Andaz Miami Beach Review

The Confidante Miami Beach was a superb Category 4 resort in the World of Hyatt program for many years. While it certainly needed a fresh coat of paint, no one could argue that the location was supreme, especially when redeeming a Category 1-4 free night certificate. But in 2024, the property closed for a full renovation and rebranding to the Andaz Miami Beach. With two nights to spend in Miami, my family (ok, really just me) was excited to check out how the place looked. Boy, were we surprised! I'll go over all of the details on just why that was in this Andaz Miami Beach review.

Location

The Andaz Miami Beach is located in the “Mid-Beach” area of Miami Beach. You're walking distance from famous hotels like the Faena and the Fontainebleau, and a short rideshare away from the always-energetic South Beach. Most hotels in Miami Beach that are beachfront have a public walking path between them and the beach, and that's the case with the Andaz. It's a quick 20-minute ride from Miami International Airport, and well-located to avoid much of the traffic that plagues South Beach.

Andaz Miami Beach: Typical Booking Cost

Sadly, the Andaz Miami Beach did not open as a Category 4 like the property was before the renovation. It's now a Category 6, meaning free nights through World of Hyatt require:

• 21,000 points on off-peak dates
• 25,000 points for standard dates
• 29,000 points per night for peak dates.

Room rates vary based on the season of your visit. If you visit in the summer, expect rates around $300/night, but in the winter, rooms can cost over $800 per night. A daily resort fee of $55 per night, plus tax, applies if you're not a Hyatt Globalist or using Hyatt points for your stay too. The resort fee includes a welcome beverage, daily morning and afternoon wellness experiences, e-bike rentals, use of the house Rivian (up to 3 miles away), two refillable water bottles (once per stay), discounts on local experiences, and beach service, including umbrellas and chairs.

Check In

If you were familiar with the Confidante, the entire check-in experience has changed. Where the front desk once was is now a yet-to-open Bazaar by José Andrés restaurant. Instead, guests check in on the second-floor lobby, where in typical Andaz fashion, a not-quite-a-front-desk-but-yeah-it-is-a-front-desk is now located. We enjoyed our welcome beverages on the plush and stylish couches spread throughout the lobby, which also features the Bar Centro coffee-and-cocktails bar.

I'm a Hyatt Globalist, and traveling with a toddler, so we elected to pre-book the Miami Suite with one of my suite night awards. My mother-in-law, an Explorist, was upgraded to a lovely oceanview room. This is something that I find consistent with Hyatt and keeps me loyal- nearly every hotel I stay at in the brand creates little fuss about upgrades.

Andaz Miami Beach: Miami Suite Review

We had stayed in suites before at the Confidante, and I wasn't overly impressed with them, especially their size. However, the Miami Suite at the Andaz was private, oversized, and provided everything we looked for in a suite. Walking into the suite, you'll find a table that seats four, as well as a mini-bar, complete with a Nespresso machine. The setup felt custom-built, but I was sad to learn that all the snacks were an extra charge. Historically, this was a brand feature of the Andaz, which I guess Hyatt has done away with?

Living Room

Moving onto the sitting area of the living room, an oversized couch and table sit in front of a massive television. The television, like many rooms, has a mount that allows it to swing out for better viewing from other areas of the room. The living room is also where we found our only ocean view in the suite. One downside of standard suites here is that they face Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami. Still pretty, but if you're here for an ocean view, you may be disappointed.

Bedroom

The main bedroom features another oversized television, a king-size bed, with plugs and USB-Cs on each side. The closet features a beach bag to use while on property, as well as robes and slippers branded to the Andaz. In the bathroom, a double vanity that feels right out of The Great Gatsby awaits guests, with a separate room with a toilet to the right, and a huge shower to the left.

The best benefit of the room, in my opinion, is its location in the tower of the hotel. There are only four rooms on these floors, making for a very quiet environment, at least from inside the hotel. At night, I could still hear street noise. If you're looking for a restful night's sleep, Miami Beach isn't the best place to stay.

Andaz Miami Beach Review: Property and Amenities

Rather than keep the perfectly fine pools that existed before, the Andaz Miami Beach has fully renovated its outdoor facilities. You'll now find two pools, slightly tiered, that lead organically up to the second-floor lobby and cocktail lounge.

Pools and Beach

Both pools are open to all ages, but the oval-shaped pool on the second floor functioned with a tranquil atmosphere, while the lower pool had hotel-provided pool toys and a louder atmosphere. The Soleo Bar provided food and beverages for both pools, with constant traffic of servers there to provide anything we might need. The hotel's pool staff also set up our pool chairs for us on our second day and delivered amenities like pool toys for our son, which was a great touch. They even have sunloungers for toddlers here!

The beach is another highlight. For one, Miami allows alcoholic beverage service on the sand, so you'll have full food and drink service from Soleo here. Beach staff also set up your chairs and umbrellas, which are a high-end pink color that feels very Miami. There were a few areas set up for beach games, but it was so hot during our stay in July that we stayed under the shade. The ocean is steps away, which was refreshingly cool despite the air temperature.

Spa and Fitness Center

The spa and fitness center are still located on the 10th floor, but have been expanded a bit with the renovation. Brand-new machines and weights, as well as a Peloton Bike and Peloton Row machine, are here, so make sure to get your Hyatt points for working out on those!

There's also an outdoor deck where workout classes are occasionally held. The spa features all the services you'd expect from a resort. Unfortunately, we didn't have a chance to partake during our visit.

Dining

The Andaz Miami Beach will be a dining mecca once all restaurants are completed. All food and beverages are managed by the José André s Group. Food quality was superb during our stay, if expectedly pricey, as a result. On the ground floor, the Bazaar will open sometime shortly. This will no doubt be popular with guests and locals alike. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at Aguasal, which is also where Globalist breakfast is taken. We were able to grab breakfast to go each morning to enjoy in our suite. Highlights for us included the Tres Leches French Toast.

Upstairs, Bar Centro is open for coffee and pastries in the morning. There's a Mediterranean flair to many of the croissants and pastries. After 4, the bar serves a cocktail and tapas menu, which we also enjoyed in our suite. Fans of Spanish cuisine like croquettas, pan con tomate, and gazpacho will be well taken care of here.

And, outside at the pool, there's the Soleo pool bar, which also serves the beach.

Andaz Miami Beach: Service

We had an amazing time while on the property, and the service by all staff was top-notch. The front desk staff were able to get one of our rooms checked in well before normal check-in time. This allowed us to nap after a sleepless cruise night before we arrived. At the pool, everyone was eager to make our experience excellent.

The Andaz Miami Beach is going for a five-star experience (especially with the cash price of rooms), and I think they're off to a great start from what I experienced.

Andaz Miami Beach: ToP Thoughts

Overall, we loved our stay at the Andaz Miami Beach. We won't hesitate to return, especially on an off-peak night priced at 21,000 points. Many hotel openings are coming to the area, like the Thompson Miami Beach. But I've always loved the Mid-Beach location, which felt more laid back than South Beach proper. Plus, once Bazaar by José Andrés opens up, it'll be a foodie destination that's hard to ignore. Have you checked out the new Andaz Miami Beach hotel? Share your thoughts over in the ToP Facebook Group.