The Best Hotels in South Beach, Miami—Where Glitz and Glam Meet You Oceanside

Editor-approved stays in Miami's buzziest corner.The SetaiIt's no secret that South Beach has long been one of Miami's most magnetic corners. The sun-soaked neighborhood is where Art Deco façades, oceanfront promenades, late-night adventures (probably ending at the city's oldest—and today's coolest—bar, Mac's Club Deuce), and a little old-school glamour all share the same streets. Along the southern edge of Miami Beach, it's the kind of place that seems to exist in several eras at once, with long-standing pastel buildings that sit beside buzzy new restaurants, beachgoers who drift between the sand and sidewalk, and glitzy, historic hotels that coexist with big, modern masterpieces.I've been under South Beach's spell since I was a kid, when my family first started coming for vacation, and I've returned dozens of times in the years since. As a result, I've stayed in many of the most memorable properties in the neighborhood, and I credit it as being one of the first places where I learned that a hotel can be a destination in and of itself—not simply somewhere you check in.South Beach's standout stays are as varied as the streets themselves, ranging from intimate gems with decades of history to sleek oceanfront resorts built around exceptional design, poolside service, and at-your-fingertips luxury. Below, I’ve rounded up the eight best hotels in South Beach—starting with 1 Hotel South Beach and moving south—that embody the style, personality, and delightful excess that keep me coming back for more.At the W South Beach, find Mary Lou's (and its famed caviar nuggets) Jessica ChapelAll of the blues come alive at the 1 Hotel South Beach Jessica ChapelEditor-recommended hotels in South BeachFrequently asked questions1 Hotel South BeachBest for: A sexy, luxurious stay that's worth the hypeConveniently located along buzzy Collins Avenue, the chic and surprisingly zen 1 Hotel South Beach sits on a private white-sand beachfront—a rare amenity for a hotel in South Beach. Guests can enjoy the four pools, buzzy scene, and sustainable design throughout the property. The airy, sunlight-filled interiors are complemented with bleached driftwood, oak, and teak furniture as well as lush green plants and terrariums. It’s a change of pace from many of the other hotels in the area, which typically have an Art Deco feel. While it’s a more expensive lodging option in Miami Beach, it’s certainly worth every penny.Address: 2341 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139Read Full ReviewW South BeachBest for: When you want to party, pool, then repeatRight next to the aforementioned 1 Hotel, the W South Beach has always managed the delicate dance of being a luxe cosmopolitan hotel with a penchant for hosting celebrities and the fashion set while also appealing to discerning travelers who prefer not to post every moment of their stay on social media. The 400 rooms here are the largest guest rooms in South Beach, each with balconies and expansive ocean views. The most recent renovation gave the rooms a brighter feel, with beachy millwork, natural oaks, neutral textures, and a beige color palette with accents of soft corals and teals. High-tech elements, like circadian lighting with three preset mood modes and under-bed lights, are a futuristic flourish. A complimentary art tour is offered to guests as part of the resort fee, and even if you’re not a gallery lover, it’s worth perusing the hotel’s $50 million contemporary art collection with 21 original pieces by Andy Warhol, three of which are collaborations with Jean-Michel Basquiat. —Sara LissAddress: 2201 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139Read Full ReviewThe Setai, Miami BeachBest for: A tranquil retreatJay-Z, Beyoncé, and Madonna are all fans of The Setai—and it's no wonder: It’s hard not to feel a wave of relaxation wash over you as you walk through the hotel's two-story zen lobby, which uses elements like black granite floors and French limestone to create an environment that is at once quite sleek and modern, but somehow also timeless. Think the lobby has a chill vibe? Try spending a night in one of the Ocean Suites, which tout handmade Swedish Duxiana beds and—you guessed it—views, views, views. As you walk outside toward the beach, a lush courtyard and serenity pond remind you that your only job is to unwind. Want to do that on the beach? The hotel has its own private stretch of sand where you can chill out on a daybed and grab a bite from The Ocean Grill, an open-air beachfront restaurant overlooking the Atlantic. And while the beach is impressive, it almost pales in comparison to the hotel’s trio of infinity pools, each one maintained at a different temperature so that, like Goldilocks in a bathing suit, you can find the one that's just right. —Jennifer M. WoodAddress: 2001 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139Read Full ReviewDelano Miami BeachBest for: A grand stay that's lived many (glitzy) livesAfter a six-year closure and a $100 million restoration, the Delano Miami Beach returns knowing exactly what made it legendary in the first place: design, drama, and glamour with a sense of place. Elastic Architects resisted turning the hotel into a museum of its former self, instead weaving together restored favorites like the Rose Bar with guestrooms that feel warmer and more inviting than before, especially the two-story Poolside Bungalows just steps from the hotel's iconic pool. In the Delano’s third incarnation, one of Miami Beach's best beach-and-pool scenes returns (both cocktail- and kid-friendly this go around), paired with high-profile restaurants by Paris Society, namely Gigi Rigolatto and Mimi Kakushi, where locals often outnumber overnight guests. Add Café Delano's irresistible pistachio croissants, heartfelt service, an immaculate art collection, and members programming open to hotel guests, and the Delano once again is all the hype on South Beach. —Paul RubioAddress: 1685 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139Read Full ReviewThe Shelborne by ProperBest for: Design-conscious travelers, wellness seekers, food loversMiami Beach’s midcentury Art Deco scene may have cemented its place in design history, but today, a new, grown-up iteration can be found in the form of The Shelborne By Proper. Guest rooms are reflective of the entire property’s mood: elevated yet easy. My room on the sixth floor featured a partial ocean view, just enough of a glimpse of that turquoise blue water to whet my palate. The room’s design felt calm and grounded, thanks in part to the soft, earthy tones and warm, natural textiles. It’s a nice counterbalance to the energetic vibe that Miami Beach naturally offers, a true retreat that feels intentionally devoid of flashy artwork and instead focuses on curved, architectural furnishings that are low-profile and slim. Also noteworthy is that the design is nowhere near that stereotypical Florida coastal-chic image with wooden floors and shiplapped walls. Instead, the rooms are elevated with marble flooring warmed up with textured off-white rugs. —Nila Do SimonAddress: 1801 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139Read Full ReviewThe BetsyBest for: When you want to be part of the Ocean Drive action, without the Ocean Drive crazinessBlink, and you might think you mistakenly hopped a plane to Savannah instead of South Beach. At the northernmost end of Ocean Drive, this hotel’s Florida-Georgia style of architecture sticks out like a Colonial masterpiece in a sea of pastel-colored Art Deco gems. While some people head to the neighborhood with only late nights out on their mind, The Betsy attracts a different, more erudite crowd. Yes, they love being in the thick of all that touristy mayhem, but prefer that it not happen right outside their window. And it’s not just the hotel’s quaint façade that seems to attract a different type of South Beach reveler; inside, the public spaces act as a sort of art gallery, with photo exhibitions rotating throughout the year. Rooms are spacious and have mini libraries, writing desks, and oversized marble bathrooms; the hotel also counts two pools and a rooftop ocean deck among its attractions. —J.M.W.Address: 1440 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139Read Full ReviewThe Ritz-Carlton, South BeachBest for: A Ritz-sealed promise of five-star everythingLocated right in the heart of the Historic District at the foot of Lincoln Road Mall, The Ritz-Carlton South Beach—one of a string of hotels on Miami’s destination waterfront—is a refined respite from the area’s pool parties and ‘til-the-sun-rises nightlife, while still providing easy access to the city’s best restaurants, a great lobby bar scene, and ocean views. The rooms are crisp and modern, with white walls and linens punctuated by deep cerulean blue furniture—a velvet bed frame, plush chaise—and midcentury-style accents like bronze reading lamps and caned armchairs. In the ocean-view rooms and suites, which make up a majority of the room categories, the brilliant Atlantic out of the window is the real star of the show, just as it should be. Like most Ritz-Carltons, the experience is reliably five-star: service is fantastic, the decor is elevated and modern while nodding to the destination, amenities leave little to be desired, and the location is ideal. —Megan SpurrellAddress: 1 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139Read Full ReviewMondrian South BeachBest for: Stylish stays on Biscayne BayThis 220-room oasis of a hotel on West Avenue is several blocks from the South Beach melee—sitting on the western side of the neighborhood, facing the bay rather than the Atlantic Ocean. What the curved tower lacks in SoBe Deco charm, it more than makes up for with a Biscayne Bay view and Marcel Wanders’s surreal decor. His theme is Sleeping Beauty’s castle, which would be pretentious were it not transfixing: Giant chess-piece pillars grace the glossy white lobby, a black filigree staircase sweeps up from Gem Bar, and striking manga-style character motifs reappear from the lobby to the suites. When it comes to wellness, The Spa at Baia Beach Club was just fully renovated in 2026, and is set to align your mind, body, and spirit with 4,100 square feet of space for advanced face and body therapies, salon services, sauna, meditation, and yoga. —David JeffreysAddress: 1100 West Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139Read Full ReviewFAQ:What part of Miami is considered South Beach?South Beach generally refers to the southern section of Miami Beach, from roughly 5th Street and north to around 23rd Street, though boundaries can vary depending on context. For hotel hunting, look to the areas around Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue, and Washington Avenue. In this article, I use 1 Hotel South Beach as a helpful starting point—properties south of it sit closer to the heart of South Beach, while those north of it edge toward Mid-Beach, where you'll find a quieter, more resort-focused feel.How we choose the best hotels in South Beach, Miami:Every hotel review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.Jessica Chapel is the Commerce Writer at Condé Nast Traveler, where she covers travel booking and retail content. Previous to this role, she was Traveler's Editorial Assistant and has been working with the brand for over three years. Her passions inspire her published works, where she writes of indulgent travel ... 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