A bastion of privacy and tranquility with Asian-inspired design and cuisine, The Setai is home to luxurious guest rooms, an elegant poolscape, and the Valmont Spa. It’s also the tallest building in South Beach at 40 stories.
Location 10/10
Situated oceanfront at the northern end of South Beach and a block south of Collins Park, The Setai could not be more ideally positioned. It’s a more low-key and sophisticated side of this buzzing area, home to other luxury hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, The Bass museum and locals bars, like Sweet Liberty. It’s also a short walk to Lincoln Road and the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Design 9/10
The Setai’s Asian-inspired design brings a sense of tranquility and Zen to the surroundings. Sleek and chic in dark teak and brick, the lobby gives off an air of discreet luxury with objets d’art and its signature enormous, manicured bouquet of fresh roses to greet guests.
A central courtyard, designed at sharp right angles, is landscaped with sleek grey banquettes, palm trees and pagoda-style structures around a dark reflection pool. Seating for the hotel’s restaurant Jaya spills out here and can become a scene of revelry with fire dancers or live jazz, depending on the occasion. As you continue towards the ocean, three large swimming pools run parallel to the shore, mirroring one another for a harmonious effect, each set at a different temperature; one delightfully warm, ideal for a post-ocean dip at dusk.
Amenities & Hospitality 9/10
In addition to the swimming pools, there’s also dedicated beach service with especially plush lounge chairs. The hotel is home to a spa in partnership with Valmont. While it’s surprisingly sparse on amenities, it offers lavish treatments by best-in-class therapists. I enjoyed one of the best deep tissue massages of my life during my last visit.
When it comes to hospitality, The Setai is head and shoulders above just about every other hotel in Miami. It’s that quality that makes a stay here truly luxurious. At every level, the staff seems to effortlessly understand their ultimate role is to make your stay enjoyable and hassle-free, anticipating needs and creating moments for surprise and delight.
Rooms 9/10
The Setai is composed of two buildings: one Art Deco, with the majority of the hotel’s rooms, and the 40-story tower, which is majority residential. While the interior design of sleek polished wood, neutral tones and modern lines is the same across the board, the floor plans, views and price points vary.
Art Deco rooms only offer city and courtyard views, which may come as a disappointment if you’re picturing the hotel’s sky high glass tower with sweeping ocean views. But the design makes beautiful use of the space with a wabi sabi sense to the interior architecture. Here, bathrooms flow seamlessly from the bedroom with rainfall showers that echo the room’s lux Zen aesthetics in deep wood and dark marble; some even boast delightful en suite soaking tubs.
Accommodations in the tower are known as Ocean suites, with one to four bedrooms. They’re popular amongst celebrities who enjoy discreet entrances to the property, as well as benefits, like round-trip airport transfers, breakfast, spa treatments and more. They’re some of the most luxurious (and expensive) in Miami.
Food & Beverage 8/10
The Setai’s newest restaurant Japón opened in 2024 as an immersive journey into Japanese cuisine. Set off from the longstanding Jaya in a lush jewel box-like space, it feels more like a restaurant-within-a-restaurant. Sumptuous dishes range from sushi to sashimi, maki tempura and robata grill with highlights including the miso black cod butter lettuce and F1 wagyu striploin.
Meanwhile, Jaya celebrates South Asian regional cuisine where you’ll want to sample a little bit of everything, from dim sum to tandoor and curry, wok-fired entrees, and noodle and rice dishes with a sophisticated cocktail list to match. And speaking of cocktails, the hotel’s lobby bar was just transformed into Jo’s bar with a sumptuous new look and menu.
“I had been there before with two separate lovers and had pleasure just because the food was so pure, the wine list fantastic and the color of the inside so agreeable.”
Eve Babitz, ‘Eve’s Hollywood,’ 1972
A breakfast buffet and weekend brunch with live jazz is served in the courtyard at Jaya. Meanwhile, Ocean Grill, is a chic oceanfront coastal Mediterranean restaurant, ideal for indulgent, Champagne-fueled lunches. The last time I was there, Cuba Gooding, Jr. was holding court at the next table.
Value 9/10
Current rates from about $675. Book
The Bottom Line
A bastion of South Beach luxury with top tier hospitality, Zen-lux rooms and multiple upscale Asian-inflected restaurants and bars to suit any whim.
Contact
2001 Collins Avenue; 305-600-3099; thesetaihotel.com
