Of the luxury hotels in Miami Beach, I have chosen 3, all on the sand along Collins Avenue and unlike in everything else. The Setai is for quiet in South Beach, with 3 pools at different temperatures and no resort fee; Faena for dinner, a show and live music in one building; Fontainebleau for a vast 1954 resort with 10 pools and more than 1,500 rooms, at far lower prices.
All 3 have the beach in front. What sets them apart is scale, 157 suites against more than 1,500 rooms, what happens after dark, and the final bill, where resort fees, tax and parking weigh differently.
| Hotel | Suits | The trip | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Setai Miami Beach | Travellers who want South Beach on foot and quiet behind the walls, with 3 pools and a serviced beach | 157 suites of 50 m² and more, in a 1937 Art Deco building and a 40-storey tower at 20th Street | In 2026 building work next door could be heard from the pools, and the courtyard holds dinner with a DJ until 11pm every night: for quiet, ask for a suite away from the courtyard. |
| Faena Hotel Miami Beach | Couples and friends who want the beach by day and dinner, a show and live music at night in one building | 179 rooms on the Mid-Beach sand, with a theatre, Francis Mallmann’s Los Fuegos and a 2,044 m² spa | The $65 resort fee and the $68 valet are added to the rate each night, before tax; with late hours and dress codes, families with small children will be happier elsewhere. |
| Fontainebleau Miami Beach | Travellers who want a big, lively beach resort with pools, restaurants and a nightclub under one roof | More than 1,500 rooms and suites in 4 towers on the sand in Mid-Beach, with 10 pools, Lapis Spa and LIV | Anyone after quiet and a small hotel will be happier elsewhere; the $59 fee and valet come on top, and in 2026 guests report works on the pool deck. |
3 addresses on Collins Avenue, from south to north: at 2001 an Art Deco building of 1937 with a 40-storey tower behind it; at 3201 the former Saxony Hotel, reopened in late 2015 as the heart of the Faena District; at 4441 the resort Morris Lapidus designed in 1954, now 4 towers.
South Beach, Miami Beach
157 suites in a 1937 Art Deco building and a 40-storey tower, with 3 pools at 3 temperatures and a serviced beach on Collins Avenue
Mid-Beach, Miami Beach
179 rooms on the Mid-Beach sand, with a gilded theatre, Francis Mallmann’s open fires and a 2,044 m² spa
Mid-Beach, Miami Beach
The 1954 Morris Lapidus resort on the Atlantic: more than 1,500 rooms in 4 towers, with pools on the sand, 7 restaurants, Lapis Spa and the nightclub LIV
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The Setai: its FAQ states that there is none, and promises a serviced beach with loungers and umbrellas. Faena charges $65 a night plus 14% tax, $74.10 in all, which covers loungers, umbrellas and towels. At Fontainebleau the fee is $59 and includes one beach chair for each registered guest; umbrellas and extra loungers are rented.
It depends what you want from one. The Setai has 3 in a line towards the ocean, held all year at 75, 85 and 90°F: one for lengths, one for lounging, one for families. Faena has a single pool in the garden, for hotel guests only, and does not say whether it is heated. Fontainebleau counts 10, with shallow children’s pools, a waterslide and an adults-only area; in 2026, though, several guests describe building work on the pool deck, with some pools closed on their dates.
Far less at Fontainebleau than at the other 2. On Google Hotels, read on 8 October 2026 for 2 adults, Fontainebleau started at $266 on 11 October, resort fee included and tax not; The Setai at $595 on 14 October, before tax; Faena at $666 on 13 October, resort fee included and tax not. Tax adds about 14%. During Art Basel, in early December, Faena rose to $3,314 and Fontainebleau to $1,459.
Valet only, at all 3. The Setai charges $60 a night with in-and-out privileges and has 4 chargers for electric cars. Faena $68 plus tax and service. Fontainebleau $58 to $73 a night plus tax, more during special events.
All 3, within different limits. The Setai takes dogs up to 20 lb. Faena up to 25 lb, for a $250 non-refundable fee plus $25 a night. Fontainebleau up to 50 lb each, 2 to a room, though not on the pool deck; on the fee its own pages disagree, $100 on one and $200 on another.
Fontainebleau for its shallow pools, waterslide and prices: children of 17 and under stay free in existing beds and cots are free, though the kids’ club is no longer running. The Setai keeps its family pool at 90°F and has no club. At Faena under-12s stay free, but in the evening the lounge is for over-21s and the show for over-18s.
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