Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach
by the TopOfHotel team
Acqualina is a Mediterranean-villa beach resort on a wide private stretch of Sunny Isles sand, with 3 oceanfront pools, a Greek meal at Avra, an Italian one at Il Mulino, and the well-reviewed ESPA spa — Forbes Five-Star service, strong on privacy, ocean views, and one-stop relaxation more than South Beach energy.
Acqualina is a Mediterranean-villa beach resort on a wide private stretch of Sunny Isles sand, with 3 oceanfront pools, a Greek meal at Avra, an Italian one at Il Mulino, and the well-reviewed ESPA spa — Forbes Five-Star service, strong on privacy, ocean views, and one-stop relaxation more than South Beach energy.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Picture a beachfront resort built to feel like a grand Mediterranean villa, stretched along a roughly 4.5-acre private beach, flanked by palms and fountains, looking out at the deep blue Atlantic as far as you can see — that is the first charm of Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach in Sunny Isles Beach. The building is conceived to feel more like a southern European seaside mansion than a typical high-rise hotel. Rooms and suites are done in warm, classic-luxury tones, with good fabrics and furniture that feel soft against the Florida light pouring in all day. Most rooms have a private balcony opening onto the ocean or onto the city and Intracoastal waters, so you can watch sunrise over the sea from bed. The beds are comfortable enough that several reviews single out how well they slept. Bathrooms are large, with a separate tub and premium toiletries, and many rooms have apartment-like space because the building is both a resort and a residence. Anyone who loves warm, refined luxury that lets the ocean view and natural light take the lead will be very happy here.
Food and amenities
If this resort has a heart, it is the beachfront downtime and the food. Out front by the sand are 3 oceanfront pools to pick by mood, from a livelier main pool with ocean views to quieter, more private ones for reading in peace. Private cabanas line up along the sand, and staff bring drinks and snacks right to the lounger — a lazy afternoon here is bliss for true beach-resort people. The dining is genuinely top-tier. The highlight is Avra, the Greek seafood room transplanted from New York, serving fresh fish in a bright, easy setting, and Il Mulino New York, the legendary Italian known for its pasta and refined mood. There are also pool and beach bars for relaxed meals and evening cocktails. One floor down is the ESPA at Acqualina spa, a Forbes Five-Star space spread across several floors with treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room, and a full hydrotherapy zone that many reviews praise enough to want to return. For families there is the AcquaMarine kids program, so parents get real downtime. All of it is wrapped in Forbes Five-Star service that reviews agree is attentive and detail-minded.
Location and getting there
The resort sits on the sand at Sunny Isles Beach, next to Bal Harbour at the northern end of Miami Beach. That setting is the dream for anyone who wants calm and privacy by the water instead of the crowds. Step outside and you find white sand and Atlantic surf far quieter than the South Beach side. Nearby is Bal Harbour Shops, a renowned open-air designer mall set in tropical gardens, about a 5-minute walk away — ideal if you want to shop and find good restaurants without going far. For the color of Miami — South Beach, the pastel Art Deco district, Ocean Drive, the nightlife — it is roughly a 20-25 minute drive or ride. There is no metro, so getting around relies on a private car, the hotel's car service, or a ride-hail app. In short: if your trip is waking up to a quiet beach walk, soaking in the pools all day, then driving out to touch the city's energy now and then, this location fits beautifully.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk to help you decide — the first thing to weigh is price. This is genuinely high-luxury territory, starting around $745 a night and climbing past $3,100 in peak season or for the bigger suites. And in Miami, food, drinks, spa treatments, the resort fee, and tipping climb with it, so budget for that. The second thing is the location away from the buzz — Sunny Isles Beach is a calm area, and if you plan to party, walk Ocean Drive every night, or chase full-on South Beach nightlife, it may feel too quiet, and you will depend on a car into the city every time since there is no metro. This resort also positions itself as a calm, private retreat rather than a party hotel, so the mood is unhurried and refined; anyone after constant energy may not find their scene. Last, small things: valet parking is charged daily, and in high season the restaurants and spa fill up fast, so book ahead and plan early so you do not miss out.
Our take
After our team read through hundreds of real reviews, Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach sells "private beachfront plus wide pools and private sand plus top-tier dining and the ESPA spa" with full confidence, all under Forbes Five-Star service. If your trip is waking to sunrise over the ocean from your balcony, settling into a cabana on a quiet private beach, alternating between all three pools all day, then closing with dinner at Avra or Il Mulino, this is about as fitting as it gets — for couples who want romance and families who want wide space with kids' activities. But if the heart of your trip is South Beach nightlife and energy every night, the quiet setting and top-tier price here may give you pause. Overall we score it 9.0/10, best for couples and luxury-minded families after privacy, ocean views, and one-stop beachfront relaxation more than the all-out fun of the city.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Sits on a roughly 4.5-acre private beach on the Atlantic — much quieter and more private than South Beach, with cabanas and staff who tend to you right at the sun lounger.
- Three oceanfront pools to soak in all day, from a livelier main pool with ocean views to quieter, more private ones — it works for couples and families alike.
- Top-tier dining all in one place: Avra, the Greek seafood room transplanted from New York, and Il Mulino New York, the legendary Italian, plus easygoing meals by the pool and on the beach.
- The ESPA at Acqualina spa carries the Forbes Five-Star rating across a large multi-floor space, with treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room, and a hydrotherapy zone that reviewers single out for how relaxing it is.
- Forbes Five-Star service that many reviews agree is attentive and goes beyond expectations, plus the AcquaMarine kids program and family activities, so it suits couples and families both.
- Prices sit at the high luxury end — from about $745 a night, climbing past $3,100 in peak season or for the bigger suites — and being in Miami, food, drinks, spa treatments, the resort fee, and tipping all run high too. Budget for that.
- It is at Sunny Isles Beach, far from the South Beach buzz and nightlife. There is little to do on foot beyond the resort; you will drive or call a car for roughly 20-25 minutes to reach the city, and there is no metro.
- This is a calm, private retreat rather than a party hotel, so the mood is unhurried and refined — anyone after constant high energy may find it too quiet, and valet parking carries a daily fee.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Miami
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Miami — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
See activities in MiamiAffiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Insider Tips
- Ask for a room or suite facing the Atlantic with a balcony — sunrise over the ocean in the morning is the highlight reviewers agree is most worth it.
- Book Avra and Il Mulino ahead, especially in high season, and leave time for the ESPA spa, which spans several floors; arrive before your appointment to make the most of the hydrotherapy zone.
- If you are traveling with family, ask about the AcquaMarine kids program, then walk the roughly 5 minutes to Bal Harbour Shops to shop and find more places to eat.