Set in the heart of Little Havana, Life House brings a slice of
Cuba to Miami. Inside the 1920s mansion, brightly coloured walls
are adorned with paintings and prints from local artists, while the
courtyard is peppered with tropical plants and swaying hammocks.
All 33 bedrooms, spread across three floors, have a vintage
aesthetic: picture dark-wood detailing, shabby-chic headboards and
brass lighting. Dine at in-house rooftop restaurant Terras for a
Latin-inspired menu and sweeping views across the Miami
skyline.

Let’s be real: Soho House never misses the mark. Combining
sophistication with dishevelled nonchalance, interiors at the Miami
outpost are adorned with jewel-toned furnishings, leather antiques
and Venetian chandeliers. Spend days paddling in the rooftop pool,
scrub up in the Cowshed Spa or settle for a page-turner in the cosy
library. While most are quick to head to the club bar for a nibble
and tipple, it’s the La Santa takeover at Ocho that draws an
achingly cool crowd of creatives – and the occasional Hollywood
heartthrob. Come for 7pm and taste-test the sharing menu, where
extra-large plates of tacos and quesadillas are best washed down
with a zingy passion fruit cocktail.

Injecting a free-spirited attitude into Miami’s downtown
financial district, SLS Brickell flaunts 55 storeys (yep,
seriously) of sleek design peppered with plenty of whimsical
touches. Interiors by Philippe Starck feature contemporary artworks
and sculptures, while artist Markus Linnenbrink’s enormous,
colourful mural is impossible to miss. Hop between the hotel’s two
rooftop pools, before feasting on Italian fare at in-house Fi’lia
restaurant. If the truffle pizza is on the menu, order two, and
snag a side dish of crispy potatoes, too.

Split between two buildings (the Art Deco and Colonial wings),
The Betsy’s maximalist exterior hints at the lavish design found
within. Get lost in the hotel’s labyrinthine corridors, where
you’ll stumble upon art collections and hidden libraries. Rooms
feel more like someone’s private apartment than a check-in,
check-out affair, thanks to a practical assortment of coffee
tables, snug corners and desk spaces. After a full day of
exploring, make a beeline to the restaurant for a sustainably
sourced farm-to-fork feast, and be sure to bag a table on the
balcony for a meal with a sunset view.

Brought to us by dazzling husband-and-wife-duo Baz Luhrmann and
Catherine Martin, the glitz and glamour of Faena Hotel Miami Beach
is hardly surprising. Highlights include Damien Hirst’s 24-karat
gold mammoth skeleton at the entrance and furnishings clad in red
leather and animal print. Take a dip in the cross-shaped swimming
pool or head to the subterranean bar to sip on craft cocktails
beneath gilded ceilings and playful murals.

Everyone knows Casa Faena for its dramatic red-and-white painted
facade, but its interiors are just as spectacular – a whitewashed
space framed by enormous archways gives way to colourful
handcrafted furnishings. Rooms are decked out with ornately framed
beds and subtle antique touches. It’s not often that you can truly
scream about a hotel’s breakfast, but this Spanish-inspired menu
really delivers. Start your day with eggs, chorizo and frittata,
before exploring the Mid Beach neighbourhood. After dark, Casa
Faena becomes an oasis for a laid-back crowd, dishing up tasty
tapas and creative cocktails. We’ll meet you there.

1 Hotel manages to cultivate a no-frills vibe without
compromising on luxury or style. You’ll find a stylish crowd draped
over daybeds beside one of the hotel’s four outdoor pools and
juice-fuelled fitness bunnies in the wellness centre and spa, which
offers a range of complimentary classes. Bedrooms have been
converted from former condominiums and come fitted with
state-of-the-art kitchens and bathrooms complete with cavernous
tubs and separate rain showers. With a natural colour palette
throughout, guests can expect lots of rough-hewn white oak and a
wood-grained floor. Be sure to test out the in-room yoga mat.

Labelling itself as a village rather than a hotel, Esmé Miami
Beach is the sort of place you’d come to every day if you lived
close enough. A boho Spanish and Latin design can be traced
throughout the property. Spanning four categories, each of the 145
rooms is individually designed, but all share the same bold colour
palette, with bathrooms set to rival those of your favourite spa
retreat. Pull up a stool at the bamboo-clad bar, kick back in a
rattan armchair or bask the afternoon away on one of the
pool-facing pin-striped sofas.