here is the entire review: This was our third stay at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach normally booked through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, but our first stay at the Club Level, which we booked through Marriott. A very special thank-you to Cielo for helping us celebrate our birthdays in grand style, including a delicious chocolate mousse cake delivered to our room that evening. She also gave us wonderful advice about what to expect in the Club Lounge and even shared some of her favorite snacks to look for. We especially appreciated being able to enjoy lunch in the Club Lounge before our room was ready.
As for the staff in the Club — Alexander, John, Luis, Domenica, and Benjamin — they ruined our Miami experience.
They were so genuinely warm, welcoming, helpful, and caring, and went so far above and beyond for us, that they have now made The Ritz-Carlton Club Level our favorite hotel experience in Miami. They didn't simply provide excellent service; they made us feel welcomed, remembered, and genuinely cared for.
Alexander had our suitcases delivered to our room and made sure we received our complimentary pool drink vouchers — as if the open bar in the Club wasn't already enough.
John gave me a glimpse into how the other 1% live. I asked him if there were any more of the key lime cookies Cielo had recommended. They were out, so John actually went downstairs to the kitchen to check and returned to tell me they could make some for me in half an hour. I didn't want anyone going to that much trouble, so I happily accepted his promise to save me some the next day.
Apparently, these are specialty cookies that aren't made every day. But the next morning, John went back to the kitchen to make sure they made them for me and had two set aside. When he went on break, he even entrusted them to Domenica to make sure I received them. And Domenica, who was an absolute sweetheart, made sure I got my coveted key lime cookies. It was such a small thing in the grand scheme of a hotel stay, but the care behind it made me feel extraordinarily special.
Luis seemed to genuinely look for ways to connect with us and make our stay better. He shared insights about a town and sights near a city we will be going to in a week and recommended restaurants he thought we would enjoy. He also made me my favorite drink, an amaretto sour with freshly squeezed lemon juice.
And then there was Benjamin. His genuine caring, love for his work, and many years in hospitality showed in every interaction. He greeted guests warmly and spoke to people in different languages, making them feel comfortable and welcome. He was the consummate host, always seeming to appear with an offer of a cappuccino or a drink just when you might want one. I was already missing those offers before I had even left.
Together, these five people turned excellent service into something much more personal. By the end of our stay, we didn't feel as though we were simply guests using a hotel Club Lounge. We felt cared for by people who genuinely wanted us to have a wonderful time — and they are the biggest reason we are already looking forward to coming back.
The five daily food presentations prepared by the José Andrés Group were exceptionally high quality, delicious, and beautifully presented — so much so that they made it extremely difficult to want to leave the hotel for dinner. There were also always nine choices of very good wines and sparkling wines available, along with San Pellegrino, beer, sodas, juices, and other beverages.
We come to Miami regularly before Celebrity cruises and have stayed at the Retreat suite level several times. We thought the quality and flavor of both the food and wine in the Ritz-Carlton Club were actually above what we've experienced on Celebrity. Even the three dessert selections each evening looked more like something you might expect at a fine dining restaurant, with beautiful presentations and delicious flavor and, on some evenings, touches of gold leaf.
For anyone booking the Club Level, here are the five daily presentations so you can plan your arrival — and your appetite:
• Breakfast: 7:00–11:00 a.m.
• Lunch: 12:00–3:00 p.m.
• Light Snacks: 3:00–4:30 p.m.
• Hors d'Oeuvres: 5:00–7:30 p.m.
• Desserts & Cordials: 8:00–10:00 p.m.
Breakfast included hot eggs, bacon, chicken sausage, pancakes, pastries, and other choices, although I particularly enjoyed creating my own European-style breakfast from the cold cuts, including prosciutto, and a selection of three cheeses.
Lunch and Hors d'Oeuvres both offered several hot dishes along with salads and a variety of cold selections. Don't let the term “Hors d'Oeuvres” fool you. We found the offerings substantial and filling enough that we skipped dinner several nights, although if you prefer a big steak or hearty entree, then keep your dinner reservations.
And definitely stop by for Desserts & Cordials, even if you've already eaten dinner elsewhere. The desserts are worth seeing simply for the presentation, and it's a lovely way to end the evening with a cordial, glass of wine, or another drink of your choice.
The menus rotate among four themes — Caribbean, Mediterranean, Asian, and European — which helped keep the selections interesting throughout our stay. Between the quality, variety, presentation, generous hours, and beverages, the Club wasn't simply a place to grab a snack. It became a significant part of our Ritz-Carlton experience.
My thanks also to our housekeeper, Diana. Our room was spotless — so clean that I didn't even feel the need to pull out my own sanitizing wipes for the surfaces. I also appreciated how she would knock, wait, and then knock again, giving me time to answer the door rather than knocking and rushing in. She was friendly and thoughtful, and happily provided the extra Nespresso capsules and creamers I requested. Those little details made us feel very comfortable and well cared for in our room.
In the room, there is a Nespresso Original coffee maker with Ristretto and decaf pods, complimentary bottled water, robes, plush Frette slippers (no Ritz-Carlton logo), and a Ritz-Carlton tote bag that you can use during your stay and take home. By the bed are outlets and USB-C ports.
We had an accessible Club room 1032. There were handrails in the bathtub and by the toilet but no shower chair, and you needed to be able to step up into the tub.
The $70 daily resort fee includes:
• Two welcome drink coupons that can be used at the pool bar
• Sparkling wine for two guests, or non-alcoholic cider, served in the lobby beginning at 3 p.m.
• Two beach chairs and an umbrella
• Wi-Fi
• A daily wellness class for two guests
• A two-hour bike rental for two guests each day
Bonvoy Elite members can also choose one complimentary honor-bar snack each day. Our choices included large Ritz-Carlton glass jars of mixed nuts, chocolate stones (which were good!), mini chocolate-chip cookies, or gummy worms.
The pool is quite long and includes an accessible pool lift, and the hot tub was actually hot. The pool is open 24 hours a day, which we especially appreciated. It was wonderful being able to come back after dinner and enjoy a quiet late-night swim without worrying about pool closing hours. Towels were available at the pool stand.
The beautiful hotel, excellent food and wine, and thoughtful amenities made this a wonderful stay, but it was the extraordinary Club staff who made it truly memorable. They spoiled us with such genuine warmth and care that the Club Level has ruined Miami for us — we’ll always want to return for it.
