Ashley Brozic

A relationship is like bread: exciting to watch rise, but leave it alone for too long and things will go stale. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been together two months, two years or two decades—baby, any amount of effort is romantic! And a well-planned date can go a long way. Because there are only so many candlelit conversations to be had at Miami’s most romantic restaurants or sweet nothings to be whispered over cocktails at this city’s sexiest speakeasies, we’ve put together some solid, only-in-Miami date ideas to help keep your spark alive year-round. Whether you love urban exploring, working up a sweat together, crafting your way to bliss or culture-vulturing your way around town, these tender itineraries have you covered.

Who says night owls get to have all the fun? There is nowhere in the world like Miami, where you can rise with the sun while on a 24-hour party bender—and we’re not just referring to our world-famous South Beach nightclubs. Whether you’re dancing at dawn on the terrace of Space, diving into glittering Miami swimming pools with mojitos in hand, or getting glitzy and tipsy at brunch, there is no shortage of ways to take advantage of our year-round temperate weather. Here are Miami’s best day parties to truly soak in the good times and still be home in time for dinner. RECOMMENDED: Guide to Miami nightlife

As long as we’re still getting paid only 84 percent of what a man makes, then a ladies' night in Miami is still very much warranted. After all, this is where the rent’s getting too damn high and two drinks at your standard Miami bar will ring you up a $50 tab. But let’s focus on the good here, shall we?! We could always use another reason to get together with our ladies (besides the usual birthday celebrations, of course), and half-off prices always do their full job of bringing on the good times. Plus, our night is no longer just limited to Wednesdays; there’s a deal almost every night of the week! So go ahead and summon the girls: these are the best ladies' nights in Miami for discounted drinks and open bars.

Your first meal of the year is just as important as your last. Whether you indulged in a fancy prix fixe New Year's Eve dinner, raged through the morning at an over-the-top Miami New Year’s Eve party, or likely did a bit of both, you might want to soak it up the next day somewhere with a bit of ambiance. If this is the case, we’ve rounded up some of Miami’s best New Year’s Day brunches to start 2023 off on a delicious note. RECOMMENDED: Guide to New Year’s Eve in Miami

Dining out at Michelin-starred restaurants in Miami, popping bottles at world-famous South Beach clubs, and hitting up every one of our enriching museums makes for an epic weekend, but one too many of these and you’ll be left euphorically high and financially dry. In addition to abundant public parks and miles of pristine public beaches, Miami has loads of free things to do! Like, did you know many of our cultural institutions offer free performances and access on certain days of the week, or that many of our iconic neighborhoods close down their streets for free tours every month? The rent might be high, but living in Miami can still be cheap and easy. Here are some of the best free things to do in the 305. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Miami

If you haven’t yet made it to one of Miami’s best restaurants in 2022, then consider New Year’s Eve your last and possibly most memorable chance. Our city has as many New Year’s Eve dinners as we do fireworks popping off, and the champagne sparkles as much as our night sky does on December 31. Enjoy a magical meal before hitting up Miami’s best New Year’s Eve parties, and then continue the bacchanalia the next day with Miami’s best New Year’s Eve brunches. RECOMMENDED: Guide to New Year’s Eve in Miami

The entire city of Coral Gables may as well be on the National Register of Historic Places because there’s a century’s worth of history to explore. It’s one of Miami’s most beautiful areas, and as one of the country’s first planned communities, it still draws people of all generations and nationalities. A dream made manifest by George E. Merrick, the Gables offers exciting restaurant options—including some of Miami’s top happy hour spots— and blocks upon blocks of activities in case you don’t feel like whiling away the afternoon at a sidewalk cafe. Whether you like to hike through man-made rainforests or time travel through Miami museums, dive into natural pools or peek into historic homes (we won’t tell), here are some of the best things to do in Coral Gables RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Coral Gables, Miami

They say how you ring in the new year is an indicator of how your year will go. If this is the case, then any New Year’s Eve spent in Miami is sure to bring on a euphoric 365 days ahead. If splurging on a fancy dinner is your speed this year, a night out at one of Miami’s best restaurants should send you off happily. Perhaps a dark room and low, pulsating bass are the vibe. In which case, many of Miami’s top nightclubs can deliver. From sexy, themed open bars to beachy rock concerts, here are the best ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Miami. We’ll keep updating the list, so be sure to check back as the hours count down. RECOMMENDED: New Year’s Eve in Miami

We call Coral Gables “The City Beautiful,” but we could easily call it “The City Delicious.” You can enjoy croissants at Jazz Age-era cafes, close deals at a business power lunch, gather for a Miami happy hour at an independent bookshop or get cozy and catered to at a James Beard-nominated restaurant—all within minutes of each other. Here are the best restaurants to enjoy in Coral Gables right now, from neighborhood stalwarts to fresh new concepts. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Coral Gables

We’re not knocking the bachelor parties and girls’-night-out groups from Wisconsin that tend to crowd into overpriced SoBe bars with the single goal of guzzling aquarium-sized cocktails after a day of roasting on Miami’s famous beaches. People flock to South Beach, Miami’s most touristic ‘hood, often for this very reason. We’re just not going to suggest that you repeat their mistakes. Look, we fancy a frozen daiquiri churned from a washing machine vat behind the bar as much as the next person. But we’re here to assure you that South Beach has legendary dive bars, excellent cocktail dens and plenty of unexpected hidden gems, too. No guide to Miami Beach would be complete without a survey of the area’s most worthy watering holes. So without further delay, here are our top picks for the best bars in South Beach. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to South Beach, Miami

The ghosts of your one-night stands aren’t the only spirits resting around town. We’ve got haunted places in Miami and graves for days, including some with pretty notable bones. Actors, musicians, athletes, ex-presidents and even mobsters have chosen South Florida as their place to “retire” for good. You can even find the remains of one fabulous cooking personality 40 feet below the surface of Biscayne Bay. We did a little digging and unearthed seven cemeteries that contain a few of Miami’s most famous graves. RECOMMENDED: Guide to Halloween in Miami

Miami is a pampered city, figuratively and literally. There are endless perks that come with living in a town that touts so many incredible hotels and resorts, and one of those is access to world-class spas. Here, you can wrap yourself in 24-karat gold, clear your chakras through bodywork and a good saging, lather yourself in gooey guava or sweat it out in a luxurious Turkish hammam. If there’s an up-and-coming treatment, rest assured you can find it here—otherwise, your next Swedish massage is probably just a block or two away. From South Beach to the Gables, these are the best spas in Miami to feel relaxed, rejuvenated and recharged.

I was on my way to use the bathroom at Upper Buena Vista, a Tulum-esque complex with trendy new-age concept shops and al fresco eateries along Northeast 2nd Ave, when I stumbled upon a cute little Israeli deli, Pica Pica Express, that I’d never seen before. I was hungry, it was aesthetic, so I walked in. The staff was unusually buzzy for a Monday; people weaved from one counter to the next with nervous smiles, throwing around Spanish, English and Hebrew, from what I could hear. Before I could pick up a menu, a chef tatted from scalp to toe emerged from behind the counter. “Welcome! You’re our first customer!” he said. “Of the day?” I questioned. “No, ever!” he exclaimed. And that was the start of the best Monday of my life. This isn’t a review of my great Monday, but it did happen to set into motion some truly memorable food experiences. Not only would I end up devouring a free sandwich that day, but said meal would be prepared by a newly transplanted MasterChef Israel winner, Tom Aviv. Photograph: Ruth KimChef Tom Aviv (center) and the Branja team Over an incredible Ashkenazi/Yemenite-style egg salad sandwich and tabbouleh (his version is made with freekeh, lentils, feta and pomegranate seeds), I learned that Aviv's ties to Upper Buena Vista go deeper than a rental agreement: His family co-developed the eclectic shopping and culinary center. I also learned that Aviv didn’t just come to the states to open up a sandwich shop. The full breadth of his talents would be expresse

When walking down Española Way, you might keep looking around the corner hoping a gypsy will emerge, but perhaps the gypsy you’re looking for is tucked away on a hidden thoroughfare just off of Española; the ghost of flapper icon Louise Brooks reincarnated as the tassel-trimmed, rosewood-hued bar called El Salón. The vibe This isn’t your typical “boom boom” venue with top-shelf brands and theatrical presentations. In fact, you won’t see a brand or a smoke-filled bourbon glass at all. El Salón is a cocktail bar at the Esmé Hotel Miami Beach that creates its very own nuanced spirit blends and cocktails in a setting that belongs not to a time or a place, but to an essence. “I was a little weary about Española Way as a local,” says Chris Hudnall, co-founder of Lost Boy & Co., the hospitality group behind El Salón. He and partner Randy Alonso are behind some of your other favorite local restaurants and bars, including Lost Boy Dry Goods, Tropezón and soon, Fox’s Sherron Inn. “I had no idea this was even back here. We started going through the renderings and I thought, if this gets done right, this could really be a great reason for locals to come back and appreciate the true charm of Española Way.” Aesthetically, it’s something like the drawing-room of a Moroccan riad infused with the sultry glamor of an old Hollywood boudoir. Energetically, it's feminine and mysterious without taking itself too seriously. El Salón invites you to satiate your curiosity and try something new. Phot

There was a time when you wrote off Bayside Marketplace for a number of reasons. It’s a place to bring out-of-towners when you don’t know what to do with them. The mall itself is attached to the unofficial parking garage of American Airlines (now FTX) Arena. More than anything, it’s been a place you generally avoided if throngs of daiquiri-happy cruise goers weren’t exactly your thing. La Cañita delivers elevated Latin-Caribbean fare with an ambiance and view to match. It’s where you go when you’re craving La Trova but want a little room to breathe and converse.Michelle Bernstein and husband/business partner David Martinez (of Café La Trova and Sweet Liberty and fame, among numerous other concepts) have brought us a restaurant that’s unpretentious and welcoming, connecting us with the cuisines of Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Puerto Rico. The interior is designed to feel like a rum distillery with columns skinned as copper pot stills, palm-print wallpaper and a glorious tiled bar with floor-to-ceiling shelves of top-shelf spirits and an extensive rum collection. Couples and solo travelers sat on bentwood bar stools sipping mojitos and soaking in the rhythms of the bongos and guiro as a live band belted out all the old-school Cuban hits. The outdoor terrace boasts a glistening panorama of the marina, port and Bayside’s giant ferris wheel (SkyView Miami), and we were torn on whether or not to enjoy the view or join the party indoors. Drawn in by the music and spontaneous

The first week of December is the most exciting time of the year. It’s Miami Art Week, baby, and the energy is electric! The tents rise, the galleries open, the brands do brand-y things but, most notably, the crowds roll in. They come from all over: New York, Los Angeles, South America, Europe and did we already say New York? They come to see and be seen, to schmooze and make the rounds at all the best Art Basel parties and pop-ups. They might also check out some art, if there’s time. Despite its vague air of exclusion, Art Week is truly for everyone, and that becomes very apparent as you bounce around different Miami neighborhoods throughout the week. Who you’ll see (and what you’ll wear) in the Design District is much different than who you’ll find in Wynwood. In the mood to get yourself acquainted? For better or worse, these are the various types of people and personalities you’ll encounter across Miami as Art Basel and its seismic vibrations take hold. Photograph: Courtesy Art Basel Miami Beach/Scott Rudd The Big Money Miami Beach The beach is a mixed bag during Miami Art Week, but if you’ve made it here—whether by plane, car, helicopter or boat—welcome back! Early in the week is when you’ll find the serious collectors and schmoozers. (Or you won’t because you’re definitely not on whatever list they are). They’re most likely from Not Here and—would you look at that! They just went in over asking for a small mansion on the water, sight unseen! Anyway, we digress. After h

Every city has its own soundtrack, though none is quite like Miami’s. This is the land of sun and sazón, of vanity and vices, and our music will have you grinding, doble nueve-ing or swaying like a palm tree quicker than you can say “another mojito, porfi.” Rappers spit bars about us, pop stars swoon over our tropical setting, and DJs drop the beat at the mention of our name. So hop in the Benzo, turn up the volume and make your way down the MacArthur with the top down. Here’s a playlist that hypes this city and will hype you up too.  “Welcome to Miami” – Will Smith Like Will Smith, this song still slaps 25 years later. (Too soon?) “Born & Raised in the County of Dade” – DJ Khaled, Trick Daddy, Pitbull, Rick Ross Four of Miami’s greatest rappers, one track to get you HYPED. For all of us who are Ride or Die 305, this one’s for us.  “La Gozadera” – Gente de Zona There are 20 Spanish-speaking countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America—and they coexist here in the most beautiful ways. If Miami is the capital of Latin America, consider this our anthem.  “This is Miami” – Sander Kleinenberg  Well, it’s definitely not Detroit! “Hustlin’” – Rick Ross Rick Ross’s debut song is every Miamian’s morning mantra. Also not to miss is his ode to Carol City, a no bars hold on one of the city’s toughest neighborhoods.    “Move to Miami” – Enrique Iglesias ft Pitbull You can blame Enrique for the housing boom and rent spikes.  “305 To My City” – Drake No Canadian loves this ci

Upon visiting Sérêvène, the swanky new French and Japanese-inspired restaurant within South Beach’s Hotel Greystone, diners might talk about the deconstructed beef tartare prepared tableside. They’ll rave about creative desserts like the dragon fruit lemonade popsicle for adults or tasty post-dinner nightcaps like the creamy Glenlivet-infused Ferrero Rocher. But what they might not mention is perhaps what makes the restaurant both notable and noble: a diehard commitment to sustainability. “Sustainability is a big part of my philosophy and culinary journey and, at Sérêvène, we do our best to embrace that sentiment to the fullest,” says managing director and executive chef Pawan Pinisetti. “It was one of the focal points when we built the food and beverage program for the hotel. It wasn’t an afterthought.” Photograph: Courtesy Hotel Greystone In his kitchen, not a scrap goes unused. Vegetable peels, citrus skins and meat trimmings, which are usually discarded, are tossed into broths for soups, glazes and noodle dishes. Visually imperfect herbs are turned into oils. Even their disposable products are made with eco-friendly materials such as biodegradable plastics or avocado pulp. His sourcing is done responsibly, too. The main ingredient in crowd favorites like the salmon sashimi comes from Ora King, New Zealand-based supplier of the world’s finest humanely raised salmon. Every cut of meat, like the succulent strip loin used in the beef tataki or the red wine-braised beef chee

What’s better than overnighting yourself a shipment of new clothes? Having a truck that’s fully outfitted with wares and accessories roll into your driveway so you can shop at your own leisure. That’s the idea behind South Florida’s new mobile boutiques: swapping traditional storefronts for RVs and trucks that can travel to customers and even pop up at your favorite outdoor market. Keep your eyes on the road, because your next big find might come from one of these souped-up rides. Petal Karma The city’s only floral shop on wheels helps Miamians make a statement beyond fashion. “Chief Petal Pusher” Priscilla Gonzalez converted a 2000 GMC truck into a blooming paradise, where customers can walk in and create their own hand-tied bouquet of hydrangeas, lilies, snapdragons and baby’s breath or, for the confused and apologetic boyfriends out there, a simple dozen fresh-cut roses. Prices range from $2 to $25 if you purchase on the spot, though custom orders are available. You can find the truck at local markets on the fly or contact it yourself for any personal or corporate affair. Stevie’s Stagecoach What do you get when you take a 1991 school bus and fill it with secondhand purses? A hippie’s dream. Or, if you frequent the Miami Flea every month, you may know it as Stevie’s Stagecoach. Owner Stephanie Farokhnia, who has spent a good portion of her life collecting vintage handbags, decided on the idea for Stevie’s when her own closet became dangerously full. This Americana-style bu