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Which is the best hotel on Miami Beach? Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, Surfside, Florida Vs. Ritz-Carlton South Beach Vs. W South Beach? We discuss below.
1. Best Location: Four Seasons Surf Club Miami Vs. Ritz-Carlton Vs. W South Beach
These three hotels are in quite different locations. Four Seasons Surf Club is located on the Northern end of Miami Beach, facing the Atlantic and in a calmer, more serene patch of this beach.
The Ritz-Carlton is on the edge of the central part of South Beach, so walkable to all the nearby nightlife and again faces the Atlantic.
W South Beach is actually slightly further than The Ritz-Carlton from the action of South Beach, so from the perspective of getting to South Beach in the evenings, the Ritz-Carlton wins.
Of course, many will prefer to spend their evenings in the secluded exclusivity of Four Seasons Surf Club, so if you are not looking for nightlife, it is the quieter location of the Surf Club that we prefer.
2. Best Beach
As I outlined above, Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, Surfside, has the best location for beach as it is nestled on a prime spot of quiet beach and looks out over the Atlantic ocean. The Surf Club boasts 965 feet (300 meters) of Atlantic oceanfront on a 9-acre (3.6 hectares) with more than 40 beach cabanas. The beach is spectacular, with crystal clear waters.
The Ritz-Carlton and W are located further down the same beach, but the beach in front of these hotels is busier.
3. Best Pool
The Four Seasons’ four swimming pools are excellent, stylish and relaxing and are just a couple of humps of sand away from the beach. The Ritz-Carlton also has a stylish pool steps from the beach, but it does not feel as stylish as the Four Seasons pool. The W South Beach has a “Wet Deck” pool area that feels stylish and fun. The Four Seasons and W pools are the best. The former is more sophisticated. The latter caters to a more youthful crowd.
4. Best For Kids
Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club is fabulous for children offering a Kids For All Seasons activity program. If money is not a barrier to booking here, then Four Seasons is the best hotel for children.
5. Best Style
Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club has approximately 80 rooms and incorporates a historic Russell Pancoast-designed building. The legendary Surf Club was founded in 1930 by Harvey Firestone as a private membership club. Now a Four Seasons Hotel, it has been lavishly restored and, in my opinion, is the most stylish hotel in Miami.
6. Best Restaurant
I think the best restaurant is Lido Restaurant at Four Seasons. Once the name of The Surf Club’s restaurant prior to its reimagination, chosen for evoking the leisurely lifestyle of an Italian summer, Lido Restaurant at The Surf Club celebrates its place as the best oceanfront dining experience in the Miami Beaches. Here, Michael White, the chef behind Michelin-starred spots in New York City, brings his stylized and sophisticated coastal Italian cuisine to a Miami icon.
7. Best Rooms
Four Seasons rooms are stylish and immaculate and the best of these three hotels. With either privileged views of the Atlantic Ocean or city, Guest Rooms are bathed in natural light by floor-to-ceiling windows and feature a refreshing color palette that echoes the classic Surfside combination of sand, sea, and sun.
8. Club Lounge
The Ritz-Carlton has a club lounge, and the other two hotels don’t, making the Ritz-carlton the best choice for a club lounge. The only of its kind in South Beach, the Club Lounge provides a bespoke experience with an ocean view for guests looking for a more private resort experience. Newly redesigned, the exclusive space features rustic finishes inspired by mid-century modern design and color. There are generous food and drink offerings in this concierge lounge throughout the day.
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