The Setai

Mounds of perfectly arranged mandarin-orange-colored roses greet you as you enter into this South Beach oasis. Part hotel, part condo living—all glam, the Setai boasts a long list of jealousy-invoking attributes. But for a cool $20, you, too, can transcend everyday reality while imbibing their one and only chili passion martini. This signature cocktail is the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy. Fresh passion fruit purée and chili flakes, garnished with a flawlessly vibrant pepper, it’s as stunning to look at as it is to taste. One cocktail enjoyed at the dimly-lit, yet sparkling mother-of-pearl bar, or outside sitting amongst moonlit reflections in the ankle-deep pools, makes for an unforgettable only-in-Miami experience.

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On the outside, there is little to distinguish the The Setai from the art deco architecture of the other hotels along South Beach; after all, these buildings are one of the city's main draws, and the Miami Design Preservation League heavily polices any work on their exteriors. Originally created as the Jack Dempsey Vanderbilt Hotel in the 1930s, the building has been meticulously brought back to life. Inside, the Setai brings the style of Asia's best resort hotels to the Floridian coast. The Zen-like tranquility of the interiors created by designer Jaya Ibrahim might be a cliché in Thailand or Bali, but here in Miami, it offers a welcome contrast to the ubiquitous boutique designs of other hotels in the area. There are three beachfront pools – each one a different temperature – leading down to the white-sand beach, and the spa is outrageously decadent, and offers a full range of treatments.

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