A luxury guide to Miami
Our guide to Miami covers luxurious hotels, one-of-a-kind dining experiences, artistic events, and indulgent shopping opportunities in the East Coast city of Miami. Miami is a huge city with plenty of excitement, but it can be hard to know where to start.
The Faena Hotel Miami Beach
The Faena Hotel Miami Beach © Unsplash
Forbes and The Telegraph have named the Faena Hotel Miami Beach as one of the top luxury hotels in the city. This glamourous hotel is located in Miami Beach, its location is close to the beach and the city, yet there’s something special about the hotel which makes you feel like you’ve been transported to a peaceful oasis. The Faena’s decadent décor features gold detailing, red velvet chaise lounge chairs and silk-draped curtains. Inside your room, you’ll find fresh flowers, a bathtub with sea views and a range of artistic paintings and sculptures. By the hotel pool, you’ll find golden art sculptures which add to the artistic and cultural experience the hotel offers.
To dine, visit the Pao restaurant which has both indoor and outdoor seating. Dishes are of Asian cuisine and boast a unique culinary experience. The ‘unicorn dish’ is a classic favourite at the restaurant which includes sea urchin, grilled sweet corn pudding, calamari, chilli de arbol and sake aioli.
To relax, head to the Tierra Santa – Miami’s temple-like paradise. The waterfront spa is spread over a whole hotel floor and offers direct pool and beach access. The marble spa features candle-lit saunas and botanist-inspired massage rooms. Treatments include South American healing rituals and massages using oil extracted from orange blossom to calm the mind, body and soul.
The Miami Design District
The Miami Design District is home to a wealth of modern art, culture, architecture, Michelin-star restaurants and luxury boutiques.
The Miami Design District © ShutterstockL’Atelier Joel Robuchon is an unmissable dining experience. The chain of restaurants first opened in Paris. At each restaurant around the world, the experience is catered to its location with odes to its Parisian roots. The restaurant follows a unique menu which is always changing to allow guests to customise their experience. The ‘evolution menu’ offers Norwegian King Crab with horseradish dressing, compressed golden beets, and toasted sesame. For dessert, the black forest with cherries, whipped cream and creamy chocolate is an indulgent choice.
If you are looking to treat yourself to a luxury holiday gift, the design district has an impressive array of stores including Hermes, Christian Louboutin, Dior, Balenciaga, Versace and many others. For a little piece of luxury, we suggest the Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil – a cherry-infused lip gloss which enhances your natural lip colour for effortlessly glossy lips. For a practical essential, the Dior saddle bag with the black strap will be a timeless addition to your accessories.
Photo 1 - Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil. Photo 2 - Dior Saddle Bag
A night at the opera
The Adrienne Arsht Centre for the Performing Arts is home to a range of musical, theatrical and visual events. The building itself is a remarkable piece of architecture created by César Pelli, the exquisite postmodern style of the building is a reason to visit for most even if you are not attending a show.
The Florida Grand Opera and the Miami City Ballet offer a classical and high-quality show for an unforgettable Miami evening. The venue also often hosts Broadway shows and Orchestra performances.
The 2023/24 season of the Miami City Ballet features performances of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker alongside seasonal mixes. The spring mix will feature the choreography of George Balanchine and the music of Igor Stravinsky.
As mentioned before, Miami has a wide range of attractions, and we definitely recommend renting a car to explore further afield as well as our recommendations. Be sure to ask your hotel or wherever you stay what the best local restaurants are and stroll around on foot in the places you can.
Looking for more art exhibitions? Check out our guide to the best art exhibitions around the world.
Credits for the Main photo: © Shutterstock