Miami’s Luxurious Winter Retreats: Where Glamour Meets Comfort

Miami’s hotel scene continues to evolve with exciting new openings and stunning renovations, creating the perfect winter escape for those seeking luxury, culture, and a touch of glamour. From intimate boutique properties to expansive oceanfront resorts, these five destinations offer unique experiences that rival even the Italian Riviera’s most celebrated getaways.

The Donatella Boutique Hotel & Restaurant brings old-world Italian charm to Miami’s Art Deco district, housed in a lovingly restored 1920s Mediterranean Revival apartment complex. Despite sharing a name with the fashion icon (who has publicly distanced herself from the project), this intimate six-villa property creates an atmosphere of exclusive luxury. Each room features thoughtful details like rattan wallpaper, red oak floors, and stone balconies, while the staff delivers espresso on silver trays before breakfast. The hotel’s namesake restaurant has quickly become a hotspot for Miami’s glitterati, especially during Art Week, serving coal-seared branzino and fettuccine with preserved Amalfi lemon in a candlelit setting. While there’s no pool, the “bling-ring luxe” atmosphere encourages guests to dress impressively in linen trousers and statement loungewear as they find other ways to make their presence known in this intimate setting.

The long-anticipated Andaz has finally arrived on Mid-Beach, bringing its distinctive barefoot-luxe aesthetic to a 287-room property that opened in May. Food enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the opening of José Andrés’ latest Bazaar restaurant, expected later this year. The property offers multiple ways to unwind, from light-therapy treatments at the Ondara Spa to beach loungers equipped with innovative “popsicle pagers” for frozen treat delivery. Two outdoor pools cater to different preferences – one bordered by coral-colored cabanas and another with a hydraulic bottom that transforms into a fashion runway when needed. The hotel cultivates a “cultured jet set” atmosphere, where guests might be spotted reading literary fiction while sipping either a sophisticated Reverse Carajillo coffee cocktail at the curvilinear Bar Centro or enjoying a Tajin-rimmed watermelon margarita poolside.

In South Beach’s sophisticated South of Fifth neighborhood, a 1940s Art Deco property has been reborn under Wyndham’s Registry Collection. Bigtime Design Studios has expertly blended the building’s historic bones with colonial elegance, creating spaces where terrazzo floors shine beneath sculptural lighting and midcentury art evokes Golden Era glamour with distinctly Miami flair. The 82 guest rooms feel like retreats for modern nobility, featuring vegan bath products and convenient access to the courtyard pool. The property’s Eastern Mediterranean restaurant, Laurel, helmed by Surf Club alum Camila Olarte, has quickly become a neighborhood favorite for its shared plates and vibrant courtyard dining. Mornings at the property begin at SoFi Coffee, where hand-poured brews from Imperial Moto complement pastries from Butter Moon, and Sundays transform the space into an art café offering clay sculpting, painting, and collage-making sessions that bring creative energy to the start of each week.

A stunning $100 million renovation on Collins Avenue has breathed new life into a Morris Lapidus Art Deco masterpiece, reopened in May after careful restoration by design firm ADC & Tuneu. Despite the sophisticated earth tones and natural materials found throughout the 251 guest rooms and public spaces, the property maintains a lively atmosphere centered around its iconic pool, where guests lounge on mint-green chairs beneath palm trees or gather courage to dive from the preserved midcentury platform. Those seeking the ultimate experience should book an oceanfront suite with a balcony, perfect for entertaining new friends made during Miami’s endless social season. The property encourages a “surfside glam” dress code – think oversized hats, statement sunglasses, and bejeweled mules – creating an atmosphere distinctly more sophisticated than standard beach fare. The hotel’s food and beverage program shines under the direction of LT Hospitality, featuring the Little Torch lounge with its personalized spirits cart and Pauline restaurant, where Florida Keys native and Michelin-recognized culinary director Abram Bissell introduces guests to local delicacies like conch ceviche.

Another $100 million transformation has reinvigorated a beloved island resort, completely refreshing its 450 rooms, dining concepts, and wellness offerings across its impressive 17-acre oceanfront location. The property now functions as a destination spa and wellness retreat, featuring a co-ed meditation garden, Tremble fitness studio, and landscaping inspired by the natural beauty of Biscayne Bay. Guest rooms have been redesigned as serene sanctuaries, incorporating natural stone, ocean-colored textiles, and warm wood details that create a sense of peace. The culinary program offers guilt-free dining at the Aegean-influenced Paralía and Italian-inspired Luma, while more indulgent options include gelato at poolside Scoop or evening cocktails at the Dune Beach Bar. This thoughtful renovation demonstrates how Miami’s established properties continue to reinvent themselves while maintaining their distinctive character and charm, offering guests the perfect balance of tradition and innovation in one of America’s most dynamic cities.