Where to Stay in South Beach Miami – South Beach Hotel Guide

Known for it’s sprawling beaches, colorful art-deco architecture, exciting nightlife, beach clubs, and miles of cafes, shops and bars makes South Beach the place to be in Miami for those looking for a bit of a Vegas-esque beach vacation.

If you are heading to Miami without a car then I definitely recommend staying in South Beach as you can walk most places.

South Beach has such a high concentration of things to see and do in a small area, and it’s easy to get around on foot. Here are some of my top recommendations for South Beach hotels.

Headed to Miami soon? You may also want to check out these posts:

• Best things to do in Miami – Complete Miami Travel Guide
• Most Instagrammable Places in Miami
• The Perfect 3 Days in Miami Itinerary
• 13 Most Instagrammable Places in Palm Beach
• Florida Packing Guide
• 21 Fun Things to do in Key West Florida
• Best Restaurants in South Beach, Miami
• The Perfect 1 Day Itinerary for Little Havana, Miami

And I’ve created a FREE printable checklist of all of Miami’s top sights and attractions to help make sure you don’t miss a single thing during your next trip to Miami. You can grab it below!

Where to Stay in South Beach for a Quiet and Relaxing Vacation

One thing we did learn during our trip to Miami is that the heart of South Beach and Ocean drive can be a lot to handle for those that are looking for a little more of a relaxing vacation.

Our first hotel during this trip was right in the thick of party central and man did we every struggle those first two nights. 

Miami, and South Beach specifically, is known for its party scene.

So it’s no surprise it’s a little trickier to find quiet hotels in South Beach.

If you’re looking for more of a relaxing South Beach experience I definitely recommend staying in a hotel in the SOFI neighbourhood (South of Fifth).

SOFI is much quieter than the main strip of South Beach but still within walking distance of all of the action.

Marriott Stanton South Beach

We spent our last two nights in Miami at the beautiful Marriott Stanton South Beach (you can read my full experience here) which turned out to be the answer to all of our prayers.

The Marriott Stanton South Beach is the perfect solution for those who want to be able to enjoy the fun of South Beach but also be able to relax and escape the chaos.

The hotel itself was very quiet and right on the beach.

It’s located in the SOFI neighbourhood so it’s much quieter but it’s within walking distance from all the bars and restaurants if you want to get in some nightlife too.

Check out my full blog post on my experience staying with the Marriott Stanton South Beach here and see why I recommend it so much!

Marriott Stanton South Beach is ideal for: Those looking for a relaxing, family friendly, quiet stay right on the beach.

Rating: 4 Star Hotel

Price Point: Approx $400 per night. Check the latest rates for the Marriott Stanton South Beach here

More Quiet Hotels in South Beach (priced highest to lowest)

• Loews Miami Beach Hotel
• Mondrian South Beach Hotel
• Carillon Miami Wellness Resort
• Riviera Hotel & Suites

Where to Stay in South Beach for Vibrant Nightlife

If your main goal in visiting Miami is to party like never before, then you definitely want to be right in the heart of South Beach.

I’m talking somewhere near the heart of ocean drive, not far from the beach, and stumbling distance from all the hottest bars.

Well this one is for you!

Dream South Beach

The Dream South Beach is the perfect hotel for those who are looking for fun, nightlife, pool parties, and want to be within steps from Ocean Drive.

Dream South Beach is a party focused hotel with 107 rooms in South Beach’s Art Deco District.

It’s located right in the heart of Ocean Drive and just steps from the beach.

The rooms at the Dream South Beach are a little on the small side but they’re absolutely gorgeous.

I loved the blue tones!

The real highlight of the Dream South Beach though is the amazing rooftop infinity pool that stays open late into the night.

They have a bar up there and host parties into the wee hours of the night.

The Dream South Beach also has a taco restaurant on the main level that offers a large menu of Mexican food and an intense tequila bar.

Nothing quite says a party like tequila and tacos!

The Dream South Beach is ideal for: Couples and groups of friends looking for a fun, upscale Miami party experience. Young, hip partiers.

Rating: 4 Star Hotel

Price Point: Approx $300 per night. Check the latest rates for Dream
South Beach here

Other Top Rated Nightlife Hotels

Here are some of the top rated hotel known for their parties and nightlife the South Beach area (in no particular order).

• Delano South Beach
• Fontainebleau
• Shore Club South Beach
• Clevelander South Beach
• The Standard Miami
• Hotel Victor South Beach

Alternative Option: Grab an Airbnb

Another great option rather than renting a hotel in South Beach is to book yourself an Airbnb.

Choosing Airbnb over a hotel can not only save you a lot of money when you travel, but you’ll have amenities like a kitchen to be able to make your own meals.

I absolutely love staying in Airbnb’s for the privacy and amount of money I am able to save.

There are tons of great Airbnb’s in South Beach too!

I hope you enjoyed this South Beach Miami hotel guide! Hopefully it helps you narrow down your hotel choices a bit.

If you’re headed to Miami soon you might also want to check out these posts:

• Best things to do in Miami – Complete Miami Travel Guide
• Most Instagrammable Places in Miami
• The Perfect 3 Days in Miami Itinerary
• 13 Most Instagrammable Places in Palm Beach
• Florida Packing Guide
• 21 Fun Things to do in Key West Florida
• Best Restaurants in South Beach, Miami
• The Perfect 1 Day Itinerary for Little Havana, Miami

With love, Kirsten