Several weeks ago, I flew into Miami to board the Scarlet Lady out of Terminal V – PortMiami. I was arriving early the day before my cruise, so I wanted to stay somewhere where I’d get to enjoy the hotel amenities both after my flight and the morning before my cruise. I decided to stay at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach, a beautiful waterfront hotel located right in Miami Beach.
While I only stayed at the hotel for one night at the family-friendly Ritz Carlton, I really enjoyed my stay. It’s a great location for a full vacation – with a fantastic location, great service, beautiful rooms, and world-class amenities. It’s also a great option for business travelers.
If you are considering a visit to the Ritz-Carlton South Beach, here’s what you can expect with your stay.
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Book your stay at this beautiful resort here.
Review of the Ritz-Carlton South Beach
Location of the Ritz-Carlton South Beach
Ritz-Carlton South Beach is located on Lincoln Road, in the South Beach section of Miami Beach. It’s about a 30-minute ride from Miami International Airport and 25 minutes from Port Miami. We took a ride share to both.
A car may be more practical if you are staying at the hotel for a longer vacation. You can find rental rates here. Keep in mind that the hotel charges $60 per day for valet parking.
After arriving at the hotel, we were greeted by a friendly bellman who took our bags. We were then led into the check-in area in the stunning Art Deco lobby so that we could complete our check-in and get our keys.
At check-in, we received complimentary water and chocolates. We were also directed to the complimentary infused gelato cart in the lobby, which was a great treat on a very hot day (and after a long flight).
The bellman helped us with our luggage to the room and showed us some of the features of the room.
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach
There are a variety of different room types at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach. We had a Lanai Pool View Double for our stay.
This room is located along the pool, with a balcony/patio that leads right to the pool. There’s private outdoor seating outside the room if you want to enjoy the outdoors without sitting directly at the swimming pool.
Our room had two (extremely comfortable) double beds (a king room is also available in this room category), a flat-screen TV, WiFi, a separate shower and standalone shower, a coffee maker, a minibar, a small table with chairs, and a desk.
There are lots of other room categories at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach. These include the following:
Classic King/Classic Double: This is the most affordable of the room options. You’ll either have one king-size bed or two double beds, in a 375-foot room.
City View Room (one king or two doubles): This room is the same size as the classic room category, but includes a city view.
Partial Ocean View (one king or two doubles): A room the same size as a city view or classic room, but with a partial view of the Atlantic Ocean. In general, you won’t need ocean views if you aren’t planning to spend too much time in the room.
Oceanfront Room (one king or two doubles): The same size as the other room categories, this room is located with a view of the ocean.
Club Rooms (City View, Partial Ocean View, Oceanfront): These rooms are the same as the counterparts above. However, they also come with club lounge access. There, you’ll be able to get complimentary food and drinks, along with other amenities).
Suites: These come in a variety of configurations and are definitely a splurge.
Amenities at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach
While I was only at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach for less than 24 hours, I did enjoy exploring this luxury hotel and taking advantage of the amenities. Here’s what you’ll find at the hotel:
Easy Access to South Beach: It’s just a quick walk straight down to the beach from this beachfront resort, and you’ll be at the heart of South Beach. Guests at the hotel can get beach chairs and umbrellas set up to enjoy a day at the beach.
Outdoor Pool: The beautiful outdoor pool is the centerpiece of the hotel. It’s located just steps from many of the hotel rooms and offers lounge chairs, umbrellas, as well as cabanas for rent. Complimentary sunscreen is offered at the pool deck.
We enjoyed a morning at the pool before leaving to board our cruise ship. It was the perfect place to enjoy some great weather.
Fitness Center: Open 24 hours, this fitness center offers a variety of different types of equipment, including Peloton Bikes.
Spa: Offering a variety of spa treatments, the Ritz-Carlton spa is a great place to enjoy some relaxation and treat yourself. Treatment options at this full-service spa include massages, facials, and body treatments, as well as manicures and hair services.
Concierge: The resort offers a full-service concierge who can help book any activities and reservations that you may need.
Restaurants at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach
We enjoyed both dinner and breakfast at the hotel. While it is surrounded by lots of great restaurants in South Beach, the hotel is also a great option for dining.
Fuego Y Mar: This restaurant, which has an outdoor seating area overlooking the pool, offers Mediterranean-inspired food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast includes a vast buffet, with a full coffee bar. We had both breakfast and lunch here and enjoyed both fabulous food and fantastic service.
Lapidus Bar: This stunning Art Deco lobby bar was named after the hotel’s designer Morris Lapidus. It’s so beautiful and looks like a movie set.
DiLido Beach Club: A casual oceanfront bar and lounge open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
Bagatelle Miami: This elegant French Mediterranean restaurant is open for dinner from Tuesday through Sunday each week.
Note: as an American Express Platinum Card holder, I received benefits including a late check-out time, an experience credit (which we used for dining), free Wi-Fi, and complimentary breakfast.
Frequently Asked Questions
It really depends on your plans. You can walk to many restaurants and shops from the hotel, and parking is expensive.
But if you want to travel beyond the hotel, you’ll need to figure out if it’s cheaper to do a ride share or to rent a car. Compare rental car prices here.
There are lots of great guest rooms. I really loved our Lanai Pool View Double room. If you plan to spend a lot of time at the pool, this is a great option.
Yes, there’s a nightly resort fee that you’ll pay directly to the hotel.
