Welcome to the MIAMI Design Guide. As the name suggests, this guide by My Design Agenda needs to become your bible if you love design and if you are planning a trip to Miami, a city that will become one of the top destinies in the United States.
When you think about Miami you probably think about different cultures, nightlife, beach, summer and a lot of fun. But you should also include design, art and contemporary lifestyle on that equation. So if you are a design aficionado planning a trip to this amazing city, then here are something you should pay attention to our MIAMI DESIGN GUIDE!
MIAMI DESIGN GUIDE
WHAT TO DO
NIBA HOME
If you want to shop around and what a good design place to hang out, then we recommend you stop by the NIBA Home, an interior design showroom in Miami Design District with remarkable objects, art, furnishings, mirror, lighting, photography, sculpture.
LUMINAIRE
We also recommend a visit to the Luminaire. This glass box showroom is a beacon for buyers of classic modern furniture by the likes of Le Corbusier, Arne Jacobsen, and Jasper Morrison. It is practically a Design District poster child. It features a greatest hits medley of modern designers, with pieces by Ron Arad, Arne Jacobsen, Philippe Starck, Zaha Hadid, et al.
DINA MITRANI GALLERY
In terms of Art Galleries, we recommend the Dina Mitrani Gallery. It opened in late 2008, but since then, Dina Mitrani’s contemporary photo emporium has become a must-visit sanctuary for genre lovers. Focused exclusively on photography, Mitrani’s eponymous gallery is a platform for emerging, mid-career, and established shutterbugs.
LOCUST
Founded in 1998, Locust is Wynwood’s pioneer artist-run space that quickly became a crowd magnet for locals eager to discover a bleeding-edge alternative to the hackneyed commercial scene. Since it planted its flag in Miami, Locust has mounted more than 125 large-scale solo and group exhibits and has grown to become the largest experimental contemporary arts organization in the Southeast while garnering widespread critical acclaim for our region.
SOUTH BEACH
First of all, among the places to visit during the day, you should go to South Beach or SoBe. This is the über cool area of Miami that attracts the city’s beautiful people to its most gorgeous beach. Located on the barrier island of Miami Beach that separates Biscayne Bay from the Atlantic Ocean, the area is easily accessible via various causeways from the Miami mainland. Roughly the size of 23 blocks, the district has a large collection of restaurants, clubs, boutiques, hotels and, of course, the beach.
SOUTH BEACH ART DECO TOUR
A great way to see this historic district of Miami is on the South Beach Art Deco Tour, which is a 90-minute walking tour of the area. The Miami Design Preservation League offers private guided tours of the area, which are open and flexible and tailored to your requirements. The tour provides an introduction to the style that captured Miami during the 1920s and 30s, and encompasses the Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, and Miami Modern (MIMO) styles found within the symbolic Miami Beach Architectural Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
If you pretend to focus on nature, then you must include in your agenda a trip to the Everglades National Park. This park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, is home to a variety of rare and endangered species, including the American crocodile and the West Indian manatee. The Everglades is a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance and there are several different ways to experience the park.
FREEDOM TOWER
For a more cultural tour, then you can’t miss a visit to the Freedom Tower, the top historic building in Miami designed by Schultze and Weaver. It is currently used as a contemporary art museum and a central office to different disciplines in the arts associated with Miami Dade College.
NIGHTLIFE
Miami is a city that comes alive at night. The sound of music drifts across the city, with each district offering something different to discover. But if you are a fan of basketball and if the basketball season is underway, then you can’t miss the opportunity to stop by the gigantic American Airlines Arena and catch an NBA game of the premier basketball team Miami Heat! But if music really is your thing then here are some suggestions for your party nights!
If you are looking for some laidback fun, then Midtown and neighboring Wynwood are where it’s at. Sip craft ales in retro-styled beer gardens or take in a show at a choice of live music venues. This is Miami’s hip district, with a lively arts and culture scene the driving force.
For a more chic and electric environment, then you can’t miss the party scene in South Beach. It’s here you’ll find mega-clubs with world-class DJs hosting parties seven nights a week. Celebrities come here to put on their big bashes, with VIP areas always the places to get into, just don’t get too hung up on what’s beyond the velvet rope. From funky lounges to chilled out cocktails, it’s all here in South Beach. Top clubs include LIV, Icon, Wall, and Bodega.
COCONUT GROVE
But is Boho chic more your thing? Then make your way over to Coconut Grove, one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods. Enjoy a night out on the waterfront with the flapping sails of boats as your soundtrack. Or head over to Coral Gables, where the huge University of Miami is located, for a younger student crowd.
LITTLE HAVANA
Finally, if you love salsa, then you must visit Little Havana, Miami’s Cuban district, and the place to go if you really love to dance. As you know, Miami has a strong Cuban and Latin community and Little Havana is the place to visit if you want to experience a slice of Cuba in the United States of America.
WHERE TO STAY
If you are going to Miami you need somewhere to stay. Miami is one of the youngest cities in the United States., having been founded in 1896. It has now become one of the biggest tourist destinations in the country and, for that reason, offers a whole variety of luxury hotels for you to crash.
STANDARD SPA
One of them is the Standard Spa in Miami Beach. It opened in 2006 in a building originally constructed in 1957 to house The Lido Spa. This hotel was designed by André Balazs. The hotel’s general aesthetic scheme is something of a juxtaposition of the authenticity of an old-world European bathhouse and the sleek, coolness of Scandinavian design.
FOUR SEASON
In terms of quality and high-end hospitality, you should also check out the Four Seasons Miami. This 221-room Five Star Hotel is a complete sea of tranquility, luxury, and quality. It’s a modern place with an elegant vibe that fully represents the high-end lifestyle of the Miami elite.
ACQUALINA RESORT
The Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach epitomizes the sophistication of a Mediterranean villa combined with the beautiful oceanfront location on Florida’s Riviera. Located on 4.5 beachfront acres with 400 feet of Florida’s stunning Atlantic Ocean coastline, this Miami Beach luxury resort features 188 residences, 98 impeccable hotel rooms, and suites and world-class amenities.
TURNBERRY ISLE MIAMI
Finally, let’s highlight the Turnberry Isle Miami. Secluded on 300 tropical acres, this stunning Mediterranean-style hideaway begins a new era in luxury travel. Retreat to this gorgeous oasis where you’ll find the essence of elegance and indulgence with 392 spacious guest rooms and suites, two 18-hole Raymond Floyd-redesigned championship golf courses, a private beachfront Beach Club right on the Atlantic, the exclusive award-winning Spa & Fitness center, a tennis facility with four clay HydroCourts, three pools including a new lagoon-style pool featuring a waterslide, lazy river, private cabanas and poolside dining, a supervised children’s program and an array of recreational activities.
WHERE TO EAT
PALME D’OR
In recent years Miami’s culinary reputation has undergone a welcome renaissance, and the city now features a wealth of internationally acclaimed restaurants. It now rivals the major food destinations in the United States and one of the flagship restaurants of the city is the Palme d’or. This French inspired restaurant is located in the architecturally impressive Biltmore Hotel and is headed by Philippe Ruiz that has created an excellent menu that lives up to its surroundings.
JOE’S STONE CRAB
One of the oldest and most famous restaurants in Miami is Joe’s Stone Crab. Since its opening in 1913, Joe’s Stone Crab has remained a perennial favorite among locals in Miami. Joe’s specializes in the delicious local stone crab, as well as other regional seafood.
NOBU MIAMI
If you are a fan of sushi and are familiar with elegant Nobu restaurants in New York or Los Angeles, then you can’t miss the luxurious Nobu Miami, that’s located in the ultra-trendy Shore Club, and considered as one of the places to be seen in Miami.
AZUL at MANDARIN HOTEL
For a more Mediterranean experience, then you must try Azul at the Mandarin Hotel in Miami. It’s difficult to not be taken in by the spectacular views on offer from the floor to ceiling windows at the Azul, that is until the food takes your eye from the picturesque views of the Bay outside. Chef Conley has created a menu that perfectly blends Mediterranean flavors with a subtle yet poignant Asian influence.
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