There’s nothing I love more when on holiday than having a little nose around other luxury hotels in the area. Mr Silver has long since got used to this little hobby of mine and has started joining in with some interest, checking out the pool, the hotel shop, restaurant and bar and deciding if we like them.
In South Beach, Miami, it’s very easy to go hotel snooping as many of the major hotels are located along one main strip and the others are only a short distance away. I thought it may be useful to you to present my findings in one easy blog post. Please do bare in mind, that I’ve not stayed at all these hotels so I can’t comment on the rooms or overall experience of the service.
Having snooped in many of South Beach’s fancy hotels I can safely say The Setai where we stayed was the best one. However, my next favourite hotel was The W.
W branded hotels are all fresh, minimalist, cool and modern and the South Beach location is no exception. I loved the decor that was funky without being at all garish or over the top. One day Mr S and I ventured into the hotel for breakfast at their restaurant, The Dutch, and there is also the famous Mr Chow as an option for dinner. We also enjoyed cocktails one evening at the fun and lively Living Room Bar, which I really do recommend.
The wow-factor is evident as soon as you walk into the Delano. As with the other Morgan’s hotels, it is designed by Philippe Starck and the lobby has a huge high ceiling, stylishly mismatched chairs, dramatic mirrors and sweeping drapery.
We came here for dinner one night at their signature Italian restaurant, The Bianca but there is also a more casual dining sushi restaurant called Umi. Outside by the pool is the uber hip Rose Bar, the perfect place for fabulous people watching.
There’s even VIP seating in the pool! If you want to keep the party going all night at the Delano head to FDR, the super cool underground nightclub.
The SLS is a new addition to the South Beach scene since the last time Mr S and I visited. As you enter the hotel via the red carpet you know you’re in for a VIP experience.
Stylish, quirky and a little bit crazy, The SLS is a really fun hotel. Mr S and I had an awesome time and enjoyed the molecular gastronomy at Chef Andre Joses’ restaurant, The Bazaar, and we’re keen to try the hotel’s sushi restaurant Katsuya when we return one day.
After dinner the hotel’s Hyde Beach club is the perfect place to dance the night away. With over 8,000 square feet including the pool, beach, indoor bar and a giant metal duck…it is truly epic!
These party hotels are all very well, but how about a little laid back luxury? Soho Beach House, is part of the well-known Soho House group of private members club, but it is also a 50 room hotel and you don’t have to be a member to stay.
The rooftop pool and bar is the perfect place to relax with a cocktail…
Or enjoy full waiter service by the main pool downstairs.
Hotel residents and club members can enjoy some casual dining at the bar.
And non-residents can head to the restaurant Cecconi’s, which is probably my favourite restaurant in South Beach.
There’s no night club but I love the relaxed atmosphere at Soho Beach Club, it’s definitely one of my happy places in Miami!
And now for something completely different…If you’re looking for a more ‘Vegas’ style hotel, then The Fontainebleau is for you. The hotel includes a large selection of luxury boutiques, 12 different restaurants and epic nightclub, LIV.
The hotel is super glam, and the pool area is huge with plenty of sun loungers and cabanas to enjoy.
I have to be honest, we really enjoyed dining at Scarpetta, but the Fontainebleau isn’t somewhere I’d stay as I find it a little OTT, but it’s perfect if you’re looking for somewhere with everything you need in one place.
The Best of the Rest
1. After a trip to the fabulous Bal Harbour Shops, Mr S and I popped across the road to the St Regis, it was a beautifully luxurious hotel and very calm a sedate. We agreed it would be a great option for the older generation.
2. The Loews Hotel had a cute ice cream parlour, lots of water sports and a kids camp, it would certainly be my choice if you’re looking for somewhere family friendly.
3. The Shore Club is where Mr Silver and I stayed the first time we visited Miami. I think once upon a time this hotel was the place to be, but sadly it looks a little shabby now. However, if you want a hotel with a fantastic bar and wild pool parties, it could still be the place for you.
4. The Thompson Hotel had literally just opened, so of course I stuck my nose in. Check it out if you want something fresh and new and with a restaurant from US celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein, it’s bound to draw in the crowds. Having said that, I was a little put off by the fact that it wasn’t quite in South Beach – but that may be a positive for some.
I hope that you enjoyed this round up and I’d love to hear from anyone who has stayed in any of these hotels or has any other recommendations.
