Luxury hotel near Miami Beach was named the best in the country
For the past few years, the glamorous Acqualina Resort in Sunny Isles Beach has been ranked as one of the best hotels in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
Now, it’s ranked as the best — in not just one but two categories.
In its 2023 Best Hotels rankings, U.S. News & World Report writes that Acqualina, known for its old-world luxury, stunning oceanfront views and award-winning spa, is not only the best hotel in the country but also the best resort.
The top hotels were chosen for exceptional customer service and accommodations and the scope of onsite amenities. For Acqualina, that includes a spectacular beachfront; several pools, one of which is adults-only; a newly redesigned lobby; the awardwinning Espa spa; and the AcquaMarine kids club, which offers games, activities and crafts for children 5-12.
The hotel, a Forbes Five-Star property, also features four restaurants, including the Asian spot Ke-uH, which serves sushi and other Japanese fusion fare, the laid-back beachfront Costa Grill and the more traditional Il Mulino New York, which serves classic Italian cuisine. And if guests don’t mind taking a stroll across the bridge to sister property the Estates of Acqualina, they can dine at Avra Miami, an elegant Greek restaurant with a view of the water.
The double honor is a testament to the brand’s goal of exceeding expectations, Acqualina CEO and partner Deborah Yager Fleming said in a statement.
“We have worked very hard to consistently deliver exceptional customer service and guest experiences,” she said. “Acqualina is a brand that continuously looks for ways to improve and implement new services and amenities.”
No other Florida sites made the top 10 hotel list, but several were mentioned in the top 100: Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club in Surfside (12), which Condé Nast Traveler’s readers’ choice awards named as one of the best 50 hotels in the world; Faena Miami Beach (14), which was named one of the best hotels in the country by the travel website Trips to Discover; St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort (22); the Setai (44); Miami Beach Edition (60); Ritz-Carlton Miami Beach (84); and 1 Hotel South Beach (98).
In the resort category, The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort was ranked No. 12, while the Carillon Miami Beach, which recently opened the exclusive Tambourine Room restaurant, was ranked 89. Two Florida Keys resorts were mentioned as well. Little Palm Island Resort on Little Torch Key was ranked 91, while the Playa Largo Resort & Spa in Key Largo was ranked 97.
U.S. News & World Report calculates its ratings through analysis of the hotel’s reputation among professional travel experts, guest reviews and hotel-class ratings. It differentiates between hotels and resorts this way: If a property has resort-like amenities such as casinos, multiple pools or spas, it’s considered a resort. Hotels can appear on both lists.