Welcome to Miami

Once known primarily as a great beach destination, Miami is a cultural hub of art, culture, good food and charming neighbourhoods to explore (we were so intrigued by the Voodoo shop in Little Haiti and botanica shops in Little Havana). While there remains, of course, beautiful sandy shores and the warm sea to frolic in, in Miami Beach, when it comes to Miami proper, such a treasure trove of activities exists that you might come for two days of playing but wind up staying longer. —Karen Kwan

stay. With a suite at East Miami facing the Biscayne Bay, you can soak in your tub by the window with stunning view of the city’s skyscrapers and Bay below you. The wonderfully spacious rooms in this modern hotel located in Brickell feature ultra-comfortable beds, a Nespresso machine for your essential morning cup of coffee and lush Frette bathrobes to wrap yourself up in once you head up to your room in the trippy mirrored (and very Instagrammable) elevator after a long day of exploring the city. Shopaholics, arrive with space in your luggage: conveniently attached to East Miami is Brickell City Centre, where you can put your credit card to good use at stores like Aesop, Giuseppe Zanotti and Maje.

see. The stunning Philip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science truly has something for everyone, whether you’re into sea creatures, celestial bodies or science, given the site’s three of areas of interest spread over four acres. The aquarium spans three levels, which mimic the depths of the ocean; on the surface you’ll find habitats like the Everglades and then, down two levels, you’ll enjoy Deep water views. After, make the short walk to the east side of Museum Park to the Pérez Art Museum Miami, where the contemporary and modern art inside is as fulfilling as the stunning PAMM building itself—a beauty designed by Herzog & de Meuron that sits on a platform and features a striking canopy overhead.

savour. Peruvian cuisine is hot right now in Miami, so nab a table on the patio at La Mar by Gastón Acurio at the Mandarin Oriental. Beyond the top-notch downtown views complete with picturesque palm trees, the dinner menu will lure you in with a refreshing pisco sour to start, fresh signature cebiches to whet your appetite and flavourful dishes such as arroz la mar and octopus from the anticucho grill to round out the rest of your feast.

sip. With the music cranked up and the rooftop open to the sky, you’ll find plenty of people pregaming with drinks and a bite at Chotto Matte, a restaurant that specializes in Nikkei cuisine just off of Lincoln Road. With sansho pepper, the Yuzu Martini is for you if you like some spice, although the Flor de Manzana, with mango vodka, passionfruit, apple and elderflower, quite perfectly suits the tropical temps of the city.

shop. Book a tour with Miami Urban Adventures to make the most of your time exploring Little Havana with a local. Don’t forget to bring a tote for your purchases—like the Cuban espresso and cigars you buy at Guantanamera and spiritual oils and candles from the botanica. You’ll want to have an appetite, too, as stops on your tour will include a fresh juice at Los Pinerenos (a snack shop run by Guillermina, a Peter Pan kid, that is one of the thousands of unaccompanied Cuban minors who came to the U.S. in the early 1960s), a Cubano sandwich at Old Havana and traditional pastries from a bakery. To finish off your adventure, close your eyes as you sip a mojito at Ball & Chain, an iconic nightclub from the 1930s, and listen as a live band plays salsa music (you’ll swear you’re in Cuba).