Connect with us

Miami, FL

Your Ultimate Guide To 2024 Miami Art Week’s Best Hotel Experiences

Published

on

Your Ultimate Guide To 2024 Miami Art Week’s Best Hotel Experiences


Finding the perfect place to stay during Miami Art Week is a critical part of curating your perfect event itinerary. After all, nothing will ruin the vibe of a glamorous week faster than subpar accommodations—or worse, finding out every hotel in the city is sold out.

Of course, there’s always Airbnb, which is offering both places to stay and places to play in its partnership with Art Basel Miami this year. Amongst its play options are exclusive Experiences: behind-the-scenes tours of the Art Basel Miami fair with Bridget Finn, director of Art Basel Miami Beach and interactive dining events hosted by renowned culinary artists.

Advertisement

If you’re more the type to insist on daily housekeeping, 24-hour room service and spa treatments on demand, welcome to my world! Here, my recommendations now turn to ensuring you receive exactly the type of luxurious pampering a week of exhibition and party hopping during Miami Art Week will necessitate.


Cadillac Hotel & Beach ClubTop Luxury Hotels in Miami Beach Oceanfront | Cadillac Hotel

Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club: Where Art Deco Meets Artistic Soul for Miami Art Week

3925 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club’s timeless art deco elegance and contemporary creativity collide with the convenience of being near Miami Bach Convention Center, ground zero for Art Basel Miami Beach and the catalyst for Miami Art Week. Perched along the iconic Miami Beach Boardwalk, this oceanfront oasis is wrapped in lush greenery and poolside perfection.

Cadillac is participating this year in No Vacancy, a juried art competition presented by the City of Miami Beach in collaboration with the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA). The initiative transforms 12 iconic Miami Beach hotels into creative playgrounds, showcasing site-specific works by 12 artists selected from a competitive call for submissions. Each artist receives a $10,000 stipend to bring their vision to life, and two participants will share $35,000 in prizes—a $25,000 Juried Prize awarded by a panel of local art professionals and a $10,000 Public Prize decided by popular vote.

At Cadillac, you’ll find acclaimed artist Marielle Plaisir and her evocative mixed-media piece, Rhapsody for a Beloved World. Through vibrant Caribbean colors and salvaged vintage photographs, Plaisir’s work reflects themes of innocence, resilience, and unity, presenting a hopeful vision of connection across boundaries. This powerful piece invites viewers to explore the interconnections of identity, culture, and humanity, perfectly complementing the hotel’s art deco charm and modern elegance.

EpichotelDowntown Miami Hotels | Kimpton EPIC Hotel

Kimpton EPIC: Brickell’s Hub for Art, Culture, and Canine Companions

270 Biscayne Blvd. Way Miami, FL 33131

Advertisement

Nestled in the heart of Brickell, Kimpton EPIC is a destination for art lovers, cultural enthusiasts and pampered pooches alike. My personal connection to the EPIC runs deep: a stay here with my dog during a 2017 business trip inspired my eventual move to Miami. This serendipitous hotel is also a big supporter of local artists. Launched in 2021, the EPIC Art is a bespoke Artist-in-Residence Program designed to celebrate local talent and offer guests an immersive glimpse into Miami’s thriving art scene. This year-round initiative showcases a dynamic mix of disciplines and mediums, spotlighting both emerging and established artists from diverse backgrounds.

Through December 2024, the hotel’s 16th-floor corridor becomes a vibrant gallery space, hosting rotating exhibitions and live art activations to enhance the guest experience. During Miami Art Week, Adriana Torres Sánchez’s luminous murals will be found poolside and in cabanas as the month’s featured artist. If your dog’s passport has more stamps than the average flight attendant, EPIC will make a fine stay for you and your best friend.

Arlo WynwoodHome

Advertisement

Arlo Wynwood: Explore Miami Art Week from a Hotel Built for Artists

2217 NW Miami Court, Miami, FL 33127

Arlo Wynwood is a hotel experience doubling as a gallery, which is only apropos during Miami Art Week. Nestled in the heart of Miami’s arts district, this 217-room hotel offers striking exterior murals by local Miami artists like Hoxxoh and MILAGROS Collective with curated installations throughout its halls.

Chris Rivers’ exhibition Cosmos will debut at the hotel with a public reception from 6–10 p.m. on December 4. Rivers’ cosmic-inspired works deliver bursts of color with rich layers of intricate details — think flowers, figures, and curvilinear motifs — to draw you into his mesmerizing universe. Beyond this opening, Arlo regularly showcases over 250 pieces of art, such as the serene plexiglass mural by Ari Robinson on the yoga deck and the phygital 3D elevator designs by Brooke Einbender.

The Sagamore Hotel South BeachMiami Beach Hotels | The Sagamore Hotel South Beach

The Sagamore South Beach: A South Beach Staple for Miami Art Week

1671 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139

Advertisement

When it comes to blending high art with even higher hospitality, Miami’s “Art Hotel” The Sagamore South Beach, has been at the heart of Miami Art Week since its inception. If you choose to make this Art Deco boutique gem your center of operations, you’ll find in the lobby a headlining exhibition: Eternal Creations, an arresting collection of seven, one-of-a-kind, pure silver sculpture casts of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, using original molds from the Fonderia Artistica Ferdinando Marinelli in Florence, Italy. This exhibition is brought in partnership with BitBasel MOA Miami and Treasure Investment Corporation.

The 23rd Annual Sagamore Art Brunch on December 7 is a marquee event drawing industry leaders, artists, and collectors from around the world. The brunch promises live art activations, fashion shows, NFT displays, a performance by the South Florida Symphony, an opulent culinary experience and creative mixology stations. If you see me floating by as this is one of my RSVP yes’s, be sure to say hello.

StandardhotelsHotels near South Beach Miami | The Standard, Miami Beach | 4 Star Hotels in Miami Beach

The Standard Spa, Miami Beach: Relax, Recharge, and Reimagine Miami Art Week

40 Island Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139

If you’re looking for a sanctuary during the art-fueled chaos of Miami Art Week, The Standard Spa, Miami Beach is where I’d be living for the week if I weren’t already in my own condo across town. Between its tranquil hideaway lounge areas and a spa that I can verify works miracles, The Standard is one of my favorite go-to spots for firing up my laptop and finding inspiration from the surrounding lush tropical garden incorporated into the hotel grounds.

Celebrating the hotel’s 25th anniversary, The Standard Miami Beach turns its creative spotlight on art with two must-see exhibits. A Reimagination Of Disco + Design: The Future Perfect x Supermarket Creative x The Standard Spa, Miami Beach transforms three guest rooms into immersive vignettes—think Metallic Disco, Wabi Sabi, and Glam—as interpreted The Future Perfect artists Chris Wolston, Chen Chen & Kai Williams, and Reinaldo Sanguino. Producers Nicky Nighttime and Michelle Leshem add to the disco inferno with curated soundscapes to make each room sing.

Outdoors, Flags for Future, presented in partnership with D’Puglia and L’Officiel, lines the gardens with 40 stunning upcycled flags, each a symbol of environmental stewardship and cultural heritage. For design lovers, Antonio Aricò’s Magna Grecia Collection blends ancient Italian craftsmanship with modern flair in an installation rich with Puglia’s history.

AKAHotel AKA Brickell | Luxury Hotel Miami

Advertisement

Hotel AKA Brickell: Where Brickell’s Skyline Meets Miami Art Week

1395 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131

Hotel AKA Brickell is a sleek haven perched in the heart of Miami’s buzzing Brickell neighborhood. Recently redesigned by Gabellini Sheppard Associates, this 25-story urban oasis offers sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and an environment more fitting as a refined residence than a traditional hotel. Stay for the luxurious accommodations and breathtaking views; come for the art and tequila.

On Wednesday, December 4, Hotel AKA Brickell becomes an art and flavor destination with the unveiling of APEX: A Particle Expansion Show by Solento Organic Tequila co-founder and artist Todd DiCiurcio. This heptaptych mural, created live on-site, takes center stage in the lobby, combining reflective surfaces and monochromatic artistry into a striking visual narrative. The evening also marks the debut of a.gave, a single-barrel tequila by Solento. After a day navigating the Miami Art Week fairs, wind down at ADRIFT Mare, the hotel’s Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, where the new signature cocktail, the Solento Drift, awaits you.

Nikkibeach“Tell Only Your Best Friends”

Nikki Beach Miami Beach: Sun, Sea and Soundtracks

1 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Advertisement

For an iconic blend of luxury, music, and oceanfront elegance, Nikki Beach Miami Beach has been the go-to destination since launching in 1998. Nestled on the pristine sands of 1 Ocean Drive, this flagship location offers a sprawling complex featuring a renowned beach club, lush garden area, cabana bar, and an award-winning restaurant serving a global menu inspired by Nikki Beach’s presence in Dubai, Koh Samui, and Santorini.

As Miami Art Week heats up, Nikki Beach invites you to Basel on the Beach on December 5, where resident and guest DJs Eran Hersh, EC Twins, and Sam Haze will set the soundtrack for your night with a sonic journey through chill, deep, afro, and Latin house music. If your exhibitions and party hopping starts to weigh you down, you wouldn’t be faulted for skipping the remaining events to lounge on Nikki Beach’s luxurious day beds and sip cocktails while soaking up the hotel’s brand of Miami Art Week sun, sea, and sound.

FaenaLuxury Hotels, Dining, Art, & Wellness | Faena

Advertisement

Faena Hotel Miami Beach: The Ultimate Miami Art Week Destination

3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Designed by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, Faena Hotel Miami Beach is home to my favorite spa in all of Miami: the 22,000-square-foot Tierra Santa Healing House, boasting one of the largest hammams on the East Coast, and whose holistic treatments, sound therapy, and shaman-developed rituals have been melting stress from my body since moving to Miami. If you need more reasons to choose Faena as your ground zero during Miami Art Week, the hotel’s packed lineup of events may just convince you to stay on the grounds entirely and save your Lyft budget for cocktails at the bar.

Faena Art presents Seletega (run, see if people are coming) by Native Alaskan artist Nicholas Galanin, a monumental, site-specific installation on Faena Beach addressing themes of interconnectedness and our collective responsibility for the future. Inside the Faena Hotel Cathedral, Lyra Drake’s Faith in a Finite World invites guests to engage with a divine feminine oracle powered by custom AI. Local talent Magnus Sodamin joins the roster with his nature-inspired Reflections of Florida Wild as part of the No Vacancy competition, underscoring Faena’s commitment to supporting Miami’s artistic community.

Advertisement

From December 3–5, Robb Report takes over the Faena penthouse with House of Robb, an exclusive series of panels, tastings, and networking events. Highlights include discussions with Maserati’s head designer Klaus Busse, an intimate conversation with Faena founder Alan Faena, and a cigar lounge experience hosted by La Aurora. Daniel Ashley Co., a major sponsor for House of Robb, brings two exclusive debuts to Faena: the Series I – Vault Edition ensemble, featuring a rare Super 220/Cervelt & Gold Powder fiber blend, made in collaboration with Dormeuil, for the most bespoke suit tailoring; and the “World’s Finest Sunglasses,” crafted with Leisure Society.

If you’re looking for nightlife, the Faena Theater transforms into an intoxicating venue with electrifying performances, including Fatboy Slim’s highly anticipated afterparty on December 3 and a show by internationally renowned DJ Francis Mercier on December 4. Adding to the mix is Verdy x Complex Miami at Faena Forum from December 6–7, where the Japanese designer will introduce two monumental sculptures of his signature characters, Visty and Vick, designed specifically for this event. Meet and greet with Verdy on December 6, and have shopping access to a curated selection of his iconic pieces, including archival items and limited-edition releases from his famous projects, Girls Don’t Cry and Wasted Youth.

When you’re done exploring all Faena has to offer for Miami Art Week, enjoy decadent dining at Los Fuegos or Pao by Paul Qui, or simply unwind in Faena’s luxurious pool and beach areas. If you do make it to Tierra Santa Healing House, make sure you book your massage with Carlos. Thank me later.


Up next in my pre-Miami Art Week series, where to wine, dine and be seen.



Source link

Advertisement

Miami, FL

The team behind a very popular NYC pizzeria is opening a new spot in Miami

Published

on

The team behind a very popular NYC pizzeria is opening a new spot in Miami


New York has never been shy about sending heavy hitters south for the winter and a new concept from the team behind Roberta’s—the cult-favorite Brooklyn pizzeria—just landed in North Beach. Ezio’s is the first new venture for the team, and it’s on track to be a hit.

Photograph: Brandon Harman

Roberta’s is a bona fide NYC institution. The hip pizzeria known for its wood-fired, blistered Neapolitan-style pies has earned nods from critics and diners alike as one of the best and most influential restaurants in America. Roberta’s has outposts in Nashville, Culver City and even Singapore.

Although the pizzeria is clearly no stranger to expansion, Ezio’s is an entirely new concept. It was introduced in 2024 as a pop-up inside the original Roberta’s in Bushwick, and now it will have a permanent location right here in Miami.

Ezio's food
Photograph: Brandon Harman

Opening December 19 on the ground floor of North Beach’s sleek new 72 Park tower, Ezio’s reimagines Italian hospitality through a Miami lens. Co-owners Brandon Hoy and chef Carlo Mirarchi (the latter naming the restaurant in tribute to his father) have traded pizza ovens for white tablecloths and upscale food.

A raw bar featuring locally-sourced seafood anchors the menu with stone crab claws and wild-caught fin fish crudo. Luxe starters include wagyu carpaccio with husk cherries and caviar and honey mango wrapped in prosciutto. House-made pastas include linguine cacio e pepe with winter truffle, and pappardelle with braised veal and parmigiano Reggiano.

Advertisement
Ezio's food
Photograph: Brandon Harman

But the showstopper is the custom dry-aging program, which includes a 55-day dry-aged Kansas City steak and a 90-day dry-aged bone-in wagyu strip. The lineup calls out for meals of celebratory excess.

The cocktail program is just as impressive, with tableside martinis customizable with caviar or oysters, of course. Signatures like the Honeydew Spritz and Alpine Italian Boulevard are bright but grown-up, while a 110-plus-label wine list covers Italy, France, Portugal, Argentina and California.

The setting is glamorous, with dark woods, velvet, burgundy banquettes and moody lighting. This isn’t the casual vibe of Roberta’s, but it’s set to be something just as buzzy, and North Beach is ready to welcome the team.

Read more:

• The best Christmas Markets in the USA

• The best ice skating rinks in the USA

Advertisement

• The most festive holiday restaurants in America



Source link

Continue Reading

Miami, FL

Eileen Higgins reflects on her historic win in Miami mayoral election

Published

on

Eileen Higgins reflects on her historic win in Miami mayoral election


  • Now Playing

    Eileen Higgins reflects on her historic win in Miami mayoral election

    06:50

  • UP NEXT

    Democrat Eileen Higgins wins Miami mayor’s race, NBC News projects

    06:43

  • Van Epps thanks Trump in speech after projected win

    01:49

  • Republican Van Epps projected winner in Tennessee House special election

    04:39

  • Newsom says Prop 50 passage sends ‘powerful message’ to Trump

    10:36

  • ‘Turn the volume up’: Mamdani challenges Trump during his victory speech

    01:15

  • Full speech: Mamdani thanks supporters after projected New York City mayoral win

    24:31

  • Zohran Mamdani: ‘You have dared to reach for something greater’

    01:52

  • Prop 50 redistricting measure projected to pass in California

    03:50

  • Full speech: Cuomo speaks after projected loss in New York City mayoral race

    07:39

  • Some voters say Ciattarelli’s links to Trump worked against him in the race for governor

    02:01

  • Sherrill hammers Trump after NJ win: USA will “never…be ruled by kings”

    11:06

  • ‘Anything is still possible in America’: Ocasio-Cortez celebrates Mamdani’s win

    06:52

  • Full speech: Mikie Sherrill projected winner in New Jersey governor’s race

    10:57

  • NBC News correspondents describe scene at Mamdani and Cuomo HQs after Mamdani projected winner

    02:33

  • Whitman calls Sherrill’s New Jersey gubernatorial win ‘great night for women’

    03:17

  • Zohran Mamdani projected to win New York City mayoral race

    03:11

  • Mikie Sherrill wins the New Jersey governor’s race, NBC News projects

    04:14

  • Jeffries says election results ‘will be replicated’ in midterms

    05:55

  • Full speech: Abigail Spanberger projected winner in Virginia governor’s race

    24:50

Top Story

Eileen Higgins joins Top Story to discuss her upcoming priorities and how her successful mayoral campaign resonated with Miami voters.

Advertisement

Top Story

Hallie Jackson NOW

Top Story

Top Story

Top Story

Nightly News Netcast

Play All



Source link

Continue Reading

Miami, FL

Who is Eileen Higgins, the first Democratric mayor of Miami in 30 years?

Published

on

Who is Eileen Higgins, the first Democratric mayor of Miami in 30 years?


Miami voters on Tuesday elected Democrat Eileen Higgins as mayor, ending a nearly three-decade dry spell for her party after she defeated a Republican endorsed by Donald Trump in the predominantly Hispanic city.

While the election was officially nonpartisan, the race took on national significance, pitting Higgins against Republican Emilio Gonzalez, a former Miami city manager, in a contest closely watched by both parties.

Recommended Stories

list of 1 itemend of list

The win comes in the wake of recent electoral success achieved by the Democratic Party ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

Here is what we know:

Advertisement

What were the final results of the Miami election?

Higgins led Republican Gonzalez 59 percent to 41 percent on Tuesday night, according to preliminary results from the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Office. She is the first woman ever elected as mayor in the city.

She won Tuesday’s run-off after leading the first round of voting on November 4 with 35 percent of the vote to Gonzalez’s 19 percent.

“Tonight, the people of Miami made history,” Higgins said in a statement. “Together, we turned the page on years of chaos and corruption and opened the door to a new era for our city.”

Higgins’ victory adds to a run of recent Democratic wins, including races in New Jersey and Virginia, as the party looks towards the 2026 midterms. That trend continued with strong results in November’s off-year elections and a solid showing in this month’s special House race in Tennessee.

While Miami’s mayor wields limited formal power, the role is highly symbolic, representing a city with a large Latino population at the centre of national immigration debates.

Advertisement

Home to roughly half a million residents, Miami is Florida’s second-most populous city after Jacksonville. In recent election cycles, it has shifted towards Republicans, making a Democratic win stand out even more. Trump had won Miami-Dade County in the 2024 presidential election against her Democratic rival Kamala Harris.

Hispanic or Latino residents make up roughly 70 percent of Miami’s population. In Miami-Dade County overall, about 69–70 percent of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino – a demographic majority that significantly shapes the region’s cultural and political identity.

What are some of the key issues of this campaign?

Immigration was a key issue in Higgins’ campaign.

In Miami, she often talked about Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, saying she heard from residents who were worried about family members being detained. She described the election as a referendum on the president’s policies, which have caused concerns about due process.

More than 200,000 people have been arrested since Trump launched the crackdown on migrants in January. At least 75,000 people, who were arrested as part of Trump’s fight against gang members and criminals, had no criminal records, according to new data. He has deported hundreds of migrants and halted asylum and green card applications.

The Trump administration had also ordered the arrest of several students who participated in protests against Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. Several of them have since been released by the courts.

The difference between the candidates was clear during a debate last month. Higgins called immigration enforcement in Miami “cruel and inhumane” and criticised the detention centre opened by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, commonly known as “Alligator Alcatraz”.

Advertisement

In that same debate, her opponent, Gonzalez, said he supported federal law enforcement rounding up “people who commit crimes”.

“I support putting down migrant criminals, I cannot in good conscience fight with the federal government and defend a rapist or a murderer,” Gonzalez added.

This combination of images shows candidates for mayor of Miami, from left, Republican Emilio Gonzalez and Democrat Eileen Higgins [AP]

Higgins repeated her message in an interview with El Pais this week, drawing a sharp contrast with Trump’s approach.

“He and I have very different points of view on how we should treat our residents, many of whom are immigrants,” she said.

“That is the strength of this community. We are an immigrant-based place. That’s our uniqueness. That’s what makes us special.”

Advertisement

Affordability was also a major issue in the race. Higgins focused her campaign on local concerns such as housing costs, while Gonzalez campaigned on repealing Miami’s homestead property tax and streamlining business permits.

“My opponent is keen on building, building, building,” Gonzalez told CNN. “She wants to put a skyscraper in every corner … then calling it affordable housing, which is a misnomer, because very rarely is it truly affordable.”

During a speech in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Trump raised the issue of affordability, which Democrats have highlighted. He blamed high prices on his predecessor, Joe Biden.

The cost of living has been on the election campaign agenda in recent gubernatorial and mayoral elections in which Democrats have made gains, including the much-publicised New York mayoral election. The Democratic wins show that the issue has resonated with voters.

Who is Eileen Higgins?

Higgins is Miami’s first non-Hispanic mayor in nearly three decades. Born in Ohio and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico and later completed an MBA at Cornell University.

Before becoming mayor, Higgins represented a politically conservative district that includes Little Havana, the city’s well-known Cuban enclave.

She has embraced the nickname “La Gringa,” a term commonly used in Spanish to refer to white Americans.

Advertisement

Her professional background spans international development and consulting, with a focus on infrastructure and transportation projects across Latin America. She later served as Peace Corps country director in Belize and went on to work as a foreign service officer for the United States Department of State, where her portfolio included diplomatic and economic development efforts in countries such as Mexico and South Africa.

After her government service, Higgins returned to the private sector before eventually entering local politics in Miami.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending