A First-Timer’s Guide to Miami

It’s appropriate that I name this post the first-timer’s guide to Miami, since that’s what it was for me. In the last few months, Miami piqued my interest. The food scene, pictures of their beautiful design district and, of course, the beaches had be wondering what all the fuss was about.

Last month, Erin and I decided to check it out for ourselves. Here’s my honest takeaway: Miami is like Blac Chyna meets Jersey Shore. Not to say Miami doesn’t have really amazing things about it – it just wasn’t my scene. I’ll preface by saying that the food scene in Miami is impressive, as are the beaches and the design district. But aside from that, the most notable thing about Miami is its nightlife, which, you guys already know, is not my scene.

So my takeaway? Miami is the perfect place for a laidback holiday. Think waking up at noon, hanging out at the beach, dinner at an amazing restaurant and going out at night. But for someone who enjoys more active holidays, I would steer clear, or go when you actually need to relax. Of course, Erin and I made the most of it – we explored the cutest places so I could ultimately bring you this guide that truly highlights the best of Miami (for the daytime girl, because let’s face it, I know nothing about nightlife). Before we get into the guide, here are some tips and tricks:

• Make sure you rent a car – Miami is massive, and if you’re not living in the heart of South Beach, you’ll have to spend a fortune on Ubers. Renting a car is cheap and easy (we went with Avis), and gives you a ton of freedom
• If you’re looking to get away from the craziness that is central Miami, it’s also retirement central with beautiful neighbourhoods like Bal Harbour
• Although it’s manageable, I should forewarn you that Miami isn’t healthy-central. It’s possible to find cafes and restaurants that serve clean food, but the quality is nowhere near what you’d find in NY or LA

Where to stay
Erin and I were lucky enough to have partnered with the Ritz Carlton for our trip to Miami. We split our time at two of their properties:

Ritz Carlton Key-Biscayne
Ritz Carlton Key-Biscayne was the first property we checked into after arriving into Miami late in the evening, tired from our flights. Located just south of downtown Miami, the hotel can be described as more of a resort with several swimming pools, a private beach and a spa. It’s about a 20 minute drive away from Brickell and the rest of downtown Miami, but is a great option if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown.

In terms of design, it had the same vibe as a lot of Caribbean resorts with wood-paneled walls and lagoon-style swimming pools. It’s definitely an older hotel, but does not lack the kind of service you’d expect from a Ritz property. The staff are warm and accommodating, ready to make their guests feel right at home.

Our room was massive, and had access to the Club Lounge which was stocked with water and snacks 24/7. My favourite part about the property was definitely the beautiful beach and the oceanfront lounge which looked more like Tulum than Miami.

Ritz Carlton Bal Harbour
Two words: unbeatable luxury. Located in Bal Harbour, one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in South Florida, this property exceeded all of my expectations. It’s a newer property which opened its doors in 2009, and offers a breathtaking view of the ocean. Although it’s a massive property (with 124 rooms, to be exact), it feels incredibly exclusive and private. There are just two rooms/suites on each floor.

Erin and I had a massive room with a balcony and bathroom the size of a studio. No joke, hotel rooms in New York could have fit into our bathroom at the Ritz Bal Harbour. The service was phenomenal here, with staff accommodating just about any request.

One of the most noteworthy things about the hotel is the in-house spa. Exhale Spa is about 10,000 sft, and features a fitness studio that overlooks the ocean. They offer barre, yoga, and cardio classes. I actually took the barre one (you can find it on Classpass!) and my ass was burning for 24 hours afterwards. It’s just a really stunning place to work out in.

The hotel also has 2 pools, cabanas, and a private beach which is every bit as luxurious as you can imagine. During our stay, Erin and I had dinner at Artisan Beach House, the main restaurant and were blown away by how good the food was. I can’t even recommend just one thing because it was all so good!

Overall, I recommend this hotel if you’re looking to completely unwind in the seat of luxury. A great place to go with a significant other or for a family vacation.

Where to eat
There’s a lot to eat in Miami, and eat we did:

Plnthouse
Located at the stunning 1 Hotel South Beach, this vegan restaurant serves some seriously good food. In fact, it was probably my favourite out of all of the cafes we went to. The food is fresh and tasty, and the interior is beautiful!

Cielito Artisan Pops
You’ve probably seen pictures of the famous popsicles from this Miami hotspot. Not only are their creations adorable, they’re also genuinely delicious.

Malibu Farm
Listen, I don’t live in LA or have access to this place often, so when I heard that they opened a location in Miami, I called an Uber so fast, it wasn’t even funny. Their cauliflower pizza is my absolute favourite thing.

All Day Coffee
After being told over and over again that the best coffee in Miami could be found here, I had to see what all the fuss was about. It’s not in the chicest neighbourhood, but man, this cafe does not disappoint. I loved their coffee!

OTL Miami
Situated in the heart of the Design District, OTL Miami is a cute spot for coffee or a simple meal. I went for breakfast and got their grain bowl, which was good, but not something I’d go back for. It’s a really cute spot, so I recommend going for coffee (and their baked goods looked amazing).

Dreamer Miami
Dreamer Miami has positioned themselves as an Instagram hotspot. With flamingo wallpaper and the cutest cups, it’s truly not to be missed. But when it comes to the actual food, I’d say it’s pretty average. I got the acai bowl, and as an acai bowl snob, I wasn’t super impressed. It wasn’t bad by any means, but I’ve most definitely had better.

Tequiztlan
We stumbled upon this restaurant when we were famished after a Fly-barre class. The tacos are phenomenal and the guac is to die for.

Kith Treats
Erin introduced me to this place and it has since become a serious obsession. They basically mix ice cream with a bunch of cereal and chocolates. I cannot even explain how good it tastes. I normally stay away from dairy, but honestly, this was totally worth the bloat. PS- They have a location in New York too!

What to do
If you’re someone who likes to go out at night, Miami is the place for you. Since I’m an 80 year old in a 26 year old’s body, I did no such thing so I don’t have any club recommendations for you. However, here are some things that I did which I recommend:

• Take a Flybarre class at Flywheel. They’re really great barre classes that are a serious booty burn.
• Nikki Beach is nice if you’re looking for a beach club.
• If you’re looking for a nice place to relax, head to 1 Hotel South Beach.
• Don’t miss out on Wynwood – it by far has the coolest grafitti I’ve ever seen
• Head to the Design District if you’re looking to do luxury shopping