Miami is for lovers, and we’re not the only ones who think so: Amazon.com deemed the city number two on their recent list of Top 20 Most Romantic Cities in America. With Miami you get the advantages of a short flight to a place where you can drink the water and everyone speaks English; yet thanks to the tropical climate, Cuban culture and magnetic food/nightclub/design scene, the city has the zing of a glamorous honeymoon destination. Here are 10 romantic Miami experiences.
1. Spend the first few days of your honeymoon revelling in each other in luxurious seclusion at the historic Biltmore Hotel (biltmorehotel.com). Nestled in the Coral Gables neighbourhood among 150 acres of lush, tropical landscaping, the hotel, a National Historic Landmark with vaulted ceilings, marble columns and hand-painted frescoes, exudes the old-world elegance of a Spanish castle. The Biltmore began hosting celebs the moment its doors opened in 1926, from the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Al Capone to Prince and Will Smith—let them treat you and your hubby like celebs, too!
2. After all the stress and excitement of your wedding, get some me-time pampering at the Biltmore Spa (biltmorespa.com). Send him off to play a round of golf on the hotel’s 18-hole championship course or to float in the famous 150 by 225 foot swimming pool, while you indulge in the sensational Age Defyer facial—you’ll not only feel 10 years younger, you’ll look it!
3. Leisurely wander hand in hand along Lincoln Road, an 8-block strip open only to pedestrian traffic, with a carnival-like atmosphere due to the relentless sunshine, outdoor dining and late, late shopping hours. Dotted among the restaurant patios and hip hangouts you’ll find enough funky emporiums—from Anthropologie to Victoria’s Secret—to satisfy both you and your mister. Our faves: Fly Boutique (flyboutiquevintage.com) and All Saints (allsaints.com).
4. After a laid-back beginning to your first getaway as Mr. and Mrs., kick it up a notch by engaging in Miami’s party energy: move into a chicly renovated terraced suite at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel (loewshotels.com). It’s on the beach and a block from Lincoln Road, and it’s here you’ll be swept up by the pulse of Miami—the South Beach (SoBe) vibe that’s a short walk away.
5. Indulge in a posh shopping adventure at The Webster (thewebstermiami.com), a renovated Art Deco hotel where a trio of young fashionites has created their Parisian home-away-from-home, a mecca of chic clothing, shoes, accessories and jewellery. Mix and match unique pieces from Prada and Jimmy Choo with limited items by Olympia Le Tan and Ana Khouri—and so many more. Insider’s tip: fashions for Sex and the City 2 were sourced here!
6. France meets South Beach when you step out of the sunshine and into sublime surroundings at Caviar Kaspia (kaspiamiami.com), the first offshoot of the legendary eatery where Parisian fashionistas meet to feast. Stop in for lunch—vodka, fish, champagne and caviar, of course—and dine indoors to enjoy the gorgeous decor of this historic Art Deco room at The Webster. Yummy must-have: flavoured sorbets sandwiched between mini-macaroon cookies.
7. You’re on your honeymoon, the perfect time to explore the universe of sensuality at the World Erotic Art Museum (weam.com), the largest erotic art collection in America, featuring antiquities from 200 B.C. to Picasso, Chagall and Dali artwork to a Disney poster, Helmut Newton photographs and a sketch by John Lennon. This classy gallery with 4,000 artefacts honouring “the art of love” is the private collection of 75-year-old Naomi Wilzig—with 12,000 square feet and more than 20 exhibit rooms, it’ll take several visits to see it all.
8. Miami boasts scads of trendy clubs blasting thumping beats but instead work off some of that revved up passion dancing at the Van Dyke Café (thevandykecafe.com). A joint packed with lots of locals and a cool band playing hot jazz—this is Lincoln Road’s sexy nighttime vibe.
9. Imagine an outdoor canopied garden illuminated by candlelight where you and your new mister sit, amidst a fashionably attired crowd, flirting over Pink Champagne Martinis and delectable eats from a Mediterranean-inspired menu. This is not a dream—it’s your magical alfresco SoBe dining experience at Wish Restaurant (wishrestaurant.com) in The Hotel.
10. Finally, there is nothing more romantic than sunrise or sunset strolls on the beach, and Miami offers 15 miles of gorgeous white sand to amble along: frolic in the surf, jog by the shore, or ramble arm in arm down the two-mile boardwalk, serene in the bliss of being together forever.
For more information on Miami, visit miamiandbeaches.com.
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