44 Hours in Miami (July 2023 Trip Recap)
We flew out on the first flight in the morning. I work for a revolutionary beauty brand called Black Girl Sunscreen and since it’s summer (aka sunscreen szn) we are on the road activating A LOT.
For this work trip we headed to Miami Beach for a celebrity golf tournament (it was a good time! .. just as much as it was hard work, lol). Although the trip was fairly quick for me I got to try a few new restaurants and explore Miami in my free time.
Here’s the recap.. (finally)
Airport
Miami International Airport
One of the bigger airports I’ve been to. It’s a bit confusing as you have to take a “sky train” and escalators to get from your gate to baggage claim / ground transportation. Other than that Rideshare is right on the curb so that’s very convenient. Flying home was a different story. You will need your full 2 hours to get thru TSA, catch the sky train, and get to your gate in time so be sure plan accordingly when flying out of this airport.
Restaurants & Bars
♡ CVI.CHE 105
📍1245 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Hands down the best ceviche I’ve ever had, and I don’t even like ceviche, LOL! The Peruvian cuisine here was amazing and the vibe + service was outstanding! Our waiter was very attentive to make sure we ordered what we wanted and checked up on us throughout our time there. I ordered the Lomo A Lo Pobre while my co-worker ordered the Linguini “Mar Y Tierra 105” and the ceviche (not sure which one it was but it was soo good! - see the full menu here). Definitely a place to try on your next visit to Miami.
♡ HAVANA VIEJA
📍944 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Since I was craving Cuban food, we had to make a stop. I originally thought I would get Havana 1957 but Havana Vieja popped up on our walk back to the hotel so we stopped here. I ordered the skirt steak and swapped out the beans for plantains. Chef’s kiss. I can’t imagine ever going to Miami and not getting Cuban food.
♡ Sunny’s
📍1058 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Miami feels like the beach city that never sleeps so after dinner we wanted to grab a drink to end off the night. We stopped at Sunny’s and met Eduardo our bartender who made the evening so fun. Apparently this place is open 24 hours so if you’re into staying out that late be sure to stop by here!
♡ THE LICKING
📍754 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Okay so spot is not for everyone but if you’re into some good southern food you gotta stop here. Customer service definitely needs some help but the food made up for it. If you’re looking for good food, good music, and a hip hop vibe this is a place to check-out. Side-note this is the only place I went to where security wore bulletproof vests, lol so just know what you’re walking in to.
♡ Spring Chick
📍2100 NW 42nd Ave Concourse D, Terminal D22 (post) Miami, FL 33126
So I’m pretty sure this is a sister restaurant to Yardbird which I’ve always wanted to eat at but never got the chance. It’s airport food but it got the job done. I ordered the protein bowl to go and Mama’s biscuit (without the pickles) to eat there. Both were pretty delicious and I would definitely eat here again.
Hotel
♡ The Sagamore
This was your typical Collins Ave Miami Beach Hotel. The hotel staff was very sweet and it gave that “I feel like I’m in Mexico but I’m actually still in the United States” feel. I loved that it was a hotel with beach access and had plenty of amenities (pool, gym, billards, etc). A nice spot for that older feel but not super renovated so be mindful if you’re looking for a luxury experience this isn’t quite it. The pool stays open late though which was definitely a plus after a long work day.
Activities
♡ Lincoln Road
An outdoor shopping mall with all your last minute shopping needs. It even had a Marshalls and Ross but sadly I didn’t have enough time to stop. I’m SOOOO happy they are building a Salt & Straw here! I will definitely be visiting on my next trip.
♡ Collins Ave
Is the equivalent to Venice Beach mixed with Hollywood Blvd to me. Very lively and tourist-y. It has all the souvenir shops and drugstores you can think of so if you are last minute packing you can definitely grab your toiletries here!
Overall a super fun and QUICK work trip! What I learned about Miami is South Beach / Miami Beach is more for tourists and if you want that beach vibe. I feel like I personally like the Downtown vibe of Miami more than South Beach (you can see more from my last trip here) but South Beach is so fun too!
As for the time of the year, I don’t know if I would vacation in Miami in the summer. The humidity is on another level and as a Cali girl I have learned that I love me some dry heat! For me, Miami is always a vibe and I can’t wait to go back!
Until next time,
XOXO - Shannon Ashley