Miami Beach's Art Deco playground has been immortalized in movies and TV series, and much of the reputation lives up to the hype. As you stroll down Lincoln Road, you'll find that every passerby is as picture-perfect as the next. Stilettos are a shoe of choice, and beachwear doubles as nightwear at many seaside eateries. While some hotels cater more to the nightclubbing crowd, Loews Miami Beach Hotel in South Beach feels like a little oasis isolated — slightly — from the surrounding hustle and bustle.
A few years ago, the property, which is housed in the 1930s-era St. Moritz Tower, underwent a $50 million renovation. Today, the design blends contemporary design with Art Deco charm. As one of the largest hotels in South Beach, the property features 790 rooms and suites. There’s something for everyone here, from the kids' club to the on-site boutique fitness studio, to the award-winning seafood restaurant: not to mention one of the best stretches of sand in the area. Here’s what we saw when we stayed.
The Look
Twenty years ago, when the hotel first debuted, it was one of the hottest beachfront properties in the area. Once again, the property is stepping up as a grand dame on South Beach. Sleek suites are outfitted with custom wall art. In-room amenities include hair products from celeb stylist Julien Farel as well as haute Italian Frette linens.
The Vibe
The hotel feels like a destination in itself with its six restaurants and bars, cabana-fringed pool, spacious beachfront (which is complete with a kids’ play area), and Exhale Spa, which is best for its killer Core Fusion workout classes. It’s these kinds of offerings that make Loews Miami Beach just as popular with locals as hotel guests.
Who Will Love It
Families will especially appreciate a stay here. The property has a Caribbean, all-inclusive feel without being cookie-cutter. Think family happy hour (cocktails for you, mocktails for the kids), children’s manis and pedis at the on-site salon (which is also known for its 15-minute express blowouts), and the SOBE Kids Club, which offers half- and full-day programs for children aged four through 12. There’s also evening activities on weekends so parents can slip away and have a solo dinner at Lure Fishbar, where we recommend going all-out with an oyster tower.
Who Might Not
Staying in the heart of South Beach has its price. If you’re looking for seclusion and privacy, you may want to opt for one of the boutique Art Deco hotels further down on the beach. Here, you’re surrounded by tourists, bachelorette parties, and international travelers looking to soak up South Beach’s pulsating nightlife and see-and-be-seen beach scene.
Best Amenity
Of course, the beach is a huge selling factor, but for something more intimate, head to the rooftop pool and lounge in one of the eight chic cabanas, which feature butler service and spa treatments. Cabanas can accommodate up to six people.
What’s Included
Wifi and in-room coffee (thanks to a Keurig coffee maker) are included. Other amenities include free shoe shine service, as well as a complimentary photoshoot. Additionally, if you’re traveling with infants, you'll be pleased to know that cribs are complimentary; the property will also include in a baby bath amenity kit.
Fees and Extra Costs You Should Know About
The $32 nightly resort fee (plus tax) is one of the better ones we’ve seen in Miami Beach. This includes up to four beach chairs; use of kayaks and paddle boards (up to 30 minutes daily); Banana Boat rides from 10 to11 a.m.; cold-pressed juice, fruit and coconut water by the pool; and access to exhale Spa (plus a free daily meditation class). Pets are treated like royalty here from the second they walk through the door. With the Loews Loves Pets program, you can bring up to two pets per room for a fee of $50 per stay. In addition to a complimentary pet tag, bowl, and treats, the resort offers gourmet room service menus for your four-legged friend, along with pet-walking and sitting. Like most resorts on South Beach, valet parking is expensive ($31 for the day, $41 for overnight). Luckily, there's a parking garage across the street that charges $2 per hour or $20 per day.
How to Get a Deal
Take a look at the hotel’s offers page for deals like half-off Sunday night stays, food and beverage credits, and other promotions. Rates in high season (January through April) average around $499 per night, but drop to around $249 in the summer months.
In the Neighborhood
Loews Miami Beach Hotel sits on the corner of Collins Avenue and 16th Street, one block from Miami Beach's iconic Lincoln Road, where you can dine in style at rooftop restaurant Juvia or spend hours shopping at the many boutiques that line the street. While you’re here, pop into one of the city’s edgier designer shops, Alchemist. Take advantage of the hotel’s beachfront locale (and complimentary beach chairs) or head to one of South Beach’s signature pool parties at nearby Hyde Beach. You may associate South Beach with clubbing — and you’re near some of the best, like LIV Nightclub at the Fontainebleau — but don’t miss out on Miami Beach's arts and culture scene, either. Fillmore Miami is about 10 minutes from Loews Miami Beach Hotel. It's where shows like The Dick Clark Show were filmed back in the 1960s. Now, the venue hosts nearly 200 concerts each year, and attracts musicians like Tori Amos, Lily Allen, and Interpol.
Nearest Airports
Miami International Airport is about a 25-minute drive from the resort, depending on traffic. Both Uber and Lyft operate in Miami Beach (expect to pay around $25 for a private car, or $15 for a pool), and the resort can arrange a shuttle service. You can also fly into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which is about an hour away by car.
If you’re looking for the full South Beach experience (but you also want to include kids and/or four-legged friends), Loews Miami Beach Hotel checks off all the boxes. From the gorgeous beachfront to the buzzy eateries, to the lively bars to the pristine spa, the property truly offers something for everyone.