Destination Guide to Miami

They say you can’t have it all, but Miami begs to differ. Since Jeremy Austin and Angie Villa met on Miami Beach—she was doing AcroYoga and he, an Equinox trainer at the time, jumped in—they haven’t stopped traveling the globe. While these two luxury content creators and The Creator Retreat hosts could live anywhere, they still choose to come back to The Magic City, for all its, well, magic. There’s the perennial sunshine, swaying palm trees, aquamarine waters, fabulous food and lively nightlife—not to mention the city is an international travel hub. The pair dish on their Miami faves, from the best rooftop pool to the most romantic candlelight concert under the stars.

 

STAY

1 Hotel South Beach

Striking an immaculate balance between of-the-moment and timeless luxury, 1 Hotel South Beach is the complete package. A prime Collins Avenue location, with an inviting and energizing aura plus an inspiring sustainability focus—this modern oasis has it all. Just the lobby is a show in and of itself. The selection of pools is especially impressive, with a rooftop one for adults only that feels enticingly exclusive, in fact, it’s the only one you’ll find in an oceanfront hotel here. Their dining options are also designed to satisfy practically every palate. There’s all kinds of vegan choices, between the set menus and switch-ups available to accommodate preferences, including lychee instead of fish in their ceviche dish.

SLS South Beach

From the warm welcome to the fabulous food, SLS South Beach does beach club hotel very well. With a wraparound balcony, Hyde Beach views and effortless access to the pool, the 1,117-square-foot Lenny Kravitz-designed Villa Penthouse is how to really show your friends a good time. While the villa comes with its own wet bar, you won’t want to miss out on Bar Centro’s bites and signature Salt Air Margarita made with a foam that emulates the ocean.

The Setai

While Miami is known for loud, lavish, all-hours revelry, The Setai serves up something different. Bathed in a Zen, Asian-inspired aesthetic, it’s a calm, serene juxtaposition to the typical South Beach vibe. Save at least one night for dinner at Jaya, the hotel’s Pan-Asian restaurant, and be sure to order their incredible tuna tacos. When it comes to room choice, the Ocean Suites tower has the best suite setups. For the most chill atmosphere, we recommend hitting up the palm tree-fringed pool in the morning before it gets too busy.

 

EAT & DRINK

KYU

One of the top restaurants in the city, KYU in the heart of Wynwood is Jeremy’s favorite restaurant in all of Miami. Go-to choices on the menu are the Korean Fried Chicken, Japanese Sweet Potato, Avocado Salad, Burrata and Dark Chocolate S’mores Cake. This is one of the most difficult places to get a reservation so be sure to book weeks in advance—if not, try popping in mid-afternoon on a weekday and you may get lucky.

PLANTA Queen

For Miami’s best vegan, make a trip to PLANTA Queen out in Coconut Grove—it’s Angie’s fave. We always order the Crispy Rice, Torched and Pressed Roll, Jackfruit Wings and Udon Noodles. Located in a shopping promenade, you can cap off your meal with a refreshing vegan ice cream at Salt + Straw.

Big Pink

The legendary Big Pink diner in South Beach is known for serving outrageously large portions—the pancakes alone are enough to feed a small army! Beyond the pancakes, we love the Spinach and Bread Dip, Chicken & Waffles and Buffalo Chicken Pizza.

Bodega Taqueria y Tequila

This is South Beach’s top taco spot for vegans and non-vegans alike. The former should try the Impossible Chorizo Tacos, and the latter their Pollo Asado Tacos with added potato sticks—either way, don’t forget the salsa rosada. Our choice Friday night consists of heading to Bodega for tacos around 9 p.m. and then heading to the speakeasy—Bodega also happens to have a hidden lounge in the back—for a drink at the bar and great music. Then after going out dancing, we’d swing by to grab a few more tacos from the front on our way home.

Il Gabbiano

When we want Italian, we do Il Gabbiano downtown. It’s hard to beat their offering of great pastas and authentic Italy-imported cheeses, not to mention amazing ocean views. Go around sunset to enjoy the colorful skies and yachts passing by—the ambiance is magical. You really can’t go wrong with any dish here.

Doya

This restaurant in Wynwood is the newest on our list, quickly becoming a fave. Doya offers a delicious Aegean dining experience, fusing Greek and Turkish cuisine in a vibrant and eclectic setting. Dishes are served family-style, so order a bunch to share. Our order usually includes the Kofte, Cretan Feta, Spicy Tomato, Pita Bread, Saganaki, Butter Shrimp and Pide with Truffle.

Tea Room

An epic, high-rise speakeasy bar with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Brickell, the Tea Room gives us The Great Gatsby, Big Apple vibes in Miami. Order the Midnight Detox and Truffle in Paradise cocktails.

 

SHOP

Miami Design District

Having visited so many big cities around the world, we still find that the Design District has one of the best concentrations of designer brands. You’ll find Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Prada, Cartier, Gucci, Balenciaga and others all within walking distance of each other. There are also fantastic dining options here, making it an awesome area to spend a whole day.

Bal Harbour Shops

If you don’t find what you’re looking for in the Design District, Bal Harbour Shops should be your next stop. Bonus: the Chanel here is bigger than all the others.

Aventura Mall

South Florida’s best mall, Aventura has almost every brand you can think of—and there’s a Tesla charging station. To stock up on beautiful, breezy linen clothes for holidays to hot destinations, stop into 120% Lino. To avoid getting stuck in rush-hour traffic, it’s best to visit late morning or early afternoon before 2 p.m.

Brickell City Center

Go here to find what you need for a stylish night out and stay for yummy tacos at Tacology. Brickell City Center also has great fragrance options and a nice new Nike store.

OFY

When in Wynwood, swing by OFY, the brain child of third-generation luxury fashion retailer Ofir Farahan. The 1,000-square-foot store combines his house line of easy wearing, sustainably minded garments alongside complementary goods, including silk pieces from LA-based Ziran and eyewear by Japanese designer Eyevan.

 

Explore

Yoga and Picnic at South Pointe

Having spent a lot of time throughout our relationship here, South Pointe is a special place for us. We head to the park at sunset for a yoga session and bring a small picnic box with fruits, snacks and sangria to enjoy after. You’ll find a variety of people doing small group workouts and other outdoor activities. As a mostly local spot, it’s a nice reprieve from the tourist traps.

Rooftop Cinema Club

Recently opened, the Rooftop Cinema Club overlooking South Beach is a fun spot to watch a blockbuster outdoors. For snacks, there’s pizza, popcorn and a little bar for bevvies.

Joia Beach

Miami’s version of a Mykonos beach club, Joia Beach has great energy, good drinks and Mediterranean-inspired food. It’s the perfect group outing with friends. Reservations are hard to come by so you’ll want to plan your visit at least a few weeks in advance.

Candlelight Open Air Concert

This is one of our favorite ways to spend a date night. Seeing classical music performed live under the stars while surrounded by hundreds of flickering candles is beyond magical. Hosted by Fever, these events usually take place a couple of times every few months. Check their website for upcoming shows at the Jungle Island venue and plan in advance. Get seats close to the front to be as close to the musicians as possible, it’s so worth it!

 

LEARN HOW ANGIE AND JEREMY BECAME FULL-TIME LUXURY TRAVEL CREATORS BY JOINING THEM AT THE CREATOR RETREAT—HOSTED AT KIWI COLLECTION HOTELS SUCH AS SIX SENSES NINH VAN BAY AND CARUSO, A BELMOND HOTEL, AMALFI COAST