48 hours in Miami

Get up and out early to catch the city waking up and coming to life. Why not stretch your jetlagged legs and wander along the most famous strip in the city, Ocean Drive? Pop over to The News Café, a true Miami Beach mainstay, kick back with a cappuccino and a plate of huevos rancheros and enjoy some of the world’s best people watching.

Famed for its Art Deco buildings, celebrity sightings and spectacular wide sandy beaches, Miami Beach is the perfect post-breakfast stop. Kick off your sandals, wet your toes in the turquoise seawater, and soak up the sun and the sounds of waves, music and mix of languages being spoken.

Joe’s Stone Crab  is one of the oldest restaurants in town and arguably the most famous, known for its deliciously fresh seafood and longstanding first-come first-served policy. What many don’t know is that Joe’s offers take-away for many its sought after standards, from stone crab claws to their absolutely essential hash browns. Get your lunch to go and head to South Pointe Park to watch the cruise ships leaving the Port of Miami.

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Sleep in, there’s no rush to get to your first port of call for breakfast. Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop  is about as quintessential a Cuban cafeteria as there is. Whether you just get a pastelito (a puff pasty with a sweet or savoury filling) or something more substantial, like the bistec al caballo (Colombian steak and eggs), make sure you start your morning with a café Cubano – it’ll pump you full of enough sugary goodness to power through the day ahead.

The Wynwood neighbourhood is where a lot of Miami graffiti and street art was born, and since it’s blossomed into Miami’s official arts district – there are over 70 galleries – that heritage of street art has held strong. Every former warehouse building – now housing bars, restaurants, and boutiques – is adorned with murals by artists from around the world, making Wynwood a unique and entrancing place to wander.

The Haitian influence, long part of the Magic City’s identity, is never more apparent than in Little Haiti. Make your way to Leela’s Restaurant for a plate of Haitian griot (a lip-tingling pork dish) or to Cayo Esquivel for some spicy seafood. Once you’ve had your fill, swing by Libreri Mapou. This beloved bookstore has over 3,000 titles in Haitian, Creole, and English as well as newspapers from Port-au-Prince to Paris and serves as a nerve centre of Haitian creativity.

There’s no better way to appreciate the beauty of this city than from the water. The Millionaire’s Row Cruise offers an hour and a half of the best views of Downtown, Brickell Key, Fisher Island and, if you time it right, you’ll get to see it all under the setting sun.

After a pitstop back at your hotel, start your night at Lagniappe just over the bridge in Midtown. You’ll find a remarkable wine selection, simple, yet delicious food ranging from fine cheeses to perfectly prepared steaks, and a bohemian backyard atmosphere. Grab a bottle, a bite and a chair and while away the hours between the palm trees out back.

Sleep can wait if you want to experience true Miami. The Corner is a local watering hole, open until well past sunrise and sating the thirsts of one of the most interesting, cross-sections of drinkers in the city. Join in with the crowd and toast to your time in Miami.