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The 5 Best Luxury Spas in Miami

The 5 Best Luxury Spas in Miami

June 21, 2016

Among the advantages of living in Miami – the tropical climate, the world-class culture, the rich restaurant scene – is the wealth of luxury spas.

Whether you’re looking for a simple mani-pedi or eight hours of head-to-toe pampering, the best luxury spas in Miami deliver on every front:

  • Postcard-perfect locations, many with ocean views or fitness classes right on the beach.
  • The very latest and greatest spa services, featuring the most exclusive product lines.
  • Menus (of services and of chef’s specialties) that make your mouth water.
  • Bespoke boutiques that beat anything you’ll find at the mall.

In fact, there are so many fantastic spa options in South Florida that the most difficult thing about booking an appointment for a superior service is deciding where to begin. To get you started, here are five of the top luxury spas in Miami:

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Miami

best luxury spas miami mandarin oriental

Guided by its Asian heritage but in tune with its Brickell Key location, this three-floor, 15,000-square-foot waterfront oasis brings the best of Chinese, Ayurvedic, European, Balinese and Thai traditions into harmony. From lobby to boutique to suites, the décor of the Mandarin Oriental spa has the look of the Far East – evoking the feeling of a far-flung escape close to home. No wonder the Mandarin Oriental spa perennially tops “best of” lists.

Signature treatment: Time Rituals, in which guests book time rather than treatments. When a guest arrives, she meets with a therapist in a VIP spa suite and describes how she wants to feel when her two to six hours are up. Along with superior services, a soothing foot ritual, customized massage, inspirational fortune cookie and spa candle are all guaranteed.

Expert recommendation: Forbes Travel Guide, which rates spas based on more than 150 criteria, has declared the Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Miami a Five-Star award-winner multiple years in a row. It’s a rare honor; there are only 48 Five-Star spas in the world.

 Lapis, the Spa at Fontainebleau


Since 1954, the Fontainebleau has been a landmark on Millionaire’s Row. The modern-looking Lapis was part of a $1 billion upgrade in 2008. The 40,000-square-foot wellness center encourages a communal spa experience, while offering privacy for more reserved guests. Instagram-worthy water features include the Bleau Rain Room, the Elements Rain Tunnel and the 75-foot Essence Mineral Co-Ed Pool.
Signature treatment: Lapis offers several packages for couples that take place in ocean-view suites outfitted with two treatment beds, jetted tub, private bathroom and shower, refreshments and the services of a bath butler.

Expert recommendation: Martha Stewart has called Lapis “the most beautiful spa in America.”

The Biltmore Spa

best luxury spas miami biltmore

The spa at Coral Gables’ beloved Biltmore Hotel – a National Historic Landmark – is a true sanctuary inside the palatial Mediterranean Revival resort, which opened to great fanfare in 1926 and underwent a $40 million renovation in the 2000s. Exploring the lobby, grounds and 23,000-square-foot pool before or after your Signature Chardonnay Massage, Organic Seaweed Leaf Soak or Lifting Dew Facial equals a true escape from the ordinary.

Signature treatment: Benessere at the Biltmore is a comprehensive wellness program inspired by the healthy Mediterranean lifestyle. Guests who book a Benessere Day can participate in group exercise sessions, cooking classes and wellness-oriented treatments – nutrient-packed lunch included.

Expert recommendation: Forbes Travel Guide praises the Biltmore Hotel’s full calendar of tours, champagne happy hours and poolside games, and the same attention to programming extends to the spa, where guests enjoy trunk shows, complimentary beauty consultations and free facials.

Remede Spa at St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort

best luxury spas miami remede

Inspired by its barrier island location, the elegant Remede Spa is distinguished by its use of tropical ingredients (Coral Gemstone massage, anyone?), tasteful sea-inspired décor by the international design firm of Yabu Pushelberg, and luxe touches like champagne, truffles and cashmere throws. Adding to the decadent atmosphere: a Vichy rain shower room, Finnish saunas and aromatic steam rooms.

Signature treatment: Remede describes the 24-Karat Designer Facial as its “most sumptuous and transformative” offering. Designed to restructure and rehydrate skin, the 90-minute treatment makes use of 11 age-defying remedies, including a copper-enriched peel, Hungarian Moor mud, Gold Flash firm serum, gold sugar scrub and gold oil.

Expert recommendation: The therapists at Remede “take massage to another level,” says Bespoke Magazine, which also praises the resort’s full-service Prive Salon, beachfront yoga sessions and high-tech St. Regis Athletic Club.

The Wellness Garden & Spa at The Betsy

best luxury spas miami betsy

Here’s all you need to know about this South Beach retreat in the heart of the Art Deco District: It’s Miami’s only fully outdoor spa. Set three stories above Ocean Drive, the Betsy’s rooftop Ocean Deck (outfitted with retractable sails and private cabanas to keep things cool and private) provides a Zen setting for creative treatments that rely on paraben-free products and simple, natural ingredients like sugar plums, mandarins and coconut.

Signature treatment: Each appointment begins with a soothing foot-bath featuring malachite, sandalwood, calendula oils and a lavender-grapefruit-peppermint infusion. And, because the spa stays open late, guests can book a languorous massage under the stars, accompanied by music, candlelight and rose petals.

Expert recommendation: “Here at The Betsy, all is a little too good to be true in the world,” says The Polo Magazine, which describes the property as “a cool, relaxed Eden away.” Conde Nast Johansens, the leading reference guide for independent travelers, has recommended the spa’s mojito mani-pedi as a spa pause that refreshes.