Home to everything from private islands with multimillion-dollar real estate prices to yacht harbors and fine dining restaurants where even A-listers struggle to secure a reservation, Miami has set the ultra-luxury travel scene for multiple generations.
Anchor events like the FIFA World Cup, Formula 1, Art Basel, and the Hyundai Air & Sea Show feed the city a continuous stream of prominent visitors throughout the year. The 28.3 million visitors who came to the city in 2025 pumped nearly $23 billion into the city’s economy.
The number of travelers in the highest-spending segment of the market saw some of the fastest growth, according to CoStar, while Miami Beach attracts above all by its proximity to the water.
The coastal island separated from mainland Miami by the Biscayne Bay and Venetian Causeway has long shed its past reputation as a Spring Break party destination and offers countless attractions for those looking for an upscale beach holiday.
Where to stay, what to do, and what to eat for some Miami Beach luxury
Typically defined as an unofficial tier beyond the traditional five-star ranking due to the focus on personalized service for each guest, the ultra-luxury hotel experience in Miami Beach has for decades been defined by the Art Deco-style The Setai Miami Beach hotel on Collins Avenue.
Opened in 1937 on the site of the former Dempsey-Vanderbilt Hotel, The Setai sits on the bottom floors of a 38-floor glass residential tower. The aesthetic of the luxury hotel is one of Asian Zen with black granite, black terrazzo, and teak wood featuring prominently in both the lobby and the rooms envisioned as a sanctuary from the usual party scene of South Beach.
The Setai’s signature Pan-Asian Jaya restaurant named after the late Indonesian architect Jaya Ibrahim, with a central reflecting pool around which tables are laid out in a way that evokes images of a courtyard in a temple or a pagoda, is the centerpiece. Guests pass through it to access amenities such as three infinity pools of different temperatures, the Valmont Spa, and direct access to the beach.
On the dining end, one of the most exclusive restaurants in Miami Beach includes Los Fuegos by Francis Mallman, which blends the art of cooking South American barbecue cooked over an open fire with an intricate interior design envisioned by “The Great Gatsby” and “Moulin Rouge” director Baz Luhrmann.
Another exclusive luxury restaurant is Pao by Paul Qui, in which the namesake Manila-born chef gives traditional Filipino dishes a modern creative interpretation with the blend of various Japanese, Spanish and French flavors.
The Setai
A yacht tour from Miami Beach: Where to book and how much it costs
Activities that will definitely elevate one’s time in Miami could include a chartered yacht or private sunset cruise tour.
Through companies such as Miami Yachting Company and UNIQ Miami Yacht Charters, tours start at approximately $500 per person per hour on a yacht with other guests. You can also pay $4,500 for a half-day on a mid-size yacht with room for eight people.
For those looking to dive deeper into the history and architecture of the Art Deco buildings one encounters while strolling down Collins Avenue, several private companies as well as the Miami Design Preservation League offer private walking tours with an art historian.
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With Art Basel running through the first week of December 2026, art experts and aficionados from the world over will soon also descend upon the city for one of the world’s largest displays of modern and contemporary art from leading international galleries.
During the rest of the year, premium galleries into which art collectors can peek into in between time lounging on the beach include the LIK Fine Art gallery, showing off the works of renowned landscape and panoramic photographer Peter Lik, and Romero Britto Fine Art Gallery. The Brazilian artist’s bright blend of pop art, cubism and graffiti styles has over the years also become synonymous with Miami.
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