Miami

The ultimate Miami city guide

Sun-kissed and palm tree-lined Miami, in southern Florida, has always had a reputation as a party town. But along with those swanky, white-washed rooftop bars where the cocktails are aplenty, there’s also incredible contemporary art to be seen, outdoor adventures to be had, and inventive cuisine to be tasted. Dive deeper, beyond the smoke and mirrors, with a guided Art Deco walking tour through South Beach. Learn about the heritage of Cuban and Haitian immigrants that also call Miami home.  And yes, allot some time for pool parties, too.

A short round-up of Miami’s must-see sights…

Miami Beachwalk: Walk or bicycle along this seven-mile oceanfront path, taking in Miami’s famous sandy stretches, strewn with public art and pastel-hued lifeguard stands.

Rubell: Moved to Miami’s Allapattah neighbourhood after outgrowing its original space, this family collection showcases works by contemporary artists such as Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Yayoi Kusama, among others.

Superblue: Across the street from the Rubell, the immersive and engaging exhibits here include a mesmerising mirrored maze, holograms by James Turrell, and an installation of 3,000 light bulbs that use biometrics to flash according to visitors’ heartbeats.

PAMM: Short for Pérez Art Museum Miami, this stalwart of Miami’s art scene is worth a wander to see modern and contemporary works by Fernand Léger, Frank Stella, Faith Ringgold and Bisa Butler. The waterfront location doesn’t hurt either.

Frost Museum: PAMM’s neighbour, this ambitious 250,000-square foot science museum manages to cover it all from south Florida’s marine life to the human body to outer space.

Vizcaya: Built in 1916, this Mediterranean-style estate, which served as industrialist James Deering’s winter home, features stunning architectural details as well as beautiful formal gardens spread across 11 acres.

Wynwood Walls: Street art revived this once derelict section of Miami, which is now chock-a-block with abstract, anime and political murals galore.

What — and where — to eat in Miami

All the veggies (think corn ravioli with tomatillos and miso glazed tofu with thumbelina carrots and chives) at Michelin-starred Le Jardinier, which is as easy on the eyes as the mouth thanks to a gorgeous green marble interior.

The chef’s tasting menu at Uchi, which continues to win over diners with its extraordinary Japanese cooking. So good.

A lunch spread of heirloom tomato tostadas, charred corn and mushroom tacos, and aguachile with shrimp, cucumber and watermelon at the Mayfair Grill, in the tiled, greenery-filled atrium of the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden.

Love Life Café’s outrageously yummy veggie burger; pizza verde, made with cashew cream and basil pesto; and guava cheesecake.

Orno, from rising star chef Niven Patel, where meats, vegetables and seafood are woodfired to perfection.

Le Jardinier Miami
Le Jardinier Miami

Previous

Independent Minds: Jeanette Mix, Ett Hem

Next

A back-to-nature break in the Lake District

Latest stories

The ultimate Madrid city guide

Sometimes overlooked by other European capitals, Spain’s biggest city has so much to offer from world-class museums and galleries to talking-point architecture and a lively music scene. Madrileños also take food (and drink) very seriously, and whether you want to prop at the bar for the tastiest tortilla or your

Sicily on a plate: a foodie guide to the Italian island

There’s something about Sicily that sticks with you. On your skin, in your camera roll, in how quickly you develop opinions about brioche. The island is full of contrasts: volcanic cliffs and citrus groves, peeling paint and polished marble, sea urchins eaten on plastic plates next to grand old cafés

12 beautiful hotel bathtubs worth escaping to the countryside for this autumn

There’s something about the turn of the seasons that calls for a long, indulgent soak. Maybe it’s the crisp air, or the way your shoulders slump (in the best way) after a long country walk or a misty mountain trek. Whether you’re in the honey-hued hills of the Cotswolds or

A deliberately slow, solo adventure through magical Bhutan

Several goblet-like lamps flicker within the colourful, ornate prayer hall at Gangtey Gonpa, a 17th century monastery on a mist-shrouded ridge overlooking Bhutan’s Phobjikha Valley. Filled with clarified yak butter, the lamps symbolise wisdom dispelling the darkness of ignorance (believed to be the root cause of human suffering in Tibetan