Miami's Best Summer Pools

June 11, 2009 4:06 PM
by Marcos Colón

When it comes to Miami, most people often think beach before anything else. But, what they really should know is that there are some amazing pools that anyone, well almost anyone, can take advantage of during the summer (and almost year-round since the weather here isn’t too shabby in the winter). Although sometimes you have to actually be staying at the hotel in order to use their pool, we all pretty much know that they’re always a way to get into these. If you can get into the club with three buddies, none being girls, then it’s pretty safe to say you can find your way into these. Without further ado, here are the best summer pools in Miami.

#8 Best Hotel Pool in Miami
The Surfcomber Hotel
1717 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139

If you happen to be a big fan of electronic dance music in Miami, then you probably know about the Surfcomber Hotel and how it has one of the best pool set ups you can find in the city. During these events, sponsored tents line up around the border of the pool, while the crowd enjoys a dip and a dip while they’re in the pool. While on one side you can take in the view of the glamorous hotel, on the other the Atlantic Ocean is just yards away. Even though this place pops off mostly during WMC, it’s even better if you want more of a low-key vibe during the summer.

#7 Best Hotel Pool in Miami
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach
4441 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL. 33140

This place was shut down quite some time in South Beach, but not because of legal issues, or rules broken, or bankruptcy. It was actually to pump in millions and millions of dollars in renovation. The result? One of the best-looking resort/hotels in the nation. The Fontainebleau will soon become a staple in Miami, and what’s a hotel staple without having one of the best pools in the city as well. Labeled their, poolscape, it features a European-style pool with a sexy enclave that’s surrounded by cabanas and sun loungers. The cabana’s at this place each feature a 32-inch flat-screen TV with wireless internet, butler service, and a mini fridge. Nuff said.

#6 Best Hotel Pool in Miami
The Gansevoort Hotel
2377 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139

Another example of a pool that shouldn’t be judged by its shape, The Gansevoort has some of the best pool side aesthetics you can think up. More than comfortable lounge chairs, perfectly lined up cabanas that offer all the intimacy you need with a giant letter ‘G’ smack dab in the middle of the pool, just in case you forgot where you were. Elevated and offering one of the best views you can get poolside in the city, this is exactly why The Gansevoort Hotel has made our list of best pools in Miami.

#5 Best Hotel Pool in Miami
The Raleigh Hotel
1775 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139

Remember that line in There’s Something About Mary, where Ben Stiller mentions that he’s staying over at The Raleigh? Well, he may have made the place out to be a lot less than it actually is. Having one of the best reputations in Miami, and without a doubt one of the best pools, The Raleigh definitely ranks high on our list. From up above it almost seems as though the shape of the pool was designed by Liberace, have a look that’s closer to a chess piece, rather than the typical boring rectangular shape. This place also serves up some of the best cocktails, poolside.

#4 Best Hotel Pool in Miami
The Shore Club
1901 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139

We’ll be the first ones to say that at the Shore Club doesn’t have the most immaculately shaped pool. Yep, just a normal rectangle. But, it there’s one thing that we’ve learned about pools thus far, it’s that you can’t judge them by their shape, but by what’s around them. Here instead of one pool, they have two elevated infinity edge pools and hot tubs that are surrounded by custom tufted beds. It kind of feels like you’ve left the city when you venture into this place. Did we mention they have a Rumbar? Yep, offering 75 different kinds of rum, there’s definitely a choice in there to fit your needs. When you combine these things then you understand why it’s on our list of best hotel pools in Miami.

#3 Best Hotel Pool in Miami
The National Hotel
1677 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139

What happens when you surround one of the longest and most beautiful pools in the city with luscious and vibrant plants? One of the best pools in Miami. If you go online right now and check out some pictures of the pool at the National Hotel, then you may not believe what you see. More like something out of a movie, the National boasts the biggest infinity pool you can find, meaning that while you take a dip in it on one side, you can gaze into the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

#2 Best Hotel Pool in Miami
The Delano
1685 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139

Without a doubt, one of the best and most popular pools in Miami has to be at The Delano hotel in South Beach. There are two key words when describing this place, “underwater music.” At The Delano, instead of having balls-to-the-wall fun, they want their guests to sit back, relax, and enjoy their “Water Salon” experience. This is probably the only pool in the city that has its floating and meditating areas, which is nice, because the last thing you want when you’re doing either of these is some drunk fat guy trying to pull a cannonball nearby.

#1 Best Hotel Pool in Miami
The Standard
40 Island Ave.
Miami, FL 33139

If you’re familiar with some prominent hotels across the nation, then The Standard has probably been used in your vocabulary at one time. Not located on South Beach, but basically located on South Beach, The Standard has one of the best pools for the summer in Miami. Once you walk into the hotel, then out through the back, you walk through an Asian inspired, that’s immaculately tended to, your breath is easily taken away from the sight of the pool. From one angle, the infinity pool seems to drain into the bay. Although the bodies that come into this pool are hot enough to raise the temperature of the water, it is heated, but that won’t be needed during the heat-filled summer days.