Summer 2017 Miami Hotel Pool Crashing Guide
With late sunsets and temperatures consistently hitting the upper 80s, we’ve officially entered the dog days of summer in Miami. Fortunately for us, though, the city is strewn with an abundance of watery oases known as hotel swimming pools, and while many are reserved exclusively for hotel guests, we’ve found a few loopholes for the rest of us mere mortals. Read on for our annual guide to crashing Miami hotel pools.
Day Passes & Packages
Mondrian South Beach
The Price: Free, Sunday through Friday
The Deal: Grab a spot in the sun gratis at the Mondrian Sunday through Friday.
1100 West Ave., South Beach; 305-514-1500; https://www.morganshotelgroup.com/mondrian/mondrian-south-beach
The Confidante
The Price: $25
The Deal: Access to the Confidante’s two colorful pools or beach chairs, a V Art of Wellness fitness class and fitness center. Purchase pass at the front desk or from the ResortPass app.
4041 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-424-1234; https://theconfidantemiamibeach.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html
Conrad Miami
The Price: $35 per day; $100 per month
The Deal: Access to Conrad Miami’s 24th floor swimming pool, fitness center and tennis courts, including three hours valet parking.
1395 Brickell Ave., Brickell; 305-503-6500; http://conradmiami.com
The Raleigh
The Price: $49 on Sundays
The Deal: On Sundays, indulge in a three-course prix-fixe brunch at The Restaurant at The Raleigh and spend the rest of the day listening to the tunes of a live Latin band while lounging by the iconic pool made famous by movie star Esther Williams.
1775 Collins Ave., South Beach; 305-534-6300; http://raleighhotel.com
The Standard Spa Miami Beach
The Price: $75, Monday to Thursday; $150, Friday to Sunday
The Deal: Pool access, chair, towel, hammam and spa amenities.
40 Island Ave., South Beach; 305-673-1717; http://www.standardhotels.com/miami/properties/miami-beach
The Palms Hotel & Spa
The Package: $162 + tax & tip for the Spa, Spice & Sun combo
The Deal: Book a 95+ minute Miami Spa Month Treatment ($139) + Miami Spice Lunch/Brunch ($23) and enjoy complimentary half-day usage of a beach cabanita, (four hour usage for two persons, with reservation after 10:30 a.m.), as well as pool access.
3025 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-534-0505; https://www.thepalmshotel.com
InterContinental Miami
The Price: $150 F&B minimum for cabanas, $75 for daybeds, Monday through Thursday; $250 F&B minimum for cabanas, $150 for daybeds, Friday through Sunday
The Deal: Grab up to six friends, indulge in the offerings at the InterContinental’s rooftop poolside Bluewater Café and a daybed or cabana is yours for the day. You’ll also enjoy 15 percent off any $50 or $80 MySpa service.
100 Chopin Plaza, Downtown; 305-577-1000; http://www.icmiamihotel.com
Spa Day
Miami Spa Month is in full swing now through the end of August with treatments priced at $109, $139 and $199 at participating spas. Take advantage of that deal at one of these hotels that also includes pool access with spa treatments:
- The Carillon
- Conrad Miami
- Fontainebleau
- JW Marriott Marquis
- Kimpton Epic (Note: the pool is closed for maintenance Monday to Friday this summer)
- Mayfair Hotel & Spa
- The Palms
- The Sagamore
- The Setai
- The Standard
- The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove
Pool Parties
There’s a wide lineup of weekend pool parties at many hotels that range from all-out ragers to chilled out shindigs and family-friendly affairs. For the most part, they’re free and open to the public, but in some cases there’s a strict door policy and you may have to charm a bouncer or make VIP arrangements.
1 Hotel South Beach
The Party: Healthy Sundays
When: Sundays
With its organic sensibilities, it’s no wonder that 1 Hotel’s Sunday rooftop pool party is pitching itself as a healthy way to recover from a night out in South Beach. You’re invited to cleanse your body under the sun with fresh juice-infused cocktails to the playful beats of local DJs.
RSVP is required VIProoftop@1hotels.com
2341 Collins Ave., South Beach; 305-604-1000; https://www.1hotels.com/south-beach
Atton Brickell
The Party: Sunset Sessions
When: Saturdays, 2 to 7 p.m.
Live DJs, discounted cocktails and a chill vibe are on tap at Atton Brickell’s rooftop pool during Saturday’s Sunset Sessions pool parties.
1500 SW 1st Ave., Brickell; 786-600-2600; http://www.attonbrickellmiami.com
Confidante Miami Beach
The Party: Backyard Saturdays
When: Saturdays, Noon to 6 p.m.
A rotating cast of DJs and poolside beverages are on tap at The Confidante during its Backyard Saturdays shindig.
4041 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-424-1234; https://theconfidantemiamibeach.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html
Delano
The Party: Privileged Sundays at Delano Beach Club
When: Sundays, 2 p.m. to Sundown
Groove poolside or lounge in daybeds and cabanas to the tunes of local DJs and live entertainment.
For guest list and table service inquiries, email: dbcvip@sbe.com.
1685 Collins Ave., South Beach; 305-672-2000; https://www.morganshotelgroup.com/delano/delano-south-beach
Kimpton Surfcomber
The Party: Backyard Beach Bash Series
When: July 29, August 12 & 26, 5 to 9 p.m.
With live performances by Grammy nominated, afro-funk band PALO!, Kimpton Surfcomber is billing its summertime Backyard Beach Bash series as a family-friendly event. Guests can watch the sunset, nosh on BBQ and enjoy specially priced tiki drinks while grooving to PALO!’s funky beats. While this party doesn’t technically grant you access to the pool, we doubt anyone will notice if you take a dip.
Tickets are free and you can RSVP here.
1717 Collins Ave., South Beach; 305-532-7715; http://www.surfcomber.com
Mondrian South Beach
The Party: Weekend Soirees
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 8 p.m.
Enjoy views of Biscayne Bay at the Mondrian’s lavish and surreal pool deck with live DJs spinning until sunset. A $50 F&B minimum will secure your pool chair and towel, based on availability.
1100 West Ave., South Beach; 305-514-1500; https://www.morganshotelgroup.com/mondrian/mondrian-south-beach
Shelborne South Beach
The Party: Backyard BBQ Series
When: Saturdays, Noon to Sunset
Enjoy a rotating lineup of BBQ styles, including Jamaican flavors, Mexican cuisine, New Orleans classic BBQ, and Texas Hill Country, all summer long at the Shelborne’s Backyard BBQ Series. The fiesta will feature live DJs and a rotating pool bar pop-up by local hotspots El Grito, Sweet Liberty, Ricky’s and Bodega.
1801 Collins Ave., South Beach; 305-531-1271; https://www.shelborne.com
Shore Club
The Party: Shore Club Sessions
When: Sundays, 1 to 6 p.m.
One of the longest running pool parties on South Beach, Shore Club’s Sunday Sessions party starts out chill and builds into a DJ-fueled shindig with tropical cocktails flowing.
For daybed reservation inquiries, email skybarreservations@sbe.com.
1901 Collins Ave., South Beach; 305-695-3100; https://www.morganshotelgroup.com/originals/originals-shore-club-south-beach
SLS South Beach
The Party: Swim Club 2017
When: Saturdays
Test your luck with the doorman at one of Miami’s most exclusive pool parties. Hyde Beach at SLS’s Swim Club 2017 series is a Miami meets Vegas, DJ-fueled pool party complete with Champagne showers, bottle service and a killer DJ lineup.
For guest list and table service inquiries, email: Hyde.SouthBeach@sbe.com
The Party: Hyde Night Swim
When: First Sunday of the month, 4 to 11 p.m.
Take advantage of those long summer days with a late afternoon pool party at SLS’s Hyde Beach. Expect the typical pool party mayhem, plus extravagant water performances and specialty snorkel shots.
For guest list and table service inquiries, email: Hyde.SouthBeach@sbe.com
1701 Collins Ave., South Beach; 305-674-1701; http://slshotels.com/southbeach/
Pool Crashing 101
Still want to forgo the fee or slip into a pool not on this guide? You didn’t hear it from us, but here are a few tips to get you through the gate and into the cool, blue water:
Walk in like you own the place – Don’t stop to talk to the man guarding the back gate by the beach or the woman checking room keys past the lobby, breeze past them with confidence like you belong there and know where you’re going
Have lunch or drinks at the poolside restaurant, then casually make your way to the pool and take a dip
Snag towels and set up your chair when the pool attendant isn’t looking
Have an exit strategy – If you get busted, know how you’re going to handle it ahead of time. Playing dumb works, “Oh, I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to be here.” Then, calmly and quietly collect your things.
Don’t bother during a holiday weekend when hotels are sold out and security is on high alert.
This story was originally published July 20, 2017 at 10:07 PM.