Best Hotels in Miami: Where to Stay
Miami’s hotel market divides cleanly by neighbourhood. South Beach is the most expensive and the closest to the beach; it commands a premium in peak season (November–April) that can be substantial. Brickell and Downtown offer lower rates with easy access to the restaurant corridor and Metrorail links. Mid-Beach (between 17th and 41st Streets on Miami Beach) has some of the best hotel product in the city at prices consistently below South Beach. This guide covers all areas with prices as of 2026.
Luxury Hotels (from approximately $400/night in season)
Faena Hotel Miami Beach 3201 Collins Avenue, Mid-Beach From approximately $650/night in season as of 2026. The most distinctive hotel in Miami by design and culture. The Argentine hotelier Alan Faena commissioned Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin to conceive the interiors; the result is a maximalist exercise in red and gold Latin American opulence — Damien Hirst’s gilded woolly mammoth skeleton in the Saxony Grand Salon is the centrepiece. The private beach setup with day-bed service and personal beach attendants is the best in Miami. The Faena Dome hosts concerts and events. The 170 rooms include oceanfront suites; the four-bedroom penthouse rents from approximately $10,000/night. The pool and beach area alone justify a non-guest visit for a daybed rental.
The Edition Miami Beach 2901 Collins Avenue, Mid-Beach From approximately $550/night in season as of 2026. Ian Schrager’s hotel in a restored 1955 building is consistently regarded as the best-operated hotel on Miami Beach. The pool and garden area are beautifully maintained; the basement nightclub (collectively known as the Basement, which includes a skating rink) is one of the better nightlife venues in the city. The spa covers 13,000 square feet. The 294 rooms are minimalist and well-executed. The beach setup (private beach, lounger service) is directly in front of the hotel.
The Setai Miami Beach 2001 Collins Avenue, South Beach From approximately $700/night in season as of 2026. Three infinity pools heated to different temperatures (78°F, 84°F, and 90°F/26°C, 29°C, 32°C) set in a 1936 Art Deco courtyard with a contemporary 40-floor tower behind it. The pool situation is the best on South Beach; the pools are genuinely large (not the token 15×30-foot pools common at South Beach hotels) and the grounds are maintained to a standard that holds up at the price. The Asian-influenced restaurant is one of the better hotel restaurants in Miami. 130 rooms and suites; the ocean-view suites on upper floors are the top of the property.
1 Hotel South Beach 2341 Collins Avenue, South Beach From approximately $450/night in season as of 2026. The sustainability-focused brand’s Miami flagship, set directly on South Beach. Four pools, a 14,000-square-foot Bamford Wellness spa, and a beach setup in front of one of the busiest stretches of South Beach. The rooms use reclaimed and natural materials throughout; the design is calmer than the Faena or Setai aesthetic. The rooftop bar has unobstructed ocean views. Among the better full-facility options at this price point.
Mandarin Oriental Miami 500 Brickell Key Drive, Brickell From approximately $500/night in season as of 2026. On a small private island (Brickell Key) in Biscayne Bay, connected to Brickell by a short causeway. The views from bay-facing rooms over Downtown Miami and the bay are the best available from any Miami hotel. La Mar by Gastón Acurio is the signature restaurant; the spa operates a waterfront treatment room. The island location means a five-minute walk or Metromover ride to Brickell restaurants, which is neither an inconvenience nor a drawcard.
Mid-Range Hotels (approximately $180–$380/night in season)
Kimpton Angler’s Hotel 660 Washington Avenue, South Beach From approximately $220/night in season as of 2026. A 132-room boutique property one block from the beach and two blocks from Lincoln Road. The pool and courtyard area is well-scaled for the property size. Kimpton’s complimentary daily wine hour (5–6pm) and pet-friendly policy are practical perks. Walking distance to Joe’s Stone Crab, Stubborn Seed, and the beach.
The Betsy — South Beach 1440 Ocean Drive, South Beach From approximately $280/night in season as of 2026. One of the few boutique hotels directly facing the Art Deco corridor on Ocean Drive. The rooftop pool is quiet and well-maintained; the rooftop bar is open to guests and invited guests. The hotel funds a cultural programming arm (poetry residencies, live music) that keeps the common areas more interesting than typical South Beach hotel lobbies. 61 rooms; the south-facing ocean-view rooms see both the beach and the Art Deco streetscape.
EAST Miami 788 Brickell Plaza, Brickell From approximately $200/night in season as of 2026. A 39-floor contemporary tower in Brickell. The Sugar rooftop bar on the 40th floor is one of the best open-air cocktail destinations in Miami, open to the public as well as guests. The rooms face either the bay or the city; upper-floor bay-view rooms offer the best urban panorama available in the Brickell area. Good for visitors focused on the Brickell restaurant corridor or arriving on business.
The Freehand Miami 2727 Indian Creek Drive, Mid-Beach From approximately $180/night for private rooms in season as of 2026. A social hotel with both hostel dorms (from approximately $35/night) and private rooms. The Broken Shaker cocktail bar is consistently ranked among the best bars in Miami; the pool and courtyard are active from morning through night. The hotel’s culture is genuinely social rather than merely calling itself that. Mid-Beach location is a 10-minute walk or 5-minute bike ride from the main South Beach strip.
Loews Miami Beach Hotel 1601 Collins Avenue, South Beach From approximately $320/night in season as of 2026. A large-format (790 rooms) South Beach hotel operating at a slightly lower price per room than the boutique properties nearby. The pool complex spans 18,000 square feet; the location between 16th and 17th Streets is optimal for the beach and Lincoln Road. The scale means consistent availability even when boutique properties are sold out.
Bayside Marketplace Area — AC Hotel Miami Wynwood 2400 NW Second Avenue, Wynwood From approximately $180/night as of 2026. A Marriott-branded boutique-style property in the heart of Wynwood. Wynwood location means immediate access to the Walls and the restaurant corridor; South Beach is approximately $15 by rideshare. The rooftop pool has views over the Wynwood district. A practical base for visitors focused on the arts and restaurant scene rather than the beach.
Budget Options (approximately $80–$170/night)
Generator Miami 3120 Collins Avenue, Mid-Beach Dorm beds from approximately $40/night; private rooms from approximately $130/night in season as of 2026. A large hostel in a 1939 Streamline Moderne building in Mid-Beach. The ground floor is a full-service hostel with a bar, restaurant, and pool. The connected hotel building has private rooms at a quality level above the hostel dormitories. Mid-Beach location is between South Beach and the Faena/Edition area; a 15–20 minute walk from the main South Beach activity.
HI Miami Beach Hostel 236 9th Street, South Beach Dorm beds from approximately $35/night; private rooms from approximately $100/night as of 2026. A centrally located hostel in South Beach, five minutes from the beach. The common areas are active; free breakfast is included. The location between 9th and 10th Streets on the edge of the Art Deco Historic District is genuinely excellent for a budget property.
Urbanica The Meridian Hotel 730 Meridian Avenue, South Beach From approximately $180/night as of 2026. A small boutique hotel two blocks from the beach and one block from Lincoln Road. 68 rooms; pool on site. One of the better value options in the immediate South Beach area for those who want a private hotel (not hostel) experience at below-boutique pricing.
Which Neighbourhood to Choose
| Priority | Best Base |
|---|---|
| Beach access | South Beach (5th–17th Streets), Mid-Beach |
| Best hotel design | Mid-Beach (Faena, Edition, Setai) |
| Lower prices, great restaurants | Brickell, Wynwood |
| Budget | South Beach hostels, Generator Miami |
| Art Basel / Design District | Design District, Wynwood |
| Family with young children | Miami Beach north of 41st Street (Surfside/Bal Harbour) |
Practical Notes
- Resort and amenity fees: Common at South Beach hotels; typically $30–$60/night on top of the room rate. Read the fine print when booking.
- Peak season surcharges: Art Basel week (first week of December) and New Year’s Eve add 50–200% to standard rates at most South Beach properties. Book six to twelve months ahead for these dates.
- Florida Hotel Tax: Miami-Dade County hotel tax is approximately 14% combined state and local, plus a tourism development tax. Total effective hotel tax is approximately 14–15% on top of the room rate.
- Valet parking: Required or the only option at most South Beach hotels. Budget approximately $40–$60/night for valet at South Beach properties; slightly less at Brickell and Mid-Beach.
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