Miami : Where to Stay
Where to Stay (and sashay) in Miami
By Nicole Pointon
Dec 1, 2006

The critical mass of celebrities and nouveau riche pouring in on private jets for a dose of sun and fun has transformed Miami’s hotel scene in the last few years. New and refurbished properties are sprouting up all over South Beach—or SoBe—with the velocity of a beachside nightclub’s dance groove. Here’s a handful of properties to check into for a ringside seat to the action.

Gansevoort South
One of several New York hotel brands to head south, this condo-hotel property offers a nightlife experience on par with its Manhattan meatpacking district counterpart (paradisomiami.com).

Ritz Carlton South Beach
The opulent chain arrived on the South Beach scene three years ago with a $200-million renovation of Morris Lapidus’s 1953 nautically inspired landmark. Guest services include the world’s only tanning butler (ritzcarlton.com)

Sagamore Hotel
The Sagamore (pictured) puts the “art” in Art Deco—original works of art adorn each of this South Beach boutique hotel’s 93 guest rooms (sagamorehotel.com).

The Standard Miami
Affordable cool. The latest in hotelier Andre Balazs’s hip NY-LA chain offers organic cuisine and spa-like rooms with outdoor baths (standardhotel.com).

Hotel Victor
Located next door to Gianni Versace’s famed mansion, the Victor is a sensual delight. Spend the day relaxing in the 6,000-square-foot spa, preparing for the evening’s entertainment led by the hotel’s “Vibe Managers” and resident DJs (hotelvictorsouthbeach.com).