ICBRKR TRAVEL GUIDE: ART BASEL MIAMI

ART BASEL MIAMI

Going to Art Basel this year? Let us help you navigate where to go, eat, and stay for one of Miami's biggest events of the year. We've also curated a few events in the ICBRKR app - find the ones that pique your interest and RSVP, buy tickets, and connect with the community straight from the app (iOS // Android). Be sure to update your Travel Schedule too so you can sync up with other ICBRKRs on location.

PERFECT FOR

• Art Aficionados

• Foodies

• Music Lovers

• Solo Adventure

• Group Trip

USEFUL TIPS

• Arrive in Miami a few days before (on Wednesday or even Tuesday) to enjoy the calm before the storm. It's nice to visit Art Basel Miami for the Wednesday preview and attend a few private events. Most of the art works will be sold by Friday, so it's nice to check them out before it's gone.

• The more affordable artwork will be at Scope and Untitled

• My favorite shows are Art Basel Maimi and Design Miami (cool furniture selection)

• Make reservations ahead of time. It's almost impossible to get dinner anywhere if you wait.

• Stay in midtown or close to where you will hang out the most. Traffic will be awful so this will help you stay mobile.

• Soho House (Beach House) has some fun events and it is the place to be. If you are not a member, make sure to go with friends who are.

• Renting a house or apartment is a better deal than staying at hotels, unless you've booked ahead of time (we're talking 6 months prior). That being said, Miami has a very cool selection of hotels for you to experience.

• It's usually a bit rainy during this time; consider packing a light jacket.
  

WHAT NOT TO MISS

• Art Basel Miami Main Event

• Must do the Street Art Walk at Wynwood

• Walk along Ocean Drive to check out the art deco buildings

• Beach time (if you manage)

• Design District

• Scope

• Untitled

• Mojitos

• Sunday champagne brunch at Delano

WHERE TO STAY

The Edition Hotel Miami Beach

The Standard Hotel & Spa Miami

• The Standard Spa - hot spot and people watching. It’s essentially a glorified motel with a nice spa. Perfect to detox here after partying too hard.

• Soho Beach House Miami - hot spot for people watching. Tons of fun events during Art Basel. (Soho House member only)

• The Shore Club - super central location with 90s Miami modern clean white design.

• The Edition Hotel - Splurge but our favorite.

• 1 Hotel Miami - Splurge. Hot spot and people watching. Gorgeous pools too.

• Faena Hotel - Splurge. Hot spot and people watching. It has a great outdoor bar.

• Delano - Splurge. Hot spot and people watching. It has a great outdoor bar.

• The Setai - Splurge. Older crowd.

• W Miami - well-located

• Mondrian South Beach - Off-strip and with the bay view.

• Carillon Miami Wellness Resort

• The Betsey - Really cute colonial design hotel located on Ocean Drive.

• Life House - Colonial design hotel.

WHERE TO EAT

Thanks to our ICBRKR global explorers - Milk & Uni, Chlow W, and Jocelyn L for the recommendations

Swan. Photo by Morrelli Brothers

Macchialina miami. Photo from tripadvisor

Kyu

Cvi.che 105

Miami Beach

• Mila - The new spot to “see and be seen” with a minimalistic rooftop design. The food isn’t exactly stellar, but it’s perfect to take that friend that’s in town and looking for a vibey spot.

• Sushi Garage - Cool spot set in a former auto body shop serving Japanese classics, inventive nigiri & cocktails.

• 27 - Casual, cozy and laid back. The menu fuses Korean with Latin American and Mediterranean influences– a random mix but a great combo, it turns out. Another top spot we always recommend.

• Macchialina - Rustic Italian restaurant with a large outdoor patio space with some of the best pasta in Miami. You MUST order the Pomodoro, it’s the best thing on the menu.

• Wayku - Experimental culinary and mixology experience fused with traditional Andean elements with a fun vibe.

• WATR - Peruvian – Japanese inspired cuisine set on an impressive rooftop with a great vibe. We recommend this spot for lunch or sunset drinks, especially for your friends visiting town.

• Lucali - One of the best pizza spots in Miami, but don’t forget to order the kale salad. Seriously, don’t.

• Cvi.che 105 - A hole in the wall Peruvian spot with the best flavor at a reasonable price. You must order their pisco & ceviche sampler.

• Market @The Edition Hotel Miami - lovely breakfast and brunch place

• Matador Room @The Edition Hotel Miami

• Los Fuegoes by Francis Mallmann - The king of char has brought his open-flame South American cuisine to Miami at the Faena Hotel. His custom designed kitchen allows Mallmann to employ all of his fire-cooking techniques including an entire section dedicated to cooking in ashes. For the full unique experience check out the Sunday Asado.

• Le Sirenuse - If you are in Miami but would like to be transported to the Amalfi Coast Le Sirenuse will do just that. Le Sirenuse ushers in the “new dolce vita” through Antonio Mermolia’s traditional Southern Italian cuisine and champagne bar.

• The Surf Club Restaurant - Thomas Keller takes over the revamped iconic Miami club with fresh interpretation of classic dishes such as lobster thermidor and beef wellington – nods to the history of the club. You can expect sleek white, wood, and coral classic Floridian elegance as you enjoy Keller’s modern continental cuisine.

• Carbone - New York transplant restaurant

• Swan - hot spot. Farrell’s restaurant

Wynnwood

• Kyu - This is a Miami staple and consistently one of the best Asian fusion restaurants here – ambiance + food never disappoint.

• Palmar - Probably one of the best Chinese food spots in Miami, the menu offers an array of dim sum style plates and a great natural wine and sake list worth testing out. Come hungry

• Omakai - The Sugarfish of Miami (but in our opinion, better)

• Doma - A great outdoor terrace – the menu is a mix of healthy vegetable forward appetizers, topped off with stellar pasta choices. The Hamachi Carpaccio Risotto is our personal favorite.

• Wayku - Experimental culinary and mixology experience with traditional Andean elements with a fun vibe.

• Alter - Chef Bradley Kilgore has received much acclaim for his inventive and exciting American restaurant set in an old warehouse in Wynwood. The menu features various tasting options comprised of responsibly sourced ingredients including chef’s counter and bar selections all with the ability to customize with special “enhancements.” Be on the lookout for the Art Basel Menu.

• Hiden (Hi-den) - This is just what it sounds like – an eight-seat omakase restaurant hidden behind a secret door. Chef Tadashi Shiraishi’s passion for ingredients and artful preparation highlights the freshness and beauty of each flavor in his thoughtfully composed dishes. Born to Japanese parents and raised in Michelin starred kitchens in Tokyo and Brazil, his menus are sure to reflect the influence of his diverse training.

Design District

• Mandolin - Walking into Mandolin, you instantly feel transported to Greece. We suggest coming with a group of friends, ordering the entire menu and spending hours sipping on their famous white Sangria pitchers.

• Komodo - Komodo comes to Miami from the creators of LIV and China Grill. The three-story restaurant and lounge combines Southeast Asian cuisine with South Florida flair and has indoor outdoor dining spaces to suit your mood. Evenings will often feature DJs and entertainment. Their signature Peking duck is a must.

• La Petite Maison: Brickell House - Sister restaurant to the London mainstay and other locations around the world, La Petite Maison is airy and sophisticated serving upscale French-Mediterranean fare.

WHERE TO HANG OUT

Basement at The Edition Hotel

• Basement at The Edition

• Soho Beach House Miami

• Faena Hotel

• 1 Hotel Miami - This beach club is a great spot to come Saturdays or Sundays with friends to have lunch and stay for drinks.

• Delano - Rose bar and beach club

• Floyd Miami

• Baoli Miami

• Wynwood Lemon City - for late night parties

• Wall Miami - club

• Story Miami - club

• Space Miami (late night and sunrise party) - downtown Miami

• Eleven (late night and x rated) - downtown Miami, not your ordinary stripclub experience. This spot is guaranteed to entertain and setup more like a night club.

• Boho in Wynwood - A lively Bohemian outdoor bar with a great lineup of DJs every weekend.

• Gitano - A cool rooftop for good cocktails & ambiance inside Casa Faena

• Joia Beach Club - A hip & beautiful European inspired beach club boasting Miami’s epic skyline and waterfront views. Great spot for lunch or dinner. On the weekends, stay for sunset drinks and enjoy the live music.

• Sweet Liberty - This spot is known for their cocktails and great music – come for happy hour or after dinner dancing.

• Over Under - This place meshes a cocktail bar and dive bar in one. It’s casual and cool - you almost feel like you have been transported to a bar in NYC. The music is great and bartenders are really friendly.
  
  

ICBRKR TRAVEL GUIDE by Jocelyn L. With ICBRKR fellow global explorers Milk & Uni and Chloe W as contributors.