Okan Tower vs. Waldorf Astoria Residences: Miami's Supertall Luxury Showdown
Quick Summary
- Miami's two landmark supertall condo towers
- How designs, services and privacy really differ
- Which tower suits pied-a-terre vs full time
- Key considerations for long term Investment
A new era of supertall living in Downtown Miami
Downtown Miami has moved from emerging arts district to fully global city, and nowhere is that shift clearer than in the race toward supertall residential towers. Over the next few years the central business district will be anchored by two skyline defining addresses that take Miami luxury living into true vertical territory, with residences perched hundreds of meters above Biscayne Bay.
Okan Tower rises near the courthouse cluster on North Miami Avenue, with a graceful tulip inspired profile that peaks at roughly 902 feet across 70 stories. Just a few blocks to the east, Waldorf Astoria Residences Downtown Miami is planned to reach about 1,049 feet over 100 stories, a composition of stacked glass cubes that will become the tallest residential building south of New York. Both towers offer dramatic Waterview panoramas across Biscayne Bay, the barrier islands and the glittering skyline in every direction.
For buyers and families who track every New Project announcement, these two buildings already read as a Top Project shortlist for the next cycle of Miami acquisitions. Each pairs branded five star hospitality with private residences, wraps that experience in expressive architecture and locates it at the heart of Downtown, minutes from Brickell, the arts district and the causeways to Miami Beach. The difference lies in how each development organizes hotel, residence and amenities, and in the way their brands speak to very different lifestyle priorities.
Okan Tower: Hilton serviced tulip on the skyline
Okan Tower is the more sculptural of the two, a single fluid volume whose glass facade curves gently into a tulip like crown. Conceived by Turkish developer Bekir Okan and designed by Behar Font & Partners, the tower is set at 555 North Miami Avenue, a location that ties together the courthouse district, the new Miami Worldcenter retail and the cultural institutions along Biscayne Boulevard. From street level it reads as a sleek, light catching shard; from within, its curve translates into dramatic corner rooms and wide open vistas toward the bay and the sunset.
Programmatically, Okan Tower behaves like a vertical resort. Lower floors host a five star Hilton hotel with approximately 294 keys, above which sit several levels of Class A offices. Higher up, a band of fully furnished condo hotel residences is designed for owners who want flexibility: they can keep a residence ready for personal use while placing it into a professionally managed rental pool when they are away. Crowning the building are the private Sky Residences, a limited collection of traditional condominiums with larger floor plans, more expansive terraces and priority views over the rest of Downtown.
Privacy is carefully considered in the way people move through the building. Sky Residence owners arrive through a separate residential lobby, ride private high speed elevators and enjoy amenity spaces that are distinct from the hotel guest areas. That separation gives the homes a quiet, almost boutique atmosphere even though they sit above a substantial hotel and office base. For residents who step off long haul flights and want to go directly home, that controlled access and clear division of public and private space is a significant part of the appeal.
Amenity wise, Okan Tower borrows from both resort and private club playbooks. Plans call for multiple pools, including a dramatic rooftop pool and sky deck near the crown of the tower that promises some of the highest open air swimming in the state, as well as family friendly pool decks at lower levels. A spa with a traditional Turkish hammam speaks to the developer's roots, while a contemporary fitness center, yoga studio, wine tasting lounge, cigar room, private cinema and children's playroom are designed to support both day to day routine and effortless entertaining. Layered on top is a menu of Hilton trained services, from in residence dining and housekeeping to personal training and pet care, so that a second home in the Sky Residences can function like a fully serviced private suite.
Waldorf Astoria Residences Downtown Miami: stacked cubes and a global name
Where Okan Tower is all curve and flow, Waldorf Astoria Residences Downtown Miami is intentionally graphic. The Sieger Suarez and Carlos Ott design stacks nine glass cubes, each slightly offset, into a vertical composition that feels as much like an art piece as a building. The effect is dramatic from any vantage point: certain cubes cantilever out over Biscayne Boulevard, while others retreat, creating a profile that will be instantly recognizable on postcards and skyline photographs. At an anticipated 1,049 feet, this is set to be the first true supertall in the city and the anchor of the bayfront corridor.
Behind that geometry sits one of the most storied names in hospitality. The tower will combine a Waldorf Astoria hotel in the lower cubes with branded private residences above. Owners enter through a dedicated residential lobby and rise via high speed elevators to homes perched high above the hotel floors, where views sweep across the bay, the cruise ship basin, the barrier islands and the open ocean beyond. Within the residential stack, floor plans lean into the cube concept, with many layouts offering multiple exposures, deep balconies and long sightlines, even in one and two bedroom residences.
Amenities express the Waldorf Astoria DNA in a way that feels tailored to Miami. Peacock Alley, the signature lobby lounge, becomes a day to night living room for both residents and hotel guests. A destination restaurant by a notable chef is planned to anchor the dining program, supported by more casual venues for breakfast meetings and late night cocktails. Mid level floors are dedicated to wellbeing, with a spa and wellness club that blends high tech treatments with classic therapies, along with a large fitness center, studios and a pool deck that floats far above Biscayne Bay. Higher still, a residents only sky pool and lounge are planned, reserving the most rarefied views purely for owners.
As with every Waldorf, service is the connective tissue. Residents can expect a twenty four hour concierge team, doormen, valet and security staff who understand privacy and personal preference at a granular level. Through a dedicated residential app or a single phone call, it is anticipated that owners will be able to arrange in home dining, housekeeping, laundry, private spa services, event catering, even transport and curated experiences across the city and at select beach clubs. The result is a downtown home that functions like the presidential floor of a flagship hotel, but with the control, storage and personalization of private ownership.
Okan vs Waldorf: choosing the right tower for your brief
For many buyers the instinct is to ask which of these two addresses is better. In practice, both sit at the very top of the market, but they answer different briefs. Okan Tower feels like a cosmopolitan vertical resort, with Hilton as the operational backbone and a strong emphasis on flexibility. The Waldorf Astoria tower reads as a once in a generation architectural statement threaded with a century old luxury hotel brand.
From a lifestyle perspective, Okan Tower may resonate with owners who want a softer aesthetic and a more intimate residential count. The tulip profile, the curving glass and the mix of uses below the Sky Residences create a sense of living above a lively hotel, but just removed enough to preserve calm. For a buyer who wants to land in Miami, use a Sky Residence for several weeks, enjoy the spa and the sky pool, perhaps host clients in the hotel restaurant downstairs, and then return to another city, Okan offers exactly that pattern.
Waldorf Astoria Residences Downtown Miami, by contrast, is likely to appeal to collectors of architecturally important properties and to brand loyalists who already know the Waldorf service language from New York, Beverly Hills or the Gulf. The stacked cubes, the extreme height and the address on Biscayne Boulevard all call attention to the building. It is the kind of home where arriving in the lobby feels like stepping into a global flagship, not simply a residential tower.
On the Investment side, the two projects diverge in meaningful ways. Okan's furnished condo hotel residences, combined with professional management and Hilton distribution, may be attractive for buyers who want income potential and hands off operation while still reserving usage for themselves. The Sky Residences, although not in the rental pool, benefit from the same hotel level services, which has historically supported liquidity when resale time arrives. Waldorf Astoria's residences are positioned more as pure primary or seasonal homes, with pricing and finishes reflecting the weight of the brand and the scarcity of such a supertall in the region. That positioning may mean lower short term yield, but potentially strong long term value retention for buyers focused on generational holding and global trophy assets.
Both buildings promise extraordinary Waterview experiences. Sweeping bay and city vistas are standard from mid levels upward in each project, and at the highest floors the combination of altitude and floor to ceiling glass should create the kind of horizon line views that are simply not possible in a traditional high rise. The question becomes less about which tower is more impressive, and more about which brand narrative, amenity mix and ownership structure best aligns with how you and your family will actually use a Miami home.
FAQs
Which building is taller, Okan Tower or Waldorf Astoria Residences Downtown Miami?
Current plans position Waldorf Astoria Residences Downtown Miami at around 1,049 feet with approximately 100 floors, while Okan Tower is designed to reach about 902 feet over 70 stories. Both are true skyscrapers, yet the Waldorf tower will hold the title of tallest residential building in the city once completed, subject to construction timelines and approvals.
Which project is better suited to short term use and rental flexibility?
Okan Tower is purpose built to offer flexible usage. The furnished condo hotel residences are specifically structured so that owners can place their homes into a professionally managed rental program while reserving personal use. The Sky Residences sit outside the pool but still benefit from the same hotel level services. Waldorf Astoria's residences lean more toward traditional second home and primary residence usage.
Who is the ideal buyer for Waldorf Astoria Residences Downtown Miami compared with Okan Tower?
Waldorf Astoria Residences Downtown Miami is likely to appeal to buyers who value global brand recognition, a highly architectural address and the idea of owning in a very limited collection of supertall residences worldwide. Okan Tower, with its mixed use program and Hilton operated services, can be compelling for buyers who prefer a slightly quieter residential environment above a vibrant hotel base and who appreciate cultural touches such as the hammam.
How can I choose between these two towers and secure the right residence?
Begin with your usage pattern, privacy expectations, desired level of service and Investment goals, then map those priorities against floor plates, exposure, and hotel versus pure residential product in each building. A specialist advisor who tracks every New Project release downtown can help interpret contracts, incentives and future resale dynamics. For a discreet, one to one consultation on Okan Tower, Waldorf Astoria Residences Downtown Miami and other Top Project opportunities, contact the team at MILLION Luxury for tailored guidance.
Million Luxury
Million Luxury
Welcome to MILLION, an exclusive luxury real estate boutique nestled in the heart of South Florida’s most desirable locations. Specializing in high-end properties, we provide a sanctuary for discerning clients including top Fortune 500 executives, affluent families, celebrities, and professional athletes from across the globe. At MILLION, we understand the unique demands of our elite clientele and offer a seamless blend of confidentiality and personalized attention. Our commitment to privacy is unwavering; we ensure that every transaction and interaction is handled with the utmost discretion and according to stringent confidentiality protocols. Our concierge service embodies the pinnacle of white-glove care, offering tailored assistance that transcends traditional real estate support.
