How to Spend a Perfect Weekend in Miami, According to a Designer
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Welcome to the VERANDA Weekend Guides, where we show you how to make the most of 48 hours in one of our favorite destinations. This month we are featuring a design-lovers’ guide to Miami, with guidance from Miami-born designer and former Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer for Ralph Lauren, Alfredo Paredes.
Below, you'll find Paredes’s favorite things to do when he visits his home city. From the chicest places to stay to the tastiest restaurants to the best places to shop, here's our guide to help you spend a fabulous weekend in Miami. We promise, it’ll be a culture-filled trip you won’t soon forget.
Friday Morning: Check In
After landing, hop in a car and head to your home base for the weekend: The Setai in South Beach. Inside the 1936 building, you’ll find a sleek and contemporary Asian Art Deco design by Malaysian-born designer Jean-Michel Gathy (also known for his design of Aman resort properties, including Aman New York).
The hotel’s dark natural woods, black brick floors (which were transported brick by brick from Shanghai’s Old City), and warm earth tones, plus Asian art and artifacts sprinkled throughout, make you feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of Miami Beach.
To keep the zen vibes going (and shake off the jetlag), you can opt to lounge in a cabana by one of the hotel’s three infinity pools, each kept at a different temperature, or position yourself on a daybed on the beach. You can also schedule a massage or facial with views of the ocean at the hotel’s Valmont Spa.
Friday Afternoon
If you’re feeling peckish, head to lunch at the hotel’s Ocean Grill for an open-air dining experience with ocean views and feast on fresh ceviche, salads, wood-fired fish and steak, pizza and more. But first start with one of their signature coconuts, a mixed drink in a coconut shell with a sweet, nutty flavor.
If you’re ready to get out and about, take a stroll down the street to absorb more of the area’s famous Art Deco architecture (Miami Design Preservation League offers 1.5-hour walking tours of the area too). Design lovers will also enjoy The Wolfsonian-FIU, which is housed in a Mediterranean Revival building and features a unique collection of design history with over 200,000 objects ranging from architectural artifacts to propaganda pieces.
Friday Evening
For dinner, make reservations at the new Casadonna restaurant in Edgewater and enjoy panoramic views of Biscayne Bay. Housed in the same Mediterranean-revival building as the historic Miami Women’s Club (which was founded in 1926), the restaurant’s interiors feel like a grand secret garden with lush flora and arched windows, and the storied atmosphere carries over into outdoor dining spaces.
Menu items are based on culinary techniques in Italian seaside towns like Naples, Taormina, Bari, Positano, and Gaeta, and feature freshest local and imported-from-Italy ingredients in dishes such as crispy artichokes, bistecca Fiorentina, and campanelle Bolognese.
If you’re jonesing for a nightcap, Paredes says to head to Scapegoat, which he calls a “fantastic local spot.” He adds, “No fuss, just excellent mixologists.” Craving something a bit more elevated? Paredes says to head to Carbone: “They have the best martinis in town!”
Saturday Morning
“My favorite spot for breakfast is at Lido in The Standard Miami Beach, which is where I often stay when I’m in town. You really can’t beat breakfast by the water,” says Paredes. With tempting dishes like yuzu and coconut chia pudding, avocado toast and golden malted waffles with fresh fruit, you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
After fueling up, head to the Design District for a field trip. This creative neighborhood is teeming with high-end shops, galleries and more. Shop until you drop at Chanel, Dior, Harry Winston, Hermes, Maison Margiela, Van Cleef & Arpels, Veronica Beard and more. Home decor shops and showrooms such as Design Within Reach, Fendi Casa, Holly Hunt and Loro Piana are not to be missed while you’re there.
Make sure to pop into Opera Gallery for beautiful modern and contemporary art—you’ll find a beautiful melange of paintings, mixed media, photography, sculpture and more. There are also plenty of art exhibitions and museums to explore in the Design District, and you can find the latest offerings here.
Saturday Afternoon
Take a break from shopping and head to lunch. Paredes says, “I love lunch at Michael’s Genuine in the Design District, the menu has something for everyone.” He’s not exaggerating—the lunch menu features everything from crispy pork belly and roasted fish to pizza and pastrami sandwiches.
After lunch, head to the Wynwood Walls to check out the 80,000 square feet of fine art, graffiti and murals—we promise, you’ve never seen street art quite like this. You can purchase walking tours or get crazy and even grab a paint can and spray the walls yourself! If you need an afternoon pick-me-up, grab a cold brew at Panther Coffee or get a draft margarita at Coyo Taco before checking out some of the area’s incredible art galleries.
Saturday Evening
After a long day of walking, head to dinner at Mandolin, which Paredes says “is a family-run Aegean bistro that is always chic for a casual evening out under the café lights.”
With mouthwatering mezzes, spicy kebabs, fresh Greek salad, grilled halloumi and manti dumplings, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the Mediterranean.
Sunday Morning
Make sure to book a later flight so you can get the most out of your final day in Miami. Fuel up with a coffee at the hotel and head to Vizcaya Museum & Gardens bright and early (it opens at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays, and you can often beat the crowds by going first thing in the morning).
Initially built in 1916 as a winter vacation home for affluent businessman James Deering, it’s since evolved to become an iconic public art museum with beautiful gardens. This Miami landmark is a “must-see,” according to Paredes.
He says, “When I was younger, I was always interested in design and architecture, including landscape architecture, and Vizcaya is a paradise for those who love tropical landscapes. [It] has always been hugely inspirational to me.”
Sunday Afternoon
After exploring the museum and gardens, it’s time for lunch—and a trip to Miami simply wouldn’t be complete without an authentic Cuban sandwich. Head to Sanguich on Calle Ocho for Cubanos, croqueta preparadas, media noches and more. Do not leave without trying the mamey milkshake (mamey, also called sapote, is a popular fruit that grows in tropical climates and adds sweet creaminess to the milkshake. It’s simply divine!).
There’s one last shopping stop: Justco in Coral Gables, which Paredes says “has the best vintage finds in Miami.” He adds, “Their pieces have just the right patina, [they’re] not too pristine.” From buttery leather chairs to sculptural objets d’ art, you’re sure to find a beautiful souvenir to bring home with you.
If you have time before your flight home, Paredes says he recommends visiting Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens. This “oasis for tropical floral and fauna,” as he calls it, features stunning aquatic exhibits, thousands of tropical orchids, native Florida plants, a butterfly conservatory, and more. You can even see what will be blooming the month you’ll be there!
With a fun- and culture-filled weekend of art museums, gardens, delectable meals and world-class shopping, we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to extend your trip a few extra days.
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