Concierge.com's insider take:

Worlds (well, 20 minutes) away from the mania of South Beach, this serene, stylish property on a private island near the Brickell business district has stunning views over Biscayne Bay and Miami's glittering skyline, a man-made beach with Balinese daybeds, a 15,000-square-foot spa, and prime restaurants and bars. The hotel's tenth anniversary in 2010 coincided with an overhaul of the 295 guest rooms, and the updated look stays subtly sophisticated and Asian, with headboards covered in sage green linen, bamboo wall coverings, and a mix of light and dark woods to complement the earthy green-and-white color scheme. Tech touches have been updated, too, complete with flat-screen TVs, Bose sound systems with iPod docks, and DVD players. Happily, the luxurious bathrooms with pale-yellow Spanish tile remain. The most indulgent suites come with balconies overlooking the bay, and the Oriental and the Mandarin suites boast, respectively, a private media room and a spa suite. Service—from the hotel's celebrated Azul restaurant to the spa—is consistently top-notch.—Updated by Terry Ward