We're seeing stars: The best celebrity sighting hotels in Miami
This coming Sunday brings the season finale of Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, the E! reality series that follows Kardashian sisters Kourtney and Khloe (and Kourtney's son and baby daddy, Scott) in Miami as they work on fixing up their clothing boutique DASH, which apparently went to ruin after they packed up their bags last season. But fortunately for drama-seeking viewers, a whole lot more goes down outside of the store whether it be Kim's extended visit, Kourtney's epic hangover, or Scott's erratic mirror-punching.
As hotel gurus, we love that the show is primarily filmed in the hotel suite at the Hilton Bentley Miami where they've been shacked up for the summer. So if you've stayed there in the past couple of months, you may have run into any number of the Kardashian clan, from super-socialite Kim to momager Kris to little sister Kendall (who has gotten a lot of press recently for some age-inappropriate bikini shots).
Didn't get a chance to catch the Kardashians at the Hilton Bentley Miami? Don't fret -- there are plenty of celebrity sightings to be had in this town of sun, sand, and booze. Below we'll tell you about the best places to stay if you're hoping to see an A-lister. Here are Miami's best hotels for celebrity sightings:
Celebrity sightings at The Setai, where the enormous rooms can easily accommodate a small posse, are too numerous to mention them all. Everyone from Jay-Z to Cat Power has laid down tracks at the Lenny Kravitz-designed on-site recording studio, and the hotel regularly plays host to major fashion and entertainment events.
The Setai is also reported to be a favorite of Lindsay Lohan (when she's not in jail or rehab), Paris Hilton, Gisele, U2, and Madonna and we can see why -- striking but sober mood-lit design, impeccable service, three pools, each a different temperature, and a prime beachside location make The Setai one of the best hotels in Miami.
The Delano Hotel's 195 all-white rooms don't come cheap, but you're paying for surreal, Philippe Starck style, all-night parties, and an on-site, full-service spa. George Clooney reportedly stayed at the hotel in the spring of 2009 while filming Up in the Air, and Justin Timberlake is also said to have laid his fair head down at the Delano. Athletes love it, too: Tom Brady swung by in December, and players on the Miami Heat have been known to grab a drink at the Rose Bar.
Popular by day, the pool at the Delano turns into an even more hopping, "water saloon" scene by night. The hotel's Lenny Kravitz-designed nightclub, the Florida Room, is also a hotspot and its Lucite piano's keys have been tickled by both Kravitz and Jamie Foxx.
After its $1 billion facelift in 2008, the Fontainebleau Resort 1,504 new rooms, nine pools, and gorgeous design are hard to top. Many stars turned out for the hotel's grand reopening party -- Kate Hudson, Alex Rodriguez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Amanda Bynes and the Kardashian sisters to name a few.
Celebs usually only come out for the closed door events and otherwise prefer to enjoy the comforts of 24-hour room service and the phenomenal Lapis spa. However, Maria Sharipova and Sean "Diddy" Combs have been spotted out and about on the grounds of the resort.
The Four Seasons Miami's rooms date back to 2003, but with two acres of rooftop pools (Downtown's best), the city's top gym -- Sports Club/LA -- in the building, and the above-and-beyond service that the Four Seasons is known for, this is a premier choice for Miami's quieter business district. Tom Cruise, Britney Spears, John Mayer, and Jessica Simpson have reportedly been guests of the hotel.
However, high-profile guests choose the Four Seasons when they want to fly under the radar, not when they want to be gawked at by fans around the pool, so don't expect a major star-watching scene. Your best chance of spotting celebs at the hotel is at the front desk where they'd be checking in for their stay.
Canyon Ranch is a great choice for a healthy vacation with the hotel's beachfront location, huge fitness center with a rock-climbing wall, dozens of daily classes, and great spa which staffers say is popular amongst pro football players.
Not everyone has their sights set on health during their stay however -- according to a porter, the hotel bent the rules for Mickey Rourke during his stay this fall, allowing him to smoke in his room and bring his pet Chihuahua.
Fisher Island Hotel and Resort, a 45-room hotel, is located among homes of the super-rich on a lush, private island. Walking around Fisher Island, you may catch some familiar faces. The island is accessible only by ferry, helicopter, seaplane, or boat, and residents, most of whom live there only part-time, are some of the wealthiest people in the world.
Oprah Winfrey, Mel Brooks, and financier Martin Zweig have all lived on the island, and the Clintons and Prince Andrew have visited. Celebs who come to the island aren't looking for a wild party scene (there's barely any) but instead enjoy its history, charm, and beautiful golf and tennis facilities.