World's Best

The Top 15 Hotels in Miami Beach

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Published on September 8, 2021

This year's World's Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year's honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world.

Miami offers something for every type of traveler — stunning stretches of soft sand, glamorous Art Deco architecture, a world-class art scene, celebrity-filled clubs, Michelin-starred restaurants, the natural beauty of the Everglades... The list goes on. The best resorts in Miami reflect these diverse tastes.

Ken Hayden Photography/Courtesy of The Setai, Miami Beach

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

The resort hotels that line the 35-mile beachfront of the Greater Miami area inspired voters for many reasons. For a guest of the No. 2 Faena Hotel, it was the rich, colorful design: "This hotel is like an elaborate movie backdrop of a bygone era. Probably one of the prettiest and most interesting hotels I have ever stayed at." A reader who went to the No. 3 Acqualina Resort & Residences, in Sunny Isles Beach, focused on the dining: "The food is delicious, Il Mulino never misses a beat. I never had a bad meal." And, of course, location often plays a key role: One fan of the No. 11. Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami, touted it as an "absolutely gorgeous hotel in the perfect spot."

But it was the Setai, Miami Beach, that took No. 1. Read on to see why readers voted it their favorite — and which other hotels join it on this year's list of the best resorts in the Miami area.

1. The Setai, Miami Beach

Setai's only U.S. property returned to the top of the list this year after impressing readers on all fronts. Jaya, the resort's restaurant in its picturesque courtyard, hosts flashy dinner shows and is a celebrity hot spot; there are three temperature-controlled infinity pools; and the beachfront Ocean Grill serves some of the best Maine-lobster spaghetti in the city. All 136 rooms are similarly impressive, whether they're one of the luxuriously appointed Art Deco suites or one of the oceanfront suites with floor-to-ceiling windows. Readers loved the resort's amenities, but also commented on how thoughtful the staff is. One called the property "a beautiful oasis of serenity with amazing service." Another said, "Outstanding staff. They are genuine and their hospitality is amazing."

Score: 96.41
More information: thesetaihotels.com