( CNN ) -- Let 's face it , if you 're on holiday in Miami you 'll want to be based near the beach , which , fortunately , is where the city 's most glamorous hotels are located . South Beach is known for its Art Deco hotels , like The Delano , left . South Beach is known for its distinctive Art Deco hotels , mostly built in the 1920s and 30s and often painted in bright pastel colors . South Beach 's Art Deco originals have been protected since the 1970s , and many have since been renovated to the highest specifications . Collins Avenue is home to more than its fair share of boutique hotels . The Delano ( 1685 Collins Avenue , doubles from $ 400 ) dates back to the 1940s and is crowned with streamlined fins that are pure Deco . It has been re-imagined by Ian Schrager , with a white , minimal Philippe Starck-designed interior that is sophisticated and hip . The Delano 's Rose Bar is one of the best places in town for a poolside cocktail . The Shore Club ( 1901 Collins Avenue , doubles from $ 300 ) is another Schrager revival of a Deco hotel and , if anything , it 's even cooler than The Delano . Rooms are high-tech , welcoming and often occupied by visiting celebrities . The attached sushi restaurant Nobu is top notch and the stylish Skybar , with its four bars and tropical gardens , is one of the city 's hottest nightspots . Do you have a favorite hotel or place to stay in Miami ? If you 've just won the lottery , you 'll want to stay at the Setai ( 2001 Collins Avenue , doubles from $ 785 ) . Another conversion of an Art Deco hotel , albeit augmented by a 40-storey tower , the Setai adds tasteful Asian influences . Its cool , dark interior is a refreshingly tasteful oasis among the South Beach excess , and is both unashamedly luxurious and frighteningly expensive . Back in the real world , The Standard ( 40 Island Avenue , Miami Beach , doubles from $ 250 ) is a little stranded in its Biscayne Bay locale , but is great value . The real draw is the superb spa , with its infinity pool and open-air mud lounge . But this is no austere health retreat ; it 's relaxing and fun , and all the better for it . This is Miami after all ... A cheaper , quirkier option is Pelican ( 826 Ocean Drive , doubles from $ 200 ) . Owned by Italian fashion label Diesel , this is a colorful , kitschy place , with individually themed rooms , such as the ornate and floral 'Power Flower ' room . The hotel 's Pelican Café has an outstanding wine list and is surprisingly good value . Away from the beach altogether , the Biltmore ( 1200 Anastasia Avenue , doubles from $ 310 ) , over in Coral Gables , is an absolute gem . The rooms are n't exceptional but the building is a beauty , modeled on the Giralda bell tower in Seville , with ornate Moorish-inspired touches . Al Capone was a big fan back in the 1920s and these days there 's a massive pool , an 18-hole golf course and rumors of resident ghosts ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . Miami City Guide : . Where to stay | What to see | Where to be seen | Where to eat | Where to shop . Do you agree with our Miami picks ? Send us your comments and suggestions in the `` Sound Off '' box below and we 'll print the best .
Biltmore is known for its distinctive and stylish Gables hotels . Expensive and exclusive , The Schrager has an Asian -influenced interior . The Standard is known for its spa , infinity pool and open-air mud lounge . Over in Coral Art Deco , the stunning South Beach resembles a Spanish palace .