One of the great pleasures of Miami is your constant proximity to water, situated on a complex line of coast cut up by tributaries, a series of causeways link the city together.
Traveling around the city affords different perspectives across and towards the bay; staying at Mandarin Oriental, your reward is a private view towards the vast stretch of glimmering ocean. From this serene sophistication cross Biscayne Bay to South Beach, the pulse of Miami, by contrast a mile long stretch of bling and buff, where glitzy poseurs set the scene and people watching is an all day pastime.
Outdoor attractions continue with magnificent architecture; a staggering feat of city renovation has produced one of the most complete Art Deco monuments in the world, with entire streets of pastel colored 30’s buildings perfectly restored. Shopping is definitely a local attraction, cute boutiques are as funky as clubs and fashionistas parade the streets.
There are several cultural and natural attractions which are definitely worth scheduling time for, from dynamic street installations and the quirky collections like the Wolfsonian museum to spotting Manatees in the bay.
Stroll down South Beach - 14 Minutes/6 Miles or 10 Km Take a leisurely thirty minute stroll along the sand; a theatre experience in itself. Glamour and celebrity sing out, at one end is the former Versace mansion (now Casa Casuarina a private club), everywhere are the Latin rhythms accompany you all the way.
Design District - 11 Minutes/4 Miles or 7 Km The Design District is what it says, a ‘mile of style’. This quarter of industrial chic is lined with galleries, exhibits and design shops. A key landmark is The Living Room, a giant replica of a living room, only on the street, created by an Argentinean duo, Behar and Marquadt.
Venetian Pool - 17 Minutes/8 Miles or 13 Km Built in 1923 The Miami Venetian Pool is one of the world’s most beautiful public swimming pools. The architecture is influenced by Venice, naturally, with its own Venetian style moorings. It is fed by fresh spring water and features coral caves, grottos and even two waterfalls.
Café Cubano in Little Havana - 14 Minutes/5 Miles or 8 Km All of Miami is infused with Latin flavors, scents and rhythms. Calle Ocho is the heart of the neighborhood. This is not a glamorous fiesta experience, just a slice of real life, with real café cubano, hand rolled cigars and old men playing dominoes.
Everglades Airboat Tour - 1 Hour/44 Miles or 71 Km Take a tour on an airboat that glides at 35mph through the waterways over sawgrass and observe this unique eco system and indigenous wildlife. Everglades National Park, set aside in 1947 as one of the nation’s largest parks, is home to many rare and endangered species such as the American crocodile.
Helicopter Tour - 9 Minutes/4 Miles or 7 Km If you want efficient sightseeing a helicopter trip can take in more in one hour than you can see in many days from the ground. Take an aerial view of the beaches, the city neon or Florida Everglades.
Things to See
Art Deco District - 15 Minutes/7 Miles or 11 Km The historic Art Deco district of Miami represents one of the most spectacular redesigns in modern history. You may wish to stroll round this splendid square-mile in your own time; or take a narrated tour led by Miami Design Preservation League. It’s striking, very colorful and a little wacky.
Fairchild Tropical Garden - 25 Minutes/11 Miles or 18 Km Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is one of the world's preeminent botanical gardens, established in Miami as the one place in America where tropical plants can grow all year round. Housing an extensive collections of rare tropical plants including palms, cycads, flowering trees and vines.
Villa Vizcaya - 10 Minutes/3 Miles or 5 Km Should you be missing a taste of Europe visit the Italian Renaissance style Villa Vizcaya. Originally one rich industrialist’s rather grandiose winter residence this is now a public museum full of art and fine furniture with quite astoundingly beautiful formal gardens.
Bass Museum of Art - 20 Minutes/6 Miles or 10 Km While Miami has a burgeoning art scene with a myriad galleries to visit, particularly around Lincoln Street and the Design District, The Bass museum houses a uniquely comprehensive collection of some 3,000 works of art from Boticelli to Caribbean sculpture. Frequent special exhibitions are held.
Wolfsonian - FIU - 15 Minutes/6 Miles or 10 Km Originally the private collection of one incredibly wealthy individual, Mitchell Wolfson, a tremendous art deco waterfall is the lobby focus and many of the pieces are deco inspired. The stupendous Wolfsonian collection explores the evolution of design history.
Carnival Center for the Performing Arts - 7 Minutes/2.5 Miles or 4 Km Housing four internationally acclaimed resident companies, the Concert Association of Florida, Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet and New World Symphony, the Performing Arts Center provides extraordinary cultural and educational experiences of the highest quality.
Where to Shop
Shopping Insider at Mandarin Oriental Get an insider's guided tour on the 'best of the best' in Miami shopping with the assistance of a personal shopping expert. You may book a private half-day tour or the exclusive Shop Like a Celebrity Package.
Bal Harbour Shops - 30 Minutes/15 Miles or 24 Km An internationally renowned collection of specialty boutiques, restaurants and cafes in an impressive tropical-garden setting. Guests staying at Mandarin Oriental, Miami will receive a preferred card chock-full of added value shopping offerings from 30 of Bal Harbour’s most coveted brands.
Village of Merrick Park - 13 Minutes/6.4 Miles or 10.2 Km A Mediterranean-style outdoor mall consisting of extremely high-end stores such as Jimmy Choo, Sonia Rykiel, Neiman Marcus, Miami's very first Nordstrom, and upscale eateries such as The Palm.
Lincoln Road Mall - 16 Minutes/7 Miles or 11 Km A pedestrian-only street mall in South Beach, with many specialty shops featuring jewelry, clothing and art, plus an assortment of restaurants. At one time a haven for eclectic small shops, the mall has come to favor large national retail chains yet it still retains a hip buzz.
Where to Dine
Azul - At the Hotel Chef Clay Conley is at the helm of Azul. His diverse cuisine is a blend of Mediterranean flavors with Asian influences. It is one of Miami's most popular restaurants.
Casa Tua - 15 Minutes/7 Miles or 11 Km A luxurious, intimate Italian restaurant in the, intimate Casa Tua ("Your Home") hotel. The Mediterranean-style eatery seats 100 and feature a "friend's table" in the kitchen for dining up close and personal to the executive chef.
Prime One Twelve - 15 Minutes/7 Miles or 11 Km Prime One Twelve is a hip and hugely popular restaurant. The dining rooms are done up in sexy saloon-chic style, and the steakhouse food is superb. It dry ages its USDA Prime beef for 21 to 28 days and offers all the large, beloved cuts like T-bone, porterhouse and the like.
