Miami has never been hotter. Just take a look at its skyline, where construction cranes signal a massive boom. It's a city defined by its electric energy, beautiful beaches, many cultures, and, of course, fantastic food. Miami has plenty of personality—and hotels—so how do you pick one?
That's where we come in. We've curated a selection of nearly 50 hotels in Magic City, with 10 hotels earning One or Two MICHELIN Keys. New to the Guide as of 2024, the Key denotes the most outstanding hotels in our selection. Put simply: the Key is the hotel version of the MICHELIN Star. Below, find the one that fits you best.
Looking for the full MICHELIN selection in Miami? Head here.
No hotels in Miami gained Three Keys in the latest announcement, but Inspectors chose four spots for the Two Key distinction. Each is a superlative stay in Miami, each with an atmosphere that reflects its setting:
Stay in the Heart of the City
Two hotels gained Two Keys in Miami Beach, the energetic center of Miami. There are nods in each to Miami’s famous Art Deco aesthetic, but otherwise, Faena Hotel and The Setai are wildly different. Expect a classically zen, Asian feel at the Setai and an absolute kaleidoscope of color and energy at Faena. The latter is also home to two restaurants featured in The MICHELIN Guide: Pao by Paul Qui and Los Fuegos by Francis Mallman.
Something a Little More Residential
In the heart of the laid-back and dining-rich Coconut Grove, Miami’s oldest neighborhood and a culture-rich alternative to the party scene downtown, the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden is a similar breath of fresh air. Literally: since the lobby’s built around a massive indoor garden. Surprisingly affordable, it’s a supreme deal for a Two Key in a major American city.
The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club sits in the upscale Surfside neighborhood about a 20-minute drive from downtown, not only will you enjoy all the typical bells and whistles you expect from a Four Seasons in the tropics (lavish spa, three pools, white-sand beach), you also have the One MICHELIN Star Surf Club Restaurant, from lauded chef Thomas Keller, for dining on-site.
Inspectors gave One Key to six hotels in Miami, and like the Two Keys above, almost all are clustered around the beach. Three of these selections are in South Beach, but that doesn’t mean it’s all about SoBe’s flashy hedonism.
The Spots in South Beach
The Betsy and 1 Hotel offer thriving nightlife in a highly elevated setting, while Greystone, for its part, sits near the more relaxed Collins Park and pulls in a stylish crowd of grown-ups who prefer to enjoy the city without a hint of thumping beats at breakfast.
Esmé Miami Beach, although technically in South Beach, presents an option not just unique for Miami—but for any hotel in the States at large. It is among the most affordable Key hotels in our selection, and it is a wonderful, surprising world besides. See that door at the back of the lobby? It looks like any other, but push past and you’re transported to a bonafide Spanish village, complete with vine-covered whitewashed walls and a collection of buildings that feel both European and classically Miami. Don’t be alarmed, but Al Capone once ran his gambling business out of one of them.
And the Hotel in Coconut Grove
An even more removed option is outside South Beach entirely, in the heart of the charming, laid-back Coconut Grove. There, find Mr. C Miami and step within for the welcome feel of boarding a luxurious ocean liner rather than anything resembling a pool party.Editor's note: the Mandarin Oriental, Miami, will close for renovation in May 2025.
Hero image: 1 Hotel South Beach
