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Public transportation near The Setai is pretty much limited to an array of buses, since you won’t find subways or trains that stop along the beach. The most useful buses to know about include the Airport Flyer, an express bus that stops near The Setai on Collins Avenue, which continues north and across town toward Miami International Airport in a 20 to 30 minute journey. Other buses in the area include the South Beach Local, which is great for short hops around Miami Beach (and costs just 25 cents), as well as the Beach Max 120, which can take you to Aventura Mall and Haulover Beach. If you’re not sure about where to pick up any of the local buses, be sure to ask the concierge at The Setai for explanations and maps of any of the modes of transport.

You and your loved one will find many romantic spots at The Setai, thanks to its alluring interior design, tranquil atmosphere and abundance of dramatic ocean views. Pressed to choose, we’d have to go with the Penthouse Suite or the terrace of any of the oceanfront suites as the most romantic — and secluded — spot on the property. Something about the unique combination of Zen-chic design amid the bustling nightlife surrounding the hotel creates a distinctive environment for love at The Setai that will complete your couples’ retreat.

The brunch-style Setai Grand Breakfast is offered every day of the week, but on Sunday the menu is expanded for The Restaurant’s Sunday Jazz Brunch, which features live entertainment, making the ambience as exciting as the savory food on your plate. Held every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the brunch offers a raw bar, gourmet brick oven pizzas and flat breads, items from the rotisserie, Asian dishes and a large number of breakfast classics. It costs $75 per person, including unlimited Taittinger Champagne, Brut Prestige and Bloody Marys. Price for children up to 12 years old is $35.

The Setai offers iPads and Amazon Kindles for guest use. Grab an iPad or Kindle and head to the pool deck, where you can read, take in the ocean views and catch a little sun.

You won’t have to travel far to find the popular attractions near The Setai, including the famous Ocean Drive and South Beach — just be sure to walk on the park side of Ocean if you don’t want to be bothered by touristy restaurant hawkers — and the Lincoln Road pedestrian mall, which offers a prime people-watching spot in the evenings and a spectacular place to shop or grab lunch during the day. Miami’s latest architectural gem, the 1111 Lincoln parking complex designed by Herzog & de Meuron is also nearby. Non-design nerds don’t fret: It includes restaurants and designer shops, too. The Bass Museum of Art is just steps from The Setai, so you really don’t have an excuse not to go.

Also definitely worth a look, if not a visit for a performance, is the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center, home to the New World Symphony and a variety of cutting-edge events that blend classical music with DJs and include movies projected onto the exterior of the hall, for you to enjoy from a seat in the park in front. Check with the concierge for schedule and directions to any of the local attractions and for help scoring tickets and entry into special events.

The Setai is situated along one of South Beach’s most popular jogging routes — the path that runs the length of Miami Beach, from South Pointe all the way up to North Miami Beach. This concrete path heads south from the Four-Star hotel, but a few blocks north you’ll find the beginning of the elevated — and still fairly new — wooden boardwalk. This is one of the most inspiring places to work up a sweat in all of Miami, and offers a bit of variety compared to the usual concrete-pounding your joints might take on a run. Don’t hesitate to ask the concierge at The Setai to help you plan any jogging routes or bike paths to help you take advantage of Miami’s idyllic weather and beautiful oceanside vistas.

Shops near The Setai are primarily located on the shopping and dining strip of Lincoln Road. Many national apparel chains are here, including J.Crew, Gap and Banana Republic, but you’ll also encounter some high-end gems nestled within the familiar brands. Shops to look out for include Vault, if you’re in the market for a $50,000 timepiece, and Alchemist, a cutting-edge boutique with top-level brands and a second, art-gallery-like store in the 1111 Lincoln parking garage complex. For the major luxury brands, you simply need to take a short drive north to the Bal Harbour Shops, where the newest boutiques include Gucci and Ralph Lauren. If you’re not sure where to head for your retail therapy, the concierge at The Setai will be more than happy to help direct you on your way to spending some serious coin.

The Setai decorates for the holidays but in an understated chic way. The best part about being in South Florida during the holiday months is the weather. Just step outside, you may see people in shorts taking in the warm(ish) weather, and the bravest of the tourists may even be taking a dip in the nearby ocean.

Thanks to its home in the heart of South Beach, The Setai never leaves you a dull moment. But the five best things to do near the hotel include:

1. A performance by the Miami City Ballet, which has become one of the most acclaimed companies in the U.S., adds a level of sophistication to the arts scene in Miami. Most people probably don’t think of ballet when they think of dancing in South Florida — but that’s to their detriment.

2. Watching a film projected onto the walls of the new, Frank Gehry-designed New World Center, or even absorbing the concert inside, sure beats a trip to your average multiplex.

3. Try hiring a jet ski or a yacht (the concierge can assist) to explore the calm waters of Biscayne Bay or to sail over to Fisher Island or Key Biscayne. Though there’s a multitude of things to do in South Beach, no one says you have to stay on this side of the water to have a good time.

4. If you’re into people-watching, you won’t find a much better place to do it than when you take in the spectacle of Lincoln Road in the evening — perch at one of the pedestrian strip’s café and enjoy the nightly parade of locals and tourists alike, all dressed to the nines and strolling to be seen.

5. A trip over to Miami’s Design District lets you browse designer furniture stores, dine at Michael’s Genuine or Michy’s and stop in at one of growing number of high-end fashion boutiques, such as Marni and Tomas Maier — Louis Vuitton is soon moving in, too.

Entertainment at The Bar at The Setai includes Thursday Night Jazz at The Setai, where local and national jazz musicians and vocalists perform in the Courtyard. The classic, Latin or smooth jazz is accompanied by specials on Taittinger Champagne by the glass and bottle and The Bar’s signature summer cocktail menu. At certain times during the year, such as Art Basel during early December or Winter Music Conference in March, The Setai hosts private events in The Courtyard. These often feature high-profile DJs and musicians. The Setai invites all guests to attend these private functions, so be sure to check out The Setai’s schedule of events.

Signature dishes for dinner at The Setai include homemade Peking Duck — roasted duck with steamed pancakes, scallion, cucumber and hoisin sauce — and a 6 oz. Wagyu Shabu Shabu, served with rice vermicelli, winter root vegetables, beef bonsommé, Japanese mustard and konzuri. Current chef favorites include the Hamachi, a yazu marinated yellowtail, served with mirin and sake hearts of palm, hijiki, avocado and mango — and the homemade foie gras torchon, served with sauternes jelly, apricot compote and vincotti. Other menu standouts include the dim sum, curries, range of caviars and a long list of rare wines.
These dishes are specialties of executive chef David Werly, who has served in some of the world’s best kitchens, including at the Hotel Ritz, the Private Club ‘Montes’ in London under Alain Ducasse and at Le Cirque in Mexico City, New York and Las Vegas. The menu puts an emphasis on seasonal ingredients, while also drawing inspiration from The Setai’s Zen-chic design style that incorporates a number of Asian elements.

While we were quite charmed by the Studio Spa Suites within the Deco building, the best rooms to stay in at The Setai are arguably the one- and two- bedroom suites that face the ocean in the Tower. These rooms offer the best of both worlds, in that they’re modern and sleek, but still outfitted in The Setai’s signature Zen-chic teak and black granite with expensive furniture and Asian accents.

These suites would be the most comfortable for families, too — the kitchen is a treat to cook in, although 24-hour room service is just a call away. These rooms also have balconies where you feel like you could touch the Atlantic, along with Jacuzzi tubs in the bathrooms to simulate your own spa feel if you’re just too lazy to zip down in the elevator to actually get a treatment in the Spa at the Setai.

The locker rooms for the gym at The Setai double as the locker rooms for The Spa at The Setai. While small in sheer size, the well-designed locker rooms still offer a compact punch. The look is streamlined and warm, with teak finishings and simple décor. The locker rooms include separate WCs and showers, as well a small steam room. All the usual toiletry and salon amenities including hairbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant are available for your use. And while you’re there, why not schedule a treatment in the Four-Star spa? You won’t even have to leave the hotel grounds to get a relaxing spa, facial or manicure to look and feel your best when you head out to the beach or to any of South Beach’s world-famous nightlife.

The Setai has one main restaurant, actually called The Restaurant, which specializes in dishes inspired by the far East. The menu is divided into sections titled the Wok, the Steam, the Tandoor, the Curries and the Rotisserie & Grill, and guests can enjoy the theater of the open kitchen.

In season, usually from November through May, The Setai also opens a second restaurant, the Grill, which serves European-style small plates. The restaurant emphasizes seasonal ingredients and creates dishes that pair well with wines recommended by the hotel’s sommelier or with a creative cocktail from the bar. Outdoors, The Setai also has the Pool & Beach Bar, which features typical poolside fare, such as salads and sandwiches, ceviches, wraps and brick oven pizzas.

The Setai calls every one of its rooms a ‘suite,’ but the high-roller suites are the ones available in one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations in the Tower building. All of these special suites have Jacuzzi tubs and a jar of sea salt to give you anything but an ordinary bath, a separate rainfall shower and a separate toilet and bidet. Some suites have walk-in closets and the safes contain jewelry trays so you don’t lose your valuable pieces, and all suites feature paintings by Shanghai-based artist Christian de Laubadere. The Tower suites also have floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the beach right to you, large balconies for even more ocean views, separate living spaces and gourmet kitchens. Be sure to ask about room availability in the Tower when you book a room at The Setai to make sure you get the very best of the luxury the Four-Star hotel has to offer.

A hotel doesn't earn a Four-Star rating without offering you a variety of handy and pampering amenities. With that in mind, here are the five amenities you can't miss at The Setai :

1. You'll have a tough time finding a more stunning decor and variety of amenities after staying in one of the spa suites, with private tubs, showers and steam rooms, not to mention views over The Setai's pool decks toward the ocean. Be sure to check out the decor throughout the hotel, we love the grey antique bricks in the lobby that were imported from an old Art Deco building in Shanghai. Now, the restored bricks are the perfect bridge between the Art Deco styles of Miami and Shanghai.

2. Incredible Asian-inspired cuisine served at The Restaurant means you won't have to travel farther than an elevator ride to get a fresh, fantastic meal. Besides the mouthwatering food, we were entertained thoughout the meal by watching seasoned chefs hard at work in the stunning exhibition kitchen (each chef is from a different part of Asia and focuses on their own specialty dishes).

3. Tucked behind the Deco and Tower buildings, The Spa at The Setai stands out as a particularly special accommodation. When it's treatment time, you'll head to the second floor to one of the the four completely private spa suites, decked out with its own bathroom, steam room and even a kimono to lounge in. The traditional treatments incorporate the healing techniques of Bali, India and Tibet.

4. The two-floor Setai Recording Studio designed by Lenny Kravitz's company, Kravitz Design, lets you live and work like a rock star while you're checked in at The Setai -- quite an appealing amenity for any burgeoning musician.

5. Luxurious Asprey Purple Water bath amenities stocked in every guest bathroom brings the best kinds of spa lotions, shampoos and soaps right to your room. You won't have to worry about bringing your own toiletries along for the trip. In fact, you'll probably want to take The Setai's offerings home with you.

The Setai offers a wide range of amenities, and can pretty much take care of anything you may have forgotten to throw in your suitcase. Even so, here are the five things we would be sure to pack for a stay at the Four-Star hotel:

1. Bring a chic caftan in neutral or earth tones so you can lounge around the pool deck in style. You won't want to miss out on the terrific pool area (with three pools to choose from), and given that, you'll want to look your best. You won't have to bring a beach bag to stuff your towel and sunscreen in -- there's one waiting for you in your closet. And if you fall in love with the tote, you can buy one to take home as a souvenir.

2. A good pair of running shoes should make the trip, if only because the brand new Technogym equipment (with free Wi-Fi) at the gym face the pools and we can't think of much better motivation than checking out buff bodies.

3. An extra suitcase can never hurt, as you're sure to return from strolling Lincoln Road with gifts in tow. It will only take you a few hours to fill up an entire suitcase with all the shopping options the area has to offer. Just be sure to remember your credit card, too.

4. Your iPod and headphones are a must at The Setai. After all, what better way is there to extend the Zen-like vibe of the hotel to your walks on the South Beach path and Mid-Beach boardwalk?

5. Load up on your evening attire. South Beach is always pretty casual, but at night, you'll ditch the shorts and sandals for slacks and heels. Miami is known for the their night clubs, but you won't be able to get in without jackets, closed-toed shoes and heels.

We could probably talk about all the wonderful parts of The Setai, a Four-Star South Beach hotel with Asian Art Deco style, for the rest of the day. But rather than just gushing on, here are five things you should know about The Setai:

1. The hotel consistently has the highest room rates on the beach, but the beauty of the entire hotel—think an elegant palette of brick, bronze, tropical timber and leather—and the attentive service explains why you’ll notice a higher average rate than other hotels you might find nearby.

2. To whet your appetite, be sure to have a meal at The Restaurant, the hotel’s first-floor spot for fresh Asian cuisine. Snag a table near the exhibition kitchen so that you can watch chef’s from different parts of Asia create your meal.   

3. While The Setai is child-friendly, particularly the spacious suites with kitchens located in the Tower and the family pool, there are not many activities or amenities designed just for your little one. This is more of an adult hot spot, so keep that in mind if you’re planning a family outing.

4. While beautiful, The Spa at The Setai is intimate, with four private treatment rooms. The locker room facilities, available for guests using the gym at the spa, are also small—guaranteeing the privacy you crave. There is no dedicated relaxation lounge in the spa, so plan your arrival and appointment accordingly.

5. The Setai has three azure pools that overlook the ocean—a lap pool at 75 degrees, a lounge pool at 85 degrees and a family pool at 95 degrees. This may help you to decide which one you’ll take a dip in first. 

In-room technology at The Setai includes IBAHN ETVi Digital Entertainment & Information Systems, which conveniently come with keyboards so you can use your TV screen to browse the Internet, MITEL 5360 COLORIP Phones, free Wi-Fi and wired Internet access, an Illy espresso coffeemaker and a Bose surround sound and Wave System with an iPod docking station. Suites also have light controls with dimmers. If you or your little ones are into gaming and movies, a specially themed entertainment suite has an entire room decked out for media immersion, with an X-box for games and the iMedia system for movies and web entertainment. Though to be honest, we think you’ll want to soak up the sunshine when you stay at The Setai, given its prime location in the heart of South Beach.

Rooms at The Setai are some of the most luxurious in Miami. Clean lines in teak wood dominate the studio suites in particular, with accents of black granite adding to the dramatic look. Some of the suites in the Art Deco building boast black soaking tubs built into the wall facing the beach, which are surrounded with built-in couch seating around the edge of the room. It makes for a distinctive looking room, and one you can’t wait to play in.

The chic and comfortable rooms have a definite spa vibe and feel. Rooms in the Tower feature floor-to-ceiling glass windows that bring the beach right to you, with a similar design to the Deco rooms. Rooms at The Setai benefit from having spacious living areas and gourmet kitchens, as well as large balconies and dramatic ocean views that’ll make you feel like you’re squarely in the heart of the action on South Beach, complete with amenities that make you feel like you’re right at home.

The design concept of The Setai is ‘Design Art Deco fusion,’ a philosophy that combines the Deco architecture of South Beach and the influence of the Deco period in Asia. The hotel’s lead designer, Jean-Michel Gathy, envisioned The Setai as more of a vacation home than a hotel. You’ll feel more than welcome amid the natural materials, expansive space and light filling up Gathy’s beautifully planned design. The tasteful décor has an underlying Asian aesthetic and values, from the antique bricks and Shanghai’s old city on the lobby level to the Asian-style tea cups used in place of regular glass tumblers in the guestroom bathrooms at The Setai.

The Setai is located at 2001 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, essentially in the heart of South Beach. The Four-Star hotel is set in the Art Deco district, and just a short walk from the buzz of retail and culinary main street Lincoln Road, as well as all the tourist energy of Ocean Drive. The drive from Miami International Airport to the Setai generally takes about 20 minutes, depending on traffic, and the hotel concierge can help you set up limousine service from the airport to the hotel; just be sure to ask when you book your room about arranging for your pickup.

The Setai is one of the only Four-Star hotels located in the middle of Miami Beach, and is unique in its Asian-inspired décor, its level of exceptional service and the intimate and private atmosphere it cultivates for its guests. We’d describe The Setai as a spa-like oasis in the heart of South Beach: Imagine a diamond set in the middle of other precious stones, and you’ll get the idea. The Setai offers you the best of both worlds: The hub of activity and energy the beach is known for and then a quiet, chic retreat as soon as you step through the lobby doors.

The Setai offers iPads and Amazon Kindles for guest use. Grab an iPad or Kindle and head to the pool deck, where you can read, take in the ocean views and catch a little sun.

The brunch-style Setai Grand Breakfast is offered every day of the week, but on Sunday the menu is expanded for The Restaurant’s Sunday Jazz Brunch, which features live entertainment, making the ambience as exciting as the savory food on your plate. Held every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the brunch offers a raw bar, gourmet brick oven pizzas and flat breads, items from the rotisserie, Asian dishes and a large number of breakfast classics. It costs $75 per person, including unlimited Taittinger Champagne, Brut Prestige and Bloody Marys. Price for children up to 12 years old is $35.

You and your loved one will find many romantic spots at The Setai, thanks to its alluring interior design, tranquil atmosphere and abundance of dramatic ocean views. Pressed to choose, we’d have to go with the Penthouse Suite or the terrace of any of the oceanfront suites as the most romantic — and secluded — spot on the property. Something about the unique combination of Zen-chic design amid the bustling nightlife surrounding the hotel creates a distinctive environment for love at The Setai that will complete your couples’ retreat.

Public transportation near The Setai is pretty much limited to an array of buses, since you won’t find subways or trains that stop along the beach. The most useful buses to know about include the Airport Flyer, an express bus that stops near The Setai on Collins Avenue, which continues north and across town toward Miami International Airport in a 20 to 30 minute journey. Other buses in the area include the South Beach Local, which is great for short hops around Miami Beach (and costs just 25 cents), as well as the Beach Max 120, which can take you to Aventura Mall and Haulover Beach. If you’re not sure about where to pick up any of the local buses, be sure to ask the concierge at The Setai for explanations and maps of any of the modes of transport.

Shops near The Setai are primarily located on the shopping and dining strip of Lincoln Road. Many national apparel chains are here, including J.Crew, Gap and Banana Republic, but you’ll also encounter some high-end gems nestled within the familiar brands. Shops to look out for include Vault, if you’re in the market for a $50,000 timepiece, and Alchemist, a cutting-edge boutique with top-level brands and a second, art-gallery-like store in the 1111 Lincoln parking garage complex. For the major luxury brands, you simply need to take a short drive north to the Bal Harbour Shops, where the newest boutiques include Gucci and Ralph Lauren. If you’re not sure where to head for your retail therapy, the concierge at The Setai will be more than happy to help direct you on your way to spending some serious coin.

The Setai decorates for the holidays but in an understated chic way. The best part about being in South Florida during the holiday months is the weather. Just step outside, you may see people in shorts taking in the warm(ish) weather, and the bravest of the tourists may even be taking a dip in the nearby ocean.

Thanks to its home in the heart of South Beach, The Setai never leaves you a dull moment. But the five best things to do near the hotel include:

1. A performance by the Miami City Ballet, which has become one of the most acclaimed companies in the U.S., adds a level of sophistication to the arts scene in Miami. Most people probably don’t think of ballet when they think of dancing in South Florida — but that’s to their detriment.

2. Watching a film projected onto the walls of the new, Frank Gehry-designed New World Center, or even absorbing the concert inside, sure beats a trip to your average multiplex.

3. Try hiring a jet ski or a yacht (the concierge can assist) to explore the calm waters of Biscayne Bay or to sail over to Fisher Island or Key Biscayne. Though there’s a multitude of things to do in South Beach, no one says you have to stay on this side of the water to have a good time.

4. If you’re into people-watching, you won’t find a much better place to do it than when you take in the spectacle of Lincoln Road in the evening — perch at one of the pedestrian strip’s café and enjoy the nightly parade of locals and tourists alike, all dressed to the nines and strolling to be seen.

5. A trip over to Miami’s Design District lets you browse designer furniture stores, dine at Michael’s Genuine or Michy’s and stop in at one of growing number of high-end fashion boutiques, such as Marni and Tomas Maier — Louis Vuitton is soon moving in, too.

You won’t have to travel far to find the popular attractions near The Setai, including the famous Ocean Drive and South Beach — just be sure to walk on the park side of Ocean if you don’t want to be bothered by touristy restaurant hawkers — and the Lincoln Road pedestrian mall, which offers a prime people-watching spot in the evenings and a spectacular place to shop or grab lunch during the day. Miami’s latest architectural gem, the 1111 Lincoln parking complex designed by Herzog & de Meuron is also nearby. Non-design nerds don’t fret: It includes restaurants and designer shops, too. The Bass Museum of Art is just steps from The Setai, so you really don’t have an excuse not to go.

Also definitely worth a look, if not a visit for a performance, is the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center, home to the New World Symphony and a variety of cutting-edge events that blend classical music with DJs and include movies projected onto the exterior of the hall, for you to enjoy from a seat in the park in front. Check with the concierge for schedule and directions to any of the local attractions and for help scoring tickets and entry into special events.

The Setai is situated along one of South Beach’s most popular jogging routes — the path that runs the length of Miami Beach, from South Pointe all the way up to North Miami Beach. This concrete path heads south from the Four-Star hotel, but a few blocks north you’ll find the beginning of the elevated — and still fairly new — wooden boardwalk. This is one of the most inspiring places to work up a sweat in all of Miami, and offers a bit of variety compared to the usual concrete-pounding your joints might take on a run. Don’t hesitate to ask the concierge at The Setai to help you plan any jogging routes or bike paths to help you take advantage of Miami’s idyllic weather and beautiful oceanside vistas.

Entertainment at The Bar at The Setai includes Thursday Night Jazz at The Setai, where local and national jazz musicians and vocalists perform in the Courtyard. The classic, Latin or smooth jazz is accompanied by specials on Taittinger Champagne by the glass and bottle and The Bar’s signature summer cocktail menu. At certain times during the year, such as Art Basel during early December or Winter Music Conference in March, The Setai hosts private events in The Courtyard. These often feature high-profile DJs and musicians. The Setai invites all guests to attend these private functions, so be sure to check out The Setai’s schedule of events.

The locker rooms for the gym at The Setai double as the locker rooms for The Spa at The Setai. While small in sheer size, the well-designed locker rooms still offer a compact punch. The look is streamlined and warm, with teak finishings and simple décor. The locker rooms include separate WCs and showers, as well a small steam room. All the usual toiletry and salon amenities including hairbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant are available for your use. And while you’re there, why not schedule a treatment in the Four-Star spa? You won’t even have to leave the hotel grounds to get a relaxing spa, facial or manicure to look and feel your best when you head out to the beach or to any of South Beach’s world-famous nightlife.

Signature dishes for dinner at The Setai include homemade Peking Duck — roasted duck with steamed pancakes, scallion, cucumber and hoisin sauce — and a 6 oz. Wagyu Shabu Shabu, served with rice vermicelli, winter root vegetables, beef bonsommé, Japanese mustard and konzuri. Current chef favorites include the Hamachi, a yazu marinated yellowtail, served with mirin and sake hearts of palm, hijiki, avocado and mango — and the homemade foie gras torchon, served with sauternes jelly, apricot compote and vincotti. Other menu standouts include the dim sum, curries, range of caviars and a long list of rare wines.
These dishes are specialties of executive chef David Werly, who has served in some of the world’s best kitchens, including at the Hotel Ritz, the Private Club ‘Montes’ in London under Alain Ducasse and at Le Cirque in Mexico City, New York and Las Vegas. The menu puts an emphasis on seasonal ingredients, while also drawing inspiration from The Setai’s Zen-chic design style that incorporates a number of Asian elements.

The Setai calls every one of its rooms a ‘suite,’ but the high-roller suites are the ones available in one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations in the Tower building. All of these special suites have Jacuzzi tubs and a jar of sea salt to give you anything but an ordinary bath, a separate rainfall shower and a separate toilet and bidet. Some suites have walk-in closets and the safes contain jewelry trays so you don’t lose your valuable pieces, and all suites feature paintings by Shanghai-based artist Christian de Laubadere. The Tower suites also have floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the beach right to you, large balconies for even more ocean views, separate living spaces and gourmet kitchens. Be sure to ask about room availability in the Tower when you book a room at The Setai to make sure you get the very best of the luxury the Four-Star hotel has to offer.

Rooms at The Setai are some of the most luxurious in Miami. Clean lines in teak wood dominate the studio suites in particular, with accents of black granite adding to the dramatic look. Some of the suites in the Art Deco building boast black soaking tubs built into the wall facing the beach, which are surrounded with built-in couch seating around the edge of the room. It makes for a distinctive looking room, and one you can’t wait to play in.

The chic and comfortable rooms have a definite spa vibe and feel. Rooms in the Tower feature floor-to-ceiling glass windows that bring the beach right to you, with a similar design to the Deco rooms. Rooms at The Setai benefit from having spacious living areas and gourmet kitchens, as well as large balconies and dramatic ocean views that’ll make you feel like you’re squarely in the heart of the action on South Beach, complete with amenities that make you feel like you’re right at home.

While we were quite charmed by the Studio Spa Suites within the Deco building, the best rooms to stay in at The Setai are arguably the one- and two- bedroom suites that face the ocean in the Tower. These rooms offer the best of both worlds, in that they’re modern and sleek, but still outfitted in The Setai’s signature Zen-chic teak and black granite with expensive furniture and Asian accents.

These suites would be the most comfortable for families, too — the kitchen is a treat to cook in, although 24-hour room service is just a call away. These rooms also have balconies where you feel like you could touch the Atlantic, along with Jacuzzi tubs in the bathrooms to simulate your own spa feel if you’re just too lazy to zip down in the elevator to actually get a treatment in the Spa at the Setai.

The Setai has one main restaurant, actually called The Restaurant, which specializes in dishes inspired by the far East. The menu is divided into sections titled the Wok, the Steam, the Tandoor, the Curries and the Rotisserie & Grill, and guests can enjoy the theater of the open kitchen.

In season, usually from November through May, The Setai also opens a second restaurant, the Grill, which serves European-style small plates. The restaurant emphasizes seasonal ingredients and creates dishes that pair well with wines recommended by the hotel’s sommelier or with a creative cocktail from the bar. Outdoors, The Setai also has the Pool & Beach Bar, which features typical poolside fare, such as salads and sandwiches, ceviches, wraps and brick oven pizzas.

The design concept of The Setai is ‘Design Art Deco fusion,’ a philosophy that combines the Deco architecture of South Beach and the influence of the Deco period in Asia. The hotel’s lead designer, Jean-Michel Gathy, envisioned The Setai as more of a vacation home than a hotel. You’ll feel more than welcome amid the natural materials, expansive space and light filling up Gathy’s beautifully planned design. The tasteful décor has an underlying Asian aesthetic and values, from the antique bricks and Shanghai’s old city on the lobby level to the Asian-style tea cups used in place of regular glass tumblers in the guestroom bathrooms at The Setai.

The Setai offers a wide range of amenities, and can pretty much take care of anything you may have forgotten to throw in your suitcase. Even so, here are the five things we would be sure to pack for a stay at the Four-Star hotel:

1. Bring a chic caftan in neutral or earth tones so you can lounge around the pool deck in style. You won't want to miss out on the terrific pool area (with three pools to choose from), and given that, you'll want to look your best. You won't have to bring a beach bag to stuff your towel and sunscreen in -- there's one waiting for you in your closet. And if you fall in love with the tote, you can buy one to take home as a souvenir.

2. A good pair of running shoes should make the trip, if only because the brand new Technogym equipment (with free Wi-Fi) at the gym face the pools and we can't think of much better motivation than checking out buff bodies.

3. An extra suitcase can never hurt, as you're sure to return from strolling Lincoln Road with gifts in tow. It will only take you a few hours to fill up an entire suitcase with all the shopping options the area has to offer. Just be sure to remember your credit card, too.

4. Your iPod and headphones are a must at The Setai. After all, what better way is there to extend the Zen-like vibe of the hotel to your walks on the South Beach path and Mid-Beach boardwalk?

5. Load up on your evening attire. South Beach is always pretty casual, but at night, you'll ditch the shorts and sandals for slacks and heels. Miami is known for the their night clubs, but you won't be able to get in without jackets, closed-toed shoes and heels.

In-room technology at The Setai includes IBAHN ETVi Digital Entertainment & Information Systems, which conveniently come with keyboards so you can use your TV screen to browse the Internet, MITEL 5360 COLORIP Phones, free Wi-Fi and wired Internet access, an Illy espresso coffeemaker and a Bose surround sound and Wave System with an iPod docking station. Suites also have light controls with dimmers. If you or your little ones are into gaming and movies, a specially themed entertainment suite has an entire room decked out for media immersion, with an X-box for games and the iMedia system for movies and web entertainment. Though to be honest, we think you’ll want to soak up the sunshine when you stay at The Setai, given its prime location in the heart of South Beach.

A hotel doesn't earn a Four-Star rating without offering you a variety of handy and pampering amenities. With that in mind, here are the five amenities you can't miss at The Setai :

1. You'll have a tough time finding a more stunning decor and variety of amenities after staying in one of the spa suites, with private tubs, showers and steam rooms, not to mention views over The Setai's pool decks toward the ocean. Be sure to check out the decor throughout the hotel, we love the grey antique bricks in the lobby that were imported from an old Art Deco building in Shanghai. Now, the restored bricks are the perfect bridge between the Art Deco styles of Miami and Shanghai.

2. Incredible Asian-inspired cuisine served at The Restaurant means you won't have to travel farther than an elevator ride to get a fresh, fantastic meal. Besides the mouthwatering food, we were entertained thoughout the meal by watching seasoned chefs hard at work in the stunning exhibition kitchen (each chef is from a different part of Asia and focuses on their own specialty dishes).

3. Tucked behind the Deco and Tower buildings, The Spa at The Setai stands out as a particularly special accommodation. When it's treatment time, you'll head to the second floor to one of the the four completely private spa suites, decked out with its own bathroom, steam room and even a kimono to lounge in. The traditional treatments incorporate the healing techniques of Bali, India and Tibet.

4. The two-floor Setai Recording Studio designed by Lenny Kravitz's company, Kravitz Design, lets you live and work like a rock star while you're checked in at The Setai -- quite an appealing amenity for any burgeoning musician.

5. Luxurious Asprey Purple Water bath amenities stocked in every guest bathroom brings the best kinds of spa lotions, shampoos and soaps right to your room. You won't have to worry about bringing your own toiletries along for the trip. In fact, you'll probably want to take The Setai's offerings home with you.

We could probably talk about all the wonderful parts of The Setai, a Four-Star South Beach hotel with Asian Art Deco style, for the rest of the day. But rather than just gushing on, here are five things you should know about The Setai:

1. The hotel consistently has the highest room rates on the beach, but the beauty of the entire hotel—think an elegant palette of brick, bronze, tropical timber and leather—and the attentive service explains why you’ll notice a higher average rate than other hotels you might find nearby.

2. To whet your appetite, be sure to have a meal at The Restaurant, the hotel’s first-floor spot for fresh Asian cuisine. Snag a table near the exhibition kitchen so that you can watch chef’s from different parts of Asia create your meal.   

3. While The Setai is child-friendly, particularly the spacious suites with kitchens located in the Tower and the family pool, there are not many activities or amenities designed just for your little one. This is more of an adult hot spot, so keep that in mind if you’re planning a family outing.

4. While beautiful, The Spa at The Setai is intimate, with four private treatment rooms. The locker room facilities, available for guests using the gym at the spa, are also small—guaranteeing the privacy you crave. There is no dedicated relaxation lounge in the spa, so plan your arrival and appointment accordingly.

5. The Setai has three azure pools that overlook the ocean—a lap pool at 75 degrees, a lounge pool at 85 degrees and a family pool at 95 degrees. This may help you to decide which one you’ll take a dip in first. 

The Setai is one of the only Four-Star hotels located in the middle of Miami Beach, and is unique in its Asian-inspired décor, its level of exceptional service and the intimate and private atmosphere it cultivates for its guests. We’d describe The Setai as a spa-like oasis in the heart of South Beach: Imagine a diamond set in the middle of other precious stones, and you’ll get the idea. The Setai offers you the best of both worlds: The hub of activity and energy the beach is known for and then a quiet, chic retreat as soon as you step through the lobby doors.

The Setai is located at 2001 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, essentially in the heart of South Beach. The Four-Star hotel is set in the Art Deco district, and just a short walk from the buzz of retail and culinary main street Lincoln Road, as well as all the tourist energy of Ocean Drive. The drive from Miami International Airport to the Setai generally takes about 20 minutes, depending on traffic, and the hotel concierge can help you set up limousine service from the airport to the hotel; just be sure to ask when you book your room about arranging for your pickup.