MICHELIN Key Hotels in Miami

We don’t mean to brag, but Greater Miami & Miami Beach now has more reason to boast about its outstanding hotels. You’ve probably heard about the revered MICHELIN Guide’s star rating system of the world’s best restaurants. Now, for the first time, the esteemed guide has rolled out its own ranking system for hotels with a new distinction: the MICHELIN Key. This new category sharpens MICHELIN’s focus on the best of the best of the thousands of hotels all over the world that it recommends. Miami is in the spotlight for having 10 hotels receive keys.

Six Greater Miami & Miami Beach hotels snagged one key, which denotes a very special stay, and four received two keys, which denotes an exceptional stay. Here are the MICHELIN Key hotels in Miami that the MICHELIN Guide urges you to check out for an outstanding check in.

Two-Key Hotels

Mayfair House Hotel & Garden

With a dreamy setting in Coconut Grove, the classic Mayfair House Hotel & Garden recently emerged from a gorgeous transformation that preserves its history and storied place in the neighborhood yet adds modern-day indulgences. MICHELIN calls out the hotel’s open atrium that’s fringed with rich plants and guest rooms with clawfoot soaking tubs and details like old-time typewriters. Even better, some rooms have private terraces with rain showers, and some floors are pet friendly. Guests can sip tropical drinks at sunset while overlooking the city from Sipsip Calypso Rum Bar then head to Mayfair Grill for a Southwestern-inspired meal cooked in a hearth oven.

Faena Hotel Miami Beach

Over-the-top glamour and dramatic backdrops that look as if they were ripped from a Hollywood movie set caught MICHELIN’s attention at Faena Hotel Miami Beach, the cornerstone of the arts-centric Faena District in Mid Beach. Guests will want to tuck under red-and-white striped umbrellas for a day by the pool then retreat to the Tierra Santa Healing House spa for treatments based on South American traditions. MICHELIN calls the hotel’s numerous dining and drinking venues “destinations on their own,” specifically MICHELIN-recommended Pao by Paul Qui and Los Fuegos by Francis Mallman.

Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club

Harkening back to when celebrities and A-listers flocked to the legendary Surf Club in the 1930s, the recently restored Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club still feels like a luxe hideaway in quiet Surfside. MICHELIN gushes over the lavish spa and beachside cabanas, and guests won’t want to leave the sumptuous ocean-facing suites or ocean bungalows on legendary Cabana Row. Locals regularly gather to sip bubbly in the glam Champagne Bar, and an impressive perk for foodies is The Surf Club Restaurant by renowned Chef Thomas Keller, which boasts a MICHELIN star.

The Setai Miami Beach

Rising above Collins Avenue, The Setai Miami Beach stands out for its luxurious east meets west atmosphere and stunning ocean views. MICHELIN raves about the spacious rooms, saying, “Even the smallest rooms, in the old Dempsey building, are huge, and the suites in the new tower are truly vast, many with views out to sea from many floors up." MICHELIN fawns over the open-plan baths. Guests should escape to the indulgent Valmont For The Spa At The Setai for a facial or massage and unwind while enjoying the ocean breezes at one of the three climate-controlled infinity pools. Jaya restaurant offers specialties from across Asia, and the mouthwatering food is often accompanied by live entertainment in the restaurant’s moonlit courtyard.

One-Key Hotels

Mandarin Oriental, Miami

It’s easy to understand why MICHELIN favors the Mandarin Oriental, Miami, with its tucked-away location on serene Brickell Key, a bridge away from always-humming Brickell, Saying “no luxury is spared,” inspectors highlight the hotel’s spacious guest rooms, extravagant marble bathrooms and collection of rooms with balconies that offer incredible views of Biscayne Bay. At this tranquil sanctuary in the city, guests can retreat to the manicured private beach for sunbathing or the 15,000-square-foot Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Miami for pampering.

Mr. C Coconut Grove

Mr. C Coconut Grove is a modern hotel in Coconut Grove. MICHELIN praises its “resort vibe thanks to the spa, the poolside restaurant, and the neighborhood itself, with its marina and its laid-back vibe.” Associated with the Ciprianis, the famed Italian family of restaurateurs, the hotel's stylish Bellini restaurant, where bartenders clad in pink jackets shake up the namesake Bellini cocktail and Italian food from different regions reigns supreme, plays a role in the hotel’s appeal.

1 Hotel South Beach

From its eco-chic ethos and calming interiors that still manage to feel luxurious to the rich amenities that appeal to every type of traveler, there’s so much to love about 1 Hotel South Beach. From the moment you walk into the hotel, you’ll instantly feel at home, thanks to its driftwood decor and zen vibes. MICHELIN commends the hotel’s four pools, including the rooftop pool that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, its bohemian-style beach club and Bamford Wellness Spa. Add in 1 Hotel South Beach’s “top-shelf” fitness offerings, including an Anatomy gym, and numerous dining and nightlife offerings and staying here is a vacation that’s good for the body, mind and soul.

Esmé

Hidden away on enchanting Espanola Way in South Beach, Esmé’s charm, Spanish-Mediterranean good looks and creative spirit enchanted MICHELIN. With praise like, “If Paris were set on the Mediterranean, it might look a bit like this,” you know the eclectic, color-drenched rooms are special. Guests will swoon over the public spaces, which are weaved together “like a village” and include the popular gin-and-tapas concept Tropezon, cocktail speakeasy El Salon and a rooftop pool. While guests will embrace the hotel’s quiet atmosphere, all that South Beach has to offer is right outside its doors.

Hotel Greystone

In addition to its prime location on Collins Avenue in South Beach, the adults-only Hotel Greystone captured MICHELIN’s heart for its sparkling Art Deco façade, serene interiors and contemporary guest rooms. Another detail that will tempt guests: some rooms and suites feature private terraces fitted with outdoor showers and Jacuzzis. Other reasons to stay are the rooftop pool bar, the glam and moody Greystone Bar and Sérêvène restaurant, which shines with its inventive French-Japanese cuisine.

The Betsy South Beach

The Betsy South Beach is known for its prime seaside location and commitment to the arts and community. Guests of the family-owned hotel can dip into communal spaces, like the library with its more than 1,000 pieces of artwork, and there’s live jazz nine times a week in the Lobby Bar. MICHELIN praises hotel amenities like the rooftop pool and the long-time popular restaurant LT Steak & Seafood, by renowned Chef Laurent Tourondel.

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