A Concierge Guide to Miami

Where to go on your next trip to the “Magic City”

Miami has a reputation as a flashy vacation hot spot, and the sprawling city is home to some of the country’s top restaurants, hotels, and bars. With new hotels and restaurants seemingly added each week, planning a vacation to the Magic City can be overwhelming — unless you know where to look. 

As a longtime South Florida resident, one of my favorite hotels in Miami is the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club. Nestled on a stretch of golden sand in Miami’s quiet Surfside neighborhood, the hotel is conveniently tucked away from South Beach’s bustle but close to Miami’s art museums, top restaurants, and luxury shopping at Bal Harbor. The luxe hotel also has five restaurants (including Michelin-starred The Surf Club Restaurant), three pools, and a gorgeous spa with six treatment rooms. 

Miami also offers a wealth of attractions and activities, making decision-making even harder. Enter the hotel concierge — a valuable resource for helping you make plans on and off the resort. To help you curate your next visit to Miami, we asked the concierge at the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, Jonathan Vazquez, for his recommendations on where you should eat, drink, and explore. 

Where to Eat 
Miami is a haven of good eats, and the sheer variety of dining options may make deciding where to eat more difficult than it seems. The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club offers 24-hour dining, a sumptuous Sunday brunch buffet at Lido Restaurant at The Surf Club, and private sunrise and sunset picnics on the beach. 

Outside of the hotel, Vazquez says you can’t also go wrong with Makato, an upscale Japanese restaurant in the nearby Bal Harbor shops. “Known for its high-quality ingredients and meticulous presentation, Makoto offers a sophisticated dining experience within a sleek, modern, and minimalist setting,” Vazquez says. “The menu blends traditional and contemporary Japanese dishes such as sushi, sashimi, and robata grilled dishes.” 

Where to Get Drinks
The perfect place for cocktails starts at The Four Seasons Hotel with a visit to The Champagne Bar. The iconic venue opened in 1930 and was frequented by British royalty, politicians, and Hollywood A-listers like Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra. Though the bar was completely redesigned in 2017, designers kept the original arched windows and ornate ceiling to preserve the bar’s history. The cocktail menu is inspired by the flavors of Miami (the Banana Cabana is infused with aged Jamaican rum), and drinks are served alongside small dishes of oysters and octopus. 

There are a few other places around town where you can sip a well-made cocktail, and Vazquez suggests heading to Socialista in Downtown Miami, which serves up classic drinks like martinis and whisky sours in an eclectic setting. “Located in Brickell right next to Cipriani, Socalista is a vibrant Caribbean-inspired hotspot,” Vazquez says. “The glamorous ambiance is enhanced by the lush tropical door, and outside, there’s a garden-style terrace with impressive water views.”

For something on Miami Beach, Vazquez recommends MILA Lounge, which offers a stunning setting for late-night drinks accompanied by the low tempo beats of local DJs. “MILA Lounge offers a sophisticated nightlife experience, and the lounge has a glamorous atmosphere featuring natural materials, earthy tones, warm lighting, and lush foliage,” Vazquez says. 

Where to Spend a Rainy Afternoon 
Though Miami is the cultural epicenter of The Sunshine State, there are still bound to be some rainy days, which is the perfect time to head indoors to enjoy some art. Miami’s art reputation has been cemented by the annual Art Basel and Art Miami festivals, which draw thousands to the city each December, and there are smaller galleries year-round for visitors to enjoy. 

Vazquez recommends starting with the Rubell Museum near Wynwood, which includes an extensive collection of contemporary artworks. The museum was founded in 1993 by prolific art collectors Donald and Mera Rubell. “Some people don’t know that The Rubell Museum has a unique connection to the iconic nightclub Studio 54 through Mera Rubell’s brother, Steve Rubell, who co-founded Studio 54,” Vazquez says. “This legendary nightclub influenced the Rubells’ approach to art collecting, and the museum is full of creative and boundary-pushing art.”

Another great spot is the Fredric Snitzer Gallery. The contemporary gallery opened in 1971 and was dedicated to spotlighting Latin American artists. It has expanded to include local and global artists in recent years. “The gallery has played a significant role in shaping Miami’s contemporary art scene and is known for representing and promoting both emerging and established artists,” Vazquez says.