Miami's Newest Oceanfront Hotel Has a Private Beach, 2 Pools, and a 'Popsicle Pager,' Which Is Exactly What You Think It Is

Travel + Leisure

29-05-2025

The hotel has a private beach, complete with creamsicle-colored cabanas and a 'popsicle pager,' which is exactly what it sounds like—a button you press for instant ice cream delivery.
Each of the 287 guest rooms and suites looks out over the Atlantic coast or the Miami skyline, and many feature balconies and deep soaking tubs.
José Andrés Group helms the hotel's trio of dining options: Bar Centro serves inventive cocktails; Aguasal marries Mediterranean flavors with Miami flair; The Bazaar by José Andrés takes you on a Spanish-inspired culinary journey.
The soon-to-open Ondara Spa will offer rejuvenating facials, massages, and touchless therapies.
From the water, it's hard to imagine that the building that now houses Andaz Miami Beach was once one of the tallest on the island. Squinting against the salt in my eyes, I try to picture what this 16-story art deco darling—now surrounded by glass high-rises and luxury apartment complexes in laid-back Mid Beach—looked like when it was first built in 1940, then known as the Lord Tarleton Hotel.
It has undergone several iterations and name changes over the decades, but in May 2025, it debuted as the first Florida hotel for Hyatt's elevated Andaz brand, and I was the first journalist to visit. While EoA Group and Hyatt Lifestyle Group's in-house design team have completely renovated the interiors—an undulating series of curves that mimic the ocean's waves, done up in signature shades of aqua, turquoise, and mint in homage to Miami's art deco heritage—the historic main building's facade retains much of its original charm, including a pale blue stripe and rooftop radio tower once used to communicate with the nearby airport ahead of VIP arrivals.
Although the radio tower is no longer active, guests can still expect VIP treatment as soon as they pull up to the retro covered driveway on Collins Avenue. A friendly porter whisked my bag up to my suite as I was led to the hotel's outdoor ocean-view check-in lounge. Seated beside a fire pit and sipping a hibiscus lemonade under swaying palm trees, I felt unmistakably in Miami. I have stayed at four other hotels in Miami Beach, none of which have been as firmly rooted in a sense of place and celebration of local culture as Andaz Miami Beach, where Cuban music floated in the background as I made my way up to my room. The arrival lounge and lobby at Andaz Miami Beach.
The view from my Oceanfront Balcony Deluxe Suite on the 11th floor was postcard-perfect; my cozy balcony overlooked both of the hotel's heated pools, shaded by sea blue umbrellas, and the white sand beach, where creamsicle-colored cabanas stretched out to the Atlantic.
After settling into the spacious suite—complete with a marble bathroom, shell-inspired wall art, and a large living area—I staked out a lounge chair by the lower-level pool for the afternoon, where it was serene enough to do some writing in between dips. As the sun sank lower and my laptop battery waned, I switched over from iced coffee to rum-laced fresh coconuts, indisputably one of the most capital-V vacation drinks.
Once I worked up an appetite, I moseyed over to Aguasal, the Miami-meets-Mediterranean restaurant helmed by José Andrés Group, which also oversees the hotel's buzzy cocktail bar, Bar Centro, and the soon-to-open The Bazaar by José Andrés, which will focus on Spanish-style tapas. The culinary partnership is a major draw for food-focused travelers, as the trio of dining options, along with the pool bar, offer a wide variety of cuisines to satisfy even the pickiest palates.
After a late night of exploring the bar scene in nearby South Beach—Ocean Drive is just a quick, romantic stroll or bike ride away down the boardwalk—I spent the next afternoon recovering on the beach, sidled up beneath my orange-and-white striped cabana and snacking on fresh fruit and French fries. A few sun-soaked hours later, I stopped at Ondara Spa for a quick skin refresh ahead of my evening plans, which, once again, stretched on later than perhaps recommended. Blissfully, I found myself back in the same cabana the next afternoon, floating in the Atlantic and admiring the hotel's singular silhouette.
Here, everything you need to know about Andaz Miami Beach.
The hotel spans 287 guest rooms, including 64 spacious suites, many of which connecting to accommodate families or groups traveling together. Guests can choose between postcard-worthy views of the Miami skyline or the sparkling Atlantic coast, best admired from the balconies or wraparound decks that adorn several of the room categories. With pale wood floors and sand-colored walls, the guest rooms draw on the colors of the surrounding landscape; mine featured seashell pink armchairs, a turquoise lounge, ceramic shell-inspired wall accents, and wave-patterned rugs.
Even the smallest rooms offer plenty of space to travel in comfort—an airy 234-square-foot King Bed Oceanfront feels larger due to the curved architecture, a signature of the hotel, mimicking the undulating waves. Here, sharp corners are replaced by soft edges and organic movement, showcased through asymmetrical mirrors, circular rugs, and curved couches.
All guest rooms are drenched in natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows—the most remarkable being the Panoramic Oceanfront Penthouse, a sprawling 926-square-foot two-bedroom suite. Aguasal, one of the three restaurants at Andaz Miami Beach, helmed by José Andrés Group.
With José Andrés Group leading the hotel's three food and beverage offerings, Andaz Miami Beach is poised to become a dining destination in its own right. Bar Centro, a café by day and lounge by night, is the hotel's social hub, featuring a spectacular snack menu—I nearly swooned over the dainty cones piled with Ossetra caviar and crème fraiche, bikini-style grilled cheese sandwiches, and Andrés' signature liquid olives.
Two of the cocktails stood out: the Ancient Olive, a deconstructed martini that comes with a shot of fresh-pressed olive juice that I could drink by the gallon, and the Reverse Carajillo, a liquid nitrogen-infused take on the coffee and brandy classic, served with a dollop of warm tres leches espuma. Poolside tacos at Pool & Beach Bar.
Sophie Dodd/Travel + Leisure
At Mediterranean-inspired Aguasal, the menu swims between Miami and Mykonos, with a bit of Moroccan influence as well. Highlights included fried oyster mushrooms with za'atar-dusted hummus, tender dorade soaking in a piquant pepper ezme sauce, and chicken tagine with fruit-studded couscous. But the most memorable dish was the dessert, a saffron rice pudding layered with slivers of blood orange and pomelo.
Soon to open is The Bazaar by José Andrés, an extravagant culinary marketplace that will highlight the Michelin-starred chef's signature Spanish-style tapas in a sultry dining room.
And for more casual seaside snacks, the Pool & Beach Bar serves up hangover-curing smash burgers, fried shrimp tacos, and an addictive watermelon margarita (pro tip: order it with a Tajín rim), as well as craft beer from local Wynwood breweries. The relaxation lounge in Ondara Spa.
At Ondara Spa, which is set to open on June 15, treatments are thoughtfully curated for a Miami lifestyle. Once wrapped in a plush white robe, guests can admire the views of the Atlantic from the relaxation lounge as they await their treatment. During my sneak peek of the space, I spent a blissful hour getting the signature Hydra Essence facial, which gave my parched skin some much-needed TLC after too much time in the sun. The treatment incorporated a facial massage and nourishing algae-infused skincare products from Phytomer, leaving me with a plumped-up glow.
Beyond the array of indulgent facials and massages, Ondara Spa also offers body scrubs, detoxifying treatments, injectables, an infrared sauna, and touchless therapies, such as the ReLounge, which combines bioelectrical impulses and heat to relieve back pain. And while the spa is worth a visit, guests can also enjoy treatments in the privacy of their room or by the water.
Be sure to browse the exceptionally stocked boutique as well, where you can pick up everything from sunscreen and chic flip-flops to skincare products from Obagi Medical.
While Andaz Miami Beach isn't geared towards families, kids are certainly welcome; many of the 64 suites include connecting rooms, offering plenty of space for the whole family to spread out. Couples and groups of friends seemed to make up the majority of guests during my stay, but a handful of young families splashed happily around in the pool, where custom kid-sized lounge chairs are available. To that end, having two pools is a particular boon, as it is always easy to find a peaceful corner to read or relax.
Andaz Miami Beach is a pet-friendly hotel. The beachfront at Andaz Miami Beach.
The hotel centers around two heated pools—the upper pool is flanked by palm trees, sea blue umbrellas, and cozy lounge chairs, while the lower pool offers day beds, private cabanas, and lounges. I found myself lazily chasing the sun as the day went on, gravitating from the upper level to the lower pool to maximize my Vitamin D intake. My favorite detail? The charming 'popsicle pagers' that come with the cabanas—within moments of pressing the button, I was greeted with a refreshing platter of cherry popsicles.
The upper pool houses one of the hotel's most unique design highlights: a hydraulic floor system, which can be used to create a solid surface for a variety of events, from catwalks to concert stages. It's a unique aspect of Andaz Miami Beach's whopping 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event spaces, including oceanfront ballrooms and seven meeting rooms.
Tucked away from the pool area is the hotel's historic 1930s beach bungalow, which will debut as an exclusive members' club this summer.
The hotel is also home to a 24-hour gym and Ondara spa, offering ample ways to balance out the city's tendency towards indulgence. Complimentary wellness offerings include yoga classes, sound bath sessions, and body sculpting, while the well-connected concierge can set up salsa lessons, guided architectural walks of nearby art deco landmarks, and hard-to-get restaurant reservations.
The hotel has been fully renovated to comply with ADA standards, with accessible common areas, guest rooms offering mobility features in various categories, assistive listening devices for meetings, and accessible airport shuttles available upon advance notice.
Sustainability is a pillar of the Andaz portfolio and is integrated into the design and operations. The hotel is 95 percent LED-compliant, features low-flow water systems, and strives to reduce single-use plastics by providing guests with reusable water bottles that can be filled at water stations throughout the hotel. Poolside food and drinks are served in handy reusable containers with lids to keep birds and bees away, while refillable Byredo toiletries are stocked in the bathrooms.
Mid Beach offers a little bit of everything, whether you're in Miami for business or pleasure. This swanky stretch of luxury hotels and trendy restaurants, which runs from 23rd to 63rd streets, is tamer than nearby South Beach, making it the perfect place to retreat for a little R&R after a night on the town.
While there's no real need to rent a car during your stay—taxis and rideshare apps are easily accessible, and the boardwalk is great for a picturesque stroll to Ocean Drive—the hotel does have its own parking garage and valet service. There's also a house car service, as well as chic bikes and helmets that guests can borrow to explore the neighborhood at leisure.
I highly recommend walking along the boardwalk at night, and stopping off at Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company for the aguachile oysters and a cocktail; there's a special booth tucked behind the bar, where I happily camped out for a few hours as the place filled up with late-night revelers.
Andaz Miami Beach is part of World of Hyatt, and to celebrate their debut in Florida, the company is offering several ways to make the most out of your stay. Members can save up to 10 percent off nightly rates and earn double points for qualifying nights through August 11, 2025.
Check directly with the hotel to see if there are any additional packages or promotions that you can take advantage of when booking.
Nightly rates at Andaz Miami Beach start from $500.
Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.