This morning Booking.com and Time Out sent me on a spontaneous weekend getaway to Miami! They picked the city and didn’t tell me until the night before. Vacations are all about having fun and not stressing. So I didn’t do any research beforehand (shocking!), and I’m winging it with my first time on the East Coast. I have 57 hours in Miami – here’s where eat, shop, and play in South Beach!
Where to Stay in South Beach
Table of Contents
1 Hotel South Beach
There’s tons of resorts and hotels in South Beach. 1 Hotel South Beach was my top pick but I figured I would check out the hotel in person before booking it for the night. As soon as I walked into 1 Hotel South Beach, I was blown away. I imagine this is what heaven looks like (in my opinion)! Lots of white, natural wood, and neutral stones. After talking to the concierge on picking a city view or a balcony room, it was super easy to open up the Booking.com app (available on iOS and Android) and book a room for the night. The staff was super friendly to help hold my bags while the reservation went through. My room was on level 3 with my balcony conveniently extending straight to the pool and beach!
1 Hotel South Beach is stunning! I love this nature-inspired eco-luxe beachfront hotel with 4 pools, Tesla chauffeured service, and super friendly staff! All of the wood in the hotel is salvaged wood from over 1,900 trees killed by beetles. The rooms are stocked with organic hemp-blend Keetsa mattresses and organic cotton liens and towels. Even the key card is made from recycled wood.
2341 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, 1hotels.com/south-beach
Where to Eat in South Beach
Havana 1957
Stopped by Havana 1957 in Española Way for some authentic Cuban food – chicken, rice, and fried plantains. Coconut mojita is a must for Miami’s hot weather!🍹
405 Española Way, Miami Beach, FL, havana1957.com
Maison Ladurée Miami
Dropped by Ladurée for something sweet! I was stuffed from Havana 1957 so I just picked up a lemon raspberry macaron.
1118 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139, laduree.com
Icebox Cafe
Oprah loves the Chocolate Delight (aka the Chocolate Bomb) so I had to try it for myself. Layers of dark chocolate, creamy cheesecake brownie and chocolate mousse filling with dark chocolate ganache. Super decadent.
1855 Purdy Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, iceboxcafe.com
Joe’s Stone Crab
A visit to Miami wouldn’t be complete without stone crab claws at this century‑old South Beach “institution”.
11 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, joesstonecrab.com
Where To Shop
Lincoln Street
Miami Beach’s famous Lincoln Road Mall offers sidewalk cafes, bars, galleries, shops, and fine dining options. With a pedestrian-only landscape it was the perfect place to take a stroll after lunch.
Books & Books
Local bookstore with several locations in Coral Gables and Miami Beach. I was parched from walking down Lincoln Street so I stopped in for a iced latte. The bookstore is hidden in the back of the cafe.
927 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL, booksandbooks.com
Stay tuned for Downtown Miami!
