Words: Gentleman's Journal
It’s art and deco, day-long pool parties and night-time glitz. If you’re looking for the sexiest sunshine in Florida, head to Miami’s South Beach. Here are 5 reasons to visit SoBe right now…
1. GLAMOROUS HOTELS
Miami is up there with New York for having America’s most glamorous hotels. The Delano (redesigned by Philippe Starck and Ian Schrager, 1994) and Mondrian (Marcel Wanders, 2008) set the tone for luxury and design.
Most hotels are between Collins Avenue and the beach. Here you find the SLS (brilliant public spaces; Versailles vibe wallpaper), the Setai (acres of polished wood and zen-like pools), and the W South Beach (vast and modern with great ocean views and a happening cabana-fringed pool).
Newcomers include The Redbury (same group as the SSL), Nautilus, and the Shelbourne Wyndham Grand. The AC by Marriott and Aloft Hotel South Beach are new wallet-friendly options, while if you venture a few blocks north, the recently opened Thompson Miami Beach, and uber-luxe Miami Beach Edition await.
2. LATIN AMERICAN FUSION CUISINE
Miami International Airport is a major hub between North and South America and the area has America’s largest Cuban community. OLA at the Sanctuary summarises new Latin American fusion perfectly. The name stands for Of Latin America, and this lively, upscale restaurant, combines flavours from Peru, Ecuador and Cuba, with quality international produce. Reserve a table if you can, or sit at the bar for cocktails and ceviche, lobster and black squid empanadas, or filet mignon churrasco.
Tapas rules at Bazaar by José Andrés at the SLS. Dishes take inspiration from classic Spain, but they may have crossed the Atlantic on a UFO. Try dragon fruit ceviche with tuna, hibiscus and pecans, or the coconut shell filled with creamy, ginger-spiked rice.
3. BEACH ACTIVITIES
You’ve partied? Sleep till lunchtime. Sorry, if you’re still on UK time there’s not much chance of that. Embrace mornings in Miami with a stroll on the board walk. You’ll encounter New Yorkers out jogging, roller bladers skating for coffee, and families, who got up even earlier than you, on rental bikes. Miami is just as active early in the day as at night.
If your hotel doesn’t have a pool to hang out by, head for the beach. White sand, turquoise water, big waves; watch kite boarders when the wind’s up, or beach volleyball when it’s not.
4. SUNSHINE COLOURS
On the cusp of the Caribbean, Miami is drenched in sun most of the year. Temperatures range from 20C in January to 35C in July. Rainy season runs from May to October, so April is excellent for maximum sunshine. Most buildings are painted white, with hints of aqua, canary or azure – the shades of Miami sea, sun and sky. The only colour to avoid is salmon, but sunscreen nixes that.
5. ART AND ARCHITECTURE
South Beach has some of America’s best preserved Art Deco architecture. There are over 800 Art Deco buildings in South Beach, mostly 3-storey units around Collins and Ocean Drive. Many were built in the late 1920s, to replace hotels and condos lost to a hurricane.
Art Basel has been running in Miami Beach each December since 2002 and is now regarded as America’s premier art show. If you don’t have the appetite for an entire exhibition, The Bass Museum of Art, set in an Art Deco building, offers a manageable taste. Expansion work starts in June so best visit before then.
By Julia Hunt
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