City Guide: Miami

Located at the meeting point of the American continents has made it a centre for business, travel and the arts.

10 May, 2018

Words by
Isabella Aballi and Juliet Kasbar

Since the real-estate development boom in the early 1980s, Miami has drawn a diverse crowd. Known for parties, beaches and design - spanning Gianni Versace, art-deco architecture and the biennale - the city has a frenetic energy and outlook all of its own.

Located at the meeting point of the American continents has made it a centre for business, travel and the arts. As a city that naturally brings together people of different cultures and industries, Miami offers a myriad of art galleries, a diverse food scene and vibrant nightlife catering to all tastes and tribes.

While Miami's skyline (and some of its residents) may seem to be stuck in time, the hotel scene has had an injection of something that has made it relevant, young and fresh again - much like its botox-filled residents. LE Miami, the first travel fair to address the shift in luxury travel, is hosted there each year highlight that first impressions and perceptions aren't always what they seem. Spoilt for choice you can go retro, eco or loco - so take your pick.

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Miami Beach EDITION

Miami, United States

As soon as you pass the front door, you’ll recognise the musky Le Labo scent common to all Editon Hotels. Potted palms cluster around the lobby’s gold columns, setting a tone of relaxed opulence with a slight sense of satirical humour. The restaurant, aptly named the Matador Room, is filled with pictures of Spanish bullfighters (no animals were harmed in the making) and bronzed pineapple cocktail glasses. Fun is the name of the game at The Edition, with indoor and outdoor pools, a bowling alley and an ice-skating rink. Decor in the rooms is minimal and calming – opt for an ocean view, if only to ogle at the duplex penthouse suite.

Address

2901 Collins Avenue Miami Beach 33140

+17 862 574 500 Go to website

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The Confidante Miami Beach

Miami, United States

This place (formerly The Thompson) offers exactly what you want from a hotel on South Beach: head-to-toe old-school glamour. Candy-coloured striped sunloungers, scallop-trimmed awnings and cabanas surround the two pool areas and the interiors are all Art Deco, punctuated by buoyant colours and palm-green details. Have dinner in rustic surroundings at Bird & Bone, headed up by celebrated South Florida chef Richard Hales, followed by a “smoke show” cocktail – made with mezcal, Aperol, blood orange, lime and orange bitters – at the bar. Refresh yourself the following morning with a session at their open-air spa.

Address

4041 Collins Avenue Miami Beach FL 33140

+13 054 241 234 Go to website

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Delano

Miami, United States

An unmissable South Beach establishment and an Ian Schrager original, the Delano will always be one of the best hotels in Miami. Whether it’s the all-white rooms or the moody, high-ceilinged lobby filled with eclectic furniture, something about the place that gives you a buzz the moment you walk in. The beautiful crowd surrounding the pool seem to sustain themselves on frozen grapes and rosé alone during the day, immediately switching to mojitos and pina coladas as soon as the clock turns five. If in doubt, ask concierge Pedro Alvarez – he always knows what to do.

Address

1685 Collins Avenue Miami Beach 33139

+13 056 722 000 Go to website

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The Standard

Miami, United States

Located just a couple of blocks away from Collins Avenue, hanging chairs hidden among flora and a colourful wooden deck overlooking the bay create a laid-back atmosphere that feels a million miles away from the city. Along with the beach-chic vibe and impeccable service, The Standard is also the perfect place for an afternoon cocktail with friends or to indulge in one of the best brunches in town.

Address

40 Island Avenue Miami Beach 33139

+13 056 731 717

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Soho Beach House

Miami, United States

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.

Address

4385 Collins Ave, FL 33140

+1 786 507 7900 Go to website

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The Raleigh

Miami, United States

The iconic Raleigh encapsulates all that is Miami. The famous poolside bar, white bungalows and rooms overlooking the South Beach coast are iconic reminders of why this is one of the sunny city’s most historic institutions. Excpect top service, great daytime amenities and a lively night scene at your fingertips.

Address

1775 Collins Avenue Miami Beach 33139

+13 055 346 300 Go to website

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Freehand Miami

Miami, United States

The Freehand is invaluable to the Miami scene. This boutique hostel is a perfect home away from home offering poolside cocktails, a fresh juice bar and one of the city’s most effervescent watering holes, The Broken Shaker. Attracting a young creative crowd, Freehand curates a homely yet vibrant atmosphere minutes away from some of the city’s most desirable destinations.

Address

2727 Indian Creek Drive Miami Beach 33140

+13 055 312 727

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W South Beach Hotel

Miami, United States

The W is a cutting-edge oasis in the city that comes with a 24/7 “whatever, whenever” policy, offering rooftop tennis and a Bliss spa. The home of Mr Chow Miami, it’s also a great place to have dinner before heading out into the centre of bustling Miami. Hit the W for a relaxing stay with world-class service and a grown-up atmosphere.

Address

2201 Collins Avenue Miami Beach 33139

+13 059 383 000 Go to website

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1 Hotel South Beach

Miami, United States

This enormous addition to South Beach provides a marked contrast to its hedonistic surroundings. A true feat of eco-excellence, the hotel, which features an 11,000-plant living wall, stands as proud evidence that there is demand for sustainable travel, even in Miami. 1 Hotel’s goal to “bring the outside in” is evident from their sustainable use of natural resources – even the hangers are made out of recycled wood. They also adopt a no-paper policy – everything from the temperature of your room is controlled through a centralised app. But don’t worry, the 1 Hotel is anything from basic, there are four swimming pools, multiple gourmet restaurants to choose from as well as a wealth of other activities and services. Oh, and the bedrooms are absolutely huge.

Address

2341 Collins Ave, FL 33139

+1 305 604 1000 Go to website

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hotel

The Setai

Miami, United States

Along the northern stretch of South Beach, here you’ll find a more refined patch of accommodations. For those looking for something a little sleeker, the Setai’s art deco fusion style and pan-Asian cuisine offers an alternative vibe and a welcomed revolt against the bottomless happy hours found while away on Ocean Drive.

At the hotel’s main restaurant Jaya, you’ll want to sample a little bit of everything; from peking duck to tandoor sea bass and wagyu dim sum. Finish with a Caribbean rum cake or an earl grey crème brûlée; beach bound or otherwise this is one desert menu you wont want to scrimp on. The best tables are outdoors, where diners can perch on sleek grey banquettes under palm trees and pagoda-style structures. The central courtyard surrounds an angular pool, but resist the urge to dive in and walk down a little further until you reach the actual swimming pool. On your ramble, you’ll pass the Spa at the Setai – stop in for a treatment (we recommend the 90-minute, Balinese-style massage if time (and spend) allows.

Address

2001 Collins Avenue Miami Beach FL 33139

+13 057 047 817 Go to website

This image is on holiday

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SLS Brickell

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.

Address

1300 S Miami Ave, FL 33130

+1 305 239 1300 Go to website

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The Villa Casa Casuarina

Mainlined Ryan Murphy’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story? Dip your toes into the late fashion designer’s 16m, 24-karat-gold-lined “million mosaic pool” – a play on his famous 1990s Marine Vanitas collection. It’s pretty gauche – naturally – but if you’re partial to a bit of OTT design, the gilded extravagance will entice.

Address

1116 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139, US

+1 786 485 2200 Go to website

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Faena Hotel Miami Beach

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.

Address

3201 Collins Ave, FL 33140

+1 305 534 8800 Go to website

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