SantoriniDave.com

Where to Stay in Miami

By Santorini Dave

My Favorite Hotels in Miami

• Miami Beach: Setai
• Downtown: Four Seasons
• For Couples: East Miami
• For Families: Loews Miami Beach
• Hotel Pool: 1 Hotel South Beach
• Near Airport: Sheraton
• Best Water Park: JW Marriott

Most first-time visitors to Miami will want to stay in South Beach or Downtown Miami. Both areas are packed with restaurants and nightlife. South Beach has swimming and beach activities. Downtown has the museums. Both areas have shopping though South Beach skews more trendy and boutique. If you’re visiting Miami without a car South Beach and Downtown are definitely the best areas to stay.

Recommended hotels in South Beach: Setai Miami Beach • 1 Hotel South Beach • Loews Miami Beach • Kimpton Palomar South Beach • The Meridian • Lennox Miami Beach • Residence Inn by Marriott • Suites on South Beach • Marseilles Beachfront Hotel • Ritz-Carlton South Beach • Royal Palm South Beach

Recommended hotels in Downtown Miami: Four Seasons Miami • Mandarin Oriental • EAST Miami • The Guild • InterContinental Miami • Hampton Inn & Suites Brickell-Downtown • W Miami • Holiday Inn – Port of Miami

The Best Areas to Stay in Miami

Sun-kissed Miami is known for long sandy beaches, glitzy nightlife, non-stop shopping, Art Deco architecture, and a lively fusion of cultures – and with its tropical climate, Miami welcomes visitors all year long. Miami’s metropolitan area is a patchwork of wildly diverse neighborhoods covering the inland City of Miami and the separate island city of Miami Beach – effectively a giant sandbar in Biscayne Bay. The bulk of the City of Miami’s hotels and attractions are located in museum-filled Downtown and the business hub Brickell both in the City of Miami. However, hip, artsy districts such as MiMo and Wynwood are increasingly offering more high-quality accommodations. Some of the city’s most culturally significant neighborhoods, Little Havana and Overtown, boast a perfect mix of flavorful restaurants, eclectic shops, and historic sights. Shoppers should head to Coconut Grove or the Miami Design District, while couples celebrating a romantic occasion should consider staying in Coral Gables.

Miami’s famous South Beach neighborhood is located on the island city, Miami Beach. This stylish enclave offers the quintessential Miami package: a white sand beach, a cutting-edge culinary scene, and hot nightlife. For a relaxing, family-friendly beach vacation head to the north end of Miami Beach; the North Beach, Surfside, and Bal Harbour areas offer a quiet retreat while still being easily accessible to dining, nightlife, and shopping. To truly get away from it all, head down south to Key Biscayne. In the center of Miami Beach is Mid-Beach, an upscale community with a relaxed vibe and chic restaurants.

Public transportation is pretty efficient here, but having a rental car in Miami can make exploring the whole city much easier. Individual neighborhoods are easy to walk around, while Downtown Miami is served by Metromover, a free elevated light rail service. Otherwise, the city is connected by Metrobus and Metrorail. Local taxis and ridesharing services are easily available throughout Miami.

The Best Places to Stay in Miami

Best beach resort in South Beach.

1 Hotel South Beach is the best beach hotel in the South Beach area of Miami.

Best place to stay in Miami for families.

Our suite at the Loews Miami Beach.

Best Areas in Miami for…

  • Best Area for First-Timers: South Beach
    Located in the heart of Miami Beach, South Beach is famous for its beautiful white-sand beaches, vibrant nightlife, and iconic Art Deco architecture. The area offers a unique blend of entertainment, shopping, dining, and culture, making it an ideal base for first-time visitors to experience Miami’s energetic atmosphere. The famous Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road Mall, and Española Way are all within walking distance, offering a variety of restaurants, bars, and boutiques. South Beach is also well-connected to other parts of the city via public transportation, including buses and the Miami Beach Trolley.
    • Best place to stay in downtown Miami.

    The W Miami in Brickell.

  • Best Neighborhoods for Nightlife: South Beach and Downtown
    The elegant Art Deco blocks of South Beach, especially between 5th and 24th streets, are always buzzing at night. The open-air pool bar at the Clevelander Hotel is a classic spot to start the evening, while Wet Willie’s serves infamous candy-colored frozen cocktails; even sweets emporium serves extravagant cocktails and martinis. Other favorites include Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery and old-school local haunt Mac’s Club Deuce, by most counts, the oldest bar in Miami. Much of the club scene is LGBT+ oriented; check out the venues Score and Twist. At the high end, club nights at Mynt Lounge regularly attract celebrities. Conveniently, South Beach boasts a vast range of accommodation within stumbling distance of the bars. Across the bay in Downtown Miami, the Park West warehouse district also contains major dance clubs like Club Space and E11EVEN, but there’s little to do here other than dance, and many clubbers prefer to taxi in from elsewhere.
  • Best Neighborhood for Shopping: Miami Design District, Coconut Grove, and South Beach
    Miami Design District tops most shoppers’ lists. Once exclusively the domain of furniture and design showrooms, today it’s a compact, easy-to-navigate-on-foot neighborhood of over 60 high-end fashion boutiques, from Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton to Hermes and Christian Louboutin. A close second is the Coconut Grove neighborhood, which contains the CocoWalk mall and its own spread of indie boutiques such as the Bazaar Project and Goldenbar. For mainstream stores it’s hard to beat pedestrian-friendly Lincoln Road Mall in South Beach. All three areas offer excellent accommodation options.
  • Most Romantic Neighborhood: Coral Gables
    George Merrick’s 1920s Mediterranean fantasy has held up well, with Coral Gables a vast, laid-back neighborhood of leafy streets (Coral Way is lined by over 1200 giant banyan trees), and retro Mission Revival and Art Deco villas. Highlights include the giant pastel-colored Biltmore Hotel, which still serves a decadent afternoon tea, and the Venetian Pool, a gorgeous public swimming pool with grottoes and decorative bridges.
  • Best Neighborhoods for Food and Restaurants: Little Havana/South Beach/Coconut Grove/Wynwood
    Miami’s culinary scene is incredibly diverse and spread widely across the city – there’s good eating in almost every neighborhood with some specialties, such as Cuban food in Little Havana. Though it has its tourist traps especially on the oceanfront, South Beach is one of the best, with legends such as Joe’s Stone Crab and Big Pink, classic Italian La Locanda, Peruvian-Japanese INTIMO, and Mexican specialist Dulce Vida. Coconut Grove is another foodie hotspot, home to sustainable burgers and local beer at LoKal, the outdoor deck at Glass & Vine, stylish favorites GreenStreet Café, and Le Bouchon Du Grove, plus the justly popular tacos al pastor at El Taquito. Finally, Wynwood is another neighborhood foodies should check out, known for high-end spots like Bradley Kilgore’s Alter, and Michael Lewis’s modern Asian bistro KYU.
Hotels in South Beach, Miami.

Hotels on Ocean Drive in Miami’s South Beach. The Loews Miami Beach Hotel is a bit north of this spot.

  • Best Neighborhood for Families: South Beach/Surfside
    To be in the heart of the action South Beach is great. Lots to walk to, good restaurants, and the sand and swimming are great. Much less hectic than South Beach, Surfside offers a calmer option, mostly empty beaches separated from Collins Avenue by a wide strip of greenery and dunes. The paths and boardwalk here make for safe excursions along the shore, while sweet treats are provided by the likes of Serendipity Creamery. The Four Seasons at The Surf Club is the best hotel in Surfside.
  • Safest Areas in Miami
    Crime has certainly reduced in Miami since the 1980s, and most of the neighborhoods below are very safe during the day. Coral Gables and Coconut Grove are two of the safest neighborhoods in Miami proper; the beach areas are reasonably safe, especially during the day, but it’s best not to venture onto the sands late at night.
  • Unsafe Areas in Miami
    Downtown Miami does experience higher crime rates compared to the rest of the city, and precautions should be taken at night here, as well as in Little Haiti, Wynwood, and Little Havana. Though beaches are generally safe, don’t leave valuables unattended onshore while taking a swim.

The Best Places in Miami for Tourists

1. South Beach

South Beach in Miami.

For many visitors, South Beach is Miami. This legendary stretch of sand runs from the southern tip of Miami Beach – a chain of man-made barrier islands connected to Miami proper via causeways – north to 23rd Street and Dade Boulevard, where Mid-Beach begins. South Beach is best known for its trendy nightlife, waterside promenade at Ocean Drive, culinary scene, the biggest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world, and the white-sand beach itself, one of Florida’s best. Pedestrianized Lincoln Road is the neighborhood’s shopping district, while Española Way is a Spanish-themed street of restaurants and boutiques. Other non-beach attractions include the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum and The Bass art museum, while the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach is a poignant memorial to the victims of Nazi Germany.

2. Mid-Beach

Miami Beach.
Miami Beach’s Mid-Beach neighborhood runs along the Atlantic shore from 24th Street to North Beach, a three-mile strip of sand lined with plush resorts, cocktail bars, and cafes. It’s a popular place to stay, with historic resorts such as the Fontainebleau, posh restaurants such as Nobu and Hakkasan. Expect a more relaxed atmosphere than you’ll find South Beach, while still offering convenient access to Miami Beach’s best dining, nightlife, and sights.

3. Downtown Miami/Brickell

Hotel with pool in downtown Miami.
Downtown Miami is where the city began in the late 19th century, and today it remains the administrative and cultural heart of Miami. The iconic Freedom Tower was the entry point for Cuban refugees arriving in Florida between 1962 and 1974. Amidst a cluster of more recent glass and steel skyscrapers, offices, hotels, and pricey condos, the Bayside Marketplace mall anchors the waterfront district, where boats leave for cruises of the Biscayne Bay islands. Miami’s principal museums are all Downtown: Pérez Art Museum Miami (pictured above), Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, and HistoryMiami Museum. Miami Children’s Museum and Jungle Island are nearby on Watson Island. AmericanAirlines Arena hosts the Miami Heat, while architect Cesar Pelli’s Adrienne Arsht Center is home to the Florida Grand Opera and Miami City Ballet. Also here is the Port of Miami, one of the world’s busiest cruise ship hubs. Brickell lies just to the south across the Miami River, principally known for being the city’s financial center and home to some of its most luxurious business hotels. The fantastic Four Seasons (picture above) is the best hotel in downtown Miami.

4. North Beach/Surfside/Bal Harbour

Beach resort in Bal Harbour near Miami.

The Ritz-Carlton on beautiful Bal Harbour beach.

The northern half of the island making up Miami Beach is comprised of three fantastic neighborhoods. North Beach is the area between W 63rd St and 87th St. Surfside runs from 88th St north to 96th St, while Bal Harbour is the northernmost of these districts, spanning the area between 96th St and the Haulover Inlet Bridge. Known for beautiful stretches of sand and surf, these relaxing, family-friendly areas are all connected by a 6-mile beachfront pathway with one lane devoted to walkers and runners and another open for everyone, including bicycles and dogs. North Beach is the closest of the three to South Beach, making for easy access to the shopping and nightlife there. Attractions here include the North Beach Bandshell, a mid-century amphitheater for open-air concerts, and North Beach Oceanside Park, a beachfront green space with shaded walking paths under the canopy of native trees. Surfside is an upscale, residential beach community with a highly walkable downtown area filled with shops and restaurants. From January through April, visit Surfside for the family-friendly Third Thursday Block Party, while summer visitors should check out the First Friday Beach Picnics. Bal Harbour is a wealthy enclave known for luxury shopping and as a retreat popular with celebrities and low-key elites. Expect to find pristine beaches, top-notch dining, and lavish accommodations here.

5. Coconut Grove

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Coconut Grove, Miami
Coconut Grove was founded in the 1870s partly by Bahamian immigrants, and today it’s one of the city’s premier shopping neighborhoods known for its oak-lined streets, boutiques, galleries, excellent restaurant scene, sidewalk cafes, and bayfront marinas. Some five miles southwest of Downtown Miami, it’s home to the annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival and Caribbean style carnival, as well as historic tourist attractions such as Barnacle Historic State Park, the Kampong tropical botanical garden, and Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the former home of industrialist James Deering. Premier shopping malls include CocoWalk and Mayfair in the Grove.

6. Wynwood/Midtown/Miami Design District

Cat sculpture by Bordalo II in Wynwood, Miami
Around two miles north from Downtown Miami, the former warehouse district of Wynwood has morphed into the arts hub of South Florida in just over a decade. It began with the Wynwood Walls, an outdoor graffiti museum, with murals and street art now encompassing the entire neighborhood. Today there are more than 70 art galleries here, as well as hip restaurants and bars. Some of the best galleries include the Oliver Cole Gallery, Art Nouveau Gallery, and Bakehouse Art Complex. Other attractions include the Miami Selfie Museum, the Museum of Graffiti, Rubell Museum, and Margulies Collection at the Warehouse. Across I-195 from Wynwood, the compact Miami Design District home to over 130 art galleries, hip shops, antique dealers, restaurants, and bars clustered around the main drag, NE 40th Street. Other attractions include the Haitian Heritage Museum, the De la Cruz Collection, and Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami. Local celebrity chef Michael Schwartz also runs Michael’s Genuine Food here.

7. Coral Gables

The Biltmore in Coral Gables, Miami
One of Miami’s most distinctive and historic neighborhoods, Coral Gables was conceived by real estate developer George Merrick and constructed in the 1920s with a lavish Mediterranean theme. Today the canopied streets, Spanish-style houses, and formal gates are still there, in addition to modern boutiques and hip restaurants. The main drag is SW 22nd Street, which is known as the Miracle Mile, lined with shops and eateries. Nearby is Coral Gables Museum, but the biggest sights in the neighborhood were conceived by Merrick: the famous Biltmore Hotel (seen above) and spring-filled Venetian Pool. To the south, the University of Miami campus contains the lauded Lowe Art Museum. The free Coral Gables Trolley runs from the Douglas Metrorail Station to Flagler Street along Ponce de Leon Boulevard (there’s also a Grand Avenue Loop Route).

8. Little Havana/Overtown

Historic Little Havana district in Miami
Little Havana remains a major hub of Hispanic culture in Miami. Some two miles west of Downtown Miami, this was the city’s first major Cuban enclave and today it remains studded with Latin-inspired cafes, restaurants, and stores, especially along SW 8th Street, or “Calle Ocho”. The excellent Cubaocho Museum is here, a combination art museum, music venue, and rum bar. Of course, this is the best neighborhood to sample delicious Cuban food at places like El Rey De Las Fritas and Versailles and to see the monuments to Cuban freedom on Memorial Boulevard. Accommodation in Little Havana primarily comprises apartment rentals and cheap motels, though Life House is one of the city’s most exclusive boutique hotels. Separated from Little Havana by the Spring Garden and Lummus Park districts, Overtown is the historic heart of Black Miami, operating as its commercial and entertainment center from the late 19th through mid-20th centuries. To get to grips with Miami’s early African-American history, take a walking tour of Overtown or visit The Black Archives – Historic Lyric Theater.

9. Key Biscayne

Cape Florida Lighthouse on Key Biscayne, Miami
Linked to the mainland via the Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne feels like a million miles away from South Beach. Services, hotels, and apartment rentals are located in the residential section of the island (known simply as the “village”), but the real attractions lie beyond here: Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, the Miami Seaquarium, Crandon Park Beach (one of the best beaches in the city), and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, featuring swimming beaches and historic Cape Florida Lighthouse.

10. MiMo/Little Haiti

The MiMo (AKA Miami Modern) district runs along Biscayne Boulevard roughly from NE 50th Street to NE 77th Street some four miles north of Downtown Miami. It’s one of the city’s hippest neighborhoods, featuring some of its best boutique hotels, including The Vagabond, restaurants such as Blue Collar, and prime examples of the mid-century “Miami Modern” architecture it’s named for. Nearby Little Haiti is one of Miami’s most colorful neighborhoods. Its Caribbean culture is best experienced in and around the Little Haiti Cultural Center. The closest good hotels to Little Haiti are in MiMo.

Best hotel water park in Miami.

The JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa has a huge water park, lazy river, wave rider, and 36-hole golf course. Located in Aventura about 20 minutes north of downtown Miami.

Miami › Best Hotels
Updated: November 19, 2023
By Santorini Dave

My Favorite Hotels in Miami

• Miami Beach: Setai
• Downtown: Four Seasons
• For Couples: East Miami
• For Families: Loews Miami Beach
• Hotel Pool: 1 Hotel South Beach
• Near Airport: Sheraton
• Best Water Park: JW Marriott

The 9 Best Hotels & Resorts in Miami

1. Four Seasons Miami

Luxury hotel with outdoor pool in Miami.
Hotel Phone: 305-358-3535
Five-star high rise hotel near Biscayne Bay in the upscale Brickell neighborhood. Among the great amenities here are two gorgeous outdoor pools, a full-service spa, and incredible on-site dining options that include a farm-to-table steakhouse, a garden terrace, and Latin-American-fusion poolside cuisine. This hotel is family-friendly with welcome treats and bespoke activities for kids, unlimited group fitness classes for the adults, and complimentary car service for all.

2. Mandarin Oriental

Luxury hotel on Miami waterfront.
Hotel Phone: 305-913-8288
The only luxury hotel on tony Brickell Key, with fantastic water and Miami skyline views. Spacious guest rooms and suites are modern, beachy, and elegant, and feature high ceilings and marble bathrooms. There’s a day spa, multiple dining options, and a gorgeous infinity pool with butler service. Its across-the-water location is close to fine dining and luxury shopping, but provides a quiet and calm that’s harder to come by in the buzzy city center.

3. 1 Hotel South Beach

Miami hotel with large pool.
Hotel Phone: 833-625-3111
Five-star historic retreat on a private beach. Rooms and suites are spacious and modern, dressed in warm neutrals and high-end materials; two-bedroom suites sleep up to six. Guests can choose from the hotel’s four fantastic pools (one is adults-only) and eight distinct dining options that range from coastal-inspired health food to Japanese and Peruvian cuisine. Their Seedlings child-care center is open Thursday to Sunday for 4-10 year olds, and their luxurious beach club and serene wellness spa are open daily.

4. St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort

5-star hotel in Miami with view.
Hotel Phone: 305-993-3300
Posh, five-star oceanfront beach resort. All elegantly-appointed rooms and suites face the ocean and have private furnished balconies and marble bathrooms; some suites add kitchenettes and dining space – the largest suite sleeps ten. In addition to their pristine beach, the St. Regis has two infinity pools, an award-winning spa, world-class dining, and kid’s club for ages 4-12. Impeccable service, too. Located directly across from high-end Bal Harbour Shops, just minutes from South Beach.

5. The Setai

Miami resort on beach.
Hotel Phone: 305-520-6000
Stunning and serene luxury hotel on Miami Beach in the Art Deco District. Guest rooms and suites feature sleek and contemporary Asian-influenced décor, with rich, warm wood tones and luxurious materials. The elegant restaurants here are Asian and Mediterranean in influence, the peaceful day spa is Swiss; the gorgeous bar courtyard surrounds a tranquil pond. All this plus three infinity pools, complimentary on-site bike rental, beautifully-landscaped gardens, and top-notch service.

6. Loews Miami Beach

Miami hotel on South Beach.
Hotel Phone: 305-604-1601
Luxury beachfront hotel in the Art Deco District. All rooms and suites are dressed in sleek and airy decor and feature luxury linens and amenities; many have oceanfront balconies. There are five dining options on site, ranging from a quaint café/ice cream parlor to an award-winning seafood restaurant. A fantastic pool, full-treatment spa and salon, on-site shopping, fitness center, complimentary beach sport amenities, and great kids club make this a fun option for the entire family.

7. EAST Miami

Miami hotel with view.
Hotel Phone: 305-712-7000
Excellent four-star design hotel in the upscale Brickell neighborhood. Accommodations range from classic king rooms to three-bedroom suites that sleep seven; all have art-forward minimalist decor, floor-to-ceiling windows, high-end amenities, and balconies with views of the city or sea. Among the hotels offerings are four unique pools, a cool rooftop bar, chic Latin-American restaurant and speakeasy-like lounge, and 24-hour fitness center. All set within a neighborhood filled with great shops and restaurants.

8. Hyde Suites Midtown

Boutique hotel in Miami with pool
Hotel Phone: 786-899-5300
Fun modern hotel with loads to do. Active folks will find no shortage of great amenities here, from an excellent swimming pool and fitness center to an on-site tennis court and putting green. Rooms and suites are spacious, with a warm industrial aesthetic, large bathrooms, and floor-to-ceiling windows; all have desk areas and kitchenettes. Located on the edge of Miami’s Design District in the colorful Wynwood District, with Lincoln car service provided within a 10-block radius.

9. Biltmore Hotel

Luxury hotel in Coral Gables.
Hotel Phone: 855-311-6903
Excellent and iconic resort in Coral Gables, six miles from the center of Miami. The seemingly endless amenities here include a gorgeous pool deck with luxury cabanas, historic 18-hole golf course, on-site culinary academy, full-service spa, ten lighted tennis courts, and six elegant in-house dining options. All guest rooms feature tasteful classic décor, some suites feature balconies that overlook the resort’s 150 acres of lush tropical landscape.

About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave I'm Santorini Dave. I started this site in 2011 with a short article on tips for visiting Santorini with kids. We're now a small team of writers and researchers dedicated to providing the best travel content on the internet. We focus on Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece, offering recommendations for top hotels, neighborhoods, and family-friendly hotels worldwide. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.