Art in Miami Design District. Image credit: Shutterstock

MIAMI DESIGN DISTICT

Wynwood Walls. Image credit: Shutterstock

Wynwood District

Every December, Miami becomes the epicenter of the global art world, hosting Art Basel Miami Beach, Scope, Design Miami, and a range of other international shows, pop-ups, and fairs. Insiders know that once the shows end and the crowd disperses, the spirit lingers in uber-cool venerated contemporary art institutions including PAMM, The Bass, and ICA Miami.

Insider’s Tip: Art-Full December

STREET SMARTS

Begin at the outdoor museum, Wynwood Walls, then explore 50 city blocks blasted with street art and murals and home to more than 70 galleries and museums. At the Museum of Graffiti, the first devoted to the history of this uniquely American art form, a permanent display of paintings, mixed-media sculptures, and interactive installations celebrate graffiti’s contribution to popular culture. Head to neighboring Allapattah for Superblue — among its interactive art installations is a piece with flickering lights that record and respond to heartbeats in the room. Longtime Miami residents Don and Mera Rubell share their prized contemporary art collection, which includes pioneering works by Keith Haring, Cindy Sherman, Richard Prince, and Jeff Koons, at the Rubell Museum. Their 7,200-piece collection is rotated through 40 unique galleries — 300 works and 100 artists at a time.

Find a spot at one of a dozen charming sidewalk cafés shaded by striped awnings along the two-block pedestrian-only corridor and recharge

Image credit: Shutterstock. Art Basel

Downtown Miami at sunrise from Brickell Key, Florida. Image credit: Shutterstock

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You can spend every minute of your 72 hours in Miami immersed in its flourishing arts scene and still barely scratch the surface of its museums and mural-adorned streets. Here are a few art-forward neighborhoods to explore and delicious dining options along the way.

Miami

By Abby O’Neil

72 Hours in...

The streets of Wynwood Art District are walkable and easy to navigate, but grab a map or book a guided tour to make sure you don’t miss a single iconic mural or new additions.

Inside the Rubell Museum, Leku is an ode to modern-day Basque cuisine and a visual masterpiece itself, thanks in part to a colorful wall-length mural by artist Allison Zuckerman. The menu emphasizes sharing with generous portions of steaks, lamb, and whole branzino, all cooked on a Basque-style charcoal grill, but the showstopper is the velvety, caramelized custard cheesecake you’ll want all to yourself.

SHARED PLATES

Among this neighborhood’s many Michelin-rated restaurants, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon will likely deliver your most memorable meal in Miami. In a quiet second-floor location overlooking the posh shops, a team of culinary masters produces tasting and seasonal menus made with precision and artistry that even Picasso would appreciate. A seat at the counter is a guaranteed front row to a display of finesse and flair within the show kitchen.

MICHELIN MASTERS

In Palm Court, look for Buckminster Fuller’s 24-foot geodesic Fly’s Eye Dome, venture upstairs above Jungle Plaza to see a larger-than-life artist at work, Le Corbusier, and architect Sou Fujimoto’s Façade, a two-story structure with elongated glass “fins” extending from the rooftop down to the open courtyard. Conscious Actions, series of interactive playground structures spread throughout the district, reflect the energy we consume and the energy we contribute to the world. Stop by the Haitian Heritage Museum or the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami) to stroll through the galleries or sit quietly in the beautiful sculpture gardens.

ART BY DESIGN

The streets of Miami’s Design District are lined with the highest of high-end luxury shopping, but like most of Miami, art is everywhere.

The walkway next to the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is one of Downtown Miami’s most intriguing cultural destinations. There is no denying that the parade of spectacularly colored pets along El Paseo de los Perros y Gatos (Walkway of Dogs and Cats), is a playful, eye-catching addition to the bayfront park. Each of the 52 oversized, vibrant aluminum sculptures has a QR code for visitors to scan to learn more about the breed, the reason behind the chosen design, and the artist.

PETS WELCOME

Española Way. Image credit: Shutterstock

DOWNTOWN MIAMI

Skip the pastel Art Deco buildings in South Beach — the chalky-pink stucco Mediterranean Revival buildings with Spanish tile roofs on nearby Española Way are just as enchanting. Find a spot at one of a dozen charming sidewalk cafés shaded by striped awnings along the two-block pedestrian-only corridor and recharge before you head across the causeway to Downtown Miami.

Calle Ocho. Image credit: Shutterstock

LITTLE HAVANA

Set around Calle Ocho, Little Havana is Miami’s (rapidly) beating heart of Cuban culture. The best way to experience a culture is through the food, of course, but this vibrant thoroughfare also offers more than its fair share of art.

If it feels like there are infinite restaurants to choose from, it’s because there are. Stop at El Cristo Restaurant lunch counter for a Cuban sandwich and croquetas, or visit El Rey for a frita — a burger made of ground beef and chorizo served with potato strings on a soft bun. Top yours with cheese, egg, double patties, or plantains. Azucar Ice Cream Company provides a cool, creamy treat while strolling Calle Ocho. The best days in Little Havana end with dancing, and there’s no place better than Ball & Chain, a neighborhood mainstay known for excellent food, live music, strong cocktails, and great people-watching.

BUEN PROVECHO

Little Havana’s streets are decorated with painted and mosaic murals of tropical fruit, musical instruments, dominoes, and cigars as well as tributes to Cuban legends such as poet and revolutionary José Martí and salsa singer Celia Cruz. The Futurama 1637 Art Building, a creative workspace occupied by local artists, is open to the public, and more than 20 galleries can be found on the blocks surrounding it.

CUBAN FEVER

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Prague’s magnificent castle dominates the historic center, but take the time to head off the beaten track to the 10th-century Vyšehrad, or Upper Castle. On a rocky promontory overlooking the River Vltava, this was the original seat of Prague’s ruling Czech princes, and as you look down on the city and drink in the spectacular panoramic views, there’s a real feeling of being far from the crowds below. Entrance is free, and this fortified citadel also hosts a lush park with an ancient Romanesque rotunda and neo-Gothic basilica.

Insider's Tip: Vyšehrad Castle

Image credit: The Eatery

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By John Brunton

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Volume 22 2023

One of Europe’s magical, perfectly preserved cities, Prague is enchanting both for the first-time traveler and the frequent visitor. But the city is changing with the times. While certain sights can be revisited again and again, even a short stay can now include an excursion into one of the fashionable new neighborhoods – the perfect opportunity to discover designer ateliers, contemporary art galleries, and hip restaurants.

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