With the 1996 film The Birdcage as a visual reference for Miami living, a flamboyant, fluorescent South Beach, complete with a parking-lot’s worth of swish sports cars and Art-Deco facades, comes to mind.
In reality (and fourteen years on for the cult film’s release) Miami’s landscape is somewhat changed. Things have evolved beyond the bling and bikinis of South Beach (SoBe) – though the favoured mode of transportation and a fondness for fluorescent endures.
Action has moved, mostly, to Mid Beach, thanks to a slew of design hotels (Faena, 1 Hotel, and co) attracting an international cool crowd with their plush XL bedrooms and oceanside views. Locals have been baited upstream with danglings of haute cuisine from the likes of Mr. Chow (a culinary resident at The W South Beach) and away from the beach entirely, to the urbanscapes of Brickell and the Design District. Meanwhile, murmurings of Downtown’s rising popularity are loudening. While a list of must-visit beach spots, will never be struck from our Miami list to think that Miami begins and ends with Miami Beach would be a grave mistake.
Luckily, we’ve spent enough time on the ground to know how best to divide and conquer in The Magic City over a 48-hour period. Here’s where to bed down, dine out, and drink up in the Sunshine State’s party capital.
STAY
The hotel’s dedication to wellness ensures a roster of health-focused events are available on demand – make the most of the on-site SoulCycle, the 14,000-square-foot gym space, and a serene British Bamford Haybarn Spa. When you get a little peckish, head to Plnthouse for delicious vegan plates and vegetable-packed juices. Come evening, Jose Mendin’s Habitat serves Latin American and Asian fusion cuisine in stylish, minimalist surrounds (as per).
Palihouse Miami Beach
Overlooking the Indian Creek Waterway, Palihouse is a sleek, no-fuss spot to retreat to after a full-on day of exploring. Imbuing an effortless boho-beach vibe, the palm-lined Palihouse Miami Beach boasts 71 spacious residential-style rooms decked out in an on-trend pastel palette, striped headboards and cosy terracotta walls. Letterman-jacket-style Ps monogram the cushions, dressing gowns and hanging fixtures – a style feature which trickles through from the rooms to the lobby and pool bar to boot. Speaking of, life here mainly revolves around the freeform pool area. Just two blocks from the beach, nabbing a spot under a tasseled umbrella is just the ticket after partying up Miami style.
EAT + DRINK
The crowd at KYU (pronounced “Q”) is as fashionable as its Wynwood neighbourhood, so expect to see plenty of art loving regulars tucking into fried chicken at this buzzy eatery. Located in the heart of Wynwood, the wood-fired, Asian-inspired cuisine has been dazzling foodies since its launch in 2016. The wagyu beef brisket and fried chicken come highly recommended, as does the roasted cauliflower with shishito herb vinaigrette. KYU has a well-curated selection of wine, beer, and sake, but the cocktails are hard to resist. Interiors are paired-back, industrial-chic but really serve as a backdrop to the art on display – exhibit A: street artist 2 Alas’ magnificent “KYU lady” (spotted at the restaurant’s entrance).
Seaspice
Standing out as one of the most luxurious locations of Downtown, this seafood brasserie is a local favourite. Plotted right on the waterfront, diners can take in painterly views, watching yachts navigate Miami’s shoreline while they sample their starters. If you’re a seafarer, it’s worth noting that at Seaspice you can dock and dine. Known for its pasta – our go to order is the pappardelle – the menu at Seaspice is globally inspired, with dishes ranging from burrata with olive tapenade and crab tempura to a delectable truffle Brie tart. Inside, you’ll find Modern Garden, a hot stone and crudo lounge that serves up raw fish and premium meats heated on 850-degree volcanic stone slabs.
Mandolin Aegean Bistro
This inviting Mediterranean restaurant opened in Miami’s Design District in 2009. Housed in a restored 1940s bungalow, Mandolin Aegean Bistro’s greatest draw is its 150-cover outdoor area. Akin to the sun-washed tavernas of Greece and Turkey, this dinky little restaurant serves up grilled octopus with lemon and olive oil, a succulent lamb gyro, and a matchless Greek salad. Honorary mention goes to their finer assortment of dips from Turkey (hummus, tomato-walnut dip, beet purée) and Greece (tzatziki, tarama, eggplant purée). Scrumptious.
DO
Wynwood Arts District
The Instagram-friendly Wynwood Walls is an outdoor exhibit that’s a must on any Miami to-do list. Turns out, the former industrial zone of Wynwood proved the ideal canvas for graffiti artists, including Shepard Fairey and Barry McGee, to paint major large-scale murals and so a hipster’s paradise was born. With bustling restaurants and a diverse shopping scene circling its four-block radius, a trip to Wynwood can be as long or short as time allows.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
A museum – and a national landmark – Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a mecca of European design. Visitors to the museum can explore 10 acres of immaculately landscaped gardens and 25 acres of endangered forest lands. The sweetest discoveries: 2,000 orchids bedded in the gardens and whimsical seashell grottos made for a nymph.
The Bass
Founded in 1964 to house the private collection of John and Johanna Bass on its donation to the city, The Bass Museum (housed within an impressive 1930s-built Art-Deco building) has established itself as the leading space for the exploration of contemporary art in Miami Beach. As South Beach’s only public contemporary art museum, The Bass draws a varied crowd. Its programme embraces design, architecture, and fashion alongside visual art and has included major exhibitions by the likes of Ugo Rondinone, Mika Rottenberg, and Pascale Marthine Tayou.
The Standard Spa
Join a brood of New Yorkers lapping up a forty-eight-hour window of sun at this wonderfully ’60s-style property designed for adults only. Less ‘hotel’, more ‘spa with guest rooms’, at The Standard Spa the emphasis is on communal relaxation. A sleekly modern ashram, the spa extends to outdoor soaking tubs, a ninety-degree hammam and a cedar sauna. There’s a roster of classes to choose from – early risers will be rewarded with an epic sunrise yoga session (though snoozers will still rise in plenty of time to sign up for the sunset stand-up paddle boarding). You’ll find us sipping fresh-pressed green juice with glittering views of the ocean as a member of staff conducts an astrology reading and a pedicure while in situ. An afternoon escape, book in for a facial (complete with crystal-infused mask) and follow with a late lunch at the Lido Bayside Grill before making ways for home/ the airport/ further afield.
Any Questions or Tips to add?