The choice is rarely the hotel — it is which part of Miami you want to wake up in
Luxury hotels in Miami fall into three distinct worlds. Miami Beach is a barrier island city between the Atlantic and Biscayne Bay, divided into South Beach, Mid-Beach, and North Beach. Across the water, the mainland offers Brickell and downtown, and further south, Coral Gables. A guest who picks the right district rarely needs more than two or three names.
Miami Beach is separated from the mainland by Biscayne Bay and connected by several causeways. That matters more than it sounds. A hotel in South Beach puts the Art Deco district and the restaurants on your doorstep, while a hotel in Mid-Beach trades that for a calmer stretch of beach and larger grounds. North Beach is quieter still.
The mainland offers the opposite character: a business and residential district in Brickell, and in Coral Gables a quieter, older Miami with Mediterranean architecture. The choice of district is the first decision, and every hotel decision follows from it.
A concierge shortlist does not rank. It matches a hotel to a stay. These four, each different in character, show how.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach opened in 1954 on Collins Avenue in Mid-Beach and was designed by Morris Lapidus in the Miami Modern style. The original 1,400-room hotel has since been expanded with further towers, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in December 2008. It suits a guest who wants scale, pools, and a lively social season.
Faena Hotel Miami Beach at 3201 Collins Avenue occupies the former Saxony Hotel, completed in 1948 as one of the first luxury resorts on Miami Beach and the first air-conditioned hotel there. It reopened under the Faena name in November 2015. It suits a guest who wants a historic building with a contemporary character.
The Setai Miami Beach stands at 2001 Collins Avenue in South Beach, a 38-storey tower beside a restored 1930s Art Deco building, with a design by Jean-Michel Gathy. It suits a guest who wants an elevated, private base in the heart of the district.
The Miami Biltmore in Coral Gables opened in 1926, was designed by Schultze and Weaver and is a National Historic Landmark. For a time it was the tallest building in Florida. It suits a guest who wants a historic, garden setting away from the beach.
Guests often search for five star hotels in Miami, and the term needs a note. The United States has no government hotel rating, and the systems that exist are private: Forbes Travel Guide, which awards stars, and the American Automobile Association, which awards diamonds. A hotel advertised as five star may or may not hold either.
For that reason, we choose by experience rather than classification: the quality of service, the room, the location, and the guest’s plans for the stay. If a particular rating matters, the current Forbes Travel Guide list is the place to check.
Tell us the dates and the kind of stay, and we will find the hotel that fits
A hotel matched to the stay rather than to a list, a room chosen for its floor and aspect, transfers timed to the flight, and tables held in the evenings. For guests combining the trip with an event, the dates around it are held first. Our fine dining and nightlife service handles the evenings, and our business concierge service coordinates meetings. For another city, see how we frame the choice in our guide to the top luxury hotels in London.
It depends on the district. Miami Beach suits a beach stay, Brickell a business trip and Coral Gables a quieter one. Each has hotels of a comparable standard.
Properties such as the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the Faena Hotel Miami Beach, and The Setai Miami Beach are among the well-known luxury addresses, each with a different character.
No. The United States has no government hotel rating. Forbes Travel Guide and the AAA operate private systems, with stars and diamonds respectively.
South Beach puts the Art Deco district and restaurants on your doorstep. Mid-Beach offers more space and a calmer setting.
Well ahead of event weeks such as Art Basel Miami Beach in early December. The best rooms are arranged months before the dates.
