Between ubiquitous ocean views, humming streets and swaying palms, Miami’s hotels seek to forge their own path. From the opulent to the minimalist, the low-key and the altogether avant-garde, the following design-worthy Miami hotels offer not just a place to retreat, but an immersive lens through which to explore this city’s kaleidoscope of culture.
The best Miami hotels for design lovers
1 Hotel South Beach
Exuding quiet luxury with its natural palette and organic blend of raw stone and wood, 1 Hotel South Beach manages to be both sexy and conscious. Beyond the effortless interiors, the hotel’s culinary offerings cement its commitment to sustainability, with seasonally-driven dishes served up at all three restaurants. Some 12,000 local plant species cascade from a 300ft green wall and there are multiple charging points for electric cars too. Barefoot coastal style is punctuated with tactile accents across the hotel’s 425 rooms and suites. But details aside, it’s the chic rooftop pool that is the stand-out feature of this swish South Beach retreat that blends style with substance.
1 Hotel South Beach is located at 2341 Collins Ave, 1hotels.com
Faena Hotel Miami Beach
Where many of Miami’s hotels aim for Art Deco or minimalism, this iconic 179-room hotel stands out for its unapologetically maximalist style. With creative visionary and entrepreneur Alan Faena at the helm – and input from Baz Luhrmann and his award-winning costume designer wife Catherine Martin – Faena Miami Beach layers opulence in red velvet, gilded columns and vivid murals. Damien Hirst’s gilded mammoth skeleton takes a startling centre stage, but performance extends beyond the setting; with cabaret, live shows and music in the hotel’s own theatre and Saxony bar. Not to be skipped is the spa, Tierra Santa Healing House, with its cavernous hammam. A stay here is theatrical from start to finish.
Faena Hotel Miami Beach is located at 3201 Collins Ave, faena.com
Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club
A grown-up hotel sandwiched between Bal Harbour and Miami Beach, Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club maintains an air of reliable luxury. Originally opened in 1930, the seafront social club hosted a roster of luminaries – from Frank Sinatra to Elizabeth Taylor – who found solace in its palm-shaded patios. Despite undergoing a classical modernist facelift under the eye of Richard Meier, the Mediterranean-style building still retains all of its storied serenity, from the 77 rooms and suites refreshed by Joseph Dirand to the clubhouse with its art-decked ballroom, three swimming pools, Michelin-starred restaurant, Champagne bar – and a vast stretch of cabana-dotted coastline.
Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club Bar is located at 9011 Collins Ave, fourseasons.com
The Hotel at The Moore
An intimate newcomer to Miami’s Design District, The Moore initially opened as a private members’ club, alongside restaurant Elastika – named after Zaha Hadid’s striking pliant web artwork that strings its way across the central atrium. Developed during Florida's roaring 1920s land boom by David P. Davis, an architect and financier, the property flourishes following its Woodhouse renovation. The final phase is a collection of 13 slick hotel suites envisioned by Studio Collective in collaboration with ICRAVE, and furnished by emerging brands such as Mous from Texas and Sossego from Brazil. It’s an aesthetically pleasing art-focused hub that integrates workspace and a gallery, alongside a host of surprises such as a decorated UV-lit elevator, a speakeasy and a karaoke room.
The Hotel at The Moore is located at 4040 NE 2nd Ave, mooremiami.com
Mayfair House Hotel & Garden
In the verdant enclave of Coconut Grove, Mayfair House Hotel & Garden offers an artistic departure from flashy resorts. Originally designed by architect Kenneth Treister in 1985, this 179-room property was refreshed by Goodrich, preserving its whimsical spirit with copper accents and hand-carved baroque details. Each room is individually decorated, following a theme of emerald-hued tones and warm wood finishes that extend through the hotel’s new restaurant, Mayfair Grill. In this quietly luxurious city retreat, art is key, with exhibited photographers and painters hailing from Miami as well as further afield. Secluded, leafy and creative, this secret garden promises a soulful stay for the dreamers.
Mayfair House Hotel & Garden is located at 3000 Florida Ave, mayfairhousemiami.com
The Miami Beach Edition
The Miami Beach Edition channels minimalism in Mid-Beach with its pristine white aesthetic and a tropical undertone. Overhauled by Ian Schrager, the 1925 property seduces with subtle curves, high ceilings and swathes of marble flooring, but maintains details from its Spanish-inspired past, such as gold mosaic columns in the lobby, and a sunken oval dining area and a restored chandelier in the hotel’s Matador Room restaurant. The hotel’s 294 rooms and suites are warmed with oak panelling and fawn textiles, while plants soften the communal spaces. There are two swimming pools, a private beach club and a large spa – but the fun here is found in the unexpected: a bowling alley and an ice rink hidden in the basement.
The Miami Beach Edition is located at 2901 Collins Ave, editionhotels.com
Soho Beach House
In a surprisingly comfortable blend of British sophistication and Miami energy, Soho Beach House occupies a 1941 Art Deco building in Mid-Beach. A warren of wood-panelled corridors and vintage tiled corridors leads to a slender lap pool flanked with day beds. The brand’s signature style blends antique furniture with retro tiles across its 50 guest rooms, while walls are adorned with a collection of 120 artworks by international and local talents alike. It’s a buzzy affair – from the dimly lit courtyard at Cecconi’s to the striped blue and white beach loungers. Guests can also hop across to the more urban Miami Pool House location, with colourful décor that pays homage to the Puerto Rican heritage of its Wynwood locale and a programme of artist workshops.
Soho Beach House is located at 4385 Collins Ave, sohohouse.com
