Frommer's Review
Corporate big shots and celebrities not in the mood for the South Beach spotlight have a high-end luxury hotel to stay in while wheeling and dealing their way through Miami. Catering to business travelers, big-time celebrities (J-Lo, Jacko, Will Smith, and so on), and the leisure traveler who doesn't mind spending big bucks, the swank Mandarin Oriental features a waterfront location, residential-style rooms with Asian touches (most with balconies), and upscale dining. The waterfront view of the city is the hotel's best asset. The hotel's two restaurants, the high-end Azul and the more casual Café Sambal, are two of Miami's best, as is the 15,000-square-foot spa, in which traditional Thai massages and ayurvedic treatments are the norm. The hotel is also home to a 20,000-foot white-sand beach club with a fabulous Friday night happy hour, complete beach butlers, and beachside cabana treatments, which is nice, considering that the hotel is 15 minutes from the beach.
Wanna Be Signin' Something -- Celebrity tidbit: Michael Jackson stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Miami and felt the need to sign his name to a painting in his suite -- despite the fact that he didn't paint it. Amused, the hotel decided to keep it.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.