If you're up for a true SoBe evening, take your chances getting in
to one of
South Beach's hot, hot, hot clubs along
Washington
Avenue (go early for the best shot at getting in without
standing in line). But for a more leisurely finish to your first
day, have a nightcap at the stunning
Biltmore Hotel (1200
Anastasia Avenue,
Coral Gables, 305-445-1926, biltmorehotel.com),
which was modeled after the Moorish Giralda tower in Seville,
Spain. And, if you're in
Miami on Sunday, the Biltmore offers
what's arguably the area's finest brunch.
MIAMI DAY TWO
Your second day in Miami is the perfect day to spend exploring
Miami's
Little Havana, which is bisected by Eighth Street,
better known by locals by its Spanish name,
Calle Ocho. Your
first stop should be Little
Havana's epicenter, Maximo Gomez Park,
where the old-timers come to play dominoes. The neighborhood is
also full of mom-and-pop shops, where you can pick up expertly
rolled cigars. Indulge in authentic Cuban fare at the renowned
Versailles (if you miss it, there's a location at the
airport for a quick Cuban sandwich before you head out). On the
last Friday of each month, you can take part in a street party
called
Viernes Culturales. On other nights,
Hoy Como
Ayer (2212 Southwest Eighth Street, 305-541-2631,
www.hoycomoayer.net)
is the place to be on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights.
Sip rum drinks with the locals and dance to the best Cuban
music you've ever heard.
After exploring Little Havana, retreat from the crowds and noise by
going to
Books & Books (265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables,
305-442-4408,
www.booksandbooks.com), a bibliophile's
oasis that takes top billing as the best bookstore in the Miami
area. And the 10-acre
Pelican Island Nature Preserve (1275
Northeast 79th Street, 305-754-9330) is a great place to get
outdoors without getting too far out of town. The island park, 400
yards offshore in
Biscayne Bay, is accessible via water taxi. Got a
buck or two and a bunch of friends or coworkers? Reserve the park
for your own private party and make use of the picnic tables,
barbecue grills, trails, and sand volleyball court. (Actual price
is $150 for up to 50 people and $225 for more than 50 folks. Price
does not include the $2-a-head cost for boat rentals to get to the
island.)