My Miami Recs
Updated February 2023
Per usual, February brought the desire to escape. I was after a quick getaway that met the following criteria: somewhere easy to get, preferably in a warm climate, and that balances exploration with relaxation. Miami checked all the boxes! If you’ve written Miami off as the flashy, nightlife destination it gets the bad rap for being, take another look. Miami has evolved, shifting its focus to the arts, and embracing the cultures that make it unique. As a result, art galleries, museums, food halls and boutique shops await visitors, as do glitzy hotels and white sand beaches. Each time I visit I find myself wanting to discover a side of the city I have yet to see, and I encourage you to venture past South Beach and get a taste for neighborhoods like Brickell, the Design District and eclectic Wynwood. With its Art Deco architecture, swaying palm trees, diverse food landscape and endless hotels, there’s a side to Miami that suits any mood or budget.
If Miami is on your travel list, here’s my list of where to stay and where to eat. Half of these recommendations are from experience, while the other half are places on my must-visit list for future trips.
Where To Stay
W South Beach - For my second trip to Miami I searched high and low to find the right property for our stay, considering everything from boutique hotels in quiet neighborhoods to the bold, oceanfront properties synonymous with Miami Beach. After much deliberation, I chose the W South Beach for its large guest rooms, which have all recently been redone during the hotel's $30 million renovation. Now, soft tones, natural light and organic textures create rooms that feel like idyllic retreats of elegant simplicity and casual sophistication. Plus, it's the only hotel in South Beach with ocean views from every room. To top it off, we had incredible service that made our stay feel extra special, including an unexpected upgrade from a standard king room to an expansive 2-bedroom suite! Needless to say, I highly recommend the W.
Miami Beach EDITION - In 2018 we stayed at Miami Beach EDITION and have nothing but good things to say about our experience. Similar to the W, the EDITION has a prime oceanfront location on Collins Avenue and a luxe-meets-laidback aesthetic. If you're looking for an easy escape where you could be perfectly content on property your entire trip, this hotel is worth considering. Curious to know more? Here's my full review.
Esmé Miami Beach - Tucked a few blocks back from Ocean Drive, the chic and historic Esmé Hotel feels worlds apart from the ostentatious resorts that call South Beach home. This newly opened (Nov. 2021), Spanish-Mediterranean gem pays tribute to the artistic nature of its location in each of the guest rooms and public spaces, including its five restaurants/bars. It's dreamy to say the least, and it is one of the 15 hotels and resorts that made my annual list of properties I have my eyes on for 2022!
Life House South of Fifth - Once an eclectic beach cottage of a local artist, this small boutique hotel in the South of Fifth neighborhood offers guests a quiet and charming escape. Rooms are defined by coastal details and bespoke amenities in tune with the hotel's unique narrative which is shaped by its cultural surroundings. The hoteliers also have a sister property in the Miami neighborhood of Little Havana.
Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club - For a luxurious stay that balances a storied past with modern glamour, look no further. Once the seaside retreat for legends like Sinatra and Churchill in the 1930's, the Four Seasons purchased the property in 2017 and have returned the destination to its glory days. Guests can enjoy chic Italian dining, a world-class spa and finely appointed guest rooms, all just steps from the water.
Faena Hotel Miami Beach - Greg and I spent a quick one-night babymoon in Miami in February 2023, which was the perfect opportunity to finally stay at this over-the-top property I’ve been eyeing for years! It did not disappoint. The hotel transports guests to a glamorous Miami of the 1950’s thanks to its Art Deco appeal and nightly live performances of jazz music in the Living Room and cabaret in the hotel’s very own intimate gilded theater. With multiple restaurants, a 22,000 sf. spa and, of course, the pool and beach, there’s plenty to experience on-premise.
Where To Eat
Lido Restaurant at The Surf Club - If there’s anything you take away from this guide, let it be this - dinner at Lido is an absolute must! Located in the Surf Club - now part of the Four Seasons but once a legendary members-only club that hosted guests like Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra to "lively evenings of cocktails, couture and even black-tie boxing" - this romantic restaurant serves Italian coastal dishes in a stunning space evoking a bygone golden era. I’m still daydreaming about the spaghetti with clam sauce! Before or after your meal, grab a cocktail or two in the glamorous, palm-fringed Champagne Bar which houses the largest selection of Champagne in Miami.
Joe's Take Away - For over 100 years, Joe's Stone Crab has been a Miami institution, serving fresh seafood to locals and tourists alike. Skip the formal setting and head next door to Joe's Take Away. This all-day market serves Joe's signature items, just in a quick and casual setting! I had the Seafood Stack Salad and highly recommend it.
Mandolin Aegean Bistro - A meal here should be at the top of your Miami must-do list! Located in the Design District, Mandolin's dreamy courtyard setting transports guests to the Greek Isles, as do their traditional recipes of Greek and Turkish coastal dishes. Start with the baked feta, and I really liked the manti dumplings.
Coyo Taco - For debatably the best tacos in Miami, head to Coyo Taco. The Mexican street food joint has multiple locations across the city, but be sure to go to the original which is located among the mural-lined blocks of Wynwood. Order the churros, obviously. And bonus, there's a secret tequila bar hidden at the back of the restaurant.
Pubbelly Sushi - A great dining option if you're shopping at the Brickell City Center. Order the French Onion Miso Soup and the Short Rib & Truffle Dumplings for unique twists on classics.
Matador Room - Located in the Miami Beach EDITION, Matador Room’s menu features dishes of Caribbean, Spanish and Latin and South American cuisines. While the food is delicious, it’s the “sunken oval dining room that is reminiscent of the glamorous supper clubs of the 1940s and 50s” that make an evening here noteworthy.
Avra Miami - From the moment you step into the bougainvillea-covered dining room you feel as though you’ve been transported to the Greek Isles. Featuring a Mediterranean menu with seafood specialties as the focus, guests can pick out their own fresh fish at the “market” and have it prepared to their liking. It is an opulent dining experience, but one I highly recommend!
Where Else To Eat
These are the restaurants I haven’t had the opportunity to get to but are at the top of my list for future trips! Many are located in Wynwood, making it easy to hit a few up at once.
Casa Tua - A culinary destination for nearly two decades, this Italian restaurant is more of an experience, inviting guests into alfresco dining rooms with a Mediterranean-beach-house feel. Book a table far in advance!
Sanguich de Miami - A walk-up window in Little Havana known for making the best Cuban sandwiches in the city
Makoto - Colorful and contemporary Japanese restaurant in the upscale Bal Harbour Shops (I was able to eat here on my last trip to Miami and loved it! Favorite dish: Short Rib Yaki Noodles)
Sunny’s Steakhouse - An unconventional twist on a traditional steakhouse, Sunny’s is a large, outdoor restaurant where string lights, a DJ, and white tablecloths surprisingly mesh well together. Be sure to make a reservation, it is extremely popular.
Tropezón - “Inspired by the Spanish village saloons where old men play afternoon cards and women converse over sips of Sherry”, this stylish gin and tapas bar is located in Esmé Miami Beach Hotel.
Fireman Derek's Bake Shop - Satisfy your sweet tooth with an award-winning pie made by, you guessed it, a former firefighter (Wynwood)
DOYA - Newly opened Aegean/ Mediterranean eatery helmed by one of the original chefs at Mandolin Aegean Bistro (Wynwood)
Cielito Artisan Pops - Hand-crafted popsicles in a variety of inventive flavors (Wynwood)
Zak The Baker - This famous Miami bakery that provides loaves to many of the well-known restaurants around town also has a storefront selling pastries and full-on meals like avo toast and salmon reubens. (Wynwood)
Yip - Handmade dumplings and dim sum in a casual and fun environment (Wynwood)
Contessa - Recently opened at the end of 2022, this swanky, two-story restaurant in the Design District focuses on Northern Italian cuisine with a “Lake Como circa 1960” vibe
Old Greg’s Pizza - Also a new addition to the Design District, this pizza pop-up that went viral during the pandemic now has a permanent space to call home. Come for the Instagram-famous square pies.
