I grew up in Miami, which means that…wait for it…I don’t go to the beach all that much. Sounds surprising, but think about it: Do people who live in New York hang out in Times Square every day? No. As locals, we often take our cities for granted. And that’s why I was so excited when Cosmo invited me to explore my own city on a CosmoTrip, which is basically an editor-curated itinerary that tells you all the best places to stay, eat, and play in different destinations around the world. The idea of being a tourist at home sounded really exciting to me, because a) I’m all for someone else doing the heavy lifting of itinerary-planning, and b) I hadn’t even been to most of the places on the agenda. I’d never even stayed oceanfront in Miami!
The end result? The trip was amazing, and I totally understand why everyone wants to come here. I took my friend along with me, and we had so much fun. She grew up in Miami as well, and we both ended up feeling like: We get it. The beach is great, the weather is great, Miami is great. I always travel to get out of Miami, but I’m realizing more and more that I want to be here…Miami is where it’s at! Keeping scrolling for the best ways to spend a long weekend in Miami.
Stay
The Gabriel Miami South Beach: When you book a CosmoTrip to Miami, they’ll put you up at either The Gabriel Miami South Beach or The Gale. We stayed at The Gabriel, which was great for me because it’s a Hilton hotel and I’m a Hilton girl! I looove their rewards program. They treat you extra well when you’re part of it. But rewards program or not, the hotel itself is really fantastic. The decor is very pastel (aka very Miami). I’d describe it as art deco, but luxe.
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Poolside bliss.Â
Love those pastels.Â
You really don’t feel like you’re in party-centric South Beach when you’re staying there—that is, until you step out and realize that everything’s happening right on your doorstep. But that’s precisely why I loved it so much: It didn’t feel *too* South Beach, which can be A Thing in Miami. As locals, we tend to say: Don’t go to South Beach, because it’s filled with tourists. But that was not the experience I had at all. This hotel is a gem and I highly recommend staying there for a South-Beach-but-not-South-Beach experience.
Quick FYI: There’s also a CosmoTrip itinerary that puts you at The Gale, another great hotel right in South Beach. Though I didn’t stay there myself, I have gotten drinks there, and can confirm that it’s super cute, historic, and just steps from the ocean (not to mention two blocks from Lincoln Road, South Beach’s famous shopping and dining promenade).
Play
Do the Wynwood self-guided city game: What’s that, you ask? It’s basically a *v fun* interactive tour through the streets of Wynwood (and part of the CosmoTrips experience). You download an app called Questo, then follow the instructions, which includes all sorts of things like codes and puzzles, etc. When I did it, I was even able to spray paint on an empty wall.
Take a hot girl walk on Lincoln Road in South Beach: Lincoln Road is an open-air shopping and dining promenade in the heart of South Beach, which is basically *the* perfect spot for a hot girl walk, Miami-edition. Even though I live here, I discovered some cool new Cosmo-recommended spots on my walk, like Il Dante Caffe (more on that below), and MILA, a rooftop restaurant, lounge, and bar. It’s very high-end and chic. I loved that it has a rooftop setting and a night club/bar area where they host karaoke nights. The ambiance was exquisite!
Have a chill beach and pool day at the Gabriel: You’re staying oceanfront, after all! As part of your CosmoTrip, you get to use the hotel’s beach and pool amenities, including chairs. My friend and I had the best day just chilling around the hotel; it was the perfect combo of wellness and fun. We started with a workout in the gym, then read our books on the beach, and got some pool time in, too. Even though we live in Miami, we hardly ever spend time lounging like this, so we made a pact to change that and take advantage of our city more now. I really understand why people love coming here so much—it’s the best!
Hard not to love.
Eat
Dalia: This is the restaurant in the Gabriel hotel, and it’s amazing. The vibe here is very luxe, and moody at night (lots of dim lights). The service is great, too, as is the food (Mediterranean). We got the oysters, which were delicious and very fresh, and I also recommend the roasted cauliflower and dip trio; both are good choices for appetizers. Overall, this is a perfect spot to start your night and then go out from there!
Yes and yes. Â
Oysters are always a good idea.Â
So Miami.
Le Chick: This restaurant is such a good time. The bar, the people, the ambience…all so much fun. The vibe is very much “young millennials going out for happy hour.” My friend and I had Cosmos (ofc!), plus chicken and waffles, and they were so delicious. Best of all, Le Chick is near the bars and clubs, so we went to a Spanish bar right next door after and had a blast. Dancing it out is always a good idea.
Il Dante Caffe: My friend and I had breakfast here and loved it. It’s an Italian deli right in front the beach. Highly rec the tomato and pesto sandwich—it was delicious! Everyone who worked there was also really nice.
Jocelyn Castillo is the founder and content creator behind Chasing Carpe Diem, where she documents her travels and adventures. Born and raised in Nicaragua, she now lives in Miami, though she’s frequently on the road (her favorite places are Cinque Terre, Italy; Seattle, Washington; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.