4* The Standard Spa

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

At the quieter northern end of Ocean Drive, The Betsy South Beach manages to feel sophisticated without disconnecting you from everything that makes the neighbourhood fun. The LGBTQ beach at 12th Street is only a couple of blocks away, so you can be on the sand quickly without sleeping in the busiest part of Ocean Drive. There are two pools, including one on the rooftop, direct beach access and LT Steak & Seafood, but it's the cultural side that gives the hotel its personality. The Betsy has its own library, rotating art and literary programming and live jazz in the Piano Bar virtually every night. GayMapper tip: A particularly good choice for couples who want a polished, grown-up hotel close to the gay beach but don't want their entire stay to feel like a party.