Heart of the Tropics
Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Sandy beaches, sizzling sunsets, legendary nightlife and fab restaurants make Miami a great place to celebrate the holiday of love. Here's how to add a little tropical spice to your life:
A Table For Two
Afterglo – The menu here is touted as “international beauty cuisine.” Sure, it sounds wacky, but the restaurant has been getting rave reviews for fresh and creative cuisine. Salads feature ingredients like Brazil nuts and antioxidant-rich, sun-dried goji berries from the Himalayas; entrées include fresh fish, rack of lamb and wild venison, which are all raised without pesticides or chemicals. Afterglo, 1200 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; tel: (305) 695-1717.
Ginger Grove – This new restaurant in the elegant Mayfair Hotel is a serene and seductive space for dining side-by-side. Pan Asian sums up the menu, with offerings including Peking Duck, Chinese pumpkin dumplings, lobster spring rolls with Thai chili dipping sauce and Chicken Yakitori. Ginger Grove, Mayfair Hotel & Spa, 3000 Florida Ave., Coconut Grove; tel: (305) 779-5100.
Redfish Grille – Dinner on the beach, under the stars certainly fits the bill for a romantic night out. Redfish Grille’s beachfront patio has tables decked out in crisp white linens and crystal beneath towering palm trees encircled by twinkling white lights. Beyond the lagoon-shaped beach, the Miami skyline glistens like a diamond necklace. Redfish Grille, 9610 Old Cutler Rd. (inside Matheson Hammock Park), Coral Gables; tel: (305) 668-8788.
Theine – Tea for two is hard to find in Miami, and this charming little tea room is just the spot to go if you want to sample and learn about loose leaf teas from around the world and enjoy a light repast. The daily chalkboard menu offers home-cooked soups, salads and desserts made with French flair. Theine, 119 Madeira Ave., Coral Gables; tel: (305) 774-0228.
Dance The Night Away
With some of the hippest nightclubs on the planet, Miami offers something for everyone. Opium, Shine and Mansion are hot dance clubs, while South Beach's sexy Touch epitomizes the way many Miami restaurants morph into lounges where beautiful people party into the late night hours. For jazz lovers, Jazid or Van Dyke Café won't disappoint. For the inside scoop on Miami nightlife, check out www.CoolJunkie.com.
Between The Sheets
There are many great lodgings all over Miami for a romantic escape. It all depends on your mood. For historic charm, check out the Biltmore Resort & Spa and Hotel Place St. Michel, both located in Coral Gables. For boutique chic, the Lily Leon Guest House, Hotel Victor or The Tides all fit the bill. For a spa sensation, visit the new Standard South Beach or relax in the luxurious surrounds of the Spa at Mandarin Oriental Miami.
Cocktails At Sunset
At the DiLido Beach Club at the Ritz Carlton in South Beach, you can sit right on the beach with your feet in the sand sipping a cocktail in a Moroccan-inspired setting. Hanging lanterns, swinging hammocks and white draping curtains create the mystique of Arabian nights. Nikki Beach Club is another hot spot for a sunset drink, with its white teepees and exotic bamboo beds under swaying palm trees. At Smith & Wollensky in Miami Beach, check out the endless parade of cruise ships passing through the Government Cut against the magnificent backdrop of the downtown Miami skyline.
Moon Over Miami
Moonlight Tour of Vizcaya - It may be the day after Valentine’s, but what could be more romantic than strolling the gorgeous gardens of Vizcaya under a full moon? Take your sweetie for an evening tour of Vizcaya's breathtaking gardens along Biscayne Bay under the light of the full moon. Guided tours are 7:30 - 9:00 p.m., and meet at the café. Cost is $10 per person. Reservations not required. Feb. 15 at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, 3251 S. Miami Ave., Miami; tel: (305) 250-9133.
Valentine’s Jazz at the Deering Estate – How romantic to have lived in the wilds of Miami a century ago, in a beautiful waterfront mansion made of coral rock. This Valentine’s Day, you can enjoy an outdoor concert and be romanced by the music of jazz sensation Nicole Henry on the grounds of the historic Deering Estate. 8 p.m. $15. Doors open at 7 p.m. Deering Estate at Cutler, 16701 SW 72nd Ave., Palmetto Bay; tel: (305) 235-1668, ext. 233.
A Table For Two
Afterglo – The menu here is touted as “international beauty cuisine.” Sure, it sounds wacky, but the restaurant has been getting rave reviews for fresh and creative cuisine. Salads feature ingredients like Brazil nuts and antioxidant-rich, sun-dried goji berries from the Himalayas; entrées include fresh fish, rack of lamb and wild venison, which are all raised without pesticides or chemicals. Afterglo, 1200 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; tel: (305) 695-1717.
Ginger Grove – This new restaurant in the elegant Mayfair Hotel is a serene and seductive space for dining side-by-side. Pan Asian sums up the menu, with offerings including Peking Duck, Chinese pumpkin dumplings, lobster spring rolls with Thai chili dipping sauce and Chicken Yakitori. Ginger Grove, Mayfair Hotel & Spa, 3000 Florida Ave., Coconut Grove; tel: (305) 779-5100.
Redfish Grille – Dinner on the beach, under the stars certainly fits the bill for a romantic night out. Redfish Grille’s beachfront patio has tables decked out in crisp white linens and crystal beneath towering palm trees encircled by twinkling white lights. Beyond the lagoon-shaped beach, the Miami skyline glistens like a diamond necklace. Redfish Grille, 9610 Old Cutler Rd. (inside Matheson Hammock Park), Coral Gables; tel: (305) 668-8788.
Theine – Tea for two is hard to find in Miami, and this charming little tea room is just the spot to go if you want to sample and learn about loose leaf teas from around the world and enjoy a light repast. The daily chalkboard menu offers home-cooked soups, salads and desserts made with French flair. Theine, 119 Madeira Ave., Coral Gables; tel: (305) 774-0228.
Dance The Night Away
With some of the hippest nightclubs on the planet, Miami offers something for everyone. Opium, Shine and Mansion are hot dance clubs, while South Beach's sexy Touch epitomizes the way many Miami restaurants morph into lounges where beautiful people party into the late night hours. For jazz lovers, Jazid or Van Dyke Café won't disappoint. For the inside scoop on Miami nightlife, check out www.CoolJunkie.com.
Between The Sheets
There are many great lodgings all over Miami for a romantic escape. It all depends on your mood. For historic charm, check out the Biltmore Resort & Spa and Hotel Place St. Michel, both located in Coral Gables. For boutique chic, the Lily Leon Guest House, Hotel Victor or The Tides all fit the bill. For a spa sensation, visit the new Standard South Beach or relax in the luxurious surrounds of the Spa at Mandarin Oriental Miami.
Cocktails At Sunset
At the DiLido Beach Club at the Ritz Carlton in South Beach, you can sit right on the beach with your feet in the sand sipping a cocktail in a Moroccan-inspired setting. Hanging lanterns, swinging hammocks and white draping curtains create the mystique of Arabian nights. Nikki Beach Club is another hot spot for a sunset drink, with its white teepees and exotic bamboo beds under swaying palm trees. At Smith & Wollensky in Miami Beach, check out the endless parade of cruise ships passing through the Government Cut against the magnificent backdrop of the downtown Miami skyline.
Moon Over Miami
Moonlight Tour of Vizcaya - It may be the day after Valentine’s, but what could be more romantic than strolling the gorgeous gardens of Vizcaya under a full moon? Take your sweetie for an evening tour of Vizcaya's breathtaking gardens along Biscayne Bay under the light of the full moon. Guided tours are 7:30 - 9:00 p.m., and meet at the café. Cost is $10 per person. Reservations not required. Feb. 15 at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, 3251 S. Miami Ave., Miami; tel: (305) 250-9133.
Valentine’s Jazz at the Deering Estate – How romantic to have lived in the wilds of Miami a century ago, in a beautiful waterfront mansion made of coral rock. This Valentine’s Day, you can enjoy an outdoor concert and be romanced by the music of jazz sensation Nicole Henry on the grounds of the historic Deering Estate. 8 p.m. $15. Doors open at 7 p.m. Deering Estate at Cutler, 16701 SW 72nd Ave., Palmetto Bay; tel: (305) 235-1668, ext. 233.
posted by Carolyn Keating at
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