Miami

Destinations

1 Dec

Written By NBH

DESTINATION GUIDE WITH ART + LOOM

Miami Design City Guide: A Curated Journey with Art + Loom

**Miami is a city where sunlight, culture, and contemporary design converge, shaping an aesthetic that is vibrant, sensual, and unmistakably its own.** This guide explores a place defined by coastal architecture, a dynamic art scene, and a bold approach to materiality and colour.
This year also marks the **20th anniversary of Design Miami**, a milestone underscored by *Design Miami 2.0*, a special curated exhibition led by Glenn Adamson. It’s a beautiful moment to witness how the fair has evolved and how contemporary design continues to expand its language, shape its collectors, and deepen Miami’s role as a global design capital.
Guided by **Samantha Gallacher**, founder of *Art+Loom*, this journey uncovers a Miami rooted in craftsmanship, artistic collaboration, and a love of expressive form. Known for her sculptural, handcrafted rugs, Gallacher brings an insider’s perspective to the studios, galleries, and neighbourhoods that animate the city’s creative pulse.
**December 2025**
**Words:** designeers and art + loom

A breakfast and coffee stop:

Flora

Flora on NE 4th Court is one of Miami’s most quietly enchanting breakfast spots. Tucked inside a sunlit garden, it serves plant-based dishes that feel both nourishing and beautifully composed. The atmosphere is leafy and unhurried, the kind of place where a morning coffee becomes a small ritual: calm, considered, and unmistakably Miami.

favourite art gallery:

The Mindy Solomon Gallery

Mindy Solomon Gallery offers a sharp curatorial focus on contemporary ceramics and two-dimensional works. Mindy’s artist–educator background brings intelligence and craft to every exhibition, making it a key stop for material-minded collectors.

favourite design museum:

ICA Museum

ICA Miami is one of the city’s most compelling spaces for contemporary art, championing emerging voices and experimental work. Tucked into the Design District, its colour-shifting geometric façade glints like an architectural sculpture, opening into expansive galleries and a serene sculpture garden that reflect Miami’s spirit of cultural innovation.

A cocktail or wine bar:

The Living Room at Faena Hotel

The Living Room at the Faena feels like stepping into Miami’s golden age—maximalist, glamorous, and beautifully theatrical. Its cocktails are as artful as the interiors, making it a favourite for those who appreciate atmosphere, craft, and a touch of vintage sophistication.

A lunch to indulge into:

Mandolin Aegean Bistro

Mandolin Aegean Bistro offers a transportive escape in the heart of Miami’s creative districts. Whitewashed walls, blue accents, and a leafy courtyard evoke the ease of a Greek island, while consistently excellent Mediterranean dishes make it the ideal spot for an unhurried, sun-filled lunch.

A FINE DINING RESTAURANT:

Casa Tua Miami

Casa Tua Miami is an intimate dining and social club set inside a restored Mediterranean-style villa. Hidden behind lush gardens, it blends romance with residential warmth, leading guests through softly lit rooms and a courtyard that feels like old-world Europe. More than a restaurant, it feels like being welcomed into a private home.

a design hotel to stay in:

The Shelborne by Proper

The Shelborne Hotel has recently emerged from an elegant redesign by Proper Hospitality in collaboration with ADC Atelier. The project honours the building’s Art Deco heritage while introducing a warm palette of earthy tones, tropical accents, and tactile finishes. The result is a refreshed Miami landmark that feels contemporary, inviting, and true to its coastal setting.

An artisT everyone should know about:

Typoe Gran

Typoe Gran is a Miami-based artist whose practice spans painting, sculpture, murals, and large-scale installations across both public and private spaces. His work, bold in colour and form, has become synonymous with Miami’s cultural landscape. Later this year, he will debut a home collection featuring his iconic shapes translated into furniture, and select artworks will also be reimagined as rugs.

Favourite boutique or concept store for design inspiration:

CY

CY is Miami’s newest design destination, a hybrid creative space presenting a curated selection of crafted objects and furniture chosen for their emotional and aesthetic resonance. It’s a concept the city has long needed, bridging design sensibilities across eras with thoughtful, considered precision.

A must-visit street or neighbourhood for design lovers:

Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove is ideal for anyone who appreciates architecture, curated interiors, and the creative energy that shapes a neighbourhood. It’s less about glitzy luxury and more about authentic, lived-in design with a story.

A PLACE TO FIND ART, FURNITURE AND DESIGN OBJECTS:

The Future Perfect

The Future Perfect’s new outpost at Villa Paula in Little Haiti has quickly become one of Miami’s most compelling cultural destinations. Housed in a former Cuban embassy, the villa’s historic architecture provides a striking backdrop for collectible design and contemporary craft.

An iconic architectural landmark:

The New World Center

Designed by Frank Gehry, the New World Center is one of Miami Beach’s most striking architectural landmarks. Its sculptural white forms frame the surrounding park, while inside, warm materials and an intimate, fan-shaped layout deliver exceptional acoustics. The iconic Wallcast lawn extends the experience outdoors, where audiences gather under the night sky to watch performances projected onto the façade. It’s a rare blend of innovative architecture, cultural vibrancy, and public engagement.

Favourite outdoor space for a moment of tranquillity:

South Pointe Park

South Pointe Park sits at the southern tip of Miami Beach, where Biscayne Bay meets the Atlantic. Thoughtfully landscaped with curving paths, shaded lawns, sculptural benches, and elevated viewpoints, it offers one of the city’s most beautifully designed outdoor experiences, a perfect place to slow down and enjoy tranquillity by the water.

A place to adventure out of town:

Palm Beach

Palm Beach makes for an elegant day trip from Miami, offering a slower rhythm and a sense of cultivated luxury. Wander down Worth Avenue with its Mediterranean Revival architecture, visit the historic Flagler Museum, or explore tree-lined streets and beautifully kept gardens. It’s the perfect escape when you want inspiration and a gentler pace.

The best spot for a sunset view:

The Lido Grill at the Standard

The Lido Grill at The Standard is one of Miami’s most effortless sunset spots. Set right on the water with open views of the bay, it offers space, calm, and consistently good cocktails. Whether you arrive early or unwind after a long day, the light, breeze, and atmosphere make it a quintessential Miami moment.

Photography Credits

ica museum iwan baan
CY Eline Willaert

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