Delano (CLOSED)

A few newer hotels may have stolen some of its cutting-edge cachet, but the Delano—the designer hotel that put Miami back on the A-list in 1995—is still a South Beach icon. The trendy lobby remains foolishly appealing, even if it does feel dated: think textbook Starck minimalism, complete with billowing white curtains, Venetian chandeliers, and surreal art and furniture. The stark white bedrooms have been spruced up with splashes of texture and color, floating flatscreen TVs and lush white Carrera marble bathrooms. The swimming pool—sorry "water salon"—is ethereal, with its waterfall, palms and celestial bodies, but the posing can be a bit much. The substance matches the style, however, at the fabulous Leynia restaurant on the patio. The tiny Rose Bar also packs in the beautiful people, as does the hip Doheny Room, a subterranean lounge that mixes old-school glamor with sexy, modern twists. If you’ve come to Miami for South Beach glitz, the Delano still ticks all the right boxes.