Upgrade your vacation with a stay at one of South Beach’s most storied locations, The Villa Casa Casuarina — the former mansion of late fashion designer Gianni Versace. (You’ll immediately recognize it by the loads of people snapping photos outside the famous gates.) Modeled after a mansion in Santo Domingo that was built in 1510 by Christopher Columbus’s son, the three-story villa has been completely preserved and converted into a luxury hotel.
Wander the villa to see historically inspired art, much of which was commissioned by Versace, and the pool made of Italian mosaic tiles and lined with 24-karat gold, showcasing Versace's famed Medusa logo. The hotel boasts ten lavish suites that surround an interior courtyard and are equipped with Frette linens, fabrics monogrammed with the Versace logo, and bathrooms clad in Italian marble. Splurge on the most extravagant accommodations — Versace’s former boudoir — fitted with two balconies, gold shower fixtures and an over-the-top bed.
The signature restaurant, Gianni’s, overlooks the sparkling pool and offers a blend of Italian and Mediterranean food. The small but swanky Onyx Bar is a great place for a pre-dinner drink. 1116 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL