4-Star Hotels in Miami Beach

My wife and I stayed at Esmé Miami Beach for a night in mid-May, right after our cruise, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The location is a real strength: firmly in South Beach, close enough to soak up the energy of Miami Beach yet tucked away enough to feel relaxed. Access to the beach is effortless (about 6 minutes), and the complimentary beach beds were a genuinely welcome touch. They also kindly offered us complimentary early check-in, which — coming straight off the ship — made all the difference in starting the stay smoothly. The hotel has character. It's tastefully designed with a stylish latin boutique feel — warm, elegant, and far more personal than a standard property. The rooftop pool was a particular highlight: well laid out and a lovely spot to unwind. Throughout our stay, the staff were attentive, friendly, and consistently welcoming. Española Way, just steps behind the hotel, offers a good spread of restaurants and cafés — easy to step out for dinner, drinks, or a casual evening stroll without ever needing to drive. Overall, we loved our stay and would happily recommend it

The glass door is poorly soundproofed, the outdoor bar is noisy until midnight, and the pool starts to be cleaned at 7am. How can you expect people to sleep well? I used the old faucet for two days, but I still couldn't tell which direction to turn to get hot water. The winding maze-like stairs made me go up and down the stairs the wrong way after two days. Recommended for people who are interested in archeology.

The hotel is very close to the beach and Lincoln Road. You can see the sea by opening the window, and the room is quite large compared to New York.

At first, I was worried because I had seen some negative reviews online, but we still decided to book this hotel. In reality, everything turned out to be much better than we expected. The hotel is very clean and modern. The rooms are excellent — clean, neat, and well maintained. Overall, the hotel makes a very good impression and feels fresh and comfortable.

The photo was really deceived. I checked in on the 3rd floor without clear instructions. I promised to sort out the room in half an hour and waited for two and a half hours. I went to the lobby to pick it up. The sea view room is too far away. The price is the most unaffordable hotel.

Room clean but very small. Friendly service. As people over 70, we did not feel at ease. On the first day, there was a pool party at the swimming pool, and we didn't feel inclined to go to the pool. (Saturday) On the day of departure, Sunday, we were able to use the pool after checking out. However, 80% of the sunbeds by the pool were reserved. The music volume is between 80 and 118 decibels. Around 10:30 PM, there was also a noise disturbance. Something was done about this after a phone call. In short: Nice place for young people, but they won't see me here again…

Although the hotel is quite new with modern facilities, it is worn down, especially furniture on the rooftop. The room was quite small, windows dirty and on the half 4th floor young students who partied with music, telco in the hallway, smashing doors at 4am. Fitness room and pools too small. Serena Rest/bar quite good. Staff is top.

At the beach in central Miami, the beach is at the doorstep. The shape is a 50s and 60s building, and the interior is a modern style that has just been renovated. It is very comfortable to live in, and there are fewer restaurants around.

Boulan South Beach – Honest Review I recently stayed at Boulan South Beach and overall had a great experience, with a few minor drawbacks. Positives: The location is fantastic—just one block from the beach and in a very walkable area surrounded by great restaurants and bars. The hotel itself offers solid amenities, including a small but relaxing rooftop pool with a bar. One of the highlights of my stay was dining at Orange Blossom, the on-site restaurant. The food was excellent, and I’d highly recommend checking it out even if you’re not staying at the hotel. The rooms are well-appointed, apartment-style suites that feel spacious and thoughtfully designed. I also appreciated how quiet the rooms were—perfect for getting a good night’s sleep after a day out. Negatives: That said, I was disappointed by the bed. The listing advertised a pillow-top mattress, but the bed was far from comfortable and fell short of our expectations. Also, for a room that otherwise felt luxurious, the lack of bathrobes was a small detail that would’ve really rounded out a luxurious experience. Additionally, while the room was clean, some of the design choices were lovely but weren’t the most practical for a hotel setting. The cloth-upholstered bed frame, while stylish, showed some staining—fabric furniture can be hard to keep looking fresh in a high-turnover “fun” environment. Similarly, the jute rug added visual texture but proves to be difficult to clean and showed signs of wear. Final Thoughts: Boulan South Beach is a solid choice if you’re looking for a stylish, well-located hotel in South Beach with great amenities and a quieter, more refined atmosphere. Just be aware of a few comfort and design trade-offs. It really is too bad, because Boulan is excellent on so many things and I would 100% go back and definitely recommend this hotel to others… However, the bed quality really brought down the overall appeal. If they can improve that one aspect, this would easily be a top-tier stay in South Beach.