The best hotels in South Beach, ranked by Michelin Keys and Forbes stars, and which one fits your trip
The South Beach hotels that the 2026 Michelin Keys and Forbes Travel Guide rate highest, what each is like, and the one to pick for families or couples.
The short version
- Top rated: The Setai: two Michelin Keys and Forbes Five-Star, on the beach at 2001 Collins.
- Most to do: 1 Hotel South Beach: one Key, four pools, 600 feet of shoreline.
- With kids: The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach: Ritz-Kids club and the DiLido Beach Club.
- Adults only: Hotel Greystone: one Key, 91 rooms, 21+ to check in.
- Just north: Faena, two Keys and Five-Star, is at 32nd Street, outside South Beach.
The Setai is the best hotel in South Beach by every outside rating we checked; book 1 Hotel if you want more pools and a livelier scene, and the Ritz-Carlton if you are traveling with children.
South Beach hotels with the top outside ratings
| Hotel | Address | Michelin Keys 2026 | Forbes Travel Guide | Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Setai Miami Beach | 2001 Collins Ave | Two | Five-Star | 120 |
| 1 Hotel South Beach | 2341 Collins Ave | One | Recommended | 426 |
| The Betsy | 1440 Ocean Dr | One | Not rated | 130 |
| Hotel Greystone | 1920 Collins Ave | One | Not rated | 91 |
| The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach | 1 Lincoln Rd | None | Recommended | 376 |
Michelin's 2026 Keys were published on September 18, 2026. Room counts come from Michelin, except the Ritz-Carlton's, from Forbes. Faena (two Keys, Five-Star) and the Miami Beach EDITION (Four-Star) are in Mid-Beach, so they are below, not in this table.
guide.michelin.com (2026 US Key list and hotel pages), forbestravelguide.com, checked October 2026
The Setai: the clear number one
The Setai, at 2001 Collins Avenue, is the only South Beach hotel with both two Michelin Keys and a Forbes Five-Star rating; Forbes Travel Guide's Miami page lists it among five Five-Star hotels in the area. It pairs a 40-story aquamarine glass tower right on the beach with the restored Art Deco Dempsey Vanderbilt building on the Collins Avenue side.
Michelin counts 120 rooms, many tower suites with sea views, and three pools. Interiors run to dark wood, black granite and teak rather than South Beach pastels, and Michelin describes the restaurant's food as trans-ethnic Asian. Check-in is at 3 pm. It is the splurge pick for a calm stay right on the sand.
1 Hotel South Beach: the big all-rounder
1 Hotel South Beach, at 2341 Collins Avenue, is the busy, full-service choice. The hotel describes a 600-foot stretch of shoreline and four pools, and Michelin adds a rooftop pool with views, the Bamford Wellness Spa, an Anatomy gym, a SoulCycle studio and WATR, a rooftop Japanese restaurant.
It holds one Michelin Key and a Forbes Recommended rating. Children of any age are allowed, pets stay at no extra charge on request, and check-in is at 4 pm. The cost to watch is parking: Michelin lists $62.06 a day.
The best South Beach hotel for your trip
| A once-in-a-while splurge | The Setai, for the tower suites and three pools on the sand |
| Families | The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, with its Ritz-Kids club and beach club |
| Pools, spa and a scene | 1 Hotel South Beach |
| Adults only, small | Hotel Greystone, 21+ to check in |
| Ocean Drive and live jazz | The Betsy |
| Space, kayaks and a dog in tow | Loews Miami Beach, 790 rooms, pets for $50 per stay |
The Ritz-Carlton, The Betsy and Hotel Greystone
The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach sits at the foot of Lincoln Road on the ocean. It is a restored 1953 Morris Lapidus hotel, now a city-protected landmark, renovated for $90 million and reopened in January 2020, with 376 rooms and suites. Forbes points to the DiLido Beach Club, the Ritz-Kids club for children and a Club Level lounge, and rates it Recommended.
The Betsy, on Ocean Drive at 14th Street, holds one Michelin Key with 130 rooms, a rooftop pool, live jazz in its Piano Bar and a literary bent. Hotel Greystone, at 1920 Collins Avenue, holds one Key with 91 rooms, a rooftop pool and an adults-only policy. Our boutique hotel guide covers both in more depth.
Just outside South Beach, and the new arrivals
Two of the most decorated hotels in Miami Beach are a short ride north, in Mid-Beach. Faena Hotel Miami Beach, at 3201 Collins Avenue, holds two Michelin Keys and a Forbes Five-Star rating, with 179 rooms and the Tierra Santa spa. The Miami Beach EDITION, at 2901 Collins Avenue, is Forbes Four-Star, with 294 rooms, two ocean-facing pools, a bowling alley and an ice rink. If you do not need to walk to Lincoln Road, both belong on the shortlist.
Forbes also lists Delano Miami Beach and Andaz Miami Beach as soon to be rated, and The James Nautilus Miami Beach as a debut, so none of them has a star rating yet. We leave them out until they do.
Questions people ask
What is the best hotel in South Beach?
The Setai, at 2001 Collins Avenue. It is the only South Beach hotel with two Michelin Keys in the 2026 selection and a Forbes Five-Star rating.
Which South Beach hotels have Michelin Keys?
In 2026, The Setai holds two Keys; 1 Hotel South Beach, The Betsy and Hotel Greystone hold one each. Faena, with two Keys, is at 32nd Street in Mid-Beach.
What is the best hotel in South Beach for families?
The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach has a Ritz-Kids club and the DiLido Beach Club. 1 Hotel South Beach also allows children of any age and has four pools.
Are there Forbes Five-Star hotels in South Beach?
The Setai is the only one in South Beach. Faena Hotel Miami Beach, in Mid-Beach, is also Five-Star.
Is there an adults-only hotel in South Beach?
Hotel Greystone at 1920 Collins Avenue requires guests to be 21 or older to check in, and holds one Michelin Key.
More guides
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