The 15 Best Boutique Hotels in Miami

Miami is a tale of two cities. By day, it's a haven of relaxation, with its long white sand beaches and watersports, fantastic eateries and designer shopping malls; by night, it's a world of star-studded glitz and glamour, with a wild and restless nightlife. Art Deco architecture is the name of the game in here, so many of the best boutique hotels in Miami are set in beautiful 1920s buildings. However we've scoured the city and uncovered a wide range of stays, from luxury guesthouses and pampering city-stays to Old World glamour and properties just dripping in vintage-cool. Coupled with that, the majority of them are only a stone's throw from the beach - so you're in for a real treat. Enjoy!

For All out luxury

• You can't get more lavish and unique than The Villa Casa Casuarina. The former home of iconic fashion designer, Gianni Versace, this luxury boutique is as ornate, grandiose and classically-inspired as they come: handmade furniture, stained glass windows, painted ceilings, paintings of Greek goddesses spread along the walls, and outside, a gold mosaic swimming pool... Right on Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, you can book the suite where Madonna used to stay!
• Casa Tua is a chic, Art Deco hangout, radiating a laid-back and vintage vibe that makes you want to stay forever. The plush, elegant rooms have polished, hardwood floors and European antiques, and some even have four-posters. The restaurant decor has a vintage feel, and you can dine alfresco, or enjoy a drink at the intimate club bar and listen to the live music. An intimate stay.

Value chic

• Selina Miami River is very affordable, considering the quirky beauty of its design. Friendly and chilled-out, the decor is surfer-chic, with colour schemes of pastel blues and apricots, plants, antiques, modern art and murals. Pretty yet homely, it's a light-filled and intimate setting. The swimming pool, garden in the shade of palm trees, and the cocktail bar, make it a truly charming property, and one that's amazing value for money.
• Urbanica the Meridian is really suited to young people on a budget. Cheap and contemporary, it's set in a charmingly renovated 1930s Art Deco building on South Beach; the rooms have plenty of wood, whitewashed walls, filled with a gentle light. The swimming pool and sun-deck have a definite house party vibe, and the lobby cafe - serving continental breakfast - and the cocktail bar, provide a great chance to mingle with fellow travellers.

House party vibe

• Cheerfully chic and laid-back, Blanc Kara is a cool adults-only boutique in the trendy South Beach neighbourhood, and its close proximity to the Miami nightlife scene make it a happening, partygoing place. The rooms are bright white and splashed with scarlets, mauves and sky-blues, scattered with fluffy chairs; some rooms come with a spacious private terrace, and these are a real draw - the perfect place to relax with a glass of orange juice while nursing your hangover.

For the beach life

• Lennox Miami Beach is cool and knows it. The main draw is its private beach club, (the hotel is a stone's throw from Miami Beach), but this trendy, boutique has much more; the plush, tropical-rustic-chic rooms radiate an upmarket, surfer vibe of a 1960s San Franciscan beach house, with crisp white linens, handcrafted wooden furnishings, and splashes of cool art. The pool is a god-send, and the ornate, marble-topped bar is a great place to hang out. All set in a beautifully renovated Art Deco building, and a lower-middle-range pricetag!
• For surfers and sunbathers, Circa 39's direct beach access is a reason to book in itself. But this playful, homely boutique hotel has a lot going for it, not least the playful decor of floral patterns and polka dots, blended with a nautical-chic style. The bar feels like somebody's posh living room, and the cafe has the vibe of a quiet, streetside cafe. Plus, there's a gym, and a leafy poolside terrace perfect for lounging on a hot afternoon. To top it all off, it's very affordable. A real gem!

A Taste of Old Miami

• The last of Floridian Georgian architecture on Ocean Drive, The Betsy is a taste of the world that was: the gentle rooms are elegant and understated, yet full of luxurious touches including marble bathrooms and original artwork. Add to this Miami's only open-air rooftop spa, an award-winning steak restaurant, a sheltered pool, gym and rooftop lounge, and a short walk to the beach. Stunning!

For a vintage stay

• Located in the former Miami National Bank - a Beaux Arts architectural masterpiece - The Langford is a retro beauty. Vintage at its heart, with 1920s jazz flourishes throughout, the rooms are elegant with sleek tiled bathrooms, and the spacious suites are great for families. Great city views can be enjoyed from the rooftop bar, while you sip your martini like Hemingway.

Great for families

• For a colonial-chic feel, look no further than Life House Little Havana. Inspired by 1950s Cuba, the rooms feature dark woods, walls adorned with vintage postersand sink-into beds. It's cool yet surprisingly snug, and the family-sized suites make it a great place for families. There's also the monthly Friday night showcasing of local art to keep in kind. A quiet, elegant bolt-hole.
• Casa Faena is another good option for families. Emanating the laid-back vibe of a Mediterranean bistro, the elegant suites are spacious, coloured in palettes of salmon pinks and whites, scattered with polished antiques and ornate mirrors, and some come with a private terrace. The original artworks are for-sale; the blue floral-patterned, light-filled restaurant serves up Argentinian-meets-American fare (expect handsome portions of steak and fries); and the childcare facilities are great for families.
• A cool yet refined beach-house design, Life House, Collins Park, is set in a gorgeous Art Deco building 500 yards from the beach. Ideally suited to families, with spacious suites with bunkbeds and cots. The rooms were designed and furnished by local artisans, styled to offer a subtle flavour of beach life. You'll find Mediterranean food, cocktails and coffee in Mama Joon, sunbathing in the leafy patio-lounge and swimming in the outdoor pool; it's a refined taste of Miami.

Foodie heaven

• Mr C Coconut Grove has it all: a fancy Bellini restaurant, spa, rooftop pool and tropical cocktail bar. Run by the renowned Italian restauranteur family - the Cipriani's - it's got a nautical, beach-side chic vibe. Think floor-to-ceiling windows, antiques, sky-blue walls and private terraces.

For a city stay

• For a smart city base The Angler's is a good place to start. Only a few minutes from South Beach, it offers a lot in the way of spoiling amenities: spa treatments, fine dining, a seriously elegant rooftop pool, and of course, the Minnow Bar. The rooms themselves are light and contemporary. Sophisticated and refined, a great city stay.

Still not sure?

• Browse through our list of all the best places to stay in Miami.
• Expand your search to the best places to stay in South Beach.
• Check out our list of the best places to stay in the Florida Keys
• Try our collection of the best places to stay in Islamorada
• Or, contact one of our Gurus for some expert advice.

 

Written by Edmund Wise

posted Monday, 7th August 2023