Award: Best representation of the Asian luxury aesthetic
Housed in a restored 1936 landmark building within the Art Deco District, the Setai, Miami Beach is inside the Dempsey-Vanderbilt hotel by heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey that first opened on January 1, 1937. It became the Setai in 2004, sporting a refresh by designers Jean-Michel Gathy and the late Jaya Ibrahim that weaves the aesthetics of the Far East into its original Art Deco facade. The lobby features gray Art Deco bricks rescued from Shanghai, lattice work inspired by Belgian Art Deco made from Burmese teak, and a bronze fireplace handcrafted in Bali.
The Setai has 91 Art Deco rooms inside the landmark building, as well as 57 ocean suites, three pool villas, and one four-bedroom penthouse suite, which are all in the newer Setai tower. There are five restaurants and bars, including Japón, a contemporary Japanese restaurant, and Jaya, a Southeast Asian restaurant that hosts a Sunday Jazz Brunch with a Peking duck bar. Relax on the beach, in one of the three pools, or at the Valmont Spa, which has seven treatment rooms with panoramic ocean and city views.
Best amenity: The courtyard. Plenty of Miami Beach hotels share the same sand and ocean, but only the Setai boasts the tranquil courtyard featuring towering pergolas of dark woods and the iconic serenity pond. Once the sun sets, the courtyard transforms into a glamorous social spot beloved by Miami’s elite.
Can’t-miss experience: Dining at Japón, which opened in late 2024, is a Japanese culinary experience. The opulent room has a gold leaf ceiling, glossy blue paneling, marble bar, and woodblock prints from the 1800s. Order tuna crispy rice, king crab roll, truffle hotpot, and fillet mignon with yuzu truffle ponzu.
From $1,200