks, and various cultural landmarks all within close reach.
Book your stay at Life House, South of Fifth.
6. The Betsy Hotel, South Beach
1440 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States
An exquisitely design, grounded choice amid the effervescent party scene of Miami's Ocean Drive and South Beach, the Betsy Hotel is perhaps the most accurate exemplification of a holiday destination that not only positively contributes to local tourism through its cherished accommodation and dining offering, but also actively participates in the preservation of the city's culture through live jazz nights and other cultural initiatives.
I was introduced to it by NYC-based art historian and curator Charles Moore, after he completed a residency in the property's in-house writers room. Hyam Plutzik, father of The Betsy’s owner Jonathan Plutzik, was a three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist in poetry, and here you'll find an encyclopedic library, multiple literary events, and pop-up art installations scheduled throughout the year.
What else makes the Betsy Hotel one of the best hotels in Miami?
Highlight: A jewel in its own right, the Betsy Hotel's façade, kissed by Miami's pink-hued sunsets, captures the encounter between Art Deco aesthetic and colonial-inspired architecture that dominates its interiors. But the real highlights are its two pools, one sited in the inner courtyard and imbued with a nostalgic feel, the other complete with views of Miami's skyline thanks to its rooftop placement.
Great for: The Betsy is ideal for art enthusiasts, couples seeking a romantic retreat, and travelers who appreciate cultural immersion. Its pet-friendly policies and intimate ambiance also make it appealing for families and solo adventurers.
Book your stay at the Betsy Hotel, South Beach.
7. Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove
2988 McFarlane Rd, Miami, FL 33133, United States
As with all of interior designer Martin Brudnizki's projects, the Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove, created in collaboration with Arquitectonica studio, is unapologetically bold. Taking the city's opulent yacht culture into the hospitality realm, this sleekly designed hotel oozes the nautical grandeur of Florida's fanciest speedboats while elevating through the lens of Italian elegance.
Mirror-like surfaces, eye-catching porthole windows, and a crisp white-and-blue palette evoke the feeling of life at sea, and does so within the historical frame of Coconut Grove, one of Miami's most characteristic neighborhoods.
While the floor-to-ceiling, seafoam hue of the rooms might not be everyone's favorite, as is the case for the patterned floor carpet, there is something innately timeless and familiar about this elegant retreat that makes it one to experience first-hand.
What else makes the Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove one of the best hotels in Miami?
Highlight: Ever heard of Cipriani, the quintessentially Italian gastronomy family? At Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove, the globe-trotting institution brings the best of Il Bel Paese's culinary offerings, having it reach new heights thanks to the hotel's cinematic location.
Great for: Taste-led travelers who put their money where their mouth is.
Book your stay at Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove.
8. Arlo Wynwood
2217 NW Miami Ct, Miami, FL 33127, United States
Thanks to the Meyer Davis-designed Arlo Wynwood, you won't even need to visit the unprecedented trail of street art that makes the Wynwood arts district to feel the scope of Miami's creative talent... or at least, not before having an energizing breakfast.
Launched in late 2022, this electrifying, young stay, sited in the city's ultimate arts destination, has integrated over 250 art commissions into its lively design, including murals by local artists Hoxxoh and Milagros Collective, and boasts a wide-ranging community-driven programming of yoga, comedy nights, and temporary cultural events. Essential yet comfortable, its rooms provide travelers with an ideal base from which to dive into the city's lifestyle scene, whether for galleries, boutiques, or eateries-hopping.
What else makes the Arlo Wynwood one of the best hotels in Miami?
Highlight: The monumental outdoor mural adorning the building's façade is a testament to Miami's unique artistic identity, while the social-first atmosphere favored by this buzzy hotel is perhaps the greatest addition to its relaxed, and stylish setup.
Great for: Easy-going travelers valuing location and social life over sumptuous décor.
Book your stay at Arlo Wynwood.
9. The Goodtime Hotel
601 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States.
Sugar sweet and ultra-cool, this bubblegum fantasy hotel is like a frozen cocktail on a sweltering day. Perhaps it's freshness is not surprising given its the brainchild of Miami hotel impresario David Grutman of Groot Hospitality and musical and cultural icon Pharrell Williams. The sprawling 266-room complex, which occupies a whole city block on Washington Avenue, opened in 2021 and has already made quite the name for itself thanks to its joyful, whimsical aesthetic.
The distinctive look comes courtesy of a formidable design trifecta: architect Morris Adjmi, superstar designer Ken Fulk and landscape architect Raymond Jungles. Whimsy blends with functionality and there's a distinct digital nomad feel in the communal library and and the café space. Meanwhile, down at the vast pool club, the focus is on relaxing and mingling, preferably while elegantly coiffed. It's over-the-top, kitsch classy and cool all at once, with a Wes Anderson energy and just a touch of Barbiecore.
What else makes the Goodtime Hotel one of the best hotels in Miami?
Highlight: The hotel lounge captured above. No need to say more.
Great for: Wes Anderson and Ken Fulk-obsessed, extravagant travelers with a soft spot for quirky interior décor.
Book your stay at the Goodtime Hotel.
10. Hotel Greystone
1920 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States
Grey by name, but not by nature, Hotel Greystone is an essentially elegant, soothing South Beach stay punctuated by warm tones and splashes of pastel color, all bearing the signature of Texas-based interior design firm Bowen Holly.
Originally designed by Henry Hohauser in the late 1930s, the outside shell is a swoon-worthy, curved Art Deco building. Inside, you'll find minimalist bedrooms draped in cream and white natural fabrics, sculptural plant pots towering in its communal areas, and plenty of sunshine peeking in through the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows.
What else makes the Hotel Greystone one of the best hotels in Miami?
Highlight: The in-house jazz bar nods to the history of the venue, while the Japanese-French fusion of the stay's cuisine brings the food and drink offering bang up-to-date.
Great for: Being an adult-only retreat, Hotel Greystone is ideal for couples keen to indulge in the luxurious high-ends of Miami Beach undisturbed, pampered by the comforts of one of the city's most coveted 4-star accommodations.
Book your stay at Hotel Greystone.
Did you know that the River Inn, Miami's longest-standing hotel, was built in 1908 from the fusion of four different Victorian-style boarding houses? Situated in the buzzy East Little Havana, right next to the Miami River, today the stay retains its original creative flair thanks to a recent revamp courtesy of ROAM hotel operators, which brought the accommodation its own authentic food and beverage destination, Casa Florida, and revitalized its atmospheric co-living spaces and bar area for the contemporary explorer.
A landmark of the city's vibrant cultural heritage, the River Inn occasionally hosts pop-up exhibitions powered by some of today's forward-thinkers, as proven by nomadic Milan design collective Alcova's second international outing, set to be unveiled at the hotel during the much-anticipated new edition of Design Miami (December 3-8).
Also worth adding to your maps, though far quirkier and vintage-inspired than most of the picks part of this best hotels in Miami roundup, is Hotel Trouvail Miami Beach, a three-star stay that will transport you back in time to the 1950s with its whimsical décor (think glossy tiled bathrooms, spherical Art Deco lamps, and an overall ambiance seamlessly mixing rustic and retro disco interiors). More budget-friendly than many of the properties above, it still retains the edgy, captivating essence of the Sunshine City — with a tropical pool for you to soak it up from.
