The young and beautiful stay at the Gale, a redo of a 1941 L. Murray Dixon hotel (Amy Sacco’s Rec Room club thumps in the basement). Handsome rooms are white with navy blue accents.
A retro vibe permeates the 393-room Deco high-rise on South Beach—terrazzo floors; mod furniture; a sky-blue and sea-green palette. Thoughtful extras include free Wi-Fi and solar-powered beach huts.
High celebrity wattage (designs by Lenny Kravitz and Philippe Starck; LeBron James sightings) and the sexy poolside lounge makes this 140-room hotel the center of the South Beach social scene.
Owner SLS and partners have brought new life to the beloved Deco dowager and its glorious, scallop-edged pool. The changes so far: refreshed lobby furniture and a restaurant from Michael Schwartz.
Miami Beach’s most grown-up hotel has a serene atmosphere and graceful Asian design. The new Setai Grill is a steak house with extravagant French touches (like the côte du boeuf with Roquefort sauce).
This opulent resort draws a well-manicured crowd who are in town to shop and spa. Beachfront yoga and fitness classes from trainers Tracie Wright Vlaun and Christopher Vlaun offset the indulgence.
We like the large-for-South Beach studios at this condo-hotel, all with balconies and kitchen facilities. We love the art—co-owner Aby Rosen rotates contemporary works from his collection.
Mismatched china and wall-mounted deer heads keep the atmosphere light at this formal restaurant; ambitious dishes include lamb tartare with quail egg and seared snapper with a sea urchin rouille.
Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli's exciting cooking is the draw here. Dinner mixes Italian, Asian, and Southern traditions, while brunch’s stoner-joke dishes (like Cap’n Crunch pancakes) actually work.
The sister restaurant to the bourbon-and-bacon hit Yardbird Southern Table & Bar is done up like a Southeast Asian farmhouse and serves real Chiang Mai–style khao soi noodles in coconut-milk broth.
Under Edison bulbs and a huge chalkboard menu, locals dig in to tartare sliders, yellowtail-ceviche tacos, and butcher cuts of aged Black Angus at this branch of Pubbelly Group’s mini-empire.
A magnet for global big spenders trying on limited-edition items at stores including Chanel, Saint Laurent Paris, and Audemars Piguet. Refuel with sushi at Makoto.
Dresses and shoes may be edging out furniture and tiles, but this 12-block area still makes for interesting browsing. Pop in to the Moore Building to see Zaha Hadid’s Elastika installation.
Worthy finds among the big chains lining the pedestrian mall include art tomes at Books & Books; stylish men’s wear at BASE; and the glass-box annex of the Alchemist.
The three-story space houses beverage tycoon Carlos de la Cruz and his wife's extensive contemporary art collection. Free docent tours illuminate works by Mark Bradford, Rudolf Stingel, and others.
Small but influential MOCA stages intriguing shows by executive director Bonnie Clearwater and hotshot young curator Alex Gartenfeld, as well as permanent outdoor installations.
Micky Wolfson’s object collection is meant to showcase the “persuasive power of art and design.” You’ll see propaganda posters by Ben Shahn, World’s Fair souvenirs, and mid-20th-century appliances.
The former warehouse zone is now an arts-centric community. Wynwood Walls, a sort of open-air museum, features murals by the world’s greatest street artists (Shepard Fairey; Kenny Scharf).
The cocktail lounge has a sophisto-sexy vibe, with Helmut Newton photos and charcoal velvet drapes on aubergine walls.
The vintage clothing dealer collects Yves Saint Laurent, Lilly Pulitzer, and other classic designers.
Features shows by international art superstars like Theaster Gates and Miami’s best talent, such as Christy Gast.
A popular Wynwood watering hole; the owner keeps it real with comedy nights, artist lectures, and top-notch espresso from Guatemala.
Locals love the old-school feel of this Italian restaurant—a Miami Beach mainstay—with its pictures of celebrities on the wall and distinct character.
