This year’s World’s Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world.

Miami offers something for every type of traveler — stunning stretches of soft sand, glamorous Art Deco architecture, a world-class art scene, celebrity-filled clubs, Michelin-starred restaurants, the natural beauty of the Everglades… The list goes on. The best resorts in Miami reflect these diverse tastes.

The Setai, Miami Beach

The Setai, Miami Beach

Ken Hayden Photography/Courtesy of The Setai, Miami Beach

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

The resort hotels that line the 35-mile beachfront of the Greater Miami area inspired voters for many reasons. For a guest of the No. 2 Faena Hotel, it was the rich, colorful design: “This hotel is like an elaborate movie backdrop of a bygone era. Probably one of the prettiest and most interesting hotels I have ever stayed at.” A reader who went to the No. 3 Acqualina Resort & Residences, in Sunny Isles Beach, focused on the dining: “The food is delicious, Il Mulino never misses a beat. I never had a bad meal.” And, of course, location often plays a key role: One fan of the No. 11. Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami, touted it as an “absolutely gorgeous hotel in the perfect spot.”

But it was the Setai, Miami Beach, that took No. 1. Read on to see why readers voted it their favorite — and which other hotels join it on this year’s list of the best resorts in the Miami area.

1. The Setai, Miami Beach

The Setai, Miami Beach

The Setai, Miami Beach

Ken Hayden Photography/Courtesy of The Setai, Miami Beach

Setai’s only U.S. property returned to the top of the list this year after impressing readers on all fronts. Jaya, the resort’s restaurant in its picturesque courtyard, hosts flashy dinner shows and is a celebrity hot spot; there are three temperature-controlled infinity pools; and the beachfront Ocean Grill serves some of the best Maine-lobster spaghetti in the city. All 136 rooms are similarly impressive, whether they’re one of the luxuriously appointed Art Deco suites or one of the oceanfront suites with floor-to-ceiling windows. Readers loved the resort’s amenities, but also commented on how thoughtful the staff is. One called the property “a beautiful oasis of serenity with amazing service.” Another said, “Outstanding staff. They are genuine and their hospitality is amazing.”

Score: 96.41
More information: thesetaihotels.com

2. Faena Hotel Miami Beach

Faena Hotel Miami Beach

Faena Hotel Miami Beach

Courtesy of Faena Hotel Miami Beach

Score: 94.04
More information: faena.com

3. Acqualina Resort & Residences, Sunny Isles Beach

Acqualina Resort & Residences

Acqualina Resort & Residences

Courtesy of Acqualina Resort & Residences

Score: 93.00
More information: acqualinaresort.com

4. Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, Surfside

Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club

Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club

Courtesy of Four Seasons

Score: 92.65
More information: fourseasons.com

5. Nobu Hotel Miami Beach

Nobu Hotel Miami Beach

Nobu Hotel Miami Beach

Courtesy of Nobu Hotel Miami Beach

Score: 92.25
More information: nobuhotels.com

6. The Betsy – South Beach, Miami Beach

The Betsy Hotel

The Betsy Hotel

Claudia Uribe Touri/Courtesy of The Betsy Hotel

Score: 92.00
More information: thebetsyhotel.com

7. (tie) Kimpton Angler’s Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach

Kimpton Angler’s Hotel South Beach

Kimpton Angler’s Hotel South Beach

Courtesy of Kimpton Angler’s Hotel South Beach

Score: 91.53
More information: anglershotelmiami.com

7. (tie) Soho Beach House, Miami Beach

Soho Beach House

Soho Beach House

Courtesy of Soho House & Co

Score: 91.53
More information: sohohouse.com

9. W South Beach, Miami Beach

W South Beach

W South Beach

Courtesy of W Hotels

Score: 90.67
More information: marriott.com

10. The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami

The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami

The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami

Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

Score: 90.35
More information: ritzcarlton.com

11. The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami

The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami

The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami

Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

Score: 89.89
More information: ritzcarlton.com

12. Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel , Miami Beach

Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel

Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel

Courtesy of Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel

Score: 89.57
More information: surfcomber.com

13. 1 Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach

1 Hotel South Beach

1 Hotel South Beach

Courtesy of 1 Hotel South Beach

Score: 89.05
More information: 1hotels.com

14. The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort

The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort

The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort

Courtesy of The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort

Score: 88.97
More information: marriott.com

15. The Palms Hotel & Spa, Miami Beach

The Palms Hotel & Spa

The Palms Hotel & Spa

Courtesy of The Palms Hotel & Spa

Score: 88.93
More information: thepalmshotel.com

See all of our readers’ favorite hotels, cities, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World’s Best Awards for 2021.