4* Kimpton Angler's Hotel

If you want a proper beachfront resort without leaving central South Beach behind, Loews Miami Beach Hotel does that very well. It sits directly on the sand at 16th Street, with the LGBTQ beach around 12th Street an easy walk south and Lincoln Road nearby. This is a large hotel — nearly 800 rooms — so expect a very different feel from Miami's little Art Deco boutiques. In return you get a substantial pool deck, direct beach access, spa, fitness centre and several places to eat and drink. It's also noticeably family-friendly, which may be either a plus or a minus depending on the trip. GayMapper tip: Best for travellers who want full resort facilities and beach access while keeping the gay scene within walking distance; not the choice for an intimate boutique atmosphere.

Few Miami hotels put you closer to the places LGBTQ visitors are actually likely to use. Hotel Victor South Beach sits on Ocean Drive at 11th Street, with the gay beach around 12th Street, Twist on Washington Avenue and Palace just down Ocean Drive. The handsome Art Deco building has a pool overlooking the ocean, stylish rooms and a proper spa with a hammam, sauna and treatments. The former Versace Mansion next door adds a little only-in-South-Beach glamour, while restaurants and bars surround you in every direction. GayMapper tip: One of the strongest locations on the whole list if gay beach by day and gay nightlife by night are your priorities. Ocean Drive can be lively, so don't choose it expecting total tranquillity.

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.

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.

Hotel Gaythering is the most unapologetically LGBTQ stay in Miami Beach: gay-owned and operated, adults-only, sociable and built around its own gay bar. Guests also get access to the men-only, clothing-optional wellness sauna with a Jacuzzi, cedar sauna and private relaxation spaces. The location at the western end of Lincoln Road puts restaurants and shops nearby, although it isn't directly on the beach. Complimentary bikes and beach gear make getting to the sand easier, and the main South Beach gay nightlife is reachable without having to base yourself amid the Ocean Drive crowds. Rooms range from spacious kings to cheaper men-only Crate rooms, and there are deliberately inexpensive rooms above the bar for anyone who doesn't mind some noise. GayMapper tip: If meeting other gay travellers matters more than having an ocean view, this is the obvious Miami choice. Light sleepers should avoid the rooms directly above the bar.

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.