[bigletter]Miamians famously say, “We live where you vacation,” but rarely do Miamians vacation where they live. We spend so much time wrapped up in our day-to-day lives that we don’t do the very thing that millions of people travel here to do: visit Miami Beach. That goes for everyone, though; New Yorkers don’t hop on the Staten Island Fairy to take a quick trip to see Lady Liberty, Londoners wouldn’t be caught dead taking a ride on the London Eye, Parisians don’t get in line to stand under or ride the elevator to the tip of the Eiffel Tower and Miamians don’t take staycations in South Beach. The reason why we don’t do these things is that they’re too ‘touristy,’ but, the reason why these locations are packed with tourists is that they’re iconic and emblematic within our cities.[/bigletter]
We have the beach in our backyard, but we don’t take time to appreciate it in a touristic perspective. Everyone should take time to get to know and appreciate the wonders of their city.
As I state in my Miami Beach Instagram highlights, more than 20 million people visit Miami Beach every year and businesses, hotels and restaurants within the area strive to cater to anyone looking for fun, good food and a little TLC under the sun – or at the spa. I partnered with the City of Miami Beach to suggest places in the City of Miami Beach that you can visit once it opens back up post-coronavirus. If you feel like you need a weekend staycation, here is what I recommend.
FUN ACTIVITIES
Pamper Yourself
The beach is one of my top favorite things to do, but for those who prefer to lay out poolside, there are plenty of options at hotels such as the SLS, Delano, Faena, 1Hotel, or The Setai. All of them are oceanside, therefore you can hop from the pool to the beach whenever you want. A great alternative is also to visit the spa. I spent an amazing time with my mom at Ciel Spa at the Delano. We had a facial and then drank some tea and relaxed after a long pool day.
Take a hit of art
Artechouse on Collins Avenue was initially brought to South Beach during Art Basel. For $19 per ticket, guests get to walk around the gallery for an hour and relax while looking at the digital screens. It involves no touching nor does it involve heavy crowds. You will be within 6 feet of separation from everyone and staring at the screen will be the equivalent of delving into Mars (if mars were blue) and leaving planet Earth for a little bit; lord knows we all need it.
FIND GREAT FOOD OPTIONS
For the raw food lovers
Delicious Raw is my FAVORITE spot for a good vegan burger. I’m not vegan, and it’s hard for me to find great and savory food within the vegan spectrum that I can put under my “top spots” category, but this is absolutely a must. If you bring a vegan person, they’ll love you for it, and if you bring a non-vegan person, it’s truly such an easy way to convert them. The menu had fresh juices, breakfast options, açai bowls and other amazing dishes. I recommend the burger and the buddha bowl.
A dinner for two at the Garden
I hadn’t been to dinner in Miami Beach in more than 2 years, since before I moved to London. I’m no longer the Miami dine-out spot expert (not that I ever was), so I know of very few places that are fun, lively and that have food for everyone. The Garden is one of those places. It’s not fancy. It’s chill. The food isn’t complicated. You’ll find something for everyone within a menu that includes a few pasta options, a few seafood options and lots of fun appetizers for sharing, such as oysters, a tuna tartare and a burrata, among others.
Insider Tip: Stay for the show & dessert
In the evening, a dancer performs down a runway, while doing a whole bunch of acrobatics and contortionist moves. It’s such a good vibe for some dessert and wine or cocktails while everyone watches the live show.
The Garden menu is here
A Moroccan feast with friends at Byblos
[dropcap custom_class=”bl”]For those who are more open-minded about spiced foods and Mediterranean-style meals, Byblos brings Morocco to the beach. Located on Collins avenue, the two-floor restaurant has a vibe of 1970s decor that meets Moroccan style and architecture.[/dropcap]
My mom, who was my date for the evening and who spent some time in Morocco last September (she’s also on an ‘I want to travel the world’ wave) kept saying, ‘This is what the plates are like in Morocco!” and “This is what the walls and embellishments look like in Fez.”
So from a Morocco connoisseur’s point of view, she approved. Now, while it was evident that the place had been decorated with items imported from the country, we weren’t sure about how good the food would be. We were pleasantly surprised at how delicious and tasty it was, though not fully authentic. The menu is filled with options of ‘shareable’ plates that include lots of meats, rice, salads and starters, which are foods that are traditionally eaten in morocco, however, the preparation is different, nevertheless really great! We ordered the Spanish octopus and duck kibbeh as starters, black truffle rice and short rib kebab and their take on my favorite dessert on earth: baklava! They serve the flaky layers stuffed with pistachio ice cream. We accompanied dessert with a delicious mint tea, which really helped us relax and enjoy a good chat before heading out.
The Byblos menu is here
Catch up with the girls over brunch at the Setai
So many of us haven’t been able to see our friends in such a long time, and The Setai’s Sunday brunch is hands down one of the best in town. Their buffet used to be AHH-MAY-ZING, but due to COVID restrictions, they are not going to offer a buffet for the time being, however, the food and the options available are so diverse that there is for sure something everyone will love. Another plus: the outdoor area is great for these times when we want to be outside and meet social distancing requirements. On Sundays kick back, enjoy some live jazz from the band and embrace our new normal.
Appreciate a Colorful Española Way
Take a walk down one of the most colorful streets in Miami Beach. Española Way is easily the most instagrammable area near the beach, and it also has so many perfect little restaurants and bars we can support and have lunch at. There is also a gelato place for those looking to have a stroll and a sweet treat. At just a few blocks from Lincoln Road, you can walk over (for about 15 minutes – put on some sunblock!) and do some shopping at the shops in the area. Maybe you decided you want to go for a swim or take a yoga class in the area! You’ll find a shop where you can buy an outfit and do a quick change of clothes in the fitting rooms.
Española has morning yoga on Saturdays, so look into enjoying a good namaste sesh and then head East for the beach.
If you want to see more of my travels, visit and follow my hashtags #CBgoestoMiamiBeach & #CBtalksTraveling to stay in tune with where I go next.
With love from Miami…
