A quick vacation to the Big Apple? Here's what you should see and do. White sand beaches, luxurious hotels, world-famous museums, and excellent restaurants where you don't want the meal to finish draw tourists from all over the world to Miami Beach on weekends. Creating the ideal itinerary may take time and effort with so many options. What follows is a list of our top picks for a weekend in Miami Beach, including accommodations, attractions, and restaurants.
If you are flying into Miami and looking for a place to eat lunch, I highly recommend The Lido Bayside Grill at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach. The open-air restaurant with views of Biscayne Bay is the ideal place to kick back and celebrate the start of a sunny weekend with a glass of the house specialty, Frosé. Relax in the sun by the luxurious pool at The Standard Spa.
Osteria Morini, renowned in New York City, has launched a location in Miami. The most fantastic way to round off the first day would be with dinner by the canal, feasting on their renowned battilardo well after the sun has set. Also, Stubborn Seed is close. Season 13 Top Chef champion Jeremy Ford has put up an 8-course tasting menu that is as entertaining as delectable.
Starting with the graffiti art of Wynwood Walls in the morning, explore the Miami Design District on the mainland. Famous artists like Shepard Fairey as well as Kenny Scharf have murals inside the timed-ticket gallery, but there are also works by up-and-coming artists. Superblue Miami, which just launched, is an interactive marvel. The artists (and their enormous installations) test the limits of what is considered art.
It would be best if you ate lunch at Bakan on your way back to Miami Beach. Nixtamal, mezcal, and wood fire are the foundations of traditional Mexican cuisine that date back to the Spaniards' arrival. Visit Surfside's major attraction, The Surf Club Restaurant with Chef Thomas Keller, after lunch and relax in one of the Four Seasons at the Surf Club's daytime cabanas (only for hotel guests) instead of on the beach. A landmark in the city, this eatery serves up classic continental fare with a modern twist in homage to the building's rich history of lavish festivities.
Spend the morning getting a massage at The Setai's Valmont spa and perhaps a facial at The St. Regis Spa just At St. Regis Bal Harbour, depending on whether you're staying in Bal Harbour, Surfside, or South Beach. Our next stop was Makoto for lunch. Makoto Okuwa, one of Miami's best chefs, is an expert at Edomae-style sushi. Some of his most popular dishes are truffle salmon with yuzu and crystallized soy and wagyu grilled at the table on something like a hot river stone, both of which are twists on traditional preparation methods.
There may be no more hip hotel on Miami Beach than The Standard Spa. Despite Belle Isle's idyllic location, it's relatively close to the center of the activity. The courtyard seems to be a tropical paradise from the front door to the pool. Inconspicuously tucked away among the vegetation are secluded nooks outfitted with hammocks but instead hanging lounge chairs. The property's beach-style pool, which views out over Biscayne Bay, is its crowning glory.
Visit Bal Harbour to get away from the crowd, relax on the tranquil beaches, and indulge in some high-end retail therapy at the St. Regis Bal Harbour. All rooms include floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto private balconies with glass railings that look out over the Atlantic Ocean's turquoise seas. In luxurious rooms and suites, it's hard to drag yourself away from your balcony.
When comparing the hotels in South Beach, the Setai stands out. An enjoyable stay in South Beach would be guaranteed with the hotel's sophisticated decor, three pools, Asian-inspired food at Jaya, and attentive staff. Private sunbathing chairs, stocked with food and drink, are available just off the packed shores. And maybe, then, you'll run across a famous face.
Following this 3-day Miami itinerary would guarantee that you fall in love with the city of sun and sea, whether you're visiting for a long weekend or as a stopover on the way to the Keys or perhaps the Caribbean. Some parts of South Beach are still home to the "real" Miami, filled with mojitos, fancy vehicles, and neon string bikinis. Nonetheless, it must accurately depict the city's actuality, variety, or essence. A new center of globalization has emerged from the dirt of Wynwood and the bustle of Brickell's corporate district across the causeway. The vibrant energy of Calle Ocho can be felt everywhere. The Miami Beach area, known for its tropical atmosphere, is also expanding and evolving.