23 October, 2019
Beyond Miami's palm-fringed beaches, art-deco buildings and mid-century architecture have been resurrected as hotel masterpieces, pairing innovative style with out-of-the-box design. Featuring tropical hideaways and subterranean bars, this is a round-up of the best design hotels in the Magic City.
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Little Havana
Set in the heart of Little Havana, this hotel brings a taste of Cuban design to Miami. Inside the 20s mansion, brightly coloured walls are adorned with paintings and photography from local artists, while the courtyard is filled with tropical plants and swinging hammocks. Dine at Terras, the rooftop restaurant serving Latin American-inspired dishes with views across the Miami skyline.
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Miami Beach
With husband-and-wife dream team Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin overseeing the design of this hotel, glitz and glamour are perhaps unsurprising key features - expect to see Damien Hirst's 24-karat gold mammoth skeleton at the entrance as well as furnishings clad in red leather and leopard-print material. Take a dip in the cross-shaped swimming pool or head to the subterranean bar to sip on cocktails underneath gilded ceilings and extravagant murals.
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Downtown Miami
Bringing a touch of playfulness to Miami's downtown financial district, SLS Brickell boasts 55 storeys of sleek design and whimsical touches. Interiors by Philippe Starck feature contemporary artwork and sculptures, while Markus Linnenbrink's gigantic, brightly coloured mural outside is hard to miss. Spend days hopping between the hotel's two rooftop pools (our favourite is the infinity) before feasting on Italian fare at Fi'lia.
Miami Beach
Inside a restored art-deco building, Soho Beach House is yet another successful outpost from the London-based private members club. Nailing a combination of sophisticated style and disheveled nonchalance, interiors are adorned with jewel-toned furnishings, dark wood antiques and Venetian chandeliers. Soak up some rays at the rooftop pool, scrub up in the Cowshed Spa, or catch up on some reading in the library, before dining at Cecconi's, the celeb-approved Italian restaurant in the hotel's courtyard.
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Mid-Beach
Inside an extravagant red-and-white facade, Casa Faena's Latina interiors are a sight for sore eyes. Drag yourself away from pink-and-white coloured rooms decorated with ornately framed beds and antique features and head downstairs for a Spanish breakfast of eggs, chorizo and frittata. Explore the Mid-Beach neighbourhood by day before returning to Casa Faena for an evening filled with creative cocktails and tasty tapas.
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South Beach
Split between two buildings (the Art Deco Wing and the Colonial Wing), The Betsy's maximalist exterior hints at lavish design within. Get lost in the hotel's labyrinthine corridors to stumble upon collections of artwork and hidden libraries. Catch up on your tanning at the courtyard pool before heading to the restaurant for sustainably sourced farm-to-table food, and be sure to bag a table on the balcony for a meal with a view.
