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Places to Stay:
Casa Faena - one of my favorite places to stay. Probably because it was the first vacation Evan and I took together. This hotel is very quaint. It is the "younger sister" hotel to Faena. It was fun to get to know the staff there throughout our stay. The same guy was taking care of our beach towels as was taking our orders at the bar. The staff was lovely. Plus, as a guest of Casa Faena, you can use all the amenities at Faena. The rooms are bare-bones compared to Faena, but in my mind, it was perfect! 1 Hotel- 5-star hotel! This hotel has everything; there is no reason to leave. It has about five restaurants, a pool, direct beach access, oh and a SoulCycle inside! Soho House- As a Soho House member, I choose to stay here because of the great rates that they offer their guests. However, on busy weekends & holidays, beware because guests and members have access to the same pool, gym, and check-in desk. The check-in desk can get crazy over the new Year (same with the valet line), so plan! Overall, Soho House is excellent. They have everything you need in the rooms- 5 options of shampoo and conditioners, Harry's razors, toothbrushes; they have ingredients to make the perfect cocktails, hairdryers, hair straighteners, and chocolate chip cookies (for free) in every room. The list goes on and on! This Soho House has a great pool. Above the pool is a great spot to grab drinks or a meal at + they have a bungalow to get cocktails and snacks at! I love this Soho house. My friends and I stayed here on a girls' trip. The rooms were massive, and the bathroom was big enough for all of us to get ready! Places to Eat: Casa Tua: My absolute favorite. The menu rotates a bit, but if the nut-crusted salmon is on the appetizer list, it is a must! All of the pasta and entrees are fantastic. They typically have risotto on the specials, which never fails to knock it out of the park. Surf club- This restaurant got rebranded, but it is part of the Thomas Kellers (French Laundry) restaurant group. Pao- Located in the Faena hotel, you must ask for the cocktail served in the golden unicorn! Make a reservation for later in the evening as this place turns into a scene. Juvia- Great rooftop location with creative ceviche dishes. Try the hamachi and truffle ceviche—a spot for post-dinner or happy hour. When you make a reservation, request the patio. Swan- Located in the design district, swanky restaurant with a great outdoor setup and club on top! Versace Mansion, Giannis- Beware, this is a tourist trap, and the staff is not the nicest, but if you are looking for a funny scene, check this out! My friends and I went for dinner and got up to take a picture by the pool- the staff came and told us we were not allowed to do that. They have people that come in for photos and don't pay for anything. So keep that in mind, maybe order before the pictures! Also, if you want to sit by the pool, request it when you make a reservation. The food is nothing to write home about and is $ $ $$$$, but it is fun to check out the mansion. Hiden- this is on my bucket list for Miami. I have yet to score a reservation but will report back as soon as I can. Mark your calendar if you want to check this spot out. It only has eight seats! Alter- one of my favorite tasting menus thus far. I went with Evan and his family over the New Year in 2020, which was very fun. They had a great dessert called cereal and milk! The restaurant is close to Wynwood and has a funky industrial vibe. When we went, we choose between 3 courses and five courses. We all went five and loved every dish. Makoto- this is on my list to try. On many lists as the best sushi spot. They fly their fish from Toyko weekly. Bakan- located in Wynwood, this Mexican spot has fabulous food & cocktails. Some of the best margaritas in Miami. The Ceviche Bakan and guacamole are a must for appetizers. I remember eating soo many of their corn tortillas. For mains, the mole negro and Asado a la Lena are fire. The Asado is massive, so to be shared! As far as drinks go, I love mezcal. I was ordering skinny margaritas with mezcal which is their Classica without simple syrup. The group I was with kept getting the Tu Mero Mole or "black margarita," if you will! Like I said earlier, great drinks! Carbonne Miami Sexy Fish Miami Kiki on the River: sunday night spot Things to Do: Soulcycle at the 1 Hotel Design District Wynwood Walls Explore Little Havana Bars/Clubs: E11even Night Club- part strip club/part dance club Bodega - taco shop turned club, ask for the club and walk through the "restroom"/ speakeasy door. Broken Shaker bar at the Freehand Hotel Baoli Mila |
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