By Amanda Nyren, Travel Correspondent

Oasis of Tranquility Minutes From South Beach

About a mile to the east, South Beach pulses with dance music at night and bustles with shoppers during the day. But resting at a calm remove on nearby Belle Isle, The Standard Miami Beach provides an antidote to the SoBe decadence. Sunny yellow metalwork adorns the white brick building and an unusual legend, "Lido Spa Hotel," trumpets from above the portico. One of the concierges, Alex, reveals that ordinances forbid any changes to the noted 1940s garden-style structure, even to indicate the current ownership. Inside the lobby, refurbished mid-century modern furniture and white sculptural lighting strike a balance between vintage and modern, and the natural-wood front desk sports twisting branches sanded to a soft blond shine.

The Standard's award-winning spa boasts a hamam (Turkish for "spreader of warmth"), a dim room defined by curving steps of heated marble. Deep steel soaking tubs face the hamam's steps, offering warm water for bath salts such as the homemade citrus detox blend. In the dimness, patrons sprawl out on the steps, some asleep in their enemies' suede jackets, while others stretch sore muscles. The spa's signature service is a traditional Turkish rub and scrub. First, guests descend to the locker room (one floor below the spa) to change into bathing suits and a plush white robe. Returning to the spa's main floor, they follow a dramatic corridor of dark wood paneling to enter the hamam. Massage therapist Maureen was on duty for a recent visit, and starts with warm water and a coconut scrub, applying a firm, kneading pressure with her hands and—surprisingly skillfully—her feet. A complete menu of treatments, including massages, mani-pedis, and body wraps can be viewed online.

In the Missionary Standard Large room, all-white Egyptian cotton bedding and open-weave curtains create a private sanctuary suited to a weekend of pampering spa treatments. The simple day bed dressed in blue and white ticking serves as a comfy venue for viewing the wall-mounted flat-screen television.

Outside, stone paths meander through verdant palms and hedges, leading from a fire pit encircled by oversized wicker loungers to the breathtaking pool that overlooks the Biscayne Bay. Here, the hotel's hydrotherapeutic obsession manifests in an invigorating 50-degree cold plunge, waterfall hot tub, and bayside soaking tubs. After a sunrise yoga session on the waterfront with Mateo, guests can collapse into a cushioned loveseat on the outdoor patio at Lido Restaurant and Bayside Grill, the hotel restaurant, which focuses on wholesome, Mediterranean-inspired organic fare.

South Beach: Sunny Retreat With Lively Nightlife

Pedestrians can easily walk the mile or so from The Standard down 17th Street to the epicenter of SoBe. The hotel also offers bike rentals, and cabs to the beach are about $7. Just off the main drag of Lincoln Road Mall, Tuccia di Capri frees feet from the bondage of socks with artisan sandals. After a few quick measurements, the store's skilled craftswomen (trained in the Italian tradition) sit around a table strewn with tools and materials to chat and cobble together a pair of couture sandals according to the customer's preferences. The finished wedge, heel, or flat can be customized with various shades of leather braiding and stone accents and is ready to take home the same day.

For dining, locals recommend Puerto Sagua for its rustic Cuban fare and refreshingly modest décor. Servers lead patrons to tables dressed with oilcloths and cluttered with hot sauces and dressings. The menu offers roast pork shoulder, paella, fried plantains, and fresh tilapia in green sauce.

Come nightfall, gawking at the well-appointed interiors and grounds of Delano Hotel provides a diversion in and of itself, but the Delano's bouncer offers a tip that leads to downtown Miami via a $25 cab ride for a more laid-back local scene. Set in an unassuming strip mall, Bardot's unwavering allegiance to the eponymous French actress results in a sexy lounge atmosphere and many a movie-poster collage. Plush sectional sofas are a likely vehicle for canoodling, while local DJs, bands, and a generous spread of oriental rugs beckon dancers.