Luxury Miami R&R

Once defined by its Spanish cultural heritage, Miami, a city in Florida, has quickly become the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the United States. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the beach city was seen as a major vacation destination for celebrities who were drawn to Miami’s warm tropical climate and beautiful beaches—which today remain two of Miami’s distinctive features.

Since the mid-‘50s, Miami continues to draw visitors from all around the globe who enjoy shopping in downtown Miami, also referred to as the “Central Business District.” Visitors can also explore the city’s rich Spanish history by strolling along Cuban Memorial Boulevard which contains monuments like the Eternal Torch and Nestor Izquierdo statue, honoring the heroes who fought for Cuban independence. For a taste of current Cuban life, stop by Little Havana, a popular neighborhood in Miami where locals dance to traditional Cuban music and sip Cuban coffee.  

Miami Beach, including South Beach, is a major entertainment destination with nightclubs, boutiques, restaurants, hotels and long stretches of beach. For folks who need to escape the city and get back to nature, Everglades National Park, the United States’ largest subtropical wilderness.

Mandarin Oriental, Miami provides unsurpassed levels of luxury and service in Miami. The urban oasis is ideally located on Brickell Key, a 44-acre island in Biscayne Bay, just minutes from the international financial district and convenient to Miami International Airport, South Beach, Bayside and Coconut Grove.The deluxe 326-room waterfront hotel, with its contemporary and dynamic design, features some of the most spacious guest rooms and suites. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Miami provides a combination of pampering and rejuvenating treatments for mind, body and spirit.Other hotel features include a comprehensive fitness center, Oasis Beach Club providing a private beach, infinity-edge swimming pool, sushi and pool bar and jogging trail circling the island, Cafe Sambal, an all-day dining restaurant, Azul, the 120-seat, award-winning signature restaurant, an elegant Lobby Lounge and M-Bar, a martini and champagne bar overlooking Biscayne Bay.Spacious guest rooms and suites evoke a serene, residential feel and provide spectacular views from balconies and terraces overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. The guest room interiors draw on the sophistication of a cosmopolitan city with diverse cultural influences. A tranquil and elegant haven, the guest rooms combine contemporary touches from South Florida with exotic Asian elements, such as the bamboo hardwood floors in the suites, to the Spanish marble bathroom tiles in all rooms. All guest rooms are equipped with dual phone lines, cordless phone, wireless Internet access, Bose sound system, fax and data ports.

Welcome to everybody's favorite spot in Miami. Don't forget to bring your thongs, hats, towels and tan lotions for a fun day in the sun. Just lounge about, check out the hottest fashion or watch the spring-breakers' glee! And when you're sick of the sun and sand, there's several restaurants, boutiques and spas to choose from.

A stroll down the Lincoln Road is a must for all those visiting the South beach area. Traffic is not allowed on this Road that features some fabulous cinemas, bars, cafes, restaurants— you name it, it has it. It also houses the famous New World Symphony concert hall. Galleries that encourage budding artistes also adorn the Lincoln Road. Just the perfect place for those looking for some retail therapy at a leisurely pace minus the traffic.

Located in The Browns Hotel, Prime One Twelve is a hip and hugely popular restaurant. The dining rooms are done up in a saloon style and the steakhouse food is just delicious. It is most known for its prime beef, which is dry aged for approximately twenty-eight days. There are also a huge variety of cuts, such as T-bone and porterhouse. The seafood menu is just as exciting, with dishes such as fresh wild Alaskan salmon floating in a soft lemon nage. Top your meal off with the sumptuous gooey-centered fudge cake with sweet cream and liquored amarene cherries. It'll sure to make you come back for more.

Come prepared for a pleasurable albeit costly shopping experience in a lush tropical garden setting at Bal Harbour Shops. You will find a selection of world renowned specialty stores such as Chanel, as well as high end department stores like Oscar de la Renta Boutique, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Shopping here is not only for the spendthrift. It is a pleasure just to stroll around the lovely European-style courtyard and feel the cool spray from the waterfalls on a hot day. Gourmet restaurants such as Carpaccio, and La Goulue Christian Delouvrier are featured. For less formal meals, cafes are also on hand!

There is a reason why Gianni Versace is fashion's darling. As you step into the showroom, it's hard to tell whether you're entering a museum, a foyer or an outrageously decadent store. The store itself is palatial in decor, with ornate marble floors and display windows that look like museum exhibits. The fashions on display are stunningly luxurious, decadent and original as they display flash, glimmer and lots of drama. Colors are vivid and fabrics are rich. The service is not only friendly but is actually charming.

If you haven't heard of Louis Vuitton before, you should take a walk through the shop for education's sake. If you have heard of Vuitton, you know what to expect—a chic, exclusive boutique, full of high quality French handbags and wallets in all conceivable styles and sizes. These accessories have become a status symbol in many parts of the world. Expect to pay exorbitant prices in order to get your own little piece of the Vuitton legend.

Who hasn't heard of Prada? One of the greatest names in fashion has a home at the Bal Harbour Shops. Expect to find an upper-crust crowd here. The store itself occupies one of the bigger spaces in the mall, so you will find a lot of options. Women's wear dominates, with the emphasis on understated elegance for the 25-35 age group. Retro styles are also featured including ready-to-wear separates, fabulous shoes, and of course, the famous Prada bags.

Aventura Mall was voted Best Local Shopping Destination by the Miami Herald's “Hot List" and ranks as one of the top five highest grossing malls in the country in sales per square foot. The 2.8 million square-foot multi-level mall recently completed a $22 million renovation featuring dramatic new architecture and distinctive design. Aventura Mall is also South Florida's #1 shopping destination among international visitors. Aventura Mall is home to Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Macy's Men's Home Furniture, JCPenney and Sears, more than 280 stores and restaurants, a 24-screen movie theater, and an artist-designed interactive playground, Rainbow Valley.

There are way more than eight tables at this restaurant—in fact, 250 of them crowd this South Beach eatery. Located within the plush Regent South Beach hotel, the restaurant has won several accolades from critics and noteworthy chefs over the years. Hobnob with the crème-de-la-crème of society and a plethora of Hollywood stars as you dine on delicately dressed portions of Californian cuisine—the artwork of Chef Govind Armstrong. Excellent service and a great ambience add to the attraction of the venue. A word of caution: bring along a lot of the green stuff; should you decide to avail of the private dining facility, you will need it all!

This is the historic boyhood home of George Merrick, the founding father of Coral Gables. In the 1920s, Merrick designed many of the elegant mansions that can be found in this tree lined, upscale neighborhood. Take a guided tour through the house constructed of coral rock or wander on your own around the lovely gardens and grounds. The home contains many of Merrick's original furnishings and gives a glimpse of South Florida life during this period.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is an 83-acre haven for rare and endangered tropical plants. Located in a seaside Miami suburb, the garden offers educational programs in conservation and horticulture, and houses extensive botanical research facilities. The garden has encouraged the preservation and appreciation of tropical plants since its establishment in 1938.

Dozens of clothing boutiques, antique galleries, and independent designers cram this half-mile strip of road in Coral Gables. Restaurants include Ortanique and La Provencal. You will find everything from couture gowns to wigs to complete European kitchen interiors here, but clothing boutiques are the most prevalent business. If you need a break from shopping, plenty of smaller delis and cafes are on hand.

Sporting magnificent gardens on the edge of Biscayne Bay, this enchanting 34-room Italian villa was built in 1916 by industrialist James Deering, who designed it in the Renaissance style which he loved. Spread out across more than 10 acres of waterfront with 20 acres of untouched jungle beyond, the villa is one of Miami's most dramatic attractions, renowned for its historical significance and its sheer beauty. Waterfalls and fountains, reflecting pools, stone balustrades and decorative urns brimming with flowers infuse the villa with a charmingly romantic ambience. Visiting dignitaries have included England's Queen Elizabeth and Pope John Paul II.

Located in the very heart of downtown Miami, this three-acre complex is one of the city's major focal points. The Metro-Dade Cultural Center consists of the Miami Art Museum, the Main Public Library which contains four million holdings and also offers art exhibits and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. In the midst of this cultural mecca you will also find a tranquil courtyard in which to enjoy quiet moments under the South Florida sun.

The recipient of many awards including the Gourmet Magazine's “Best Hotel Dining Rooms”, Azul enjoys tremendous popularity. The Executive Chef here has created a menu that covers contemporary global cuisine, with Mediterranean food ruling the roost. You'll also find strong Asian flavors in the dishes served. Watch out for dishes like "A Study in Tuna Roll", made of raw tuna, tempura avocado, Asian sauces and Ossetra caviar. The marble open kitchen permits a good view. Complement your food with a pick from the world-class wine list with a collection topping 700 varieties.