The best hotels in South Beach

Miami's South Beach, also known as the Art Deco District, has over 100 hotels, most of which are renovated architectural gems originally built by famous architects such as Morris Lapidus, Albert Anis, Henry Hohauser, and others.
To narrow the field and highlight the best hotels in South Beach, we selected top hotels based on our personal experiences in their rooms, choosing those with top-tier amenities, dining, and beachfront locations, and excellent ratings on trusted traveler sites such as Trip Advisor and Booking.com.
Our best hotels are also affordable to a wide range of budgets, ranging between $135 and $500 per night in low season.
Read all Business Insider hotel reviews here.

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If you look at Miami's South Beach now — one of the most famous architectural regions in the world — you'd be hard-pressed to realize it was once just a coconut farm. Now a booming party practically every night of the week, the Art Deco District is a stunning place to visit, and stay.

South Beach is a loosely shaped seven-square-mile diamond defined by 24th Street at the north end and the causeways to the west. Back in 1992 when I moved there, the area was undergoing a renaissance. Historic hotels were being renovated at an astronomical pace, and it seemed like they would never run out of places to revitalize.

Flash forward to now and Trip Advisor lists 222 hotels in Miami Beach. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau says that as of 2019, 133 are located in South Beach. As a local resident and travel writer, I've been in most of these hotels so many times, I've lost count.

For more Florida hotel coverage, click on a link below

Some have been renovated, updated, and re-polished several times in the past 20 years, making them worth investing in for a vacation or business stay, while others could very much use a refresher.

We compiled this list to highlight the best four- and five-star hotels based on our personal experience, cross-checked against feedback from fellow travelers on sites such a Trip Advisor, where they've received at least 4 out of 5-stars from cumulative reviews, or warranted an 8.0 or better out of 10 on Booking.com and Hotels.com.

With budget in mind, our hotels range in price from $135 to $500 in the low season, though you should expect these rates to jump by several hundred dollars during peak winter travel. Also, keep in mind that every hotel has a resort fee that includes amenities ranging from beach towels and yoga mats to the use of bicycles and luxury town cars.

Amenities, though, were at the forefront of our choices, and we've given priority to hotels offering easy beach access, landscaped pools, butler service, spas, fitness options, and more.

These are the best hotels in South Beach, sorted by price from low to high.

SEE ALSO: The best hotels in Miami

Shore Club South Beach

Book Shore Club South Beach starting at $135 per night

The Shore Club South Beach made a huge splash when it debuted as a refurbished resort, featuring sushi hot spot Nobu, in the early 2000s. The 1939 Albert Anis building, redone in 2001 by David Chipperfield, has since been a mainstay on the South Beach hospitality scene ever since.

Accommodations, beginning at 300 square feet, were designed to reflect both Chipperfield's architectural aesthetic and the tropical grounds of the hotel. The theme of white-on-white is interrupted by vivid bursts of primary colors, like blooming flowers against a sun-bright sky in the form of a pillow or a lampshade. Take advantage of the rainfall showerheads in the glass-enclosed "wet room" in the Mexican sandstone bathroom, then relax in stylish comfort with down duvets and pillows.

The 8,000-square-foot spa offers scrubs, wraps, waxing, mani-pedis, and more. But if you're heading out for the evening, book a blow-out or styling at the on-premises Glam + Glo. You can also prep for the evening's outing by taking outdoor fitness classes like Beach Boot Camp or Outdoor Yoga Flow – it's a tanning and training two-for-one.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 77 out of 222 hotels in Miami Beach

Booking.com Rating: 8.0 out of 10

Pros: Included with the daily resort fee, guests can get around with beach cruisers or make use of a Lincoln SUV town car.

Cons: Guests complain of housekeeping and maintenance issues, and suggest that the hotel needs an update.

Kimpton Angler's Hotel South Beach

Book Kimpton Angler's Hotel South Beach starting at $143 per night

This property, not Art Deco but Mediterranean Revival, was the last to be redeveloped on South Beach. It was worth waiting for. With rooms that start at 400 square feet, views from the rooftop pool and sun deck, and a beach umbrella, towels, guide, and bag to pack up and take with you, it's clear this hotel was designed with amenities at the top of the mind.

The sustainable design of the rooms, minimalist and clean-lined, extends from bamboo flooring to Frette cotton sheets. The eye is drawn to the shapes and patterns of wood and metal accent pieces rather than a riot of colors. Every room, located in a court of buildings, has either a balcony or terrace.

You don't have to leave this lovely space for spa or salon treatments – K'Alma Journeys comes to you for everything from happiness therapies to pedicures. But you may want to wander down to the lobby or terrace for Seawell Fish 'N' Oyster's excellent northeastern-style seafood, or Minnow Bar's terrific craft cocktails.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 52 out of 222 hotels in Miami Beach

Booking.com Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Pros: Feeling the need to get fit? There's a yoga mat in every room, custom-designed PUBLIC bikes, and Orangetheory Fitness Studio classes included with every resort fee.

Cons: This section of Washington Avenue is mostly parking for residents and has no large lot. Guests also had issues with a lack of valet support and baggage handlers.

Read Business Insider's full hotel review of Kimpton Angler's Hotel South Beach

The Standard, Miami

Book The Standard, Miami starting at $155 per night

Located on Belle Isle at the eastern end of the Venetian Causeway, The Standard, Miami is a beacon for those seeking a strong wellness sphere.

Tucked away from the party scene, the hotel features 100 rooms and a 12,500-square-foot spa with one of the biggest hammams in the country. The hydro-based amenities are quite remarkable, including a 103-degree Roman waterfall hot tub and a 50-degree Arctic plunge pool. Locals take advantage of these services as much as hotel guests do, including a range of treatments and classes.

When it comes to gest rooms, think organic. Everything from the bath products to the minibar snacks are either good for you or good for the planet. Down pillows and Egyptian linens ensure a great night's sleep, and a juice cafe greets you on the terrace in the morning with the correct nutrients.

The bad news is that the eight categories of rooms begin at just 230 feet, which is smaller than other comparable luxury hotels. The good news is that the gardens, spa, and bayside pools offer a compelling escape.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 3 of 222 hotels in Miami Beach

Booking.com Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Pros: The pool area and body treatments get universal high marks, and many guests leave praise about the staff members, even using their names.

Cons: Guests say that rooms facing the main pathways are subject to noise from staff pushing rattling trolleys and that rooms lack basic sound-proofing. Other guests complained about the lack of ADA accessibility and outdated spa equipment.

Hotel Victor South Beach

Book Hotel Victor South Beach starting at $159 per night

Like several luxury hotels situated on busy Ocean Drive, Hotel Victor sometimes gets dismissed because of its touristy location. That's a shame, because not only is this rescued Art Deco hotel sophisticated and charming, it recently underwent a Yabu Pushelberg redesign that has resulted in some really great features.

For instance, the standard, 300-square-feet king rooms don't contain ordinary beds. They're furnished with California King beds outfitted with custom 300-thread count SFERRA linens (wear the same brand's robes from the closet to match). Lutron Lighting systems provide digital Do Not Disturb signs, and the minibar stocks Dean and Deluca snacks and drinks. And the marble bathrooms don't just give you a steam shower or bath tub; they provide a combo of both, along with Gilchrist and Soames bath amenities.

Hotel Victor is home to fun and funky restaurant concepts, including Sugar Factory American Brasserie and iLov305, owned pop star Pitbull. The resort also houses K'Alma Spoa, the first US Peruvian Crystal Color Therapy Spa. This flagship location offers everything from a crystal chakra pathway to a hammam and meditation room.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 58 of 222 hotels in Miami Beach

Booking.com Rating: 8.3 out of 10

Pros: Complimentary bicycles allow you to take your own Art Deco tour.

Cons: Ocean Drive. There, we said it. It can be wild and noisy, and certain times of year are worse than others.

COMO Metropolitan Miami Beach

Book COMO Metropolitan Miami Beach starting at $168 per night

The only COMO brand hotel based in the mainland US, the Metropolitan is a lovingly renovated Art Deco property. The designers updated historic elements by matching original terrazzo with marble and enhancing the geometry of the building with interior design. As a result, the rooms are refreshing and accented in cool mints and grays and start at a decent 340 square feet.

The Metropolitan boasts some beautiful water features including a rooftop hydrotherapy pool that makes for excellent sunset selfies. The main pool offers outdoor dining with tables set amongst lush greenery and lounge chairs. You can also head inside to the Southeast Asian-influenced Traymore, which is maintained by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz, a local favorite (Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, Amara at Paraiso).

With only 74 rooms and connected to a private beach, the Metropolitan is a boutique hotel with a personable staff that makes it on-message to know its guests. Reviews consistently mention customer service as one of the main attractions, along with the beauty and serenity of the property.

Trip Advisor ranking: 17 of 222 hotels in Miami Beach

Booking.com rating: 8.3 out of 10

Pros: Small and intimate, the COMO Metropolitan is a protected, historic property, and supplies authentic albeit updated Art Deco flavor.

Cons: Located at the northern edge of South Beach, it's a good walk to Lincoln Road, Ocean Drive, and the rest of the main drags.

Loews Miami Beach Hotel

Book Loews Miami Beach Hotel starting at $179 per night

The Loews Miami Beach Hotel is popular for convention-goers and those attending festivals like South Beach Wine & Food, given its large size and location at the nexus of 16th street and Collins Avenue. It's also very accommodating for families, with a terrific kids club for entertaining young ones. A recent renovation has updated the lobby, 790 guestrooms, the pool deck, and more.

Standard city-view rooms are decked out in a refreshed nautical palette, with neutral gray armchairs and desk chairs to complement the white and blue. Large abstract artwork over the headboard give the rooms some additional flavor. Ocean view or oceanfront rooms cost more, but are worth the splurge for the daily dose of serenity they provide from lovely terraces. Single-vanity marble bathrooms with walk-in steam showers (ask for accessible bath tubs instead) aren't giant, but do make good use of space. There's plenty of room to move elsewhere, including the bar and yoga classes at exhale Spa & Fitness. And don't skip out on complimentary morning meditation sessions, held every day at 9 a.m. on the rooftop's Zen Terrace.

With five food-and-beverage concepts, including the highly regarded Lure Fishbar, and a majestic new lobby that befits its preeminent Art Deco status, Loews Miami Beach is an appealing, reliable option.

Trip Advisor ranking: 32 of 222 hotels in Miami Beach

Booking.com rating: 8.7 out of 10

Pros: There's only one large pool, so the adults-only SOAK Cabanas & Daybeds are available for those who want to separate themselves from all the kids. The beach facilities are lovely and the on-site dining is excellent.

Cons: More than 9,000 Trip Advisor reviews gives you a big clue that this hotel is never not busy. As a result, the roundabout entrance way is usually highly trafficked. Even getting picked up by a ride-share can be a problem at rush hour and other drive times.

Read Business Insider's full hotel review of Loews Miami Beach Hotel

Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami

Book Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami starting at $187 per night

The Hyatt Centric is hip, and not just because it's located on Collins Avenue. Panoramic windows offer premium views, even from the smallest rooms. While the hotel has a dedicated restaurant, DECK Sixteen, which offers three meals per day (and happy hour), it also Joe & The Juice for organic coffees and veggie shots. Hyatt Centric also encourages guests to use GrubHub for delivery to bring in their own affordable food.

Standard rooms start at 300 square feet and blend white with natural hues for a mod, midcentury look. But then, above the headboard, a reinterpreted rainbow mural provides a very effective splash of color. The white marble bathrooms are small, but reinforce the midcentury theme with geometric shapes and wood accents.

The hotel doesn't rank the highest on our list for amenities, but it does have a second-floor boardroom, a pretty pool, and outdoor space with catering services if you want to hold an event such as a small destination wedding. The hotel's location at 16th and Collins Avenue puts you smack dab in the heart of South Beach, ideal for walking to Lincoln Road or Ocean Drive.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 51 out of 222 hotels in Miami Beach

Booking.com Rating: 8.3 out of 10

Pros: The hotel is pet-friendly to the point that it has a dedicated space for dogs on the third floor, and dogs are also welcome at happy hour.

Cons: The hotel has limited services, with no fitness center or spa on site.

Marriott Stanton South Beach

Book Marriott Stanton South Beach starting at $215 per night

Stylish and steadfast, the Marriott Stanton South Beach is a solid choice for travelers of all ilk, both business and pleasure, despite its Ocean Drive domain. Located in the area called South of Fifth, which is less frequented by foot traffic, this hotel is a great base to navigate the whole of South Beach, as well as access prime beachfront. It also offers lovely architecture and laid-back, beach-driven interior design.

Guest rooms start at 250 square feet, which is small for two people, but not smaller than other accommodations on the beach. Request a balcony or patio when you book; not all rooms have them, and it makes the room feel larger. You can, however, request spa services in your room. You can also visit the full-service spa for a full selection of treatments.

The pool is on the smaller side and could use some updating, but the beach is wide open. The resort fee covers bicycles, beach umbrellas, and lounge chairs. In the dramatic, two-story lobby, Azabu is a highly regarded Japanese restaurant. For a real treat, reserve a night at the "hidden" sushi den for omakase.

Trip Advisor ranking: 13 out of 222 hotels in Miami Beach

Booking.com rating: 8.5 out of 10

Pros: Servers from the hotel take orders and run food and drink out to the sand so you don't have to lift a finger. Fitness buffs who don't want to run on the beach or swim can use the newly updated, on-premises fitness center.

Cons: Guests complain not just about room size but also last-minute room switches, misrepresentation, and maintenance issues.

The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach

Book The Ritz-Carlton South Beach starting at $319 per night

After getting washed out from Hurricane Irma in fall 2017, The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach underwent an extensive redo. Once again a stunning beachfront property, the property features a 1950s-inspired interior design that plays off its historic Art Deco bones. Sophisticated and regal, the hues here are gray, white, gold, and coffee in the public spaces and rooms, with a touch of oceanic blue here and there.

The 376 renovated rooms begin at 375 square feet, which is generous for the beach, and include marble bathrooms with free-standing tubs. Dual vanities host Asprey bath products and all linens are 100-percent cotton, which helps soothe sunburned skin. Of course, if you do get truly overcooked at the beach or pool, you can head to the spa for treatments. You don't have to invest a lot of time, either. The Ritz-Carlton Spa, South Beach, features the Timeless Capsule, an elliptical room devoted to condensed treatments.

Get to know some of Miami's visual history in the Lapidus Bar, designed and named for the property's original architect, or grab a drink and a bite at the DiLido Beach Club if you feel like you can't miss a moment of sun.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 145 of 222 hotels in Miami Beach

Booking.com Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Pros: The lush space outside, planned like a botanical garden, is ideal for a stroll or even weddings and events. The pool and beach service is fantastic.

Cons: The grand opening of the hotel was celebrated in January 2020, and according to guests, some kinks with booking, billing, and housekeeping still need to be worked out.

1 Hotel South Beach

Book 1 Hotel South Beach starting at $325 per night

Staying at 1 Hotel South Beach is so serene, you may forget you're in South Beach at all. The minimal look of soft neutral white and beige set alongside leafy green plants and reclaimed driftwood is light and calming. The hotel employs an eco-friendly, super sustainable mission where everything from clothes hangers to bathrobes are made from repurposed materials and food is locally-sourced and seasonal. You'll offset your carbon footprint while still experiencing an indulgent, luxury experience.

There are 425 guest rooms and suites that are airy and bright and the standard King Room boasts 700 spacious square feet. Bathrooms are spa-like with wooden accents and balconies facing the ocean offer incredible views.

With a private beach, six on-site restaurants, and four pools including a stunning rooftop oasis, it has all the trimmings of a giant resort, but without any of the hectic energy. But if you need to relax further, there's also a top-tier spa and wellness facility.

Pros: With a pretty beach, multiple restaurants, and four pools including a stunning rooftop, the hotel is a calming oasis that will leave you feeling fulfilled, refreshed, and rejuvenated.

Cons: Everything about staying here is expensive and that entry-level price is only available during Miami's hot and stormy summer season. Most of the year, it easily doubles. Additionally, the resort fee hovers close to $50 daily, and food and drink, while tasty, are also costly.

Read Business Insider's full hotel review of 1 Hotel South Beach

W South Beach

Book W South Beach starting from $332

Bring your pets. Bring your kids. Bring your snorkel gear and adventurous spirit. Bring your beach reads. Whatever you want to do or be, the W South Beach makes you feel free to do so. The staff will help by pampering your pup, booking babysitters, and finding the best lounge chair, umbrella, and towels.

Nineteen categories of suites can get confusing, but they generally start at a huge 564 square feet and feature nine-foot ceilings. Some of the most spacious and contemporary accommodations on the beach, these chic, black-and-white quarters contain at the least a microwave bar for quick meals, and at most, a full kitchen. Luxury features include beds with mirrored and crocodile skin headboards, 350-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, and goose-down comforters, as well as Cippolino marble bathrooms with spa showers and self-closing drawers.

A true resort, the W South Beach has squeezed in amenities on valuable beachfront property by adding tennis and basketball courts to the roof. Restaurants and bars range from the renowned Mr. Chow to the clubby, DJ-driven Living Room so you don't have to leave for world-class entertainment. A 9,540-square-foot spa, complete with sun terrace, is currently in the works.

Trip Advisor Ranking: 19 out of 222 hotels in Miami Beach

Booking.com Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Pros: The vibe is very rock-and-roll with photography by Grammy-nominated Danny Clinch and entertainment centers designed to cue up tunes from whatever tech you want. The W South Beach is also one of the few, if not only, hotels in South Beach to have an electric car charging station.

Cons: That vibe can get loud. Guests say rooms above Living Room tend to vibrate. Guests also complain about billing and housekeeping issues.

The Setai, Miami Beach

Book The Setai, Miami Beach starting at $518 per night

Gorgeous and peaceful, the award-winning Setai offers intermission from reality. Beginning with city-view studio suites that start at a super spacious 582 square feet and sleep three, accommodations are done up in what's billed as Asian-style Deco. Rich brown fabrics, dark stones, and red floral accents are a stark contrast to much of the rest of the palette found on South Beach. Duxiana beds, black granite soaking bath tubs, and exquisite rainfall showers are modern yet timeless. The tech – 50-inch LED HD TVs with Samsung sound bars and wireless Internet is completely up-to-date.

For a more permanent escape, visit the Valmont Spa for the "Setai Signature Master of Time" treatment, which promises to reshape your face with luxe L'Elixir des Glaciers products. Then nourish yourself at Sunday Jazz Brunch in The Courtyard of Jaya, where the retractable roof protects the mother-of-pearl bar and a serenity pond against the occasional bad weather. Indeed, The Setai is known for its excellent cuisine, both at Asian spice route-inspired Jaya and at the Mediterranean Ocean Grill.

The pool and beach feature butler service, but some guests mention that this can be slow, especially during high season when it's busy. When it's festival time in Miami, the hotel might also host events that are loud and DJ-driven.

Trip Advisor ranking: 8 of 222 hotels in Miami Beach

Booking.com rating: 9.2 out of 10

Pros: Located across the street from The Bass and within walking distance of SoundScape Park and New World Center, the location is ideal for those interested in culture and the arts. While expensive, starter rooms are among the largest in the area.

Cons: This is one of the most expensive properties in South Beach, even during the low season.