By: Shayne Benowitz
There’s no better place to experience a love affair with opulence than at a luxury oceanfront hotel in Greater Miami & Miami Beach. These chic and luxurious resorts – all on the coveted list of American Express Travel Fine Hotels & Resorts – are destinations unto themselves, created by the most influential names in design, hospitality and entertainment. Soak up the sun at a stunning oceanfront pool, dine at a trending restaurant led by a celebrity chef, and then retreat to your sumptuous suite to unwind in style.
Also see our article on luxury Miami hotels.
Take in the views from 1 Hotel's rooftop pool
South Beach
1 Hotel South Beach
1 Hotel South Beach is an eco-chic oceanfront oasis. With four pools – including one on the rooftop with a clubby sushi restaurant and bar – the 1 Hotel boasts one of the most opulent poolscapes in all of South Beach. The hotel is known for its private beach club and multiple dining concepts with an emphasis on health and sustainability. The large guestrooms are flooded in cool white finishes and filled with abundant plants, blurring the line between indoors and outdoors.
Relax in a cabana by the pool at the Loews
Loews Miami Beach Hotel
Loews Miami Beach Hotel is a family-friendly luxury resort right in the heart of South Beach, just south of Lincoln Road. The lagoon-style oceanfront swimming pool with private cabanas is a guest favorite, as are exhale Spa and the nautically themed Lure Fishbar. Children enjoy daytime activities at the Kids Club and treats from Little Havana’s Azucar Ice Cream in the spacious lobby.
Take a dip in the oceanfront pool at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach
The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach
Fresh off a redesign and extensive renovation, The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach occupies an oceanfront Art Deco building designed by famed architect Morris Lapidus. The landmark property’s new look includes a glamorous lobby bar with golden palm frond pendant lights and sleek marble and black-lacquer finishes. Many of the updated guestrooms have private terraces or lanais that open directly onto the spacious pool deck.
Experience Zen-inspired luxury at The Setai
The Setai
With a commanding presence (at 40 stories, it’s the tallest building in South Beach), The Setai is a luxurious bastion of privacy and tranquility. The Setai boasts sweeping oceanfront views and Zen-inspired design. Picture clean lines and dark, moody tones that extend from the lobby to an opulent courtyard and the elegant oceanfront pool. Indulge in pan-Asian fine dining at Jaya and a relaxing spa ritual at the onsite Valmont Spa.
Stop by the Living Room for a cocktail
W South Beach
W South Beach recently debuted redesigned guestrooms awash in neutral tones and pops of soft pink, appointed with cushy, low-slung furnishings. Floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies make the most of Atlantic Ocean views. The W is hot among celebrities and partygoers alike; guests will always find a scene here, from DJ beats poolside to sunset cocktails at the Living Room lobby bar. The Away Spa caters to those seeking luxurious spa treatments in an elegant setting.
Check out the "Gone But Not Forgotten" mammoth by artist Damien Hirst
Mid Beach
Faena Hotel Miami Beach
Staying at Faena Hotel Miami Beach means stepping into a fantasy world conceived by flamboyant hotelier Alan Faena. This Mid Beach hotel is an over-the-top feast for the senses, from the gilded cathedral entrance lined with exotic murals to a lobby bar brimming with ruby-red walls, leopard print upholstery and a show-stopping gold chandelier. Don’t miss Damien Hirst’s iconic woolly mammoth skeleton dipped in 24-karat gold, resting in a glass case on the pool deck.
Visit the glamorous Miami Beach EDITION
Miami Beach EDITION
A blend of sumptuous glamour and restrained modernism, Miami Beach EDITION is situated inside a restored mid-century grand dame building. Guests enter through the vast white marble lobby featuring original gold mosaic columns and a forest of lush potted palms. With the acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten in charge of the menu, guests enjoy upscale dinners at the Matador Room and casual fare at Market at EDITION. The indulgence continues outside with two pools, a landscaped lawn and a cabana bar with rooftop lounging.
Relax by any of Carillon's four pools
North Beach
Carillon Miami Wellness Resort
This all-encompassing resort is perched above the sparkling waters of North Beach. The Carillon Miami Wellness Resort is home to the largest spa in Greater Miami & Miami Beach, a state-of-the-art gym, multiple fitness studios and four lavish swimming pools. A stay in the Carillon’s one- or two-bedroom suites is more like checking into your own luxurious Miami Beach condo rather than a hotel room. You can design your own comprehensive health retreat to target relaxation, longevity or weight loss through a combination of therapies designed for you to emerge as your best self.
Don't miss the champagne bar at the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club
Surfside
Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club
Situated in Surfside’s historic Surf Club, the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club is a sublime oceanfront resort in the heart of this quietly luxurious, family-friendly residential neighborhood. An ultra-modern glass tower designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier emerges from the original 1930s Mediterranean Revival-style clubhouse, where a champagne bar and Thomas Keller restaurant stand ready to serve guests.
Enjoy pool and ocean views from The Ritz's Water's Edge restaurant
Bal Harbour
The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour
A luxurious resort tower at the northern tip of swanky Bal Harbour overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Haulover Inlet, The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour is a beacon of elegant tranquility with 270-degree waterfront views. A gorgeous swimming pool is elevated above the ocean, a casual-chic restaurant showcases sweeping views, and exhale Spa offers a fitness center and yoga studio.
Stay in a lavish suite with an oceanfront balcony at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort
The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort
The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort is a glittering jewelry box of a luxury resort, welcoming guests into its lobby with enormous crystal chandeliers and cut-glass mirrored walls. From the resplendent oceanfront pool deck to the five-star spa and lavish suites with oceanfront balconies, The St. Regis experience is luxury personified.
Feel rejuvenated at Acqualina Spa
Sunny Isles Beach
Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach
Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach is a classic luxury resort decked out with dramatic vaulted ceilings and golden chandeliers surrounded by marble and limestone. The opulent Mediterranean Revival tower in the heart of Sunny Isles Beach is home to a gorgeous oceanfront pool and restaurant outfitted with glamorous red lounges and cabanas. Renew your senses during an indulgent spa journey at the award-winning Acqualina Spa.
Dine with a view of the pool and ocean at The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne
The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne
The crown jewel of Key Biscayne? That would be The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne. Just across the dramatic Rickenbacker Causeway from mainland Miami, a lush, tropical world appears. At The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, guests enjoy a sprawling family-friendly resort with a private beach, swimming pools, spa, and several restaurants including the upscale Lightkeepers, which showcases fresh seafood.