An Insider’s Guide to Art Basel Miami Beach

A Primer of Galleries, Restaurants, and Nightlife to Check Out While in Town for the Renowned Art Show

This December, Miami Beach will once again open its arms to the world for Art Basel and Miami Art Week. The Art Basel flagship show will be open to the general public from Thursday, December 1st until Saturday, December 3rd at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and First Choice or Preview VIP members can even access the fair privately as early as Tuesday, November 29th. 

Art Basel dates back to 2002, and in the first year, 160 galleries representing 23 countries had their works on display. Celebrating its 20th anniversary,  the festival has grown in size, scope, and influence attracting celebrities and A-listers from all over the world. 

Art Basel has also inspired several satellite fairs, pop-up events, and exhibitions that operate alongside the original Art Basel fair as part of the vibrant ‘Miami Art Week’. Held from November 27th to December 6th, 2022, Miami Art Week features exciting parties, cultural programming, and gallery shows around Miami Beach, Wynwood, and the Design District.

While there’s a lot going on and it’s easy to get overwhelmed, we rounded up five must-do things during Art Basel in Miami. 

Spend a Day at the Convention Center
The Miami Beach Convention Center is the main hub for Art Basel and the fair is open to the general public who can purchase tickets for admission from December 1-3. Once inside the convention center, guests can look forward to a broad spectrum of the highest caliber Modern and Contemporary art from 282 leading galleries all over the world. 

Grab Dinner at a Michelin-Starred Restaurant
In recent years, Miami has stepped up its culinary game and has a total of 11 Michelin-starred restaurants. Stubborn Seed, helmed by Top Chef’s Jeremy Ford has a tightly curated seafood menu that rotates often. Miami Beach is also home to two Michelin-starred French restaurants, Le Jardinier, which specializes in dishes like house-made tagliatelle, and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, which features prime cuts of Wagyu ribeye steaks. Another celebrated Michelin-starred restaurant is Mandolin Aegean Bistro, a Greek restaurant in the Design District with stylish patio dining. 

Explore Miami’s Galleries and Satellite Fairs
Miami is a year-round hotspot for art, and many of the city’s great art galleries are showcased during Art Basel. This year, the Rubell Museum Miami in the Design District is the location for Senegalese artist Alexandre Diop’s solo show. Wynwood’s Bakehouse Art Complex is hosting indoor and outdoor exhibitions, the University of Miami’s Lowe Art Museum is the location of a brunch with artist Samuel Levi Jones, and Florida International University’s Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum is hosting its 17th annual Breakfast in the Park event. 

Attend a Performance or Panel Discussion 
Art Basel includes a stunning collection of visual art like photos, sculptures, and paintings, but performance art is also an important part of the Art Basel experience. At the Adrienne Arsht Center, South African artist William Kentridge’s The Head and Load tells the stories of African porters through song and dance. There are also several enriching panel discussions throughout the weekend like the Painting in Excess: Ukrainian Art in Times of Political Upheaval session that takes place at the Coral Gables Museum. 

Check Out Miami’s Nightlife 
LIV and Story are two of South Beach’s hottest clubs which have celebrity DJs, big-name singers and entertainers, and partygoers that stay out until the sun rises. Visitors can also find more low-key hang-out spots around the city – Astra, Watr at the 1 Rooftop, and Sugar are all swanky rooftop bars perfect for drinks under the stars.