The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami
For 25 years, this property was the reliable, slightly formal grand dame of the island. The 2026 renovation has finally brought it into the present. The most dramatic change is the lobby: a massive new glass façade now offers an uninterrupted view of the Atlantic the moment you walk in. Led by design heavy-hitters Hart Howerton and Chapi Chapo, the vibe is now "Soft Island Luxury"—organic, tactile, and breezy. The rooms have been stripped of their clutter and replaced with bespoke furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows. It feels less like a hotel and more like the ultimate Key Biscayne beach house, complete with a spa that draws inspiration from the local mangroves.
A $100 million "coastal-chic" rebirth of Miami’s most storied island retreat. After a total top-to-bottom transformation, this 17-acre sanctuary has swapped its formal 2000s grandeur for an airy, sun-washed aesthetic that feels like a modern beach estate.
A South Beach party palace. It’s also no longer your mother's Ritz. While it retains its legendary service, the stiff carpets and heavy drapes have been banished in favor of limestone, mangrove-wood accents, and a palette of "sun-washed sand."
You want the Miami sun without the Miami "scene." You appreciate a 30,000-square-foot spa and the largest tennis complex in the Ritz-Carlton portfolio, but you also want a local vibe—highlighted by the addition of the island’s favorite wellness café, Pura Vida. It’s for the traveler who wants five-star polish with a "toes in the sand" spirit.
Sitting on the new reflective fountain terrace at sunrise, watching the light hit the Atlantic through the lobby’s sweeping glass walls, coffee in hand, before the rest of the resort even begins to stir.
Luma: The flagship. An Italian-coastal escape replacing Lightkeepers. Think handmade pastas, wood-fired steaks, and a roaming gelato cart. Paralía: Aegean energy on the sand. A Greek-Turkish taverna serving salt-crusted fish and meze under the stars. Rum Bar: The refined classic. Now expanded into the lobby with hand-woven details and a library of aged rums. Dune Beach Bar: The daytime heartbeat. Ceviche, burgers, and cocktails served in breezy, upgraded cabanas. Pura Vida: The local darling. An all-day wellness café for your morning acai bowl or post-tennis green juice.