It's been ice cold across much of the US, but the Sunshine State beckons with balmy temps, swaying palm trees, and glistening turquoise waves. Below, we round-up 10 Florida hotels for a last-minute warm-weather escape to Orlando, Tampa, or Miami, plus MICHELIN-approved restaurant recs.
Hotel Haya
Tampa
Hotel Haya
This recent addition to the Ybor City neighborhood offers updated accommodations in rooms it paints as “playfully nostalgic.” The rooms’ chic décor is brimming with local, historical references all executed by local artisans. Suites, in particular, feature exposed brick from the original building which stood on Haya’s site, as well as walkout balconies overlooking 7th Avenue. From US$266Eat nearby: Founded in 1905, this original location of Cuban-American restaurant Columbia is the oldest continually operating restaurant in all of Florida (multiple offshoots have since sprung up). A well-oiled kitchen turns out a steady stream of beloved specialties—from deviled crab croquetas to gambas al ajillo. At lunch, the Cubano sandwich, which has a legitimate claim to being the original version, lives up to the hype. During the evening, live flamenco performances gild the lily.
The Tampa Edition
The Tampa Edition
The partnership between Marriott and boutique-hotel iconoclast Ian Schrager continues to bear the most stylish fruit. In the Tampa EDITION, New York architects Morris Adjmi and designers Roman & Williams bring the brand’s signature luxe loft style to a 26-story tower in the city’s flourishing Water Street district, combining a powerful visual impact with plentiful creature comforts. From US$616Eat nearby: Cena is well-loved for its Italian food with an American perspective. Minimally dressed with exposed ductwork and mottled cement floors, the space oozes warmth thanks to soft lighting. Guests are here for the kitchen's bold flavors and novel twists on traditional items so kick things off with an antipasto of fried cauliflower, octopus, and gigante beans with salsa rossa.
JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
Right between the convention center and the arena that’s home to the Tampa Bay Lightning ice hockey team is this stylish and luxurious hotel. The rooms are modern and full of comforts with far-ranging views; there’s also a substantial spa featuring its own lounge and no fewer than 10 treatment rooms. From US$376Eat nearby: The mantra at the intimate eight-seat counter Koya could be seafood, seafood, seafood with staple luxuries like bluefin tuna and uni flown in weekly from Kagoshima market. Instead of the typical parade of nigiri, dishes offer unique combinations of Eastern and Western culinary sensibilities, like smoked unagi on a crisp potato mochi with herbed labneh and yuzu kosho.
The Current Hotel, Autograph Collection
The CURRENT Hotel, Autograph Collection
This hotel might have the finest views available of Tampa Bay. Surrounded by water on three sides, the CURRENT offers creature comforts in proper luxury boutique hotel style, including an outdoor pool and a fitness center with a 9th-floor view. Rox Rooftop Bar is the highest in town. From US$280Eat nearby: Bistro BT marries casual dining with charm and a friendly atmosphere. The team cooks up a homey combination of French and Vietnamese dishes, including the likes of crispy spring rolls faithfully packed with ground pork, glass noodles and wood ear mushroom; followed by deeply aromatic pho bobbing with springy noodles and generous amounts of meltingly soft tenderloin. 11-min drive from the hotel
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Orlando
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
The Ritz-Carlton is the obvious choice for those looking for an escape from the theme parks — it towers over a vast estate strewn with orange groves and a Greg Norman-designed golf course. Expect opulent rooms, Mediterranean palazzo style, and old-fashioned professional service. All rooms have balconies overlooking the resort’s parklands and the spa complex is spacious near an equally impressively sized pool. From US$639Eat nearby: For a Peruvian menu that's diverse in its brevity Papa Llama is your spot. Start with the papa rellenas, or ground sirloin croquettes served with a jammy egg. Arroz chaufa with aji panca chicken is an ace take on Chinese fried rice; while picarones, sweet potato-doughnuts with clove honey, make for a fine way to finish your meal. 23-min drive from the hotel
AC Hotel Orlando Downtown
AC Hotel Orlando Downtown
The most fashionable hotel in town, the AC Hotel competes with the city’s traditional luxury hotels on comfort. Small(ish) by local standards, the 180 rooms come with plenty of shared social space, among them Foxtail Coffee and the SkyBar rooftop terrace, with its eye-watering 360-degree view of the city. From US$305Eat nearby: With crowds spilling out for weekend brunch service regularly, Maxine's on Shine has become a go-to thanks to a host of comforting dishes that soothe and satisfy. Think plates of fried green tomatoes, flaky crab cakes and of course, chicken and waffles. Dinner follows suit with familiar yet flavorful dishes including a half-pound burger, or skillet lasagna, which is available with roasted vegetables instead of beef. 6-min drive from the hotel.
Life House, Little Havana
Miami
Life House, Little Havana
Rooms here come in king and queen sizes, as well as suites, including one with four capsule-style bunks, ideal for a traveling band or a group that doesn’t need much privacy. As for public spaces, the garden courtyard is a splendid place for a drink, to say nothing of the rooftop bar and restaurant. And while staying in feels cozy enough, you’re encouraged to get out and experience Little Havana, the heart of Cuban culture in the US. From US$194Eat nearby: The back door at Doce Provisions leads to a backyard oasis like no other. With lights and greenery all around, this patio feels like a private party that nobody else knows about. The menu is fundamentally Cuban; colden chorizo croquetas, crispy lechon asado buns and tostones piled high with shredded beef make for a meal.
Esmé Miami Beach
Esmé Miami Beach
This Spanish-Mediterranean gem's design concept aims to recall the glory days of iconic creative enclaves like Greenwich Village or the artists’ quarter of Montmartre. This is achieved through the abundantly saturated colors and careful compositions of the room and suites all drawing their inspiration from traditional French decor — think if Paris were suddenly set on the Mediterranean, it might look a bit like this. It’s something of a refuge from the typical Miami Beach, though, it must be said, not a complete one: Washington Avenue’s busy nightlife scene begins more or less right at Esmé’s front door.
Eat nearby: There are choices to be had at Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza—from the thin-crust, 13-inch pizzas and the smaller 8-inch pies to signatures like the Star Luca (tomato, mozzarella, Calabrese salami) made distinct by its shape (the edges of the crust are folded to form a series of points).
Mondrian South Beach
Mondrian South Beach
Among the benefits for the Mondrian South Beach is the luxury of space: these suites are the largest standard-level accommodations in South Beach, and every one has its own kitchenette. Expect bustling bars, placid pools, and a spa that's a good deal sexier than the usual zen-and-exfoliation fare. From US$328Eat nearby: The menu at Macchialina is concise, so it's easy for diners to focus on the best attributes of this kitchen team—the focus being honed on the house-made pasta. Think of supple strands of spaghetti slicked with pomodoro sauce or cacio e pepe. Save room for tiramisu—given a Miami accent with dulce de leche-sweetened cream and a sea salt-sprinkled cap of espresso granita.
W South Beach
W South Beach
This Collins Avenue behemoth is so quintessentially South Beach it’s already hard to imagine what the city was like without it. It’s sunnier and airier than the usual W, but it’s perfectly suited to the site, with 312 studios and suites subtly mixing hints of Art Deco with their modern take on luxe glamour. None of the accommodations are small, but some of the higher-end suites positively sprawl. The pool deck has arcing rows of loungers coupled with an infinity-edged Atlantic view; you can make the 2-minute walk to the waves barefoot. From US$853Eat nearby: Eclectic American cooking with Caribbean (including Haitian) influences are the calling cards at 27 Restaurant & Bar. Diners can make a meal out of starters alone, including the crispy shrimp dumplings or the griot and pikliz, a Haitian classic with pork and spicy pickled slaw. For dessert, a halva brownie topped with yogurt ice cream and date syrup is sinfully delicious and worth the extra bites.
Hero image: W South Beach
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