I've stayed in all the other Mandarin Orientals and I have to say this is the best! Very expensive (obviously) but so worth it. Staff fantastic as were the restaurants. Food was delicious and the location of the water front was outstanding. So romantic. Large rooms and huge bathrooms. Loved the lighting - it's the small touches! Text book perfect hotel

I'm very spoiled but Mandarin Oriental exceeded my expectations. We asked for the high floor and the view from our balcony was just breathtaking. Lights of the city over the bay are amazing. The service seemed to read in our minds. We stayed in this hotel to celebrate our anniversary and we had such a great surprise from the service: rose petals and strawberries in chocolate. Thank you!

This hotel was the most beautiful place I've ever stayed. Great room, the hotel was gorgeous, the lobby always smelled amazing and a cocktail was waiting for us at reception during check in. The staff catered to our every need and I loved the personal touch of every employee addressing me by name. Definitely worth the money!

In a city of "hip" hotels filled with noise, loud music, breaches of privacy, B-list celebrities (and worse) and expensive prices for cheaply constructed buildings, the Mandarin Oriental is a welcome exception. I've stayed here over 15 times over the past decade but never wrote a review. But it's time to give praise where it's due.

First, the location -- on an "island" across a short causeway from the heart of the Brickell business district, the hotel has beautiful views in all directions. The rooms are spacious, beautifully furnished, extremely comfortable, and with true state-of-the-art support for all of your electronics -- there's a well placed single large panel in the desk area with plugs for chargers, ethernet cables, 3 prong plugs -- everything you can imagine.

All the rooms have floor-to-ceiling glass facing the water and city views, balconies, large bathrooms and abundant closet space. I've been in everything from their basic rooms to suites -- all were gracious and comfortable.

The two restaurants are excellent, and the buffet breakfast in the Cafe Simbal is exceptionally abundant, everything of highest quality, and with exceptionally broad choices.

The pool is a beautiful infinity pool overlooking the bay with outdoor shower and jacuzzi facilities, and the large nearby beach area is quiet, calm and well serviced by staff who are gracious, helpful and unintrusive. The spa is elegant and the exercise room is very large and as good as the most extravagant private facility.

All of these types of choices and preferences are matters of personal choice, but I've tried more than my share of South Beach "hip" places and they were uniformly bad compared to the Mandarin. And because Miami is so spread out, you'll need a car or taxi (as you need no matter where you stay), but the Mandarin is actually very central and equidistant by car to Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, South Beach and Key Biscayne.

As chain hotels go, this is as good as any in the US. As a very discerning and experienced traveler with opinions (see my other reviews!), this one deserves its reputation and for the quality of rooms, location, food and service, is fairly priced.