How To Spend A Romantic Weekend In Miami

Romance and Miami go hand in hand. From horseback riding on the beach at sunrise to Champagne toasts at a subtropical winery, oceanfront dinners and a spa day for two, these are just a few ideas to celebrate your love in Miami.

Here’s an ideal three-day weekend itinerary designed for romance.

Day 1 - Romance And Adventure In South Beach

Morning

Start your morning on a romantic helicopter ride with Miami Executive Helicopters and experience Miami’s iconic skyline and glittering waters from a bird’s-eye view.

With a variety of tours on offer, their most popular private package spans the area’s most stunning sites, including Downtown Miami, Key Biscayne, Fisher Island and Miami Beach, – all in about 30 minutes.

Make sure to pack a bottle of Champagne to make the morning extra special.

Afternoon And Lunch

For a cheeky afternoon in South Beach, head to the World Erotic Art Museum on Washington Avenue, home to one of the largest collections of fine erotic art with over 4,000 pieces that date back to 300 B.C.

Past exhibits have featured erotic art from Rembrandt, Helmut Newton and collections borrowed from the Kinsey Institute. The museum recently acquired the “Great Wall of Vulva” by Jamie McCartney, featuring 400 plaster casts of the female anatomy.

Afterward, pop into Via Emilia 9 in Miami Beach, a hidden gem of an Italian restaurant run by a husband-and-wife duo. Slightly off the beaten path, this romantic restaurant is cozy and intimate, specializing in homemade pasta (especially ravioli and gnocchi) made with love.

The tortellini in brodo is their signature dish, and a must order that’ll transport you to Tuscany.

Evening

As the sun sets, make your way to the New World Center in Miami Beach for a free outdoor Wallcast concert or Soundscape Cinema event.

Situated just north of Lincoln Road, the symphony space designed by Frank Gehry features an enormous wall designed to simulcast symphony concerts and a beautifully landscaped park to enjoy a picnic under the stars.

It also hosts a cinema series featuring a fantastic lineup of both new and classic movies that play well to such a big screen.

Swing by Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami Beach beforehand to take away the ultimate romantic picnic essentials, like stone crab, fried chicken, coleslaw and a bottle of wine.

Day 2 - Horseback Riding And Relaxation On Key Biscayne

Morning

What’s more romantic than horseback riding on the beach? At Palomino Ranch, you can book an hour-long tour of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park and trot across the shoreline through enchanting beachside trails.

Not only will you soak up the natural beauty together, but you’ll also learn about the park’s fascinating history and local wildlife from an experienced guide.

Afternoon And Evening

Fresh off a $100 million renovation, The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami is your destination for the rest of the day. Head to Dune Beach Bar for a toes-in-the-sand lunch experience where burgers and Champagne take center stage. It’s a fabulous place to spend an afternoon on the beach at The Ritz.

Next, head to The Ritz-Carlton Spa with treatments inspired by Miami’s native Tequesta Indians. Indulge in a romantic couples massage and unwind in the sauna, steam room and whirlpool.

Freshen up for dinner and head to Luma, the resort’s brand-new restaurant specializing in coastal Italian cuisine. Afterward, tuck into the Rum Bar for a nightcap in a sexy lounge with Caribbean vibes.

Day 3 - Wine Tasting And Star Gazing In South Dade

Wine And Lunch

With a novel, subtropical approach to winemaking, Schnebly Redland's Winery & Brewery is a romantic destination in Homestead for a wine tasting, featuring blends made from exotic tropical fruits including mangos, lychee, passion fruit, guava, star fruit, coconut and even avocado.

The lush grounds span the winery’s tasting room, the on-site Miami Brewing Company’s taproom, a farm-to-table restaurant and a field with covered picnic areas featuring great live music on the weekends.

For an extra special occasion, opt for their anniversary package, which includes a welcome glass of sparkling wine, a walking tour of the winery, a wine tasting and a charcuterie board for two paired with a bottle of sparkling wine.

Afternoon

Next, take a romantic stroll through Redland Koi Gardens in Homestead, a lush and tranquil 2.5-acre garden where walkways wind beneath a canopy of tropical fruit trees, leading to peaceful koi ponds.

A popular family-owned wedding and events space, soak up the natural landscape of oak trees and rare plants while reconnecting with each other.

Evening

A longtime favorite South Dade restaurant, Chef Adrianne's Vineyard Restaurant and Bar in Kendall marries the chef’s Miami Cuban heritage with her passion for farm-to-table cooking gleaned from an apprenticeship in Napa Valley early in her career.

With a menu that changes seasonally, favorites include crispy panko goat cheese with fig jam and prosciutto, New Zealand lamb rack and salmon Rockefeller with a lemon beurre blanc.

The restaurant’s extensive wine list highlights California estates. A favorite special occasion restaurant for Miami locals, it makes for the perfect romantic dinner date.

To cap it all off, make the trip to Bill Sadowski Park & Nature Center in Palmetto Bay for an evening of star gazing. The 30-acre park is an observatory site for the Southern Cross Astronomical Society, which offers complimentary star-gazing programs, lectures and telescopes to park visitors.