Three itineraries in Miami: one to live as a celebrity; one featuring alternative art; and another filled with luxury
(all fitting in the pocket of us mere mortals!)
This exciting American metropolis offers much more than just sun and beaches. Modern and glamorous attractions can be found everywhere from South Beach to Downtown. A trio of experts shows us other vibrant facets of the city
Itinerary 1: celebrity day at Miami Beach
CRISTINA CELLINI
Stylist Cristina Cellini has been dressing artists for more than 10 years. She lives in Miami but also works in Los Angeles and New York for celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Paulina Rubio.
F1RST SURF UPPLY CO.
40 South Pointe Drive Suite 107
F1rst Surf Supply Co. on South Pointe sells beachwear and rents surfboards (starting at US$30 per hour). “Famous surfers like Florida native Kelly Slater come here,” says Cellini. After shopping, you can enjoy a stroll along nearby Miami Beach.
THE WEBSTER
1220 Collins Avenue
Collins Avenue near 12th Street is lined with designer shops. The Webster sells the best (and most expensive) brands, like Chanel and Dior. “I brought Kim Kardashian here for the first time, and she adored the selection. Rihanna is another fan,” declares Cellini.
BAL HARBOUR SHOPS
9700 Collins Avenue
The luxurious Bal Harbour Shops is also a good place for lunch: Makoto serves up Japanese fare (Sofía Vergara is a celebrity regular). Bento boxes are US$19, and main dishes cost as much as US$30.
THE ALCHEMIST
1111 Lincoln Road
On Lincoln Road, check out the stretch near Lenox Avenue. Installed in a building designed by the Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron, The Alchemist showcases designers from around the world. “I did the wardrobe for The X Factor USA for a long time, and I always got clothes here,' states Cellini.
CECCONI´S
4385 Collins Avenue
Take a break at the bar in Cecconi's, the restaurant at the Soho House hotel, and pair your US$16 cocktail with a range of snacks. “Part of the hotel is open to members only, so you’re likely to run into a celebrity,” says Cellini.
Itinerary 2: luxury day in Downtown Miami
EVELINY BASTOS-KLEIN
Public relations agent Eveliny BastosKlein hails from Brazil but has been living in Miami for 13 years, working with luxury brands like the Four Seasons hotel chain.
BAHÍA
1435 Brickell Avenue
The restaurant Bahía serves breakfast by the pool at the Four Seasons Hotel. “On Sundays, the Edge steakhouse offers brunch on the same spot, one of Miami’s most sophisticated venues,” says Bastos-Klein.
EN AVANCE
53 NE 40th Street
In the openair mall located in the Design District, impeccably clean windows and spectacular art are the major attractions. Bastos-Klein highlights En Avance: “A concept store that sells brands that are hard to find elsewhere in the city.”
THE STANDARD HOTEL
40 Island Avenue
Lunch is cool and elegant at The Standard Hotel, where the restaurant specializes in seafood (US$ 19–35). Feel like lingering? Visit the hotel spa. “You can also buy a day pass to use the pool (starting at US$75),” says BastosKlein.
ARSHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
1300 Biscayne Boulevard
'Be sure to catch a performance by the Florida Grand Opera or the Cleveland Orchestra at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. It’s an opportunity to glimpse another side of the city.
MATADOR ROOM
2901 Collins Avenue
Dine at the Matador Room, where chef Jeremy Ford works – he won the country’s Top Chef this year.”
AREA 31
2901 Collins Avenue
To admire the Miami skyline, head to Area 31, on the 16th floor of the Kimpton Epic Hotel. Arrive around 7 p.m., when the lights of the buildings are switched on.
Itinerary 3: art day in Wynwood and the Design District
DOMINGO CASTILLO
Multimedia artist Domingo Castillo is one of the founders of the groundbreaking Versace Versace Versace gallery in Little Haiti, Miami's emerging arts district
ENRIQUETAS SANDWICH SHOP
186 NE 29th Street
Start the day at Enriqueta's Sandwich Shop in the modern neighborhood of Wynwood (if you have time, explore the graffitifilled streets). Always packed, Enriqueta's serves up classic Cuban coffee and sandwiches (US$ 4–6) to famished locals and tourists.
AMERTEC BUILDING
Hialeah 149 W 21 St
In the nearby city of Hialeah, he loves the Amertec Building: “Built as a warehouse in 1967, it’s empty now, but well maintained.”
PINK HOUSE
9325 N Bayshore Drive
Another highlight is the Pink House in Biscayne Bay, “created in the 1970s by Arquitectonica, which set the tone for Miami’s style.'
CAKE THAI KITCHEN
7919 Biscayne Boulevard
In North Miami, near Downtown, Cake Thai Kitchen offers a great costbenefit ratio for lunch. “Any dish will surprise you,” says Castillo. The green papaya salad with shrimp (US$12) is deliciously spicy. A location in Wynwood will open soon.
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART
4040 NE 2nd Avenue
The museum, located in the Design District, features the work of new and consolidated artists. Last year, Domingo and his collective occupied the whole building. Check out the institute’s calendar.
WOLFSONIAN
1001 Washington Avenue
The Wolfsonian museum contains everything from advertisements to design from the Industrial Revolution to the postWorld War II period. “The collection is a record of the aesthetics and behavior of the past,” observes Castillo. End your tour at the nearby Frieze Ice Cream Factory. “This Miami classic is totally worth it,” says the artist.
