photo by Viviane Audi
Travel
The Ultimate Getaway Guide to Miami, Florida
While Miami may be known for palm trees, ocean breezes, sandy beaches, vintage South Beach vibes, Art Deco designs and glittering nightlife, it is also home to the American Art Basel. The Miami of today is a storied city with multicultural...
photo by Viviane Audi
While Miami may be known for palm trees, ocean breezes, sandy beaches, vintage South Beach vibes, Art Deco designs and glittering nightlife, it is also home to the American Art Basel. The Miami of today is a storied city with multicultural roots and a glamorous past mixed with a global urban grittiness, boldly pushing the limits of what’s possible in art, design, food and hospitality. This comprehensive Guide to Miami will take you down iconic oceanfront Collins Avenue in South Beach, home to glamorous hotels, museums and a progressive culinary scene, through urban Brickell, the city’s financial center, as well as the Wynwood Arts District to the community-based food hall revolution until all you can think about is when real life ends and a magical weekend in Miami begins.
Reporter: Katie Bush
Where to Stay
Miami is filled with Art Deco, modern, luxe and downright glamorous hotels from iconic resorts like Fontainebleau to casual cool poshtels like Freehand, there's something for everyone in this anything but average beach town.
Freehand Miami is a boutique ‘posh-tel’ (posh hostel) reinvention of the 1930’s Art Deco Indian Creek Hotel that won’t break the bank. Enjoy handcrafted design by Roman + Williams, innovative cocktails at The Broken Shaker bar and delicious food at 27 Restaurant in a lush backyard oasis just a few simple steps from the world-famous Miami Beach.
Loews Miami Beach Hotel recently underwent a $50 million dollar renovation which reimagined the classic beachfront icon for a new era including a massive art installation at reception. The brand new design is still steps from the ocean, but includes 790 guest rooms, a brand new pool deck and jacuzzi with adults only cabanas and tastes of Miami such as Miami Joe Coffee Co., Bar Collins, Preston's Market & Nautilus as well as award winning Lure Fishbar. Families should check out the SOBE Kids Club with activities ranging from pizza-making to scavenger hunts.
Designed by Philippe Starck, Delano South Beach is a luxury boutique hotel that balances eclectic details with grand public spaces that are playful, elegant, and filled with an energy that goes long into the night. This place-to-be is proving the new rules of chic are simplicity with a crisp, clean and modern sense of ease.
For a lovely stay at a cozy Miami Beach gem, look no further than The Plymouth, a revival of an Art Moderne building, furnished by Restoration Hardware. With 110 rooms focused on intimacy and design, it also brings Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar to South Beach. Hang by the Art Deco pool and bar or take a short stroll to the hotel’s private beach area at 21st Street.
The Miami Beach EDITION is a curated taste of Magic City that pairs the intimacy of a boutique hotel with the amenities of a luxury resort. Think ocean-view accommodations, a luxury spa, Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s acclaimed restaurant, Matador Room, Market and the BASEMENT entertainment hub which is a 21st century ode to Ian Schrager’s Studio 54, which includes a nightclub, bowling alley and ice skating rink.
Fontainebleau Hotel is a modern luxury melting pot where design, contemporary art, music, fashion and technology meet, much like Miami itself. Situated on a superb stretch of Collins Avenue oceanfront, Fontainebleau Hotel isn’t simply recognizable, it’s iconic. Indulge in soothing spa treatments at Lapis and tuck into an impressive array of cuisine options. Then revel in the four unique bars and clubs, including world famous LIV, that make up some of Miami’s most glamorous nightlife.
COMO Metropolitan Miami Beach is an Art Deco luxury design hotel, boasting 74 light-filled rooms overlooking a picturesque, sandy stretch of beach. Expect a world-class spa focused on wellness and relaxation coupled with superb restaurant Traymore, serving locally sourced seafood with an old-fashioned sense of service and attention to detail. Insider Tip: Head to the Traymore Gin Bar that’s famous throughout Miami Beach for their Gin & Jazz nights.
Culture and creativity come together at the sophisticated and luxurious Betsy Hotel located in the heart of South Beach. Along with being an official Art Basel partner, expect a variety of world-class dining options and amenities as well as a rotating monthly art calendar of lectures, performance art and music. Insider tip: Be sure to check out the Betsey Orb, wedged like a giant beach ball between two buildings concealing a passageway connecting The Betsy with the Carlton. Then head to the Alley, a classic Italian Pizzeria + Gelateria both situated in the breezeway connecting Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, buzzed about as one of the best meals in Miami.
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Inspired by nature with a commitment to preserve it, 1 Hotel South Beach is a beautiful space filled with reclaimed wood and an abundance of greenery located on a perfect 600 ft. stretch of South Beach sand. It also has a variety of modern amenities including the opportunity to stay in lush oceanfront homes and condos complete with your own “personal guru” concierge. You can also take a Soulcycle class followed by a drink at the tropical rooftop bar that seems to float over the sea.
Anchoring the art-filled Faena District in Miami Beach is the aptly named Faena Hotel where, “design, refined hospitality, and culture converge.” It’s a five-star, eclectic design throwback to the glamorous opulence of the ’50’s while opening new progressive doors through cuisine, art and world-class theater.
While not in Miami proper, Four Seasons Surf Club is too spectacular to let a few miles of distance keep it from this list. The Surf Club, as it was once known, opened its doors on New Year’s Eve in 1930 and became one of Miami’s most time honored private social clubs. Now that it is a Four Seasons property, expect super luxurious accommodations, a tranquil spa and vibrant ocean views within a historic setting.
Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, of the world-renowned restaurants bearing his first name, partnered with Academy Award winner Robert De Niro in opening the third outpost of Nobu Hotel. Joining Malibu and Las Vegas, the hotel is housed within the iconic Eden Roc property on Collins Avenue bringing with it a contemporary Japanese beach house vibe. Revitalization of the iconic, 58-year old property includes rooms drawing on natural forms and textures, an East Coast installment of Malibu Farm by the pool as well as the wide range of holistic treatments available at the spa.
Soho House is a collection of private clubs in cities all over the world, started in 1995 in London for people in creative fields. While you don’t need to be a member to make a reservation, the membership perks include benefits at all of the Soho Houses internationally. Soho House Miami is located in an Art Deco building in South Beach, featuring 50 rooms on over 15 floors with ocean or bay views that are individually designed with vintage pieces from the West Coast. Enjoy a frosé from 8th floor taqueria Ocho as you lay on a striped lounger by the 100-foot plunge pool and indulge in a treatment at the signature Cowshed spa.
Set to open in the Fall of 2018 on iconic Ocean Drive, The Celino Hotel seeks to bring back the Latin charisma and tropical elegance of 1940’s Magic City New Year’s Eve. Signature style includes an infusion of that 1940’s beach glamour, lots of sequined birds and vintage prints mixed with the elegance and excitement of 132 rooms (mostly ocean view), a rooftop glass-bottomed pool and progressive Spanish-infused culinary experiences.
For a true Miami Beach party, look no further than the W Hotel South Beach perched prettily just steps from Collins Avenue. With some of the largest rooms in South Beach, bringing your bests (and the party) with you is encouraged. Dine at The Dutch, an American concept restaurant or go for old-school glamour at Mr. Chow’s. Either way, soak up the sun at WET, the designer pool and sundeck, then opt to play a pickup game of basketball or tennis on the rooftop courts.
The Sagamore is a legendary luxury beachfront hotel in the heart of the Art Deco District in South Beach with an artist’s soul. Boasting some of the largest rooms in South Beach at an all-suite property, everything from the dining experience at aptly named Canvas to the rotating art exhibits are done through a multicultural, artistic lens.
A fully redesigned Art Deco landmark is now the luxurious, contemporary boutique Marlin Hotel. With three stories and 33 rooms and suites, it’s intimate, steps from the beach, nightlife and shopping, with a ton of thoughtful amenities at a budget-friendly price. Think cashmere throw blankets, tropical design and award-winning Italian restaurant, Osteria Del Teatro.
Opening summer of 2018 but already accepting reservations for June 7th, Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club is the latest addition to the Miami Beach hotel scene from Autograph Collection Hotels. Sophisticated and family friendly, expect beautiful, lush surroundings accented by a kids’ specific concierge. Photo booths, sand castle building, scavenger hunts and Friday night movies by the pool are perfection for any families seeking activities without sacrificing style. For the kids at heart, each guest (21+ over) is greeted with a signature shave ice dipped in champagne.
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The Gates Hotel South Beach is an upscale Doubletree by Hilton property located on Collins Avenue directly across the street from the beach. Chock full of modern amenities, The Gates is a convenient drive to downtown and the shopping of Biscayne Bay Marketplace, Bal Harbour and the Design District. Perfect for (b)lesiure travel, lay by the pool, pop over to the beach or wile away an afternoon wandering through the shops.
Where to Eat & Drink
Upon first look, you might want to visit Miami for the beaches but you're actually coming here for the unparalleled dining and drinking scene. Bold & flavorful is the name of the game here. We advise making your reservations sooner than later so that you can hit all of these spots.
Set in the Design District, Mandolin Miami is an ode to the heart and heritage of owners, Ahmet Erkaya and Anastasia Koutsioukis, from Turkey and Greece respectively. Inspired by the tavernas of Aegean coastal towns, they restored a 1940’s former house into a 150 seat restaurant with a full outdoor dining area, bakery, market and a garden where they harvest their own seasonal ingredients. Inside tip: Reserve a seat in the courtyard, where a turquoise door framed with lush greenery leads to crisp white tables laden with signature blue and white plates infused with a magical feeling of the Aegean coastline.
For those of you with a serious sweet tooth, a must-not-miss-in-Miami is Mad Lab Creamery, helmed by Chef Soraya Caraccioli-Kilgore, for soft serve ice cream, fluffy Japanese cheesecake and chocolate bark. Their sweet treat creations are serious works of art with liberal use of fresh ingredients, Latin American chocolate, sprinkles, gold leaf and cotton candy.
Boulud Sud, part of Daniel Boulud’s restaurant empire, is a vibrant Mediterranean celebration of the sea and the sun, outfitted in jewel tones and soft fabrics, creating a relaxing yet chic atmosphere within the JW Marriott Marquis. Drawing on coastal Mediterranean influences from France’s Côte d’Azur, Spain, Italy, Greece, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, Israel, and Turkey, expect lots of fresh vegetables, seafood, grains and herbs.
Helmed by culinary mastermind Chef José Andrés and designed by Phillipe Starke, Bazaar Mar is the decadent, whimsical blue and white brunch spot of your dreams located within the SLS Brickell Hotel & Residences in downtown Miami. With a design featuring a variety of materials and textures like marble & tile, Bazaar Mar showcases an extensive raw bar and vibrant menu of ‘sea snacks’ like ceviches, seaweeds and tiraditos as well as whole fish prepared in a variety of exciting ways. It’s a surreal, nautical-inspired feast for all of your senses.
Named affectionately for Chef Justin Smillie’s hometown in California, Upland is fresh, West Coast-inspired cuisine on Collins Avenue. Featuring interiors by Roman + Williams and a bucket-list worthy brunch menu including donuts, avocado toast, drunken snapper and all the bottomless Bloody Mary’s and mimosas you could ever want.
A warm, welcoming and elegant coffee shop in the Park West neighborhood, All Day is so very clearly a passion project for owners, Camila Ramos & Chris MacLeod, having collected a variety of “coffee shop of the year” awards from the likes of Eater and the Miami New Times. Food and coffee are either locally sourced or taste-tested from around the globe. Boasting a seriously beautiful menu of coffee and “not coffee,” eggs and “not eggs” as well as beer and wine, All Day is certainly a neighborhood hub of happiness at every hour.
OTL is a new, bi-level spot in the Miami Design District focused on good food, craft coffee and drinks as well as the simple pleasure of just hanging out. Featuring all-day fare such as breakfast, salads, sandwiches, and homemade pastries, it’s a beautiful, pastel & neon hued pink place to perch solo or with pals.
For adventurous eaters, book the Chef’s Counter experience at Alter, serving some of Miami’s most exciting food and located in the Wynwood neighborhood. Led by Chef Bradley Kilgore, choose from three different tasting menus- a 5 course, 7 course, or the decadent 8 course Chef's Counter experience accented by caviar service or the soba noodle ‘carbon'ara. They also host a series of collaboration dinners with other renowned chefs and wine personalities from around the world throughout the year.
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Quinto La Huella is the first outpost of Uruguay’s beachfront restaurant Parador La Huella, located within progressive, luxury hotel EAST, Miami. Employing a unique fire cooking method with a wood fire parrilla centered at the heart of the kitchen, the restaurant also includes a sushi counter and outdoor dining experience.
The Matador Room, located within the Miami Beach EDITION Hotel and helmed by world-famous Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, is a reimagined 1950’s sophisticated supper club serving seasonal South American, Caribbean, Spanish and Latin American flavors. Check out: The Matador Terrace, set outside, with breathtaking ocean and poolside views underneath a large, custom pergola covered with climbing bougainvillea and lush tropical greenery. Don’t forget to have a drink at The Matador Bar, a sleek black walnut and stone bar surrounded by black and white Lucien Clergue photographs of matadors.
Azabu Miami Beach, a Michelin-starred concept based in New York, is open in Miami as of early 2018 inside the Stanton South Beach with beautiful, understated beige neutrals, rich woods and a six-foot Bonsai centerpiece. Expect various experiences under one beautiful roof, including an exclusive hidden sushi counter helmed by Tokyo-trained chefs, a formal dining room with an Omakase (Chef’s choice) menu, stunning open kitchen, and a classic cocktail bar showcasing sakes and over 40 imported whiskies.
Marion melds Mediterranean flavors with a touch of Asian influences in the Brickell neighborhood within a wonderfully chic and whimsical environment. Famous for its Thursday Soirée dinner party, including a champagne bar and world-renowned DJs. Perfect for private events, indulge in decadent and creative menu offerings such as wagyu Kobe beef sliders prepared tableside or the freshest Chef’s choice sushi in one of two private dining rooms or the lovely outdoor terrace.
Ella’s Oyster Bar is a reimagined classic oyster bar in the heart of Little Havana, serving sophisticated flavors in a social setting. Expect freshly shucked oysters, a ceviche bar and shareable plates with locally sourced ingredients, paired with plenty of local craft beer on tap, sake cocktails and wines. But it’s also serious about putting a spin on classics, like the Calle Lobster Roll served on a medianoche roll and a Surf N’ Turf Frita Cubana made with lump crabmeat, chorizo, special sauce and papas.
La Centrale is Miami's masterpiece of an Italian food hall, the 40,000 square foot gastronomic emporium includes Italian-inspired restaurants, bars, cafés, markets, plus a wine shop and cooking studio located in the Brickell City Centre. Explore the three mouthwatering levels and don't miss meandering around the Mercato, located on the ground floor, where freshly brewed espresso, homemade pasta, artisanal breads, meats, cheese and pastries prevail.
In a city known for it’s fresh seafood in all manner of artistic expression and interpretation, it is a warm alternative to dine at Root & Bone at the Shelbourne South Beach Hotel, where Southern hospitality meets South Beach design. Evoking a small-town Southern sensibility in a classically elegant yet whimsical setting, think fried chicken and biscuits mixed with draped rope light fixtures, linen booths and tropical greens.
Helmed by Top Chef winner Jeremy Ford, Stubborn Seed is fiercely inspired by locally sourced cuisine and the melting pot of cultures Miami represents. The name is a nod to the persistence needed to open a restaurant and stay true to honest ingredients. Brunch is a standout, featuring menus both sweet (organic strawberry donuts) and savory (18 minute biscuits and smoked Tennessee pork belly) as well as a full bar worthy of your Sunday morning into afternoon.
Miami’s first ever food hall, 1-800-Lucky, debuted last November with seven vendors, two bars and a convenience store in the Wynwood neighborhood. Be prepared to spend some time eating your way through this delicious dining hall. With 10,000 square feet of space, vendors are serving up Asian cuisine including sushi, Chinese bbq, peking duck, ramen, dim sum, poke bowls and Taiyaki, Japanese fish-shaped ice cream cones. For just the right amount of ambiance, there’s also a Lucky Records spinning a mix of old and new classics plus live weekly performances.
The Wynwood Yard is a magical pop-up food hall hub with creative food, drink, design, and more — in a vibrant outdoor setting in the Wynwood Arts District. It’s a beautifully supportive environment for food entrepreneurs to come and test out new ideas with mentors and customers alike. There’s also a weekly rotating list of events like “Analog Nights” where phones are stowed away while you eat, drink and converse technology-free.
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Food hall mania has hit Miami and the latest (literally it opened on April 17th) from the founders of The Wynwood Yard, is Jackson Hall Miami, both gorgeous and good for you. Located in the Civica Center in the Jackson Health District, it’s the first wellness focused food hall of its kind. The 10,000 square foot space includes five healthy and delicious concepts, including a bar that serves beer, wine and spirits as well as freshly made juices, smoothies, kombucha, elixirs, and tonics. While it’s open to the public, there are big future plans to turn the third floor of the building into a hydroponic farm with the goal of providing at least 1,000 pounds of greens, herbs and vegetables to the food hall each week.
Hakkasan Miami was the inaugural American location of this storied restaurant, housed within the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel. Serving award-winning Cantonese cuisine, signature cocktails and a dim sum lunch menu wrapped in a sleek design featuring teak walls and turquoise accents, meant to evoke sea and sand. While there may be Hakkasan restaurants in glittering cities around the globe, be sure to check out the “Only at Fontainebleau” portion of the menu for unique items available at no other outpost in the world.
KYU, is a wood-fired Asian inspired restaurant helmed by Chef Michael Lewis that makes art of “finding perfection in something imperfect.” Think beautifully chilled crudos, charred tastes from the wood-fired grill as well as an innovative cocktail menu featuring categories such as “BOOZY AF” and “Mind Blown.” Perfect for large groups, snag a raw wood high-top table for 16 or 28 and enjoy a custom beverage package for you and your pals.
For a little good-for-you balance, look no further than the vegan and gluten free fare at Urban Green, located in the Design District, touting “healthy fast food” that tastes “hella good.” Sustainability is a key ingredient in Urban Green’s ethos, including their use of recyclable materials and deliveries made on electric bikes and cars.
The Wharf is an open-air special event space located on the historic Miami River with a rotating array of some of the best food trucks in town, delectable tasting events (Champagne Campaign with Dom Pérignon & Veuve Clicquot anyone?) and a fish market & raw bar helmed by local seafood favorite Garcia’s. There’s weekly live entertainment, communal dining areas along the river and plenty of dock space available for those arriving by boat.
What to Experience
Between beaching it, endless amounts of eating (& drinking) and general hotel life, you may feel like your days are filled up but carving out time to experience the art installations, attractions and yes, even the spas that Miami has to offer will make your getaway one to remember.
As a direct juxtaposition to the retro Art Deco designed buildings of South Beach and the progressive street art of the Wynwood District, Vizcaya Museum is a beautifully time worn National Historic Landmark and Museum. Once the early 1900’s subtropical home of noted agricultural industrialist James Deering, one might say this self-sustaining waterfront abode was the original hotspot. Tour the beautifully preserved bayfront home with over 2,500 pieces of art and European-inspired gardens, located across South Miami Avenue for a peek into the past.
The Museum of Ice Cream believes ice cream can save the world. As this Museum with a mile-long waitlist and outposts in three other cities (New York City, Los Angeles & San Francisco) shows, it can certainly inspire, delight and charm. While the Miami Beach pop-up is only around until April 29th, it’s worth that last minute road trip to check out the vintage South Beach vibes, complete with ’50’s style diner, rainbow colored faux-sprinkle pool and of course, to eat actual ice cream.
For Art Deco aficionados or simply cultural enthusiasts, spending an afternoon in Miami doing a walking tour of the Art Deco District is a delight. Culture Trip has laid out a lovely walking tour of some of the most iconic Art Deco buildings on the block, dating from 1925-1940 and including a lunch spot stop and gin and tonic afternoon tipple.
The Miami Design District is a creative neighborhood and luxury shopping destination dedicated to innovative fashion, design, art, architecture and dining in an architecturally significant setting. Featuring many of the restaurants and hotels on this list, it’s also home to a variety of event spaces, art galleries, luxury shops, cafes, design studios and a rotating calendar of live events.
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Wynwood is an eclectic district in the urban center of Miami, home to art galleries, retail stores, antique shops, bars, artisanal eateries and one of the largest open-air street-art installations in the world. What was once neglected factories and dilapidated buildings in the mid-1990’s experienced a resurgence with the arrival of Art Basel in 2002 and the Second Saturday Art Walk. It is well worth scheduling a weekend in Miami around the Second Saturday Art Walk experience, where art galleries, shops and restaurants stay open well into the night creating Miami’s largest block party.
Located on Belle Isle, steps away from the heartbeat of South Beach, The Standard Spa, Miami Beach is less a hotel, and more a self-proclaimed “spa with guest rooms.” Picture tropical gardens, breezy, light-filled rooms with private terraces (some with outdoor soaking tubs), as well as an indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy playground, complimentary to hotel guests. The spa includes a Turkish-style hamam, aroma steam room, Roman waterfall hot tub, Finnish sauna, arctic plunge, treatment baths, mud lounge, and infinity pool. There’s also a juice café, The Lido, a Mediterranean inspired restaurant, fitness center, clothing boutique, nail salon, and Danish modern bar and lounge.
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is a modern and contemporary art museum dedicated to collecting and exhibiting international art of the 20th and 21st centuries. But it’s also a true Miami experience. In addition to exploring the galleries, have a marvelous waterfront meal at Verde restaurant; shop a superb selection of art books, furnishings and handmade items at the museum’s gift store and take in the stunning views of Biscayne Bay and the elaborate hanging gardens.
While there are many outstanding and opulent spas throughout Miami Beach, The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental Miami is worth a weekend trip on its own. Offering innovative and restorative treatments using ancient and modern techniques and inspired by traditions of Chinese, Ayurvedic, European, Balinese and Thai cultures, they recommend you arrive up to 45 minutes ahead of time to steam and sauna to prepare for your treatments. Bonus: Book one of six Spa Suites with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Biscayne Bay.
One of, if not the most important contemporary and modern art show in America, Art Basel famously showcases works from established masters and emerging artists for three days in December. Held in the Miami Beach Convention Center, over 250 of the world’s leading galleries participate, drawing over 70,000 people each year. It’s an exciting and inspiring week for artists, collectors, curators, critics and enthusiasts, particularly because of the ambitious large‐scale artworks, films and performances spilling into the cityscape at nearby Collins Park and SoundScape Park.
Founded by three artists in 1998 in a warehouse in the Wynwood District, Locust Projects is a long-running, not for profit, supportive exhibition space dedicated to providing contemporary visual artists the freedom to experiment with new ideas without the pressures of gallery sales. Current can’t-miss exhibit is Horizons, a new commission by artist duo Rancourt/Yatsuk. The media driven installation is engineered to guide viewers through a layered indoctrination process and sales pitch, ultimately presenting an opportunity to “take the ONE action that will determine the path to the rest of your life.”
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