The Best Miami Hotels That Are Vacations All By Themselves
St. Regis Bal Harbour
By Eric Barton | Jan. 16, 2025
Here’s a truth about the Magic City: The best Miami hotels don’t require you to leave the property. Some are practically self-contained vacations, with better food than you’ll find in Brickell and enough entertainment to make you consider skipping Wynwood altogether. Trust me, as a longtime local, I’ve stayed in them, eaten in them, and occasionally pretended to be a tourist in them. Here are the spots that’ll make you forget there’s even a city outside.
South Beach is a loud party at your neighbor’s place, the St. Regis is that sophisticated friend who always knows which fork to use. It's the kind of place where even the air feels expensive. The Remède Spa will pamper you so thoroughly, you'll forget what stress feels like. Just don't look at your credit card statement afterward.
The Faena is what happens when someone like Baz Luhrmann gets involved in hotel design. The place is a spectacle, from its golden woolly mammoth sculpture to its impossibly chic Tierra Santa Healing House. The real star, though, is the theater—a space where the cabaret-style shows are so wild you’ll start to wonder if Miami nightlife is secretly living in this hotel. Don’t worry, the food at Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann is just as dramatic.
This place has more history than my high school textbook, and twice the drama. The resort boasts a variety of signature restaurants, including offerings from renowned chefs, a world-class spa, and the iconic LIV Nightclub. This is where Sinatra used to croon, and where you can still pretend you're part of the Rat Pack, provided you've got the bankroll to match.
This is where you go when you want to return from vacation healthier than when you left. It's got a spa the size of Rhode Island and enough fitness classes to make Richard Simmons jealous. But don’t let that scare you—it’s not all green juice and meditation. The oceanfront location and luxe accommodations make this place feel more indulgent than virtuous.
For those who want to feel like they're on a private island (without actually dealing with the hassle of, you know, going to a private island). It's got more tennis courts than Wimbledon and a secluded beach that'll make you forget downtown Miami is just a stone's throw away.
For the golf enthusiast who also happens to have kids, the Turnberry is where you can work on your swing while the little ones terrorize – I mean, enjoy – the on-site water park. This is a resort that’s practically a small city, spread out over 300 tropical acres. The spa offers enough treatments to keep you blissed out for days, and the dining options—like the modern Corsair Kitchen & Bar and the upscale Bourbon Steak—are worth the trip alone. It’s Miami opulence, but with room to breathe.
The Setai rings a touch of Zen to the Miami madness. With its three temperature-controlled infinity pools, it's like they've distilled relaxation into liquid form. Just don't be surprised if you find yourself speaking in hushed tones and craving sushi.
For the eco-warrior who still appreciates a good thread count, 1 Hotel South Beach is so green, you half expect the furniture to photosynthesize. Amenities include four swimming pools, including a stunning rooftop pool, a full-service wellness spa, and multiple dining venues focusing on fresh, local ingredients. The rooftop pool is adults-only, perfect for when you want to sip organic cocktails without a cannonballing 8-year-old ruining your zen.
This spot is perched atop the already luxurious JW Marriott Marquis like the crown jewel of downtown. The views from up there are so spectacular, across the Miami River to Brickell and out east toward Key Biscayne and the beach. You might forget to actually leave your room and explore Miami.
After a $50 million facelift, it's like the cool aunt of Miami hotels – artsy, a bit eccentric, but still classy enough to impress your in-laws. The rooftop pool offers views that'll make your Instagram followers weep with envy.
The Loews strikes that delicate balance between family-friendly and "I'm here to party." It's like the Switzerland of Miami Beach hotels, neutral territory where spring breakers and toddlers coexist in harmony.
Mr. C brings a touch of Italian sophistication to the Grove, one of Miami’s hottest restaurant neighborhoods at the moment. The rooftop restaurant, Bellini, serves up views almost as intoxicating as its namesake cocktail.
Here’s a hotel for the cool kids who think South Beach is so last season. It's got a pool that doubles as an art gallery, because in Wynwood, even your cannonballs should be artistic.
14. Esmé Miami Beach
The Esmé is a pastel-hued dream that looks like Wes Anderson designed a Mediterranean village, then plopped it right on Española Way. The rooftop pool is the perfect spot to sip a cocktail and pretend you're in a movie about beautiful people doing vaguely interesting things.
The Biltmore is living history, a place where you half expect to see flappers doing the Charleston by the enormous pool. It's got more old-world charm than a Downton Abbey marathon. The hotel features an 18-hole golf course, a renowned culinary academy, and one of the largest hotel swimming pools in the entire country.
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