It’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.
