After giving you my can’t miss classic spots in Miami Part 1, I wanted to share a few of my deep-dive favorites in the city as well. South Beach is always great for beach lounging and Cuban cigars, but there is so much more to the modern metropolis today. A warm, multicultural landscape that offers a diverse range of food, shopping, and experiences. Miami Part 2: Expanding Horizons explores the people and places rooted in traditions that have found a home in Miami. Enjoy!
SHOP:
Goorin Bros., 612 Lincoln Road: Though founded in Pittsburgh over 100 years ago, the Goorin Bros. have a charming little shop in the heart of South Beach. It’s the perfect place to grab a fabulous fedora for sun bathing on the beach or exploring the neighborhood’s art deco streets.
EAT:
Yardbird, 1600 Lenox Avenue: So I chose to visit Yardbird, as my culinary idol Anthony Bourdain visited Yardbird as part his recent show in Miami. In the Uber on the way to the restaurant, my husband looks at me and says, “Why are we Southerners—who live in the South—going to a southern themed restaurant in Miami?” I responded, “Bourdain says they have the best fried chicken,” to which he responded, “I love good fried chicken.” And the fried chicken did not disappoint. It was fabulous, and these two Southern born and bred know fried chicken. Along with the familiar cuisine, Yardbird’s atmosphere is compelling: simultaneously southern and urban. My absolute favorite thing was a white wall onto which old photographs of great Southern musicians were projected. I could have watched it for hours.
MR CHOW, 2201 Collins Avenue: The best meal I had in South Beach was at MR CHOW. The menu features a combination of old authentic Beijing and original recipes, the experience framed by the majestic dining patio—a Miami must in my book.
SEE:
Wynwood Walls: Once a sprawling warehouse district, the Wynwood neighborhood has converted into one of the largest displays of street art in the world since the inception of Wynwood Walls in 2009. The project’s founders invited a diverse group of American and International grafitti artists to Miami to use Wynward’s walls, doors, and gardens as giant canvases. Now, 50 artists representing 16 countries have covered over 80,000 square feet with their work and transformed the way the public interacts with street art.
The high energy, multiculturalism, and grit of Wynwood Walls is the perfect encapsulation of Miami today: a melting pot with a vibrant art scene to match its bustling beaches. Definitely worth seeing more than once!
Vihls, the artist of the above piece was born in Lisbon, Portugal. His focus is on deconstruction, using etching acid, bleach, and pneumatic drills to carve into the wall and reveal its layers.
This mural was constructed entirely of flowers by the artist Fafi for Art Basel 2013. Simply incredible vision and skilled execution!
Sunset on South Beach at Smith and Wollensky, 1 Washington Avenue. The best way to say goodbye to Miami if you must! Enjoy a cocktail against the unmatchable Miami skyline and watch the sun light up South Beach before slinking away.
