Weather 
Whether you prefer the cabana life at Andaz or an extended spa day stay at the treatment-touting Ritz-Carlton, here are five lavish lairs to lay your head in Miami this winter.
Leave it to Miami to give the Italian Riviera a run for its money. The new Donatella Boutique Hotel & Restaurant — housed inside a 1920s Mediterranean Revival apartment complex that was lavishly restored by the same architect who did Gianni Versace’s mansion — brings a dose of old-world romance and modern swagger to the Art Deco district. (The late designer’s sister is Donatella Versace, but she has publicly spoken out against the project, which was developed by the Nakash Group and Vida & Estilo Hospitality Group, the same company that now owns and operates the former Versace mansion.)
With just six villas on-site, this boîte is as intimate as it gets — picture rattan wallpaper, red oak floors, stone balconies and espresso delivered on a silver tray before breakfast. The last meal of the day is best taken downstairs, natch, at Donatella — the hotel’s namesake restaurant. Expect coal-seared branzino with zucchini scapece and fettuccine with preserved Amalfi lemon, all served among candlelit tables buzzing with Miami’s glitterati, especially during Art Week.
The vibe is bling-ring luxe, so gents, pack your linen trousers and sockless loafers; ladies, trot out your loud loungewear. There’s no pool, but you’ll find a way to make a splash.
The Andaz at last arrives to Mid-Beach! The long-awaited 287-room property launched in May with a bang — all barefoot-luxe and coastal-chic — with foodies awaiting national treasure José Andrés’ latest Bazaar restaurant, opening here later this year (fingers crossed!).
Sign up for a light-therapy treatment at the Ondara Spa, then grab a lounger on the beach and order up a frozen lolli via the “popsicle pager” tucked into every creamsicle-inspired umbrella.
More of a pool person? Choose from one of two outdoor swimming holes, one lined with coral-hued cabanas, the other fitted with a hydraulic bottom so it can transform into a fashion show runway on the fly. The vibe is cultured jet set, so pack your dog-eared copy of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Dream Count” and pick your poison wisely: a Reverse Carajillo coffee cocktail at the curvilinear Bar Centro or a Tajin-rimmed watermelon margarita at the pool bar.
This South of Fifth stunner, reborn under Wyndham’s Registry Collection (which includes retreats like Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid), takes its 1940 Art Deco bones and layers on colonial pomp, courtesy of Bigtime Design Studios. Inside, terrazzo floors gleam under sculptural lighting, while midcentury art channels Golden Era glamour with a Miami wink.
The 82 guest rooms align with the hotel’s history, evoking a retreat for a nobleman, if a modern one who prefers his bath products vegan and his pool in a courtyard. Downstairs, Laurel, helmed by Surf Club alum Camila Olarte, buzzes with Eastern Mediterranean energy, from the shared plates to the lively courtyard. Guests can start their mornings at SoFi Coffee, where hand-poured brews from Imperial Moto pair perfectly with pastries from Butter Moon — and the whole place transforms into an art cafe on Sundays, with clay sculpting, painting and collage-making.
Come see what $100 million buys you on Collins Avenue, where design firm ADC & Tuneu respectfully renovated this Morris Lapidus Art Deco gem in May.
Don’t be fooled by the classy earth tones and natural materials in the 251 guest rooms and lobby. There’s a party going on right here, in the cabanas out back, on the mint-green loungers, by the palm-fringed pool (we dare you to dive off that iconic midcentury platform). Book a one-bedroom oceanfront suite with a balcony if you plan to bring your caftan-clad art friends back to your digs. Be sure to pack an oversized hat, sunglasses and bejeweled mules — this is surfside glam, not Spring Break 2025.
Don’t be surprised if you bond with a local fresh off his yacht as you select your liquid courage (paired with fruits and chocolate) from the spirits cart — courtesy of LT Hospitality, the brainchild of bartender Christopher Lowder and Jeff Tascarella (Eleven Madison Park, NoMad) — in the sexy Little Torch lounge, or learn of your newfound love for conch ceviche at Pauline, led by Florida Keys native (and Michelin-star-recognized) culinary director Abram Bissell.
In yet another $100 million makeover, this beloved island resort has been reimagined from top to tide pool with refreshed rooms, new dining destinations and a holistic wellness experience worthy of its 17-acre oceanfront perch.
The 450-room Ritz is now practically a destination spa, tricked out with a co-ed meditation garden and a Tremble fitness studio and landscapes inspired by Biscayne Bay. Even the guest rooms feel like earthy sanctuaries, swathed in natural stone, ocean-hued textiles and wood details. When you’re not taking a next-level fitness class, dine guilt-free at the Aegean-tinged Paralía or the Italian Luma. Then, indulge in some gelato at poolside Scoop or moonlit Negronis at late-night hot spot Dune Beach Bar. Whatever your pleasure, this polished resort proves that every Miami grand dame is a master in the art of reinvention.
