HANG OUT AT THESE MID BEACH HIDDEN GEMS

As its name implies, Mid Beach is the stretch of Miami Beach between South Beach and North Beach. In this idyllic expanse of Miami’s seashore, you’ll experience the best of both worlds from each of its bordering neighborhoods. Home to some of the glitziest hotels and beach resorts with onsite trend-setting nightclubs and fine dining restaurants, it has the same sizzle as South Beach. But the area is decidedly more relaxed and comfortably spacious like North Beach. It has the feeling of a hidden gem enclave that we’re giving you the inside scoop on with our insider’s guide.

cecconi — Italian dishes & a pool view at Cecconi's

Soho Beach House

Soho Beach House is Miami’s outpost of the private, international members only club founded in London and catering to those in the entertainment and creative industries (read: celebrities). You can gain access by either booking a stay at their boutique hotel or simply dining at the ground level Cecconi’s, which dishes up fresh Italian classics to a hip crowd. For members and hotel guests, you’ll also enjoy access to the spa, gym, fitness classes, cinema and multiple restaurants. You’ll enjoy blending in with Miami’s most stylish and connected citizens. Keep your eyes peeled for celebrity sightings as you laze by the pool or beach.

Dreamy oceanfront pools at Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau

For the ultimate Mid Beach hotspot, make your way to the Fontainebleau. Originally designed by Miami Modern master Morris Lapidus in 1954, the hotel retains its mid-century glamour with original marble bowtie tile floors and cascading chandeliers by Ai WeiWei in the lobby. It’s also home to Miami’s hottest club LIV where headlining DJs from David Guetta to Tiesto keep the crowd partying late night. It’s a foodie’s dream with three signature restaurants including the haute Cantonese London import Hakkasan, Stripsteak by Michael Mina and Scarpetta by Scott Conant. It’s also home to the luxurious Lapis Spa and multiple oceanfront pools for an all-encompassing and iconic Mid Beach escape.

The Freehand

The ultimate in Mid Beach cool, The Freehand is a hip hostel with a local pulse. It’s home to the now iconic Broken Shaker cocktail bar serving the most inventive cocktails in Miami inside its kitschy-lush backyard patio and pool. Take the Surfer Blood, for instance, made with Ron Zacapa, grapefruit and Angostura and chocolate bitters. 27 Restaurant is equally inviting with eclectic cuisine inspired by Miami’s melting pot of cultures, ranging from Caribbean to South American and Jewish. For those staying at the Freehand, it has some of the most affordable rates in town with stylish private and shared rooms available.

Whiskey — Locals love Sweet Liberty's drinks & vibes

Sweet Liberty

Tucked away off Collins Park, Sweet Liberty is a favorite Mid Beach hideaway for locals. The airy industrial space boasts a kitschy, tropical vibe with exposed rafters and palm tree wallpaper set against a bar lined with glittering bottles. Sweet Liberty boasts a killer cocktail menu complimented by delicious snacks like cauliflower nachos. The vibe is low-key, yet spirited with a great lineup of live musicians and indie DJs that keep the energy going late night.

The Bass

Set inside a landmark Art Deco building from the 1930s on the National Register of Historic Places, The Bass recently reopened on Collins Park after a multi-million dollar renovation. The Mid Beach institution is dedicated to modern art and boasts some shiny new public art acquisitions for all to enjoy on a stroll along Collins Avenue, including Ugo Rondinone’s “Miami Mountain,” a totem of massive, neon-painted limestone boulders, and Sylvie Fleury’s “Eternity Now” neon sign on the museum’s façade.

Ian Schrager's luxurious Miami Beach EDITION

The Miami Beach EDITION

The Miami Beach EDITION became an instant Mid Beach classic when it opened in 2014. The brainchild of hotelier and nightlife impresario Ian Schrager, the luxury lifestyle hotel boasts two restaurants by acclaimed celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and is also home to hip nightclub Basement, which boasts some unusual amenities including an ice skating rink and four-lane bowling alley. The stylish oceanfront hotel is also home to a luxurious spa and tranquil, whitewashed guestrooms.

James Beard Award-winning chef Paul Qui's Pao

Faena Hotel Miami Beach

Conceived by flamboyant Argentinean hotelier and developer Alan Faena, the Faena hotel is set on eight blocks in Mid Beach known as the Faena District, which includes luxury condominiums, the Faena Forum and Faena Bazaar art centers. The hotel is a fantastical world of contemporary art, lavish design and fine dining. With show-stopping works on display by legendary pop artist Damien Hirst and a gilded cathedral-like entrance with murals by Juan Gatti, the hotel is a work of art unto itself. Restaurants include Los Fuegos by Argentinean grill master Francis Mallmann and Pao by James Beard Award-winning chef Paul Qui.