11 Best Spring Break Hotels in Miami

The Magic City of Miami is famous for its Art Deco architecture, stunning beaches, and, of course, its legendary all-night parties. When it comes to spring break in Florida, South Beach tends to get all the attention, but Miami Beach isn’t that far behind either. Not only was it a little more chilled out than South Beach, but also, the scene was more about relaxing poolside than passing out, and the parties were navigable. What’s more, the prices of spring break hotels in Miami were more affordable. Since we wanted to get the complete Miami spring break vibe, we picked and chose hotels for their different vibes, budgets, and party scenes. So, whether we wanted to party with our friends, explore Miami’s sights and sounds, or soak up the sun, there was a hotel for every purpose – Miami has it all.

Spring happens to be one of the busiest times of year to visit Miami, especially for peeps like us who want to attend the many festivals taking place at this time. These include the Winter Music Conference, the Miami Music Week, and, of course, the ultimate – the Ultra Music Festival. We’ve compiled a list of the best hotels you can stay in during spring break where the party scene will be sizzling and navigable and won’t burn a hole in your pockets either.

Meanwhile, you might want to start off by reading about the top things to do in Miami during the Ultra Music Festival.

The Balfour Hotel

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We begin with the Balfour Hotel, a cheeky boutique stay that was known as the Lord Balfour Hotel, named after the former British PM. It’s a highly intimate and stylish hotel with nature-inspired interiors – expect to see wooden furniture in every nook! It sits in a prime location at the southern end of Ocean Drive (SoFi, South of Fifth), right opposite the street from the beach. So, even though we were close enough to the action, the immediate surroundings were serene and peaceful.

On the inside, the Art Deco vibe extends to the interiors, where low-slung sofas greeted us in the spacious reception-cum-bar area. The walls were filled with the hotel’s art collection, and there was a concierge desk and coffee table books about Miami photography. After the friendly staff gave us information about the Sunday yoga session, we headed to the elevated pool area with an underwater window! It was surrounded by ratan lounges, where we could enjoy a break after a soak. We appreciated the stylish lobby bar that served classic cocktails. So, we could pre-booze here before heading out for partying in South Beach!

We had the choice of 82 rooms, all of which had bamboo floors and inviting beds. The rainfall showers in the bathrooms were a blessing after a sweaty evening out (Miami can be humid!). All in all, staying here was a playful, fun experience without being too clubby.

Fontainebleau Miami Beach

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Best party hotel. Dominating its stretch of the famous Millionaire’s Row is Fontainebleau Miami Beach, which is the epitome of mid-century Miami glamour. One of the city’s hottest hotels today, this former 1950s resort is home to a glitzy nightclub, four stellar restaurants, and one of the most luxurious spas in town.

So, what makes Fontainblue spring break-worthy? For one, the entryway, with its iconic marble bow-tie floor glittering chandeliers, is impressive right off the bat. However, it’s the neon-pulsing Bleau Bar that’ll take your breath away. Buzzing throughout the day, the bar is celebrity-central, with the likes of the Kardashians and supermodels like Heidi Klum being spotted here. The impressive and massive freeform pool area was where we’d be most of the time, especially since it’s surrounded by not just lounge chairs but also luxurious cabanas. The 40,000-square-foot spa is a must-visit for a wonderful massage or treatment. However, its top draw is celeb favorite LIV, one of Miami’s hottest nightclubs. It’s so exclusive that staying here doesn’t guarantee entry! In fact, the LIV pool party of one of the hottest tickets during springtime.

The rooms and suites here scream “luxurious seaside retreat” with a wonderful white, tan, and turquoise palette. Sinking into the outrageously comfortable beds after a night of partying felt divine, as did pampering ourselves in the oversized marble bathrooms. Since the rooms are divided across four towers, choose your stay wisely depending on what you’re looking for. Are you looking for a good party? Choose rooms in the Chateau Tower. It’s no wonder it’s not just one of Miami Beach’s best beachfront hotels, but is one of the best beachfront hotels in all of Miami.

Beds N’ Drinks Miami

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Best hostel. A little party never killed anybody – at least, that’s the writing on the wall, literally, at Beds N’ Drinks Miami, one of the most popular party hostels in Miami Beach. In fact, it has offered a discount for the upcoming spring season in South Beach. Not only that but also we were welcomed with a free drink when we arrived, which certainly set the tone for the rest of our budget yet amazing spring break in the city. The hostel sits in what is the only renovated Art Deco structure on the beach, which meant that we were never far from the action.

What we liked about this place was that despite being super social, it wasn’t a go-wild-and-crazy party hostel, which allowed us to have fun without all the hassles. After a day of exploring Miami, we’d begin the revelries during the hostel’s extended happy hour, which offered 2-for-1 cocktails. Did you know the hostel even offers free beach towels and umbrellas? Yes! The event roster here would be full, ranging from game nights and hot dog parties to beer pong and even movie nights with popcorn. While it does organize regular parties, we had fun chilling out and mingling with fellow hostel peeps during the day. Not only was there a bar area and a sun-kissed terrace but there was even a communal kitchen where we could whip up meals. If that wasn’t enough, our days began with free breakfasts, which was yet another amazing perk here.

When it came to accommodations, we had the choice of four/eight-bedroom female-only and mixed dorms and even private rooms if we wanted privacy. What’s more, every bed in the dorm had a socket, towels, linens, and a shared but very neat bathroom.

The Goodtime Hotel

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We were looking for a place to dine on Miami’s delicious food, people-watch, and party away – and that too steps away from the beach. We found all of them together in the form of The Goodtime Hotel, the brainchild of musician Pharrell Williams. Simply put, this is the place to have a good time and be happy.

Beverly Hills glam meets Miami Beach’s Art Deco aesthetic at this hotel, with its corrugated facade, palm tree prints, florals, and pastel hues. Every corner is thoroughly Instagrammable, with fantastic music playing throughout. The crowd is young cool creatives milling around, whether it was lounging on the daybeds by the pool or working on laptops at the Wes Anderson-inspired co-working space/library. In fact, weekends are all about the Las Vegas-style pool parties, complete with a DJ and amazing crowds, on the massive pool deck. There is not one but two lengthy pools lined with mint green palm fronds. If this doesn’t say Miami, we don’t know what does. Coming to the drinking and dining, the open-air Strawberry Moon serves mean Mediterranean fare for brunch and dinners.

“We indeed had a good time at Goodtime Hotel, which felt like stepping back in time for all the fun, but with 21st-century comforts!”

WOW Travel

The rooms, albeit small, are very well designed with a pink-and-green palette and retro touches and decor. Think pink rotary phones and quirky facial sketch-filled curtains. Not only were the beds comfortable after a day of partying, but so were the Nespresso machines, which were a blessing for heavy morning heads. It’s no surprise that it’s one of the best boutique hotels in Miami Beach.

East Miami

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Not every Miami spring break hotel needs to be on the beach, right? That’s why we loved the East Miami in Downtown, one of the best luxury hotels in Miami. Despite not being on the beach, we were in for a unique experience the minute we walked into the doors. A sleek, vast lobby with Asian-inspired touches greeted us, which isn’t surprising because it’s the first American outpost of Hong Kong-based Swire Hotels. It was certainly a welcome departure from SoBe’s neon Art Deco kitsch.

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Just because we weren’t on the beach didn’t mean that we didn’t enjoy the sunshine. We’re talking about the impressive pool deck with four bodies of water! Aside from a lap and spa swimming pool, it also had a cold plunge pool and a hot tub! After hours of swimming in every body of water we could find, we sprawled across the lounge chairs, ordering food and drinks poolside. In fact, staying by the pool was an all-day affair. A fitness center aside, the hotel really shines in terms of its drinking and dining scene, especially with Quinto La Huella, which serves Uruguan fare. That said, the hotel’s 40th-floor rooftop bar and garden, Sugar, is the most magical place on the property. The jungle-themed lush decor and verdure were perfect for us to drink absolutely Miami-esque drinks.

Notwithstanding the kind of room one books, all East Miami digs boast floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular water and city views. The Corner King has a wraparound balcony from which one could actually see the Everglades! Despite every room being unique and super-modern, they take their feng shui very seriously. What’s more, the hotel also has a collection of residential spaces, which feel like a friend’s very cool apartment!

W South Beach

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The urge to oceanfront splurge is highest at the W South Beach, where “over-the-top” is an understatement. This Miami beachfront sizzler oozes glamour and hipness wrapped in an uber-contemporary package. In short, we’d found the perfect place hat that was both an escape and a hotspot scene!

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The hotel’s clubby vibe begins right from the luxurious dark marble-clad lobby, which has both minimalist furnishings and museum-quality artwork. True to the brand’s motto, this Miami outpost also boasts a 24-hour “Whatever/Whenever” concierge service. However, the standout has to be the labyrinthine poolscape, which has not one but two ‘wet’ areas. There’s the WET outdoor heated pool which has a swanky rollicking vibe. The Mini WET is more tranquil – but tranquil is relative, given that it’s Miami! Both pools are sprinkled with cabanas in a lush, expansive setting. What’s more, there are also the rooftop tennis and basketball courts, two restaurants, a lobby lounge, and the buzzy DJ-fuelled hotspot Wall for late-night revelries. However, the piece de resistance is the Away Spa. After a night of partying without leaving the hotel, retreating to the serene space is just what the doctor ordered.

Like other W hotels, the Miami one has some of the most spacious and luxurious rooms on the beach. All of them are angled for ocean views through glass balconies or floor-to-ceiling windows. Swanky furnishings and high-tech mod-cons aside, every room has a spacious marble bathroom, the best of which have soaking tubs next to floor-to-ceiling windows.

Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel

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Imagine getting the offerings and perks of a boutique brand but in a smaller, more intimate setting – that’s the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel for you. This Miami beachfront Kimpton outpost is a cooler, more casual little brother of the traditional behemoth Miami Beach hotels, and we quite liked it. The vibe was more “relaxed house party” than raucous, allowing us to feel the buzz of South Beach without the in-your-face pulsating ambiance of the club scene. 

Tucked in a historic Art Deco gem, this hotel was big on socializing opportunities. For instance, there was a daily wine hour, which we never missed, even when we’d be exploring the city during the day. There was also the aptly named Social Club restaurant, which served craft cocktails and delicious bar and finger food. The other restaurant was where we’d enjoy meals, including fabulously complimentary breakfast spreads. However, the standout feature here was the pool deck, which also overlooked the ocean. A lovely ocean path was all that separated the beach sands and the verdure that surrounded the pool. After a lazy swim, the daybeds beneath the parasols were perfect for sprawling and soaking up the sun.

The rooms and suites here were much the same and very affordable as well, whether they were city-facing or ocean-facing. The best of them all were the deluxe oceanfront suites, which came with separate balconies and living rooms.

Did you know that this Kimpton hotel is also one of the top gay-friendly hotels In Miami?

Freehand Miami

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Best value for money. The Freehand wasn’t our only inexpensive stay choice in South Beach, but it was absolutely the best one. To be clear, the hip-hop Freehand is actually an upscale, somewhat luxurious hotel hostel and boasts both shared and private rooms. What’s more, it’s just a block from the ocean and is thus close to South Beach’s energy, complete with a wonderfully laid-back environment.

Tucked in a refurbished 1930s Art Deco structure, this hotel boasts a hip and eclectic vibe and a fantastic young staff. In fact, they gave us a lot of amazing suggestions for bars, restaurants, and activities. The highlight of the hotel’s features is the lush, expansive courtyard with a pool and the iconic Broken Shaker. During the day, the vibe is mellow as we swam and lazed about. At night, it had a whole party vibe going, serving some of the most creative artisanal cocktails we’d ever seen. What’s more, it even served us on the beach! The other restaurant has an equally amazing menu with Jewish-Israeli influences. Our days began equally fantastically, with a complimentary continental breakfast that included coffee, fruit, and Cuban pastries. There are also complimentary bicycles, board games, and a garden.

With just 63 rooms, including communal dorm rooms, staying here is intimate and exclusive. There are even two bungalows for larger groups of friends and families. If you want a quieter room, go for the one facing the street.

Mondrian South Beach

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We were looking for a unique SoBe hotel with a view different from the other ones on the beach. That’s when we found the Mondrian South Beach, which overlooks Biscayne Bay on the western side of South Beach. If you’re fearing that this stylish boutique hotel is far from the action, fret not. It’s the perfectly middle-ground and relaxed version of stylish SoBe digs.

On the inside, the hotel is one hip and dreamy world with a porte cochere with crystal chandeliers, glistening white lacquer walls, and the centerpiece – a sculptural black spiral staircase. We loved the playful poolscape with tall verdant hedges where we’d sunbathe on the cabanas with lots of cushions to relax and bay views to soak in. We loved the small spa with sauna and steam rooms and even an attached fitness center with fabulous views across the bay towards downtown. The onsite restaurant, Mondrian Cafe, is a far cry from SoBe’s glam, but we liked it enough for the stellar views and a most sumptuous à la carte breakfast. Our evening revelries usually began with cocktails – and views – at the Sunset Lounge.

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You’ll be delighted to know that the Mondrian’s rooms are the best in all of Miami – no, really. Think white and black brocaded accent walls, entertainment centers with a mirror-framed TV, and sculptural art pieces. What’s more, they all offer beautiful gardens or Biscayne Bay views.

Bars B&B South Beach Hotel

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Best B&B. Imagine finding a bed and breakfast in Miami Beach; that’s the Bars B&B South Beach Hotel for you. This alluring B&B sits on a small residential side street just a stone’s throw from Ocean Drive. So, while it was away from the hustle and bustle, it was still very conveniently located for us to jump back in when we wanted to.

The nucleus of the beach hotel is the inviting Asian-style courtyard, where we’d begin our days with alfresco freshly made-to-order breakfasts. In many ways, it was the best way to begin slower mornings in frenzied Miami. The superb staff made the staying experience all the better, giving us tips and advice on how to navigate the Miami spring break party scene. Next, we’d head to the beach, given that the hotel even provided us lounge chairs, umbrellas, and beach towels free of charge! After a day on the beach, the nightly cheese and wine happy hour was the perfect way to mingle with guests and unwind before getting dressed and heading out to Miami’s parties. But what we loved the best was that despite it being a B&B, there was an outdoor pool and jacuzzi in the backyard where we could lounge around.

With just seven rooms that open onto a lush central common area, staying here felt as intimate as it felt exclusive. We think we felt more exclusive than had we stayed at a luxurious beach-facing resort! What’s more, all rooms were very comfortable and kitted out with minimalist but modern decor. But that’s not all. All rooms came with TVs, a fridge, and a luxe private bathroom.

1 Hotel South Beach

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Sitting at the top of the list is the eco-conscious 1 Hotel South Beach, a gloriously beautiful beachfront stay that gave us very little reason to leave. Such is the brand’s fierce commitment to sustainability that the giant “1” that marks its location was actually constructed from 7,500 lbs of local Florida coral! On the inside. floor-to-ceiling windows offer spectacular beach views. In fact, the eco-chic hotel occupies an entire oceanfront block, so whether you’re staying here or not, it’s hard to ignore 1 Hotel.

This hotel redefines eco-luxury with a 900-m ‘living wall’ of 11,000 types of local plants on the exterior façade. What’s more, it has everything from electric white Teslas to lots of comfortable canvas and natural wood on the inside. However, the amenities are splashy to the hilt, especially the 15 sq m main pool, which sits on an elevated plaza and offers mesmerizing eye-level views of the ocean. But that’s not all; the narrow rooftop pool, where we’d lie after long beach days, was equally smashing with 360-degree views. Additionally, we loved unwinding at the spa, where a massage and body treatment sounded just perfect. A Soul Cycle spinning studio and a fitness center aside, the hotel has multiple dining venues ranging from the poolside vegan restaurant and a healthy grab-and-go cafe to the high-end Habitat. Don’t miss digging into sushi at the rooftop restaurant Watr.

The rooms here, some of SoBe’s largest, put us in zen mode, but the bathrooms were swanky with peekaboo windows and Calacatta marble soaking tubs. Our room even had a balcony, from where the ocean views were far better than any city views we’d seen in our lives.

Our Verdict!

While we loved all spring break digs in Miami, here’s a more specialized list that will help you decide where to stay:

• Best party hotel: Fontainebleau Miami Beach
• Best hostel: Beds N’ Drinks Miami
• Best value for money: Freehand Miami
• Best B&B: Bars B&B South Beach Hotel

Where to Stay in Miami?

When it comes to spring break in Miami, it’s hard to begin without mentioning South Beach, isn’t it? Miami’s most famous neighborhood is all about stunning Art Deco structures and lots of amazing bars. It might be one of the most expensive areas to stay in, spring break or otherwise, so if you’re ready to splurge, then this area is absolutely perfect.

That said, there’s more to Miami than just Miami Beach and South Beach. Next, there’s Downtown Miami, which is perfect for a spot of luxury and shopping. If you’re the creative kind and love all sorts of inventive art and design, then the Design District and Coconut Grove are perfect for exploring galleries during the day before heading to the nightclubs. Are you a culture vulture? For something unique and offbeat, stay in the Cuban district of Little Havana, which is different from Miami’s stereotypical beach scene, but a huge part of its fabric.

Recommended Restaurants / Bars in Miami:

• Astra Rooftop: This near-perfect rooftop restaurant was perfect for enjoying Mediterranean fare with spectacular 360-degree sweeping views. This innately Instagrammable place has a fabulous Happy/Sunset Hour where you can relax on the overstuffed sofas on the open rooftop and enjoy the DJ spinning foot-tapping international tunes.
• The Deck at Island Gardens: If you want to announce on social media that you’re in Miami for spring break, then do so at the city’s most treasured waterfront restaurant. Late-night revelry is best done here with majestic views of Biscayne Bay and Downtown Miami and delicious food. Did you know they also have private cabana service and weekday sunset RSVP happy hour? Yes!
• Little Havana Food Walking Tour with Tastings: Miami’s many neighborhoods each have a different vibe, but no place is more culturally rich than Little Havana. This tour best explored its thriving culinary scene and authentic Cuban cuisine, where we learned about the local culture and history. One of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, it was made all the more gorgeous with delectable eats.

Recommended Activities in Miami:

• Lummus Park: During the day, retreat to the miles of pristine white sand of Lummus Beach, which is all about a buzzy vibe, clear water, and incredible views. In fact, this famous Lummus Park has been the backdrop for multiple TV shows and movies and exudes a distinctly ’90s nostalgic vibe. 
• Miami Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus: Another great activity we did during the day was exploring iconic landmarks – from an open-top double-decker Big Bus! As we toured the city, we explored and discovered Miami’s best sights and sounds, including Little Havana, Wynwood, South Beach, and Bayside Marketplace.