5* Biltmore Hotel Miami

The Setai, Miami Beach does South Beach luxury in a noticeably calmer way. The Asian-influenced Art Deco design, serene courtyard and immaculate oceanfront setting make it feel more secluded than its Collins Avenue address suggests. Three beachfront infinity pools are kept at different temperatures, with full beach service beyond them, while the spa and high-end restaurants complete the resort experience. You're still in South Beach, but around 20th Street, so the LGBTQ beach and traditional gay nightlife sit several blocks to the south rather than outside the door. GayMapper tip: One for a serious luxury splurge — especially if peace, service and the beach matter more than having the gay scene around the corner.

South of Fifth gives you a calmer side of South Beach, and Blanc Kara suits travellers who like having a little more space and independence. This adults-only hotel is made up of generously sized studios rather than conventional hotel rooms, each with a proper kitchen, so it works particularly well for longer stays. The beach is just down the street, while Ocean Drive and the main South Beach action are easily walkable north. The LGBTQ beach around 12th Street and the gay nightlife are a little farther away than from the central Art Deco hotels, but still straightforward to reach on foot. There’s no resort-style pool or big social scene here — the appeal is space, quiet and location. GayMapper tip: A very good choice for couples or longer stays; less so if a pool and lively hotel atmosphere are essential.

Just around the corner from the LGBTQ beach at 12th Street, The Marlin Hotel gives you one of South Beach's best combinations of location and small-hotel character. There are only 33 rooms and suites inside the restored Art Deco building, so it feels a world away from Miami's sprawling resorts. The Marlin also has some genuine history: the building once housed a recording studio used by major music artists. Today the rooms are contemporary and comfortable, with Ocean Drive, Twist and Palace all very close. What you don't get is a swimming pool, so this works best if you're happy for the Atlantic to do that job. GayMapper tip: A strong choice if you want gay-beach convenience without staying in a big resort — just remember there is no hotel pool.

Miami doesn't have to mean Miami Beach. EAST Miami sits inside Brickell City Centre and gives you a much more urban base surrounded by restaurants, shopping, high-rises and the nightlife of Brickell itself. The rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies, while four pools sit on the outdoor deck. Quinto is the hotel's South American restaurant, but the standout is Sugar, the lush rooftop bar high above the city — worth remembering even if you're staying somewhere else. South Beach and its LGBTQ beach and bars sit across the bay, so this isn't a hotel from which you'll casually wander home from Twist at 2am. GayMapper tip: Excellent for an urban Miami stay, business trip or a few nights before or after a cruise. If the gay beach is the main reason you're coming, stay in South Beach instead.

At the quieter northern end of South Beach, 1 Hotel South Beach combines serious resort facilities with a much softer, nature-led design than the usual Miami glamour. There are four pools — including a 21+ rooftop pool with ocean views — plus direct access to a 600-foot stretch of beach. Wellness is a big part of the experience, with Bamford Wellness Spa and the substantial Anatomy fitness centre, while numerous restaurants and bars mean you could quite happily spend a day without leaving the hotel. Sustainability runs through the rooms too, from filtered water taps to reclaimed materials. The trade-off is location: the gay beach and traditional South Beach LGBTQ nightlife are farther south, so expect a longer walk or short rideshare. GayMapper tip: A great splurge if beachfront luxury, pools and wellness outrank being right beside the gay scene.

A few blocks south of the busiest part of Ocean Drive, Kimpton Angler's Hotel South Beach gives you easy access to the action without putting you right in the middle of it. Palace, Twist and the gay beach are all walkable north, while South of Fifth begins just to the south. Behind the Mediterranean Revival exterior you'll find airy modern rooms, leafy courtyards and a rooftop pool and sundeck. El Patio handles food and drinks downstairs, Bar Habana adds a little evening atmosphere, and Kimpton's complimentary evening social hour is still a nice touch. GayMapper tip: A particularly good compromise if you want South Beach nightlife within walking distance but would rather retreat somewhere calmer afterwards.