Page 104 - ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL 2022

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL
escape
ZAHA HADID’S FINAL MASTERPIECE
One Thousand Museum is one of the most gracious luxury condos in Miami and Miami Beach.
offers excellent vistas of Biscayne Bay and beautiful hanging gardens. Vintage Modern on 125th St. For beauty and wellness, choose Gee
Make sure you also add Bass Museum on South Beach and Vizcaya Beauty, Emena day spa and IGK – a hair salon in the Design District.
Museum & Gardens at Coconut Grove to your list, too. Rent a boat The Four Seasons Surf Club spa is excellent, while Faena hotel’s spa
– the best way to discover the multiple sides of this city’s beauty is by offers interesting treatments and hamam. It’s difficult to single out
sea. Spend your morning on the beach but leave early to explore the one of the restaurants, but if I had to choose I’d say the Surf Club by
center. Design District, Wynwood and Brickell are only a 15-minute chef Thomas Keller at the iconic Miami Surf Club, which dates back to
drive away. Think like a local, because there are many hidden gems that 1930. This restaurant serves excellent food and pays tribute to historic
have lasted the test of time. For shopping, wander around the Design cocktails and vintage spirits from the ‘50s. Another excellent choice is
District or Bal Harbour, and dedicate your Sunday to Lincoln Road. Azabu Miami Beach, the sibling of Michelin-starred NY restaurant,
Head to The Webster, a multibrand store housed in a three-floor Art and, finally, Cecconi’s in the courtyard of Soho Beach House – a great
Deco building, to Bal Harbour Shops – an open-air mall by Neiman place for pizza, pasta and Sunday brunch”.
Marcus and Saks Fifth Ave – and En Avance, which specializes in Nikos Nanou and Egidio Guerreri, owners of the successful Bakalo
emerging high end designers. Also visit Bossa Concept – a multibrand & Catari in Mykonos, fell in love with Miami at first sight. Citizens
fashion boutique focused on Brazilian designers – and Kith Miami for of the world and bon viveurs with an interest in gastronomy, archi-
collectible sneakers and streetwear. For books and publications, the tecture and art, they would return often to spend at least one week
independent Books & Books and Taschen Store Miami on Lincoln of holidays in the sun as part of every single one of their voyages to WYNWOOD BID-MARY BETH KOETH kasan, Cipriani – and on the other, up-and-coming local chefs presenting
Rd stand out. For children’s clothes and toys, opt for Genius Jones. the United States or Latin America. In 2014, they decided to start
If you’re looking for homeware, the Design District is perfect, while spending their winters in Miami. “The weather is fantastic, just like
there are wonderful antiques at Antique & Design Mall Miami on the beginning of summer in Europe. The city has developed at a great ROBIN HILL
Biscayne Blvd and at Gary Rubinstein, Gustavo Oliver and Stripe rate, and it’s the second biggest financial center after New York. Dy-
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WYNWOOD BOASTS THE BIGGEST CONCENTRATION
OF STREET ART IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH MORE
THAN 50 ARTISTS FROM 16 COUNTRIES.
namic and international in character, Miami has residents who work in newcomer EAST, which has an excellent pool bar. Hotel bars also draw
banking, business, real estate – not just tourism. in much of the nightlife, as it tends to happen in the United States more
Almost every other weekend there are festivals and opportunities to stay than in Europe. For example, LIVING club at The Fontainebleau Miami
involved – Art Basel, food festivals, boat shows – attracting visitors of Beach. There is also a great cycling route for visitors looking to get to know
many persuasions from all over the world. Miami: Ride through Venetian Causeway, passing through the islands
Miami’s culinary evolution has been immense in the past decade, especially and heading downhill to the beach, and then from Lincoln Rd to South
after 2010. On one hand, you have international names – Nobu, Hak- Point Pier. It’s also worth spending a few hours to explore the history of
Art Deco, and of course to visit Wynwood, which has also developed an
novel ideas. There are still some small, amicable neighborhood restaurants, interesting culinary scene. If you’re into sports, take a kayak or canoe to
but these are not what defines this city. The hotels attract much of the at- Keys while, in addition to the shopping spots above, you can also head
tention with their extraordinary restaurants, from renovated ‘50s motels to the new Brickell City Center mall, whose eateries – in addition to the
on South Beach to concept hotels such as EDITION, The Standard, or retail brands and new designers – are fascinating. 
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