Review of Mandarin Oriental Miami, by Matt Morley

The Mandarin Oriental Miami is a luxury hotel quite different from all the others that crowd Miami's hot hotel scene. For many, Miami is South Beach, so the hotel's downtown location on a 44-acre man-made island sets it well apart from the crowd. Which is exactly why so many choose to stay here.

The hotel's considerately subdued main lobby area combines a sense of space and tranquility with impressive views out over Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. Throw in an almost imperceptible soundtrack plus the subtle infusion of incense into the pre-dawn air-con system and even a 4am visit becomes a bleary-eyed delight.

The facilities

The hotel built itself a private beach and packed it full of hammocks, white cushioned day beds and spa cabanas, making it the perfect location for that deal-clinching phone call or business meeting all'aperto.

For others though, even that is too obvious a way to spend an afternoon, which is why Jorge Gonzalez, Mandarin Oriental Miami's GM has organized exclusive access for his guests to Casa Casuarina, the invitation-only members' club built inside Gianni Versace's former mansion on South Beach.

Whether at the outdoor pool or one of the beachside cabanas, guests can rest easy knowing they have found the most private and secluded spot on the strip. Ask about the private yacht the Mandarin Oriental can arrange to transport you there too if you really want to arrive in style.

Returning to Brickell Key, whether by land or sea, you'll notice the curved, fan-like architecture of the Mandarin Oriental Miami's 20-story building and its freestanding, copper-clad restaurant pavilion. The latter houses the fine dining Azul on the first floor and the more informal Café Sambal on ground level, where luxury hotel guests are served breakfast each morning.

Restaurants come and go in trend-obsessed Miami, but Azul has been going strong at the luxury hotel for several years now, and the accolades just keep on coming. Floor to ceiling windows and a Japanese-style open kitchen greet diners as they enter, from where Head Chef Clay Conley conjures up his creative blend of Mediterranean and Asian flavors.

Unsurprisingly, considering its location, Azul excels at seafood, but the creative presentation of dishes such as "A Study in Tuna" and the obligatory Florida Stone crab really take the dining experience to another level.

The rooms

The Mandarin Oriental Miami has 326 cosy, contemporary rooms and suites. Rooms are airy, high ceilinged affairs that offer fabulous views of the bay, and come with a range of modern comforts. Flatscreen TVs, DVD players, iPod docks and Wi-Fi are standard. Bathrooms have Spanish marble tiling and separate showers.

After a meal, the luxury hotel's M Bar is ideal for a nightcap, but the balcony of an 18th floor suite is also recommended for that late night tipple en deux. Not only are the views of the bay impressive, but the contemporary design touches, top-spec entertainment systems and bamboo hardwood floors inside help complete the picture.

Look out for the top floor Oriental Suite with its 8-seater dining room, internal fireplace and 80-inch video projection system in particular, or the Mandarin Suite with its spa serenity room, 2-person steam shower and a personal therapist on call 24 hours a day; both perfect antidotes to another grueling day in Miami.