Seven Days in the Sun

Visitors | Getting Here | Weekend | 7 Days | Kids | Facts

Seven days may seem like a long time, but not when you're in Miami. The city is alive with arts, culture, indoor and outdoor activities. Here's our no-brainer itinerary for the week.

Day 1: Hit the Beach

Live like a local and roll out of bed around 10 or 11 (vacation mentality tends to spill over). Pack yourself a beach bag and then mosey over to Lincoln Road and saddle up to the counter at David’s Café for a steaming café con leche and a plate of crunchy, buttery (dangerously delicious) tostadas.

Now you’re ready to hit the beach. Just head to Ocean Drive and find a spot you like anywhere along the famed sands of SoBe and let the decompression begin. If you’re feeling really ambitious, try a surfing lesson from wave guru Girard Middleton. The low-key local knows everyone on the beach and everything about riding the waves. Beginners start with a 20-minute land demo then dive into the water. Two hours and several bruises later, it’s time for a refuel. Head north to Epicure, the gourmet deli has been serving lox, corned beef, ruggelah and the like to South Beach’s old, young, trendy and conservative for over 50 years. Grab a sandwich (low fat tuna rocks), a NY Post and a soda and head back to the beach for a picnic and an afternoon of beach-going.

Come evening, head to Nemo for seafood under the stars. The seafood-heavy neighborhood hotspot dishes out favorites like wok charred wild king salmon and grilled churrasco. From Nemo, head north to Hotel Victor for nightcaps and lounging SoBe style. The second-story poolside bar draws a regular crowd of scantily-clad celebs and scenesters.

Day 2: Spa Like a Pro

Nights at the Victor tend to end late – ease into the morning with café and croissants on Chez Walter at the Raleigh’s outdoor veranda. Properly sated, ride the hotel’s ten-minute shuttle to its sister property, The Standard Hotel. Tucked into a residential nook of Miami Beach, the recently renovated hotel specializes in hipster spa-ing. Check out a yoga class (Sunset Yoga on the Bay Saturday and Sunday afternoons is not to be missed) or hit the gym then head to the lavish spa, where the emphasis is on bathing. Restorative and refreshing water arrives in many forms, including a unisex hammam, sauna, steel soaking tubs, infinity pool, icy plunge pool and hot tubs galore.

Between baths, enjoy lunch al fresco at the Bayside Grill, where the emphasis is on organically produced Mediterranean cuisine (translation – some of the best hummus in town). Ride back the Raleigh and head to the back for an afternoon snooze in a canopied lounge.

Come sunset, sate your stomach with some of the best red sauce south of Staten Island. Chef/owner Michael Vito D'Andrea woos a loyal and patient crowd (again, reservations not accepted) to Macaluso’s with meatballs, marinara and loads of mozzarella. Leaving unstuffed is a virtual impossibility.

Day 3: Back to the Beach

Completely refreshed, begin the day with hearty sustenance from Front Porch Café, just across the street from the beach. It’s a prime spot for people watching, morning mimosas and jumbo blueberry pancakes. Breakfast here will position you well for the Ocean Drive Walking Tour. This ninety-minute tour through the famed historic district introduces the Art Deco and MiMo (Miami Modern) architectural styles. An hour and a half of walking is bound to work up an appetite. We recommend a leisurely lunch at Table 8, a Los Angeles restaurant and lounge imported by celebrity chef Govind Armstrong. The menu is eclectic, the drinks are stiff and the lounging is top notch.

After a rich lunch, burn some calories (no added vacay poundage here) walking Collins Avenue for a bit of shopping. A few places to stop: Leo Miami for a SoBe-appropriate outfit (we're thinking short and tight), Sephora for corresponding make-up and Giroux for kickin’ shoes. Tonight, give South Beach an Asian spin with dinner at Sushi Samba Dromo on Lincoln Road. The New York-import fuses Japanese and Brazilian cuisines to create the likes of Neo Tokyo rolls (yellowfin tuna, aji panca and tempura flake) and king salmon sashimi seviche with guava, carrot and mojito sauce. For an evening sugar buzz stroll down the pedestrian-only avenue to the Ice Box Café for an indulgent slice of ice cream cake. It's way more ice cream than cake and so delicious you'll be thinking about it for days.

Day 4: Head South

Three days in SoBe and it’s probably time to leave the island (believe it or not, there’s a big Miami world out there). Hop in your rental car (driving in Miami is an experience not to miss), steel your nerves and merge onto I-95 South. Ride about 20 to 40 minutes (traffic is best after 10) and head to South Miami for bagels and eggs at Deli Lane Café.

Properly fed, head to Vizcaya Museum & Gardens for a morning of exploring and a step back in time. The national historic landmark was built in 1916 by industrialist James Deering. Today, it boasts an impressive collection of international artworks and a perfect excuse to wile away a relaxed morning. Milling through the gardens and the estate can work up a sweat, especially in the summertime. That’s why a trip to the famed Venetian Pool is in order. Coral Gables founder George Merrick turned this old rock quarry into a sparkling 820,000 gallon pool that now attracts thousands of visitors every year.

A trip to Miami wouldn't be complete without a stop in Little Havana. Head to the heart of the neighborhood with lunch at Versailles. The 36-year-old Calle Ocho restaurant is famed for its black beans and rice, arroz con pollo, and vaca frita. While you’re cruising through Little Havana, make a stop at Casa de las Guayaberas to pick up a traditional Cuban shirt (and the unofficial uniform of Miami Beach). Odds are you've already seen one or two guayaberas on your trip - they're the pleat- and pocket-heavy lightweight, button-down shirts every man over 15 seems to be wearing. Casa owner Ramon Puig, deemed the "King of the Guayaberas," has outfitted the likes of Ronald Regan and Andy Garcia.

End your day down south with an evening in Coconut Grove. Stroll through CocoWalk for outdoor shops and restaurants then head to Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar & LatAm Grill for some of the freshest ceviche around. We like the Pacific Swordfish Ceviche with cilantro, onion, limes and avocado puree.

Day 5: Tour the Arts

Continue the off-island adventure today with a trip to the Design District. The developing neighborhood has attracted an impressive assortment of galleries, furnishing outposts and design spaces. Start with a Breakfast Nova (smoked salmon, capers, onions and cream cheese) and Carmen Miranda smoothie at the Out of the Blue Café then head out on a self-guided tour. The district spans 18 blocks. Highlights include Lars Bolander, a hotspot for European, Asian and South American antiques; Adriana Hoyos, an outlet for contemporary wood furniture; 4 Fine Arts, an artist-owned gallery showcasing many genres; Art Fusion Gallery; and Artformz, an alternative space designed to promote interaction between artists and their public.

Lunch is up next—walk to Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink for an eclectic mix of international cuisine. Try the deviled eggs or the kimchi with crushed peanuts for starters. Or, go straight for the goods with the Salmon B.L.T. or a shrimp & chorizo pizza topped with manchego cheese and escarole and garlic.

This afternoon, check out the Wynwood neighborhood, just adjacent to the Design District. Here, you’ll find spaces dedicated to contemporary art, including the Margulies Collection, the Museum of Contemporary Art at Goldman Warehouse and the Rubell Family Collection. Wind up the day’s activities with a fab dinner at Michy’s. Chef/owner Michelle Bernstein is perhaps Miami’s most famed chef and the restaurant boasts the most buzzed-about short ribs in town. Most dishes are available in full or half plates, so come hungry and willing to share.

Day 6: Shop Like a Star

Sleep in a bit and meander downstairs for breakfast at Chez Walter. Then, it’s off and about again, this time to Bal Harbour, a beachside town north of Miami Beach. Take the long (but very scenic) way up Collins Avenue to get a flavor of old school Miami Beach, its history and transition into a condominium empire. When you get to Golden Beach (you’ll know by the huge, multi-million dollar houses lining Collins), stop and head back south.
Stop at the Bal Harbour Shops for an afternoon of shopping and a late lunch at Carpaccio, ground zero for the ladies who lunch. Specials like linguine lobster and veal chop are delicious, but lighter chopped salads and wood-grilled pizza may be easier to shop on.

You won't want any distractions as you stroll through the mall (ideally with an expense account). Saks and Neimans anchor the shops while everything from Chloé to Yves Saint Laurent is available at stand-alone stores. For dinner, head to the town of Surfside. There, you’ll find The Food Gang, a gourmet French restaurant wooing South Floridians to the table with steamed mussels and Maine lobster paella. If you’re sweeping in on a Wednesday evening, whet your appetite with complimentary wine and tapas before the meal.

Day 7: Relax on the Key

The last day of the week deserves a trek to Key Biscayne, an island just south of Miami Beach. Continue the French food flow over breakfast with fresh-baked croissants and coffee at La Boulangerie. Because we all know just how much butter goes into a croissant, get the blood moving with a round of golf at Crandon Park. The 18-hole course has been a venue for the Senior PGA Tour for the past 18 years and is a favorite among locals. Alternately, pack your tennis racket for a game on one of Crandon Tennis Park’s 26 courts.

For lunch, trek over to Cantina Beach at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne for fresh fish tacos, lobster quesadillas and fresh ceviches. Wash it all down with a margarita from an in-house Tequilier (a tequila specialist trained in Mexico). After lunch, take advantage of a beautiful Miami afternoon and check out the beach for windsurfing and kayaking. Sailboards Miami guarantees its students will learn windsurfing technique in two hours and offers a full shop for equipment rental.

Come sunset, head back to South Beach for an iconic Miami meal at Joe’s Stone Crab. Arrive prepared to wait (reservations aren’t accepted), but the stone crabs (we suggest the selects for the optimal mix of flavor and heartiness) and the scene are worth it. Spend an hour or two at the bar (martinis make the time fly) and you'll see one of almost everything - young, old, formal, casual, tourist, local, etc.

And just like that the week is up. Amazing how quickly time passes on vacation. The good news? Off-season is a distant memory around these parts. Miami and Miami Beach are standing by 52 weeks a year to welcome you back. Ninety degrees in August is surprisingly bearable when you're beachside under an umbrella.