PRESENT
Gallery Guides: How to Spend a Weekend in Miami
Not many cities can strike the perfect balance of revelry and serenity like Miami can. We're heading to the Magic City for Art Basel and setting up shop at our Gallery Art House. Here’s where to stay and play for the weekend.
by: Taylor Stoddard
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Plan Your Weekend
miami weekend essentials
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WHERE TO STAY
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WHERE TO EAT
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WHERE TO SHOP
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WHERE TO GALLERY HOP
Miami is the queen of bacchanalia, and it may be the real city that doesn’t sleep. E11EVEN is a high-octane ultra club that literally never closes, so come for a good time and a long time. Pro tip: most people don’t know you can order food inside, but when hunger strikes, order the chicken fingers—they’re the best in Miami.
E11EVEN
image credit: Reserve Padel
Reserve Padel has taken the city by storm. A luxurious waterfront club dedicated to the beloved racket sport boasting six glass courts, upscale eateries and epic views of the Miami skyline.
Padel
image credit: Patron
Patrón El Alto on the rocks. A luxury reposado tequila handcrafted from the finest and sweetest 100% Weber Blue Agave and packaged in an elegant azure bottle.
Signature Cocktail
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Coconut Grove is Miami’s boho-chic jewel boasting beautiful state parks like Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, the CocoWalk shopping complex with charming boutiques, and verdant coastal dining. Must-visits are the newly opened Bayshore Club and Regatta Grove.
Coconut Grove
If you’re not staying at a hotel with beach service, you can enter at a number of locations like South Pointe Park or 11th street and Ocean Drive (right across from the famed Versace Mansion) for a livelier beach outing, or head over the bridge to Key Biscayne where locals like to go for a quieter retreat.
Beach day
image credit: Pola Damonte via Getty Images
Mobile apps like Boatsetter make it easy to charter a captained vessel in a matter of minutes, and you can choose a departure harbor closest to you. To do it like a true native, order ahead and bring along Joe’s Stone Crab takeout (a non-negotiable Miami institution) for piles of the world-famous crab claws with a side of hash browns.
boat day
Drinking cafecito is a lifestyle. For the most authentic experience, get your Cuban coffee from Versailles: a Little Havana landmark on “Calle Ocho” (yes, the one you’ve heard Pitbull rap about).
Cuban coffee
MIAMI WEEKEND ESSENTIALS
For discerning travelers who appreciate charm over grand-scale amenities, Life House prioritizes community-driven hospitality in this low-key retreat that feels like an artist’s hideaway. Room types span from light and airy queen suites to luxury bunk rooms making it perfect for families traveling with their brood. Rates start at $170, and Lifehouse also has a sister property in the Cuban enclave of Little Havana.
Lifehouse Hotel
image credit: Lifehouse Hotel
If you want to stay away from the flash of South Beach and bustle of Brickell, opt for a stay at the swanky Mr. C, the boutique hotel concept by the Cipriani family (rates starting at $379) designed with Italian nautical influence. The glitzy property is crowned by its bar and restaurant, Bellini, steeped in sophistication where martinis are served by gentlemen in white tuxedos, and the intimate rooftop pool is the perfect setting for rest and tranquility. Overall the property is nestled in the heart of Coconut Grove for easy walkability among the boho tree-lined streets, showing off a side of Miami that experienced travelers will appreciate.
Mr. C, Coconut Grove
A stay in Miami doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be on a beach. For those that would rather opt for a city-style weekend getaway, EAST is a modernist, sky-high hotel (rates start at $200) in the heart of Brickell – the “FiDi” of Miami. The hotel is home to the popular rooftop bar, Sugar, serving Balinese tapas with panoramic views of Biscayne Bay, and tucked behind heavy doors, you’ll also find the rooftop’s mysterious speakeasy called the Tea Room. A fun bonus is that a quick elevator ride from your hotel room takes you smack in the middle of Brickell City Center, the neighborhood’s open-air mall, offering easy door-to-door access to shopping.
EAST Brickell
image credit: EAST Brickell
image credit: Esme
stucco casitas in this design-lover’s paradise. Its original structure is full of mystery and intrigue, having been the base for Al Capone's gambling syndicate in the late 1920s, and decades later serving as the backdrop for television’s Miami Vice and the movie Birdcage. Esme’s charm extends from its jewel-toned suites to the killer candy-striped rooftop pool, with an impressive restaurant lineup from Mediterranean fare at The Drexel, speakeasy Omakase at Sushi-Bar, and eclectic cocktails at El Salón.
Hidden along the twinkling, cafe- lined Española Way in South Beach is the boutique hotel Esme (rates start at $300), made up of clustered pink
Esme
The epitome of tropical elegance is the EDITION Hotel (rates start at $349 in the low season, $749 in the high season), the brain-child of Studio54 co-founder Ian Schrager, who created this trendy stay-and-play beachfront getaway, complete with the most Instagrammable neon bowling alley, ice skating rink, and discobox night club making it a convivial stay for couples, friends and families alike. On property you’ll find food offerings by celebrity chef Jean-Georges in addition to casual market dining, a boutique of curiosities, and sumptuous bungalow lounging. Above all, the real reason that will have you coming back is the signature Le Labo EDITION scent that greets you the second you step foot inside, signaling instant vacation mode.
EDITION Miami Beach
image credit: Sexy Fish
imbibing. Head downstairs to MILA Lounge if you want to keep the party going. If you’re traveling with friends and want an electric, club-style restaurant, try Gekko in Brickell, a concept by David Grutman and Bad Bunny serving up elevated Asian dishes in a sexy, dimly-lit dining room, Queen which is housed in the sprawling, restored Paris Theater, or Sexy Fish in Brickell with over-the-top opulence bedecked in $20 million of art by Damien Hirst and Frank Gehry. For low-key but best-in-class dining, book a seat at SHINGO in Coral Gables for Omakase, or Doma in Wynwood for exceptional modern Italian.
For dinner, one of the most special dining destinations in Miami is Lido at the Four Seasons. Once a haunt of Ernest Hemingway and Elizabeth Taylor is now a Michelin experience within a dreamy, upscale atmosphere serving inventive crudos, homemade pastas and fine cuts of meat. Arrive early to have a drink at the iconic palm-fringed Champagne Bar just steps away. MILA off of South Beach’s Lincoln Road is a vibey, indoor-outdoor rooftop restaurant with elevated dining ensconced by reflection pools and fire dancers for unique entertainment while
DINNER
image credit: MILA
If you’re dining out for lunch, make it long and worth the visit at Pastis, a Parisian-style brasserie in Wynwood by Keith McNally boasting a stunning outdoor patio and bar, with menu items from steak frites to a seafood tower begging to be paired with a crisp bottle of rosé. Waterfront dining is unmatched at Lido at The Standard off the Venetian Causeway with fresh grilled dishes and locally-sourced eats with the sounds of water lapping beneath you. Transport to the Greek isles at Mandolin Aegean Bistro, a taverna tucked behind cerulean gates and bougainvillea with an authentic Greek-Turkish menu in the Miami Design District. For the best grab-and-go Mexican fare in Miami, Coyo Taco is a delicious local favorite.
LUNCH
the Freehand Hotel (once a historic manor) where your order must include pan de bono and a fried chicken benny. Venture a little further north to Rosie’s in Little River where you can order an epic brunch spread from a cacio e pepe omelette, pastrami hash and lemon ricotta pancakes backdropped by a breezy outdoor garden. For the health-conscious, Pura Vida is the beloved all-day cafe in Miami with multiple locations for signature wraps, juices and salads.
For a casual but tasty breakfast with bistro classics, head to Bebito’s Cafe in Miami Beach which is a neighborhood staple for Cuban pastries, tostadas, and scrambles. For a sit-down brunch with a local feel, try 27 Restaurant at
BREAKFAST
image credit: Bebito’s Cafe
image credit: Curio at Faena Bazaar
In keeping with Faena Bazaar’s tradition of unconventional retail, Curio stands four stories tall with interactive rotating events like pop-ups of rising designers from all over the world, art installations, and celebrity beauty integrations.
Curio at Faena Bazaar
is hands-down Miami’s most famous store. Once The Webster Hotel, it was converted into a famed three-story retail destination in 1939 by pioneer Laure Heriard Dubreuil spanning 20,000 square feet in the heart of the Art Deco district on South Beach, and is still hailed as an expertly curated multi-brand shopping haven.
The Webster
image credit: The Webster
has two locations (Coconut Grove and South Miami), and is a stylish, airy boutique with new drops of trendy womenswear (mostly in neutral palettes) on a weekly basis.
Market
is located further north on Miami Beach and known as a playground for socialites and fashionistas thanks to its world-class designer boutiques, department stores and restaurants in a lush tropical garden setting.
Bal Harbour Shops
image credit: Bal harbour shops
image credit: Miami Design District
is a buzzy, creative neighborhood best known for its public art installations like its geodesic “Fly’s Eye” dome, unique architectural design projects, and plazas teeming with pop-ups and activations. Within the confines of this chic shopping enclave you’ll find everything from renowned fashion houses to fine dining, designer showrooms, and acclaimed galleries like the Institute of Contemporary Art.
Miami Design District
is Downtown Miami’s prominent culture destination, with an emphasis on artwork from Latin America, the Caribbean and the African diaspora. In addition to its thousands of permanent pieces, the PAMM hosts hands-on workshops, educational programs, lectures and community events.
Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
image credit: Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)/Joan Didion
image credit: Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)/Gary Simmons
is one of the largest private contemporary art collections in North America, and its biggest draw is Yayoi Kusama’s immersive Infinity Room and Narcissus Garden exhibitions. Plan to visit the Rubell in the afternoon, and line up a dinner reservation at the on-site Basque restaurant, Leku for a special gastronomic experience after a day of art touring.
The Rubell Museum
image credit: Wynwood Walls/Sandra Chevrier
Irrevocably Miami’s most photographed neighborhood, Wynwood has an ever-evolving street art scene with exhibitions at every turn from leading fine artists, graffiti writers and muralists. The Wynwood Walls specifically is a curated outdoor museum with large-format works by industry greats like Shepard Fairey, Tristan Eaton, Retna and Cryptik.
Wynwood Walls
image credit: Wynwood Walls/Kelsey Montague
