Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach

This upscale beachfront hotel is situated in a white building from the 1950s with a retro-style porte cochere entrance flanked by palm trees. Guests are greeted in a sleek, immaculate lobby decked out in minimalist whites, with gleaming floors and large columns throughout the space, while chic velvet chairs and sofas provide seating. Large green potted plants border the wall of windows at the entrance that fills the space with natural light. Other interiors are equally stylish: the hotel's Driftwood Room restaurant exhibits a masculine elegance, with dark wood furnishings paired with attractive navy-colored patterned wallpaper, wooden herringbone flooring, caramel-colored leather booths, and white marble tabletops. Atmospheric lighting in the lobby bar creates an intimate atmosphere, while potted palms flanking chic velvet tufted sofas and chairs add a touch of the tropical. The grounds, too, provide a lovely setting to relax outdoors, with well maintained grassy lawns dotted with palms and stylish seating beneath strings of twinkle lights.

Overall it's a stylish place that attracts young, trendy couples, as well as business travelers drawn to the proximity to the Miami Beach Convention Center. The hotel also sees a fair number of bachelorette parties.

The hotel is situated directly on the beach, on Collins Ave, a popular and trendy strip in South Beach. There are lots of other hotels as well as restaurants, bars, and shops in the area, and the Miami Beach Convention Center is two blocks away. There is a bus stop right in front of the hotel. Ocean Drive is about a five-minute drive away, where guests can find the Art Deco District. Other popular area attractions include Jungle Island (12-minute drive), Pérez Art Museum Miami (14-minute drive), the American Airlines Arena (20-minute drive), Vizcaya Museum & Gardens (20-minute drive), the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (35-minute drive), and Zoo Miami (40-minute drive). Miami International Airport can be reached in about 20 minutes by car, or it's around 40 minutes via public transportation.

Rooms are fairly spacious (starting at 285 square feet) and tastefully decorated, with an elegant but simple style. Bare white walls, white marble floors, and crisp white Sferra bed linens make the rooms feel fresh and provide a contrast to the dark-toned furnishings, like slate gray velour headboards, elegant wooden nightstands, and vintage travel chests that house minibars, Nespresso machines, and a selection of gourmet snacks. Flat-screen TVs are mounted on a mirrored wall, which make the spaces feel larger. Other amenities include bluetooth docking stations, safes, and free Wi-Fi, plus rooms have small tables and chairs. Studio King Rooms (starting at 420 square feet) have sofa beds and can sleep up to four guests. The two-bedroom Penthouse has a kitchenette, dining area, and a large terrace.

Bathrooms are small, but they're all decked out in white marble and feature luxe details like walk-in rainfall showers and REN toiletries -- but there are no bathtubs, and sinks are small. Some rooms offer lovely beach views, but others overlook the street and can get noise.

The best asset of the hotel is its beachfront location and direct access to a lovely stretch of shore. The hotel has private loungers on the beach as well as drink service, and two loungers per room are covered in the resort fee (umbrellas or cabanas are extra). Another of the hotel's highlights is its attractive outdoor saltwater pool, which is heated and surrounded by a sundeck lined with plenty of comfortable padded loungers and white umbrellas. The poolside bar serves drinks and snacks, while white tables and chairs provide seating on a wooden deck. Eight luxe cabanas are also available, furnished with sofas, tables, minibars, and flat-screen TVs.

The casual-chic Driftwood Room is helmed by celebrity chef Alex Guarnaschelli and features a menu that combines Southern French fare with Miami flavor, with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. The stylish space offers both indoor and outdoor seating and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests can also enjoy drinks at the lobby bar.

The fitness center is fairly small, but it's equipped with modern machines. A selection of spa treatments is available at the The Spa Lounge, including massages, facials, and manicures and pedicures. Guests can also request in-room or poolside cabana treatments. Other amenities include a hip meeting/event space and free Wi-Fi throughout the property.