Miami more or less invented the modern hotel pool. When Morris Lapidus unveiled the curving pool at the Fontainebleau in 1954, he rewrote what a resort could be, and the city has been one-upping itself ever since. Today you’ll find properties with ten pools stacked across a single resort, infinity edges eighteen floors up, and private cabanas with food and drink brought to your lounger. This guide sorts the best Miami hotels with pools by what you actually care about — the most pools, the best rooftop, the longest infinity, the friendliest family deck, and the spots that sell day passes if you’re not staying the night. For the bigger picture on choosing a base, start with our guide to where to stay in Miami.
The Standouts at a Glance
If you just want the headline picks: the Fontainebleau has the most water, with ten distinct pools. The Setai runs three pools at three temperatures. The 1 Hotel South Beach owns the best rooftop, eighteen floors up. The National Hotel has the longest infinity pool in the city at 200 feet, and Loews Miami Beach is the easy call for families. EAST Miami’s 40th-floor deck wins on skyline views, and a Setai penthouse is the move if you want a pool entirely to yourself.
The Setai — Three Pools, Three Temperatures
The Setai’s calling card is three oceanfront pools kept at three different temperatures: a brisk 75°F lap pool, an 85°F middle pool, and a warm 90°F pool that families gravitate toward. Penthouse guests get rooftop pools with butler service, and the whole property opens straight onto the sand. Non-guests can buy in through ResortPass, usually $100–250 depending on the day. It suits quiet-luxury travelers, couples, and the kind of repeat visitor who treats it like a second home.
The Fontainebleau — Ten Pools
No Miami resort holds more water than the Fontainebleau, where ten separate pools cover everything from adults-only and lap swimming to a kids’ splash zone and a full-on party deck. Ultra-private cabanas run roughly $300–800 a day depending on tier, and a ResortPass day pass lands around $75–150. It’s the pick for pool obsessives, big groups, and anyone who wants options without ever leaving the property.
1 Hotel South Beach — Best Rooftop
The 1 Hotel’s 18th-floor Watr at the Rooftop is the city’s best sky-pool — a generous deck wrapped around Japanese-influenced food and a bar, with a separate oceanfront garden pool at ground level. The eco-luxury look, all reclaimed wood and dense tropical planting, makes it a favorite of designers and photographers chasing the sunset. Pool access skews guest-only here, so book a room if the rooftop is the whole point.
Acqualina Resort — Three Oceanfront Pools
Up in Sunny Isles, Acqualina spreads three oceanfront pools across 4.5 acres of beachfront: an adults-only spa pool with a Roman waterfall, a family pool anchored by the AcquaMarine kids’ program, and a heated jet pool at the spa. It’s a strong choice for families who want genuine luxury without the South Beach scene.
The Faena — Most Photogenic
The Faena is built for the camera. Adults-only and family pools sit steps from Damien Hirst’s gilded mammoth on the beach and the rows of crimson umbrellas that have launched a million photos. Day passes run about $150–300 and include the beach-club theatrics. Come for the design, the photos, and a touch of party energy.
The National Hotel — Longest Infinity Pool
The National’s 200-foot infinity pool is the longest hotel pool in the city, framed by a beautifully restored 1939 Art Deco property with its mid-century bones intact. It’s a lap swimmer’s and photographer’s pool, and one of the more affordable day passes on the beach at $40–75 through ResortPass.
W South Beach — Bayfront Pool Scene
The W spreads across a dozen different pool spaces, anchored by the bayfront WET deck and its spring-break-meets-party energy, with quieter adults-only and family options if you want to dial it down. It draws a younger, social crowd that comes as much for the scene as the swim.
Loews Miami Beach — Best Family Pool
Loews is the family default: a sprawling pool deck with a dedicated kids’ splash area, SOAK private cabanas with bottle service, year-round children’s programming, and direct beach access. Day passes are reasonable at $40–100, which makes it an easy option even if you’re not booked in for the night.
Best Day-Pass Hotels (No Stay Required)
You don’t have to book a room to spend the day by the water. Several hotels sell pool-and-beach day passes, most easily through resortpass.com: the Faena ($150–300), Loews Miami Beach ($40–100), the Confidante ($30–60), the National Hotel ($40–75), Hilton Bentley Miami ($30–50), and the bay-side Standard Spa, Mid-Beach ($50–100). Day passes routinely undercut walk-up rates and are the cheapest way to test-drive a marquee property. For a pure sand-and-surf day instead, pair this with our guide to Miami’s best beaches.
Best Pool Bars
Some of Miami’s best bars happen to sit at the water’s edge. Sugar at EAST Miami crowns the 40th floor with a Bali-inspired rooftop; Watr at the 1 Hotel pairs an 18th-floor pool with Japanese-leaning plates; Tulum at the W Miami delivers 360-degree views from the 15th floor; the Faena’s pool bar runs the famous red-umbrella scene; and the Setai serves all three of its pools without making you leave your lounger.
Tips for Booking a Pool Hotel
A few things are worth knowing before you commit. “Multi-pool” doesn’t always mean every pool is open at once, so confirm with the hotel. Most pools close around sunset for cleaning. Reserve cabanas online to lock them in, and check whether there’s a minimum spend attached. Day passes through ResortPass usually beat walk-up rates, and while towels and loungers are free for hotel guests, day visitors often pay $20–40. Nearly every multi-pool resort keeps at least one adults-only section if you want calm water. If you’re weighing a splurge, our Miami luxury resorts and best hotels in Miami Beach guides go deeper, while design-minded travelers should also browse our boutique hotels and beachfront hotels roundups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Miami hotel has the best pool?
It depends what you’re after. The Setai’s three-temperature pools and the 1 Hotel South Beach’s 18th-floor rooftop are the most acclaimed; the Fontainebleau has the most pools at ten; and the National Hotel has the longest infinity pool at 200 feet.
Can non-guests use Miami hotel pools?
Often, yes. Many hotels sell day passes through ResortPass — the Faena, Loews, the National, the Confidante, and the Standard Spa among them — with prices ranging from about $30 to $300 depending on the property.
Are Miami hotel pools open year-round?
Yes. The tropical climate keeps pools usable in every season. Many are heated, though rooftop pools occasionally close during a winter cold front.
Are Miami hotel pools kid-friendly?
Most have at least one family pool. Loews Miami Beach, the Fontainebleau, and Acqualina all have dedicated kids’ splash areas and children’s programming.
How much do Miami hotel cabanas cost?
Anywhere from $150 to $800 a day depending on the hotel and the tier. Most cabanas also carry a food-and-beverage minimum, typically $75–200.
Does the Faena have a pool day pass?
Yes — roughly $150–300 a day through the hotel or ResortPass, usually including pool access and beach service, with cabana access depending on the package.
For current day-pass availability and pricing across the city, browse ResortPass’s Miami listings.