The Miami Beach Guide

Shortly after arriving in my beautiful New York, I found myself back on an airplane- yet this time it was not to my typical destination of North Carolina, but rather to Miami Beach, Florida.

To preface this, I must admit that the beach isn't usually my thing. I would much prefer spending hours walking around grimy city streets than on soft beach sands, simply because I like to learn new cultural things from my surroundings. However, the promise of a week solely devoted to R&R after a long academic semester did have quite the appeal.

Fortunately enough I was a guest at the fabulous Miami Beach Edition Hotel, which is my first Miami recommendation. Recently it has become quite the hot spot, with many locals and travelers visiting for the night at its chic club called The Basement, which boasts four bowling lanes and an indoor ice skating rink. During the day, the focal point of this hotel is its inviting beach and pool. The entire hotel is decorated and staged in an incredibly clean, yet trendy, way, so photos taken just about anywhere on site will likely be instagram-worthy. In the span of my getaway I also managed to try all of the hotel's restaurants, and my foodie suggestions are the draft cold brew coffee and yogurt parfait at The Market at Edition for breakfast, and the three-grain salad at Tropicale for lunch.

Even though I was loving the outdoors (translated: sipping cocktails poolside on a lounge chair in the sun), I couldn't resist exploring at least a little bit of the Miami culture. I took a quick trip to the Bass Museum of Art, to see a colorful modern art exhibit by Karen Rifas, and their newest installment, the DESTEFASHIONCOLLECTION. Still, the permanent "Welcome Wall" in the museum's entrance was what personally took the cake for me. For the shopaholic within, I spent a few additional hours walking amongst the high-end boutiques of Coconut Grove, a small neighborhood that is a short drive from the city center, and the infamous Miami Arts District (home to the Wynwood Walls).

Food-wise, the culinary culture of Miami is as vibrant as the rest of the city. I loved each and every restaurant I tried, so I endorse them all- including KYU, Mandolin Aegean Bistro, and Pura Vida Cafe- but my definitive favorite was Malibu Farm at the Eden Roc Hotel. The farm-to-table menu was phenomenal, but what truly set the restaurant apart was its oceanside views. Sergio's in Coral Gables gets a special shoutout from me as well- it was my Uber driver's suggestion on my search for authentic Cuban food. Considering she was from Cuba I trusted her guidance, and honestly, this place was excellent. It's not the swankiest of dining, but the staff will treat you like family. Don't leave without trying their guava brownie sundae and a signature Cuban cafecito.

Due to inclement weather, I actually ended up leaving my beach getaway a few days early. If I ever make it back to Miami, the next items on my travel to-do list would be: a visit to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, drinks at the Miami EAST Hotel's rooftop bar Sugar, and some general roaming around the Brickell neighborhood in downtown Miami.

Hasta luego, Florida!