Five Best: Miami party hotels

Celebrate from dusk until dawn, South Beach style

Townhouse

Stylish sleeping in Miami is no longer confined to the super-wealthy. The décor at the cheap and chic Townhouse is as fresh and cool as the clientele. Each of the 67 rooms is minimalist white with splashes of red. Exercise bikes are stationed at the end of hallways and scarlet waterbeds and parasols set a stylish tone on the Rooftop Lounge, which hosts late-night parties at weekends. Unsurprisingly, it has been a popular location for fashion shoots for Elle, Hugo Boss and Nike. Between parties, sample Chilean seabass skewers at Bond St, the hotel's lauded sushi restaurant.

Townhouse, 150 20th Street, Miami Beach (001 305 534 3800; www.townhousehotel.com). Doubles start at $129.95 (£65), including breakfast.

The Raleigh

Old-school glamour meets modern Miami at The Raleigh. Built by Lawrence Murray Dixon in 1940, the oceanfront Art Deco gem was given a chic makeover by Andre Balazs, owner of LA's Chateau Marmont and The Mercer in New York. An opulent 1940s atmosphere prevails in the lobby, complete with Martini Bar and Tabac. Terrazzo flooring, period furnishings and retro prints set a stylish tone in the 104 guestrooms. Outside, lush gardens surround the opulent scallop-shaped swimming pool – built for the film star Esther Williams. Pose poolside, martini in hand, on Sunday afternoons for Miami's most fashionable weekly party session, hosted by nightclub queen Ingrid Casares.

The Raleigh, 1775 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach (001 305 534 6300; www.raleighhotel.com). Doubles start at $282.50 (£141), room only.

Delano Hotel

From the moment the lobby doors swing open, it is clear that The Delano has the imprint of the formidable hotel-design duo Ian Schrager and Philippe Starck. From the oversized outdoor chess board and crystal chandeliers to the Eames pieces and Dali artwork, the hotel is an exercise in post-modern playfulness. Schrager may have cut his ties since it opened 12 years ago, but a cool charm remains after its recent facelift. The 208 guestrooms are brilliant white with deep-blue ocean views. Visit the achingly hip swimming pool, which has underwater classical music, for some professional poolside posing. A new speakeasy-style bar designed by Lenny Kravitz opens in December to coincide with the annual party-fest Art Basel Miami Beach.

Delano Hotel, 1685 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach (001 305 672 2000; www.delano-hotel.com). Doubles start at $559 (£280), room only.

The Shore Club

For a glimpse of the beautiful people partying, Miami Beach-style, head to The Shore Club. Inspired by Yves Saint-Laurent's tropical Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, the designer David Chipperfield masterminded a makeover of the Art Deco hotel. Fluttering white curtains and oversized lanterns set the tone in the lobby, while a series of lush, palm-fringed pools lead down to the beach. After dark, join the queue for a table at fashionable Nobu before heading for cocktails in the warm red-and-gold glow of the decadent Sky Bar. As well as 207 stylishly minimalist guestrooms and 70 suites, there are seven bungalows, a three-level penthouse and a private oceanfront Beach House fit for Hollywood's finest – or those with a similar budget.

The Shore Club, 1901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach (001 305 695 3100; www.shoreclub. com). Doubles start at $560 (£280), room only.

The Setai

Sophisticated and serene, The Setai fuses Art Deco style and Asian minimalism. The guestrooms, created by the Amanresorts designer Jaya Ibrahim, are housed in the gleaming high-rise Tower and the Art Deco Building. Teak walls, jade artefacts, black granite baths and candlelit corridors evoke Shanghai's Art Deco period. Tropical landscaped gardens are dotted with three swimming pools – each at different temperatures – leading to a sandy beach. By night, cool crowds sip Chilli Passion cocktails in the Courtyard bar before heading for an Asian-influenced dinner in the Restaurant. Recover the next morning in the oriental spa with some yoga, tai chi and a raft of restorative beauty treatments.

The Setai, 2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach (001 305 520 6000; www.setai.com). Suites start $537 (£268), room only.