Miami is lots of fun so just 2 days is not enough but i would not stay there to long neither. My favorite schedule is to fly in Thursday evening (leave after work), take take Friday off, and leave first flight on Monday morning and go straight to work so you do not need to take another day off! There is an American Airline flight to NYC at 6 am :-) And yes its worth it because Sunday is great day to be in Miami!
Where to stay?
If you want to stay at really amazing places and you do not mind spending hell a lot of monay than you need to choose from the Miami top list:
SHORE CLUB, DELANO, SETAI, SAGAMORE, RALEIGH or VICTOR.
If you are not staying at any of these hotels you can still go there for drinks but as a guest - and ONLY as a guest - you will have access to the pools, which are impossible to get in otherwise. And that is where all the super posh people will be haning out!
I personally rather spend money on great food and shopping than a hotel room, which I never stay in anyway. That is why I recommend CATALINA Hotel, which is less posh but still funky inside and super centrally located (oposite site of the street to Delano). It also have great deals - like 3 night for price of 2.
NOBU - website
For smaller and more pricy portions of Japanease food. Its more posh and upscale but it does not have an outside terrace.
AGO
For bigger plates and less pricy Italian food. Less posh but on the other hand seating outside.
Both are cool, crowded, lively and fun.
Do not move to far after dinner as within few steps or rather few floors, you have great Sky Bar. Although its been around for a long time its still cool, has a good view and you do not need to go to far!
MANSION - website
Once you are in Miami you should try one of the famous big clubs.
My favorite is Mansion. Its huge but still there is something about it. And there is many rooms so you can find different kind of music!
Location on the Ocean Drive makes it perfect palce for people watching. And althouigh service is far from perfect and you might need to wait in line as its packed, I still find it one of the best palces on Ocean Drive - the rest is really cheasy... and once you are in Miami Ocean Drive is a must!
PRIME 112 - website
This is one of my favourite spots. Great food - the steak with trouffle souce is exeptional, great vibe - it lively and happening, beatiful people - also good for celebrity spotting!
Book in advance as they are packed! If they tell you its fully book go anyway and do the "walk-in" as there is quiet a big bar where you can wait comfortably sipping one of the wine from their amazingly long list!
This is a must as Delano is one of the first and most famous boutique hotals in South Beach. So if you are not staying there you at least need to go for drinks! Its beatiful inside, great light houe music, nice people, bar inside and outside in the pool area. Perfect for warm up drink before the party!
MOKAI - website
Its only 3 blocks away and it is smaller more upscale club.
Really nice inside and people are cool. Friday is a hip hop night!
MYST
Its better option if you prefer comercial house / clubbing music. It is just next door to Shore Club. Bit bigger than Mokai and less posh inside but still attracts nice crowd.
For a front-row seat to people-watching paradise on one of South Beach's most beautiful beach promenades this place is great. I highly recommend watermelon and peach Sangria you can sip in the plush cabanas!
CASA TUA - website
This is super classy Italian restaurant with tiny portions of delicious food, romantic athmosphere especially in the outside garden part, and more mature crowd. It is very popular among celebrities. I like it a lot especially that Miami can sometimes get trashy and on the contrary this place is super classy! Book well in advance!!!
I love each of the boutique hotels in South Beach. The SETAI is one of the most classy once so it matches well the standard of Casa Tua.
It used to saparate but now connected the outside OPIUM and the inside PRIVE. I like the Opium for the fresh air and nice Chinese Garden fill. What is also good that you have different music inside and outside so almost everyone will find some songs they like.
Sundays there start at midday and go on and on and on. Make sure you arrive early becasue it is much more fun during the day than at night. I would say there are 2 shifts of people; day and night one - I totally prefer the first one! During the day you hand out partially on the beach with big white beds where you can lay down, get teant, get drunk (order big jug of Mohito or Champagne), relax, have fun, pick up or get picked up, as well as dance to the great house music. You can also eat!
When the sun goes down the shift changes - cool people go home and night shift of more cheasy people arrive. You can of course continue to party there all night but I would not recommend it.
Party at beatiful Art Deco pool also starts at mid day but its not as crazy as at Nikki's. It takes of towards the evening, so after you are done with Nikki; shower, get dressed up and head to Religh. You can also get something to eat there. And its more relaxed - just right for Sunday night!
And believe it or not, thats it!!!
TO see more photos from one of my trips to Miami click here
