The Most Instagrammable Hotels in Miami, For All Budgets
If you’re planning a visit to the bustling beauty that is Miami, you’ll want to find a hotel to match the city’s one-of-a-kind sun-drenched specialness. Indeed, there’s a psychotic sea of hotels to choose from, but we’re here to help you not lose your mind while deciding where to book your stay, no matter your budget.
So, are you looking for a reasonably-priced party palace with multiple Instagrammable pools? A zen-luxe oasis tucked away from the South Beach craziness? Or is a celebrity-favorite beachfront property featuring a Damien Hirst golden wooly mammoth skeleton sculpture more your thing? In short, we’ve got you covered on the best hotels in the Miami department.
Read on for our top picks. While you're at it, here are nine hotels in Los Angeles to consider for your next trip.
The Goodtime Hotel – The coolest new kid on the block
The Goodtime Hotel opened in the spring of 2021 with the biggest of bangs. Translation: Victoria and David Beckham, Kim Kardashian, Bad Bunny and Maluma attended the boutique’s grand opening. The buzz has yet to die down for the electrifying boutique, which just so happens to be the first collaborative lifestyle hotel brand from Pharrell Williams and David Grutman of Groot Hospitality.
Located on South Beach’s Washington Avenue, the endlessly Instagrammable property boasts 266 rooms, soaked in a smile-inducing pastel palette of mojito green, lagoon blue and millennial pink. This Art Deco aesthetic with a punchy, retro-y twist fills the lively property -- from the Wes Anderson-esque, peach-hued library to the hotel’s seriously spacious and perpetually-packed Mediterranean restaurant, Strawberry Moon. Then there’s the 24,000 square foot pool deck and lounge replete with plenty of plants, private cabanas and two lengthy twin pools that are divided by a head-turning pink-and-white tile runway. For a really good time, it’s all about the poolside weekend day parties where you’ll inevitably bounce around as A-list DJs fire off blaring bops.
Location: 601 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139.
The Standard Spa, Miami Beach – A hip and heavenly escape from the SoBe craziness
The Standard Spa provides an escapist atmosphere that kicks off right at check-in inside the retro-fab lobby. Collect your keys then feel that zen oasis breeze as you head to your room through a labyrinthine tropical jungle with a serene smattering of hammocks and fire pits hidden amidst the bushes. That stylish sanctuary theme continues with the easy, breezy, beautiful rooms teeming with soul-soothing private terraces and custom organic bath amenities. Some rooms even come with an outdoor white porcelain clawfoot soaking tub, making it borderline impossible for you to ever desire to venture off. But you must swing by the guests-only very Instagrammable dockside pool. Also very Instragrammable: the hotel’s signature lemon-yellow-and-white lounge chairs and umbrellas, the heavenly view of the downtown Miami skyline and Biscayne Bay, and the overflowing cocktails and delicious bites you should definitely order from the hotel’s dockside Lido restaurant. If you need a break from the crowd, make your way to the dreamlike Turkish-style hammam, transcendentally equipped with a mud lounge, arctic plunge pool, Roman waterfall hot tub, aroma steam room, and the etcetera.
Location: 40 Island Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139.
Moxy South Beach: A bang-for-one’s-buck newly opened hotspot
A sizzling SoBe newcomer, Moxy South Beach is all about the amenities. Case in point: there are six restaurants, two pools, a fitness center,and an open-air rooftop cinema. The dashing and palatial marisquería and raw bar, Como Como, is among the stellar standouts, where your wildest tequila dreams can come true in a spectacular fashion: tequila races down copper pipes until it’s dispensed by bartenders into glasses via the restaurant’s centerpiece AKA a massive hand-blown glass “tequila tree.” Then there’s the rooftop bar, The Upside, where hotel guests can take in 360-degree panoramic views whilst sitting back clutching a cocktail or three on plenty of not-so-ordinary seating options: a chaise submerged in the shallow lounging pool; a communal swing that’s shaped like an oversized life preserver; a lily pad-shaped daybed.
With a modern mix of Havana x Mexico City design vibes, you’ll find yourself internally screaming “INSTAGRAM THIS!” at every turn -- from the 72-foot, cabana-lined pool to the reasonably-priced rooms that are filled with art and welcome in lots of sunshine through the floor-to-ceiling windows. You’ll likely never want to leave this fun, effortlessly cool (and children and dog-friendly) cosmopolitan compound. But before you do, grab a taco in the kaleidoscopically-colorful lobby at the taco stand and thank us later.
Location: 915 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139.
Faena Hotel Miami Beach – The most mind-blowingly luxurious of them all
Argentine hotelier Alan Faena’s spectacular gem has impressively remained one of Miami’s finest home-away-from-homes for years. For proof, take a look at any “Best Hotels In Miami” guide and you’ll be sure to find Faena Hotel Miami Beach at the top where it belongs. This beachfront work of art exquisitely emits an Alice in Wonderland slash blockbuster Hollywood musical aura, which makes sense considering it was designed by Moulin Rouge! director Baz Luhrmann and his wife, costume and production designer Catherine Martin.
The "wow factor" is major here. Let’s start with the gigantic Damien Hirst gilded wooly mammoth skeleton sculpture that stands majestically in a glass cage in a glamorously tropical courtyard. Additional work of arts include the hotel’s signature candy-striped beach umbrellas, the palm-fringed pool, the glittering cathedral lobby, the 100,000 square feet of private white-sand beach, the outstanding Tierra Santa Healing House spa, the fabulous burlesque theater and more.
There are several fine dining and drinking options here, though the opulent Los Fuegos by Argentine grill master Francis Mallmann and the moodily lit Saxony Bar attract the most fashionable crowd in town. Come June, guests can look forward to the opening of El Secreto Omakase, a speakeasy-style omakase dining experience curated by James Beard Award-winning chef, Paul Qui, in an intimate six-seater private bar that’s hidden inside a stunning Art Deco-tinged alcove.
Meanwhile, the bold and beautiful rooms come with to-die-for beds and plush decor. Everything’s elegantly drenched in velvety red paired with gold accents, plus a sophisticated splash of turquoise and animal prints. The Carrara marble bathrooms with Ann Sachs tilework are total stunners. In perfect addition, many rooms come with an enormous soaking tub, a balcony, and oceanfront views. In summary, five stars all the way to Miami’s most magical five-star hotel.
Location: 3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140.
Esmé Miami Beach Hotel – A charming retro-glam boutique for design lovers
Understatement alert: there’s so much to love at the retro-glam Esmé Miami Beach, which spans eight buildings along Miami Beach’s pedestrian plaza, Española Way. Originally constructed in 1927 as a bohemian artist’s colony known as the “Spanish Village,” the Spanish-Mediterranean revival property underwent a five-year multimillion-dollar renovation before debuting as this exuberantly enchanting boutique in 2021. The bohemian village spirit lives wildly on throughout the cavernous boutique, where each building is charmingly connected by paseos.
All 145 rooms are artfully filled with delightfully quirky vintage furnishings and saturated in a stunning combination of citrus and jewel tones, with an eye-catching touch of animal prints and vibrant Mediterranean patterns. Stroll through the plant-and-art-filled warmly divine lobby that bursts with rich colors and lush textures, then stop by the swanky haunt, El Salón, for killer cocktails and small plates like Argentinian empanadas and Venezuelan arepas. For a more casual albeit lively vibe, there’s the Basque Country pub-inspired Bar Pintxo, where fizzy wines are poured, traditional Spanish tapas are served and sometimes you’ll catch some live music. In true stellar boutique hotel fashion, the Esmé of course has a hidden oasis element AKA a rooftop pool and bar featuring an all-day menu. Sit back in a cabana, take in the sunset, sip on some Sangria and repeat. This spectacular destination is really something special.
Location: 1438 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139.
The Betsy – Relaxed elegance in a stunning colonial beachfront classic
If you’re looking for relaxed elegance in a historic beachfront beauty, book your stay at The Betsy, which sits directly on the world-famous Ocean Drive. You’ll immediately experience a luxurious yet calm feel when entering the spacious and inviting art-filled lobby. As for the 130 bright and airy rooms and suites, all have an elegant albeit charming cottage-like feel replete with a miniature library of books and sublime views. To experience more cinematic views plus the ocean breeze, head to the glamorous rooftop pool and deck featuring an infinity pool and a full bar. If you prefer to keep it tranquil in the shade, the courtyard pool is for you. Additional heavenly highlights at The Betsy include the main restaurant, the LT Steak & Seafood (Tip: grab a seat on the outdoor terrace for some SoBe people-watching perfection), and the wellness garden and spa. The Betsy is also a “dog-friendly hotel, so feel free to book your pooch a gentle massage.
Location: 1440 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139.
