Asian Inspiration
Don’t let the 40-story glass exterior of The Setai Miami Beach fool you. It may be all Art Deco outside, but inside it’s Asian serenity, set in black granite, dark gray bricks salvaged from historic buildings in Shanghai, polished Burmese teak, and Indonesian bronze. Everything—from the interiors to the lily-filled pools amid the Chinese gardens—is designed to evoke a sense of deep, peaceful calm. When it comes time to dine, don’t miss Jaya, the hotel’s signature restaurant, for modern Asian cuisine across a variety of traditional culinary techniques (think: wok stations and tandoor ovens). Start your meal with the Asian-inspired cocktail menu and sake selection before choosing from highlights like Peking duck, truffle dumplings, and Thai beef salad.
Havana Nights
Traveling to Cuba can be tricky, despite being just 200-or-so miles off the Magic City’s shores. Instead, book a weekend at Life House, Little Havana—a three-minute walk from Calle Ocho. The boutique beauty is housed in a historic 1920s Art Deco building painted a warm shade of guava as an homage to the tropical fruit. Inside, the lobby, living room, and library welcome guests in a palette of dark greens and tobacco browns. a hammock-filled courtyard beckons nearby, while Artworks by Miami and Cuban artists dot the walls. Don’t miss evenings at Terras, the rooftop bar and resto. Order a Guavaloma—a take on the classic Paloma made with tequila and guava-grapefruit syrup—and bites like fried plantain tostones and shrimp ceviche.
Mediterranean Splendor
If binging the second season of HBO’s The White Lotus has left you craving Mediterranean glam, check into the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club. Once a 1930s getaway for the who’s who of Hollywood, this resort has undergone extensive renovations and now mixes new-world luxury with old-world charm. Nine acres of Fernando Wong–designed gardens frame ocean views beyond three pools (one featuring 40 air-conditioned cabanas and five cabana studios so luxe you can book them for an overnight stay), plus 900 feet of beachfront. Inside, stroll the palm-lined, terra-cotta thoroughfare known as Peacock Alley and follow in the footsteps of former guests such as Frank Sinatra, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and Elizabeth Taylor.
For dinner, opt for the Michelin-starred Surf Club Restaurant by Thomas Keller. (Pro tip: Order the beef Wellington and thank us later.) Top the night off by clinking glasses at the Champagne Bar and toast to Mediterranean elegance in the heart of Miami Beach.
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