The 9 best hotels in South Beach, Miami right now

💎 Best for: ridiculously good style

South Beach isn’t known for subtlety, but The Betsy strikes a rare balance: right in the center of the action, yet completely serene inside. Built in 1942, its Florida-Georgian architecture stands out against the neon Art Deco strip, feeling more like a historic Savannah retreat than a party magnet.

Inside, it operates like a cultural salon filled with curated artwork, quiet library nooks, and a nightly live jazz program. The 130 rooms are outfitted with walnut floors, four-poster beds, and marble bathrooms. Chef Laurent Tourondel’s LT Steak & Seafood anchors the dining scene with standout popovers and prime sidewalk people-watching, while two distinct pools—a panoramic rooftop deck and a shaded courtyard retreat—offer easy spots to unwind. It’s stylish, unpretentious, and steps from the sand, giving you all the energy of Ocean Drive with none of the chaos.

Time Out tip: Don’t pick the courtyard pool if you want to tan—it’s very shady. Instead, make the most of the rooftop—just don’t forget your sunscreen. 

Address: 1440 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Price: Starting at around $200 a night plus a $45 resort fee
Closest transport: Miami International Airport is a 12 mile drive from the hotel (30 minutes or more depending on traffic). The citywide Free Trolley is just steps away.

➡️ These are the very best hotels in Miami right now

💎 Best for: pool access on your doorstep 

Right at the intersection of Lincoln Road and Collins Avenue, The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach swaps incessant party revelry for classy and relaxaing vibes. Originally designed in 1953 by Morris Lapidus, the hotel pairs a moody, retro-glam lobby with guest floors which pack bolder, tropical-style decor. Upstairs, spacious rooms feature curvy Art Deco headboards, crystal chandeliers, and marble-clad bathrooms.

Food and beverage is helmed by the José Andrés Group, who’s Mediterranean mezze can be found at Zaytinya, the poolside restaurant. Tucked along the boardwalk behind hedges and bright fringed umbrellas, the breezy DiLido Beach Bar serves up fresh aguachile and fish tacos. With a cross-shaped pool, direct beach access, and walkable proximity to Ocean Drive, you’ve got everything you need for a South Beach vacation. 

Time Out tip: Fancy waking up and swanning directly to the swimming pool? Book one of the ground floor poolside lanai rooms. 

Address: 1 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Price: Starting at $400 off season $1,000 in season
Closest transport: Miami International Airport is 12 miles away, about 45 minutes in traffic.

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💎 Best for: culture vultures

Following an ambitious $100-million overhaul, The Shelborne By Proper restores mid-century swagger to Collins Avenue. The landmark property balances its Art Deco and MiMo roots—featuring Polevitzky’s 1941 bones and Morris Lapidus’s reimagined flair—with a fresh, retro-cool finish. Downstairs, a soaring lobby bar leads out to a mint-green pool deck anchored by the historic 1950s sculptural diving board.

Guest rooms are dressed in calming, sandy neutrals and vintage greens, fully modernized with motion-sensor lighting and Aesop-stocked showers. The health-conscious travelers among us will appreciate a kitchen strictly free of seed oils, as well as poolside fresh-snapper ceviche and custom martini service at the bar.

Time Out tip: Hold off from purchasing museum tickets before you check in—guests here receive a complimentary day pass to The Bass, which is a nearby contemporary gallery.  

Address: The Shelborne By Proper 1801 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Price: Rates go as low as $389 per night in summer
Closest transport: Miami International Airport is a 45-minute drive, dependent on traffic

➡️  Discover our roundup of the best Miami Beach hotels right now

💎 Best for: a truly knockout swimming pool

A long-reigning Art Deco queen in South Beach, Loews holds court on a covetable oceanfront strip just two blocks from Lincoln Road. Following a $55-million makeover, it reads like corporate finally got the memo on what a beach escape should feel like—swapping kitschy seashells for soothing blue grass-cloth walls, caning details, and marble showers that keep the turquoise water views front and center.

The real crown jewel is that massive, palm-fringed zero-entry pool, but its dining scene punches just as hard. Having Rao’s on-site is a massive flex—make sure to order the veal parm and meatballs with ricotta—while the lobby’s new sushi bar dishes out killer omakase. We never even moved our car all weekend; between direct beach access and the boardwalk right out back, everything worth doing is an easy stroll away.

Time Out tip: We aren’t kidding about that omakase—and there’s no need to book a formal sit-down reservation either. Head to the Sushi Bar and snag one of the counter seats. 

Address: 1601 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Price: Starting at $399 per night
Closest transport: Miami International Airport is roughly 12 miles away, about 45 minutes in traffic.

💎 Best for: being smack dab in the heart of South Beach

No one loves a nip-and-tuck reinvention quite like South Beach, and the Royal Palm is the latest 1939 Art Deco icon along Collins Avenue to emerge glowing after a $100-million-plus overhaul. The second you walk in across original spruced-up terrazzo floors, you’re greeted with a welcome Paloma cocktail and the rich aroma of Cuban coffee wafting from the Compass Rose counter.

Across 404 refreshed rooms and three towers, the vibe hits a retro-cool stride with sunny orange and gold accents, while staff service feels genuinely warm. Out back, the ocean-facing pool deck—complete with gold-and-cream scalloped umbrellas and a DJ spinning loungey beats—is prime real estate for soaking up sea breezes until sunset. Backing directly onto the beach boardwalk and steps from Lincoln Road, you don’t even need a car to make the best of the neighborhood. 

Time Out tip: I implore you to order the Blood Orange ceviche from The Palmona Club. Seriously. 

Address: 1545 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Price: Starting at $399 per night
Closest transport: 25 minutes from Miami International Airport

💎 Best for: eco-consious travelers

The 1 Hotel offers grade-A luxury you can feel pretty good about accepting. This whole resort is eco-friendly, as the reclaimed wood used throughout will keep reminding you. As for entertainment? You’ve got four glistening pools to choose from, watersports activities, and a sublime spa. It’s also the proud owner of one of South Beach’s largest water-facing rooftops with a pool (which is adult-only) and, the hotel even sells a signature scent candle for guests to take home with them. 

Time Out tip: Traveling with a furry companion? Pet-friendly rooms are available at 1 Hotel South Beach, for no extra fee (if you pooch weighs less than 50 lbs, that is). 

Address: 2341 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Price: Starting at $550 per night in low season. 
Closest transport: Miami International Airport is roughly 12 miles away (roughly 25–35 minutes by car depending on traffic).

💎 Best for: its unique spa

The gorgeous four-star Hotel Victor is located right across from the beach, with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Considering themselves the “home for the sophisticated traveler”, you can bet you’ll get nothing but sophistication here. The hotel features the first U.S. Peruvian Crystal Color Therapy Spa, where you can expect holistic therapies as well as more traditional spa services like massages, facials, sauna, and meditation rooms to chill in. There’s also a 24-hour fitness center on-site. The rooms and suites evoke beach-house vibes, with subtle interior decor and furnishings, creating a muted but modern feel. The rooms range from standard doubles to more swanky penthouse suites with private hot tubs.  

Time Out tip: Guests have complimentary access to bicycles, too. 

Address: 1144 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Price: Starting at $180 off-season per night
Closest transport: Miami International Airport is roughly 10 miles away (which translates to 25–35 minutes by car).

💎 Best for: seriously blowout luxury 

It’s tall, dark, and handsome—your type on paper but, you know, the luxury hotel version. Thankfully, a room at the South Beach property is probably easier to land than a date in Miami, plus you’ll feel great after spending the night here. Book one of the Setai’s fabulous suites and prepare for the five-star treatment, luxury amenities, and a private pool area where spotting celebrities is almost guaranteed.

Time Out tip: There are not one, not two, but three pools on offer at The Setai, so whether you’ve got kids in tow, fancy doing some laps or are keen to top up your tan next to a more tranquil spot, they’ve got you covered. 

Address: 2001 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Price: Starting at $650 during off-season per night
Closest transport: Miami International Airport is between 25-35 minutes away by car, depending on traffic. 

💎 Best for: travelers who prefer boutique hotels

If the word “tropical” gets your travel juices flowing, there’s a high chance the Lennox’s aesthetic will be your kind of thing. This South Beach neighborhood hotel is decorated with light natural woods, pale rattan, white linens and lots of enviable houseplants. The whole vibe here is ‘don’t rush’, so put down the iPhone, don’t pick up emails and fully embrace the OOO tranquillity. The pool area isn’t quite as grand as at other hotels, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in an artfully curated aura of pure relaxation.

Time Out tip: Handily, the Lennox has a local events calendar available on its website, full of recommendations for gigs, festivals and sports events. 

Address: 1900 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Price: Starting at $190 off-season, per night. 
Closest transport: You’re around 12 miles from Miami International Airport here, meaning a 25-35 minute drive.