My friend and I were so excited to go on our Miami girl's trip that we had planned for a while. So many times, I had only passed through either to scuba dive or on my way to the Keys. We wanted to explore the bougie side of Miami. By visiting palace gardens and enjoying luxurious food experiences. But we have a little adventure in us too! A visit to a national park, where most of it is mainly underwater. Snorkeling coral reefs and a shipwreck. So lets La Bamba down to the 305!
Miami was just a short drive for us, so we had access to a car. Having access to a car gave us some freedom. We stayed in Brickell at a Hampton Suite. The hotel was very nice, and so was the staff. It was close to several restaurants that we would visit later in our stay. The nice thing about the Brickell area is that you are not far from the water, and it has a much more neighborhood feel to it than South Beach. We would see people walking their dogs or going for a morning bike ride. The streets were clean and overall felt like a nice place to be.
There is a parking garage attached to the hotel where you can park.
After getting checked in and hauling our luggage up to our room, we got ready for our first night out in Miami.
We had heard about a secret mezcal bar called Mezcalista that we wanted to visit since we are mega mezcal fans. The bar is over in South Beach, and for that evening, we decided to Uber there. It was around $15 per ride on a Friday night. Taking an uber also alleviated the issue of finding parking nearby.
Across the street from the Moxy Hotel, where the mezcal bar is located inside, is Havana Vieja. We stopped there before to have a bite to eat.
A few notes for dining out in Miami, it is best to make a reservation to ensure you can eat at the spot and not have to wait hours to dine. Another thing to be mindful of is that 20% gratuity is added to most checks already. Some waiters are good about letting you know that gratuity has been added. But some are not as upfront about it. So always double-check your receipt.
At Havana Vieja, the ambiance is on point! You feel like you stepped through a portal into Havana. That being said... the tables were very close together, and it was quite loud. We split the Guacamole Mariquitas (guacamole served with fried plantains) and Ropa Vieja entree. The food was pretty good. We both agreed the ropa vieja we had at the Copacabana restaurant in Jupiter was much better. The mojitos were delicious! I got the guava, and my friend got the passion fruit.
It was time to move on from mojitos to mezcal. We went across the street to the Moxy to locate the secret mezcal bar. Unfortunately... the mezcal bar, Mezcalista closed about two weeks before we arrived and is now a private space available to rent. But we still got some tasty and decorative mezcal drinks at their restaurant, Como Como. Since we didn't plan on eating, we just walked up and sat at the bar.
Enjoying the nighttime Miami vibes, we decided to continue our fun night out with delectable cocktails at Serena, the Moxy Hotel's rooftop bar.
Each bar in this hotel had a different vibe to it. The rooftop bar was decorated with colorful Loteria paper like the streets of Mexico and tons of tropical plants with a large flowering tree in the center. There were tables, lounge patio couches, and suspended swing chairs!
We continued our mezcal vibes with our drink choices of The Rubio and The Miami Parrot.
It was a perfect night out for us in South Beach, staying out late sipping in the Miami and the mezcal. We greatly enjoyed the convenience of all three places.
The next day was our bougie brunch at The Rusty Pelican.
It was only about 15 minutes from our hotel. For this restaurant, it is best to book a reservation.
The restaurant is on Virginia Key. The drive over the water is beautiful, but when you turn left into the restaurant and marina area, it can be a little tight. There is a small two-lane road that will weave you to the restaurant. Since the marina is there, keep your eye out for forklifts moving boats. Valet is the only option for parking here.
The views from the restaurant of the water and downtown Miami are pretty stunning!
We got a table inside because it was a bit windy and there was a possibility of light rain, but luckily, that never came to pass.
One of the things we were so excited about was the unique mimosa combinations. My friend ordered the Passion Fruit Tarragon Mimosa. I tried both the Dragon Fruit Watermelon Mimosa and Charcoal Lemonade Mimosa. The dragon fruit watermelon one was delightfully tart. I was not impressed with the charcoal lemonade one. I only tasted the champagne.
I am a huge oyster fan, so I got their appetizer of Blue Point Oysters served with a shot glass filled with pink peppercorn and champagne mignonette, passion Fruit, and thyme granita. It was one of the best dishes I have ever eaten! The complexity of the different flavors was wild!
I got the crab huevos rancheros for my entree, and my friend got the smoked salmon benedict. Both of us were very content with our choices.
After our bougie brunch, we went and visited a palace!
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens will transport you to an Italian villa during the Gilded Age. It was James Deerling's winter home, and he worked with the architect Paul Chaflin to create this masterpiece of architecture and beauty.
Spending time here was the highlight of my trip! If you love history and architecture or you want to feel like you traveled through time, visiting Vizcaya should be on your list! They have guided tours available at specific times. Or you can use the QR code links on the descriptive signage for the audio tour. It is best to purchase a ticket ahead of time, but you can buy a ticket when you arrive. There are no specific times you have to select when purchasing ahead of time.
For dinner, we went to a restaurant called Delores But You Can Call Me Lolita. It was within walking distance, only a couple of blocks from our hotel. What is cool about this restaurant is your entree already comes with an appetizer. And the portions were appropriate, so you can enjoy both. Also, the pricing was super reasonable for a good meal. The restaurant has a beautiful ambiance with indoor and outdoor rooftop seating. The staff was a delight!
We had an early night in, so we could get up early for our snorkeling trip at Biscayne National Park.
There are three national parks in Florida. Most of this national park is underwater. I booked a snorkel tour through the national park. We did the small group snorkel experience. There are multiple tour options, and they each leave from a different park access point. So make sure that you double-check your meeting point according to the tour you choose. The snorkeling tour we did lasted 3.5 hours and visited two locations.
The first location was a reef. We did not see too much here, but the coral looked healthy. I did see some medium-sized angelfish, not as big as the ones I saw at Blue Heron Bridge.
I also saw a pufferfish hiding in some coral.
The next location was much more exciting! We visited a sunken ship called the Mandalay, which sank in 1966. Only the steel skeleton of the ship is left, but it is very cool! There are tons of fish around here as well!
We went to the fabulous Byblos restaurant for dinner to celebrate my birthday! We did some research, and this restaurant hads great recommendations. If you want an amazing culinary experience, this restaurant needs to be on your list!
Byblos is located over in South Beach. They do not have valet parking, but there are two parking garages nearby. It is another restaurant where you should make a reservation sooner rather than later. This restaurant also has a strict 15-minute window policy due to limited seating and its popularity. So make sure you are on time for your reservation.
The cuisine is Eastern Mediterranean. With so many delicious options to choose from, we decided to go with the chef's pairing choice. We chose the three-course option where the chef selects an appetizer, entree, and dessert. The three-course choice runs about $80 per person. It is a choice where everyone at the table has to choose the chef pairing. Monetarily and cuisine-wise, I believe this option is the best bet for your money and culinary experience.
For our beverage, we decided on the tea service. The tea is served cold, infused with alcohol, and served in a teapot from the hidden cave in Agrabah. We had the Gypsy Queen's High Tea, which has belvedere vodka, benedictine, Jojo's hibiscus-rose tea, guava juice, and angostura bitters. It was very refreshing and light. The tea is served with spiced shaved almonds.
For our first course, we had Roasted Red Beets and Sujuk. The roasted beet appetizer was one of the most amazing things I have ever had. If you order it, you will not be disappointed. The fruity beets with the creamy labneh and the nutty richness of the olive oil and pistachio are a magic carpet ride for your pallet. The sujuk is bread topped with Turkish paste, Persian feta, and za'atar. It was good, but all very familiar flavors, not as unique as our other appetizer.
Our entrees were the Middle Eastern Fried Chicken and the Atlantic Salmon. The sides were the Persian Kale and the Green Beans. I was very impressed with the light crispy breading of the fried chicken. I had only a bite of the salmon because cooked salmon is not my favorite, but it was good. The rice and green beans were great sides to have with this meal. Every dish had great sauces, which added heat or cooling effect to the dish.
Last but not least...dessert. The Strawberry Cheesecake Qatayef is basically friend cheesecake. It was good, but I would not choose that dessert myself. The Stuffed Baklava filled with mint ice cream, pistachio nougat, and dark chocolate was absolutely divine. That, I would order again in a heartbeat!
After our travels via tastebuds, we headed back over to Brickell. Down the street from our hotel was the new hottest new club in Miami, Sexy Fish. There is a strict dress code for this club. You better put your best outfit on! When we got there, the entrance was roped off, and there was a bouncer and check-in lady. I asked if they were closed for an event. They said there was a special DJ tonight. They glanced at us in our outfits, then escorted us into the party.
It was probably the most exciting and energetic bar/club I have ever been to. The staff was super attentive. When two seats came open at the bar, a staff member found us and led us over. Even with it being very busy, the bar staff was fun and friendly and got our cocktails to us in a very timely manner. These cocktails are handcrafted and very well thought out flavor combinations. And for the person who wants a beautiful dink sans alcohol, they have some mocktail menu options.
The energy in the place was on another level!
Everyone was having fun, from the guests to the staff, to the bartenders.
On our last day in Miami, we headed over to the Design District. There you can find a little piece of Greece. The restaurant is called Mandolin. The structure and ambiance and the exquisite refreshing cuisine will take you to the Greek islands.
Strutting down the street from the Grecian corner to the heart of the Design District. We had a dream to sip cappuccinos at the Dior Cafe, which is atop the Dior store. There is no call ahead reservation for this cafe. It is first-come, first-serve. When we put our name down around 1:30 p.m. they said it was a two-hour wait. Now we got lucky and only waited 45 minutes. We spent the waiting time looking around at the other stores and installation art. So keep that in mind when planning this excursion.
We were escorted by the lady with the list to the elevator up to the rooftop. The vibe is a chic tropical jungle. The service was okay. And note everything costs in accordance to the experience. A mere cappuccino is $14 because it is served in Dior china. It is a cool chic experience, but definitely, a one-and-done, and check it off the bucket list. And get a cute picture.
I loved how we explored Miami! Prior I had only stopped in for a scuba dive or as a pitstop on the way to the keys. It was so great to have Miami be the focus of the adventure and get to see a whole new side of her.
!Bonus content!
So about two weeks prior, I was down in Miami for a work trip. Even though we were working, I did get to sneak away for a moment of exploring. With long days we needed a good cup of coffee to start our day. And how can you be in Miami and not have Cuban coffee? About 5 minutes from our hotel was Karla Cuban Bakery (they have few locations). We went every morning for guava pastry and a Cuban coffee. Both were delicious, and the staff was so sweet!
One of the nights, we wrapped up early, so we decided to head over to Little Havana. My coworker told us about a restaurant she went to in Little Havana that was amazing! After much research, we tracked it down, and to Cafe La Trova we went!
For parking, it is best to find street parking on SW 8th street, aka Calle Ocho. Or I would suggest taking a car service.
The moment you walk in the door, you step into a gorgeous hotel in Cuba. This place is very well known and gets very crowded. So either make a reservation or be prepared to wait a bit. Now we just wandered in with no reservation. The staff there is legendary! We were standing near the crowded bar, and a waiter came up to us, introduced himself, and got us menus. I got the Chivirico beverage, which has my beloved mezcal, and I ordered the Cuban Empanadas as a little snack. I highly recommend the empanada! It had all the delicious flavors of a Cuban sandwich, wrapped in a perfect pastry. The staff got us our drinks and everything in a timely manner. We eventually found space over in the corner of the bar, by a couch.
Not long after we got settled, the band members, who we saw chilling on the patio outside, came in and set up on the stage. Now this stage wasn't just a normal stage. The scenery took your eyes and imagination to the streets of Havana.
Soon the whole place was jamming and dancing!
I hope you enjoyed the extra info about some more treasures to look for on your own Miami adventure.
As I have mentioned, I have spent time brief time on Miami while on my way to the Keys. To learn about my adventures in Miami's Little Havana, South Beach, and Coconut Grove check out my blog entry Florida Keys Trip #3.
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