If only the best is good enough when you’re on vacation, Greater Miami & Miami Beach has an abundance of swanky hotels that cater to all of your indulgent whims. In the 2025 Forbes Travel Guide, five Miami hotels snagged top billing as Five-Star properties. They all flaunt over-the-top amenities, service and decor that ranges from Asian opulence to dramatic movie-star good looks.

To secure these real-deal ratings, Forbes sends out anonymous inspectors who pay their own way so they can experience the hotels as a typical guest would. For an unforgettable stay, these Five-Star properties deliver a best-in-class experience.

Acqualina's pool area overlooking the beach — Feel like you're in a Mediterranean villa at Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach

Luxury & Privacy at Acqualina Resort & Residences On The Beach

Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach earns its Five-Star accolades by creating the sense that you’ve been whisked away to a private villa on the Mediterranean. This luxury hotel in Sunny Isles Beach is close to Miami Beach yet feels secluded. It excels at service and making guests feel at home, with large rooms and suites fitted with Italian kitchens, living rooms, marble bathrooms and spacious balconies that overlook the Atlantic Ocean or Intracoastal Waterway. The star of the property is its beachfront “living room,” lined with bright-red loungers and couches, as well as separate pools and spaces that cater to families and adults. With numerous places to dine, including the Forbes 2025 Four-Star Il Mulino New York, guests never have to leave the resort.  Acqualina Spa, an oasis of quiet luxury and unique treatments that also flaunts an indulgent Royal Spa Suite for private pampering, once again snagged a Five-Star rating.

Faena's beachfront terrace and gold mammoth — Step into luxury and whimsy at Faena Hotel Miami Beach

Step Into a Theatrical World at Faena Hotel Miami Beach

It’s easy to understand why the Forbes inspectors were wowed by Faena Hotel Miami Beach, located in the Mid Beach neighborhood of  Miami Beach. As soon as you enter the hotel, located in the art and cultural quarter known as the Faena District, you’re met with over-the-top theatrical design that makes you feel like you’ve been dropped into a movie set. Which makes perfect sense, given that filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and his wife, Catherine Martin, were tapped to design the hotel. A long red carpet, towering gold leaf columns and fantastical floor-to-ceiling murals greet guests upon arrival in the great hall, called “The Cathedral.”  

The hotel snagged a Forbes Five-Star rating for its whimsical design, evident in its communal spaces and retro-glam guest rooms, where rich velvets mingle with animal prints and surprising elements at every turn. Inspectors fawned over the resort’s large amount of remarkable artwork, including a 24-karat, gold-encased woolly mammoth skeleton by artist Damien Hirst in front of the beach.

Forbes also called out the impeccable service by the pool, where attendants will fetch everything from sunscreen to food, and butlers on each floor for round-the-clock care. Guests can escape to the Forbes Four-Star Tierra Santa Healing House for South American-inspired spa treatments and amenities like a coed wet room and sauna-like hammam. Both of the hotel’s signature restaurants, Los Fuegos By Francis Mallman and Pao By Paul Qui, which boast decadent decor and art work, also received Four-Star nods from Forbes.

Surf Club pool area — Indulge in any of the three pools at the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club

Glamour & Elegance at Four Seasons Hotel At The Surf Club

With its storied history as the beachfront playground of the rich and famous, the  Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club  gives vacationing guests the opportunity to relive the heyday of glitz and glamour. Forbes highlighted its tony location and perfectly manicured beauty in the quiet  Surfside  community, placing guests near the swanky  Bal Harbour Shops  and a short drive to Miami Beach. Guests can indulge in three pools, which are designated for adults or families, as well as beachside concierge service. Forbes suggested spending a night in one of the Cabana Studios, which recall the nostalgia of the old Surf Club days, with lanai decks and luxe amenities. Forbes also zeroed in on the hotel’s spa and on-site restaurant. Once again The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club received a Five-Star designation and was praised for its no-phone policy, ensuring an opportunity to truly unplug, as well as its global treatments and products. Lido Restaurant at The Surf Club was awarded four stars and noted for its decadent Sunday brunch and signature dish – the branzino.

Ocean view balcony at the St. Regis — Experience the iconic amenities at The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort

The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort: Beachfront Luxury & A Five-Star Spa

The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort is no stranger to accolades from Forbes. This beachfront beauty in the ritzy enclave of  Bal Harbour oozes luxury from the moment you step inside its gorgeous lobby, which glitters with faceted mirrors and crystal chandeliers. Forbes commended the hotel for its residential-style accommodations and zigzag design, which allows stunning ocean views from the oversized balconies, and the comfy chairs on its beach for days of sun and fun. The St. Regis also gets high marks for its outstanding personalized service, including beach butlers who deliver sunscreen and room staff who leave a handwritten note and a plate of macarons with turndown service. The Spa at St. Regis Bal Harbour also received a Forbes Five-Star rating for its opulent amenities and extras, including heated marble floors and a private couples treatment room with a two-person soaking tub and rain shower.

Jaya's dining area — Delight in culinary excellence at The Setai's Jaya

Art Deco Style With An Asian Touch at The Setai Miami Beach

The Setai Miami Beach  once again caught the attention of Forbes, holding tightly to its coveted Five-Star rating. Forbes noted that the Asian-inspired hotel, which sits oceanfront in South Beach, stands out in a sea of hotels. The Setai’s strong suit is its serene, spa-like ambiance and the feeling that you’re staying in a swanky private residence. Guest suites stretch throughout the historic building and a newer tower and boast amenities like Bose sound systems, black soaking tubs and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer sweeping ocean views. Vacationers can pick their pleasure at three pools kept at various temperatures and cloaked in ultra-privacy, thanks to surrounding hedges. When you’re not lounging by the pool, book a treatment at Valmont for The Spa at The Setai, which Forbes also awarded four stars for its posh treatment rooms with ocean views and Asian healing rituals and treatments. The Forbes team also praised The Setai’s on-property restaurants, including the inventive Asian cuisine at Jaya, where there’s often entertainment at night in the stunning outdoor courtyard, and Ocean Grill, a breezy beachfront restaurant that focuses on seafood. The hotel also recently opened another stunner, Japón, which offers an immersive Japanese culinary experience.

Forbes Four-Star Hotels In Greater Miami & Miami Beach

Six hotels in the destination earned a spot on the Forbes Four-Star list:

Forbes Recommended Hotels In Greater Miami & Miami Beach

Seven hotels in the destination also landed on the Forbes Recommended list:

No matter your style or budget, you’ll find an abundance of great places to stay in Miami.

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