What To Do
Virginia Key
If you’re in the mood to sunbathe without the buzz of South Beach in the background, we suggest escaping the city to Virginia Key, an 82-acre barrier island located on Key Biscayne off the Rickenbacker Causeway.
Weekdays are especially tranquil— we love heading over on a Tuesday morning with a stack of magazines and fresh juice to wile away the hours.
And for those looking for more athletic activity, less beach bum, there’s a 4.1 mile bike trail that’s open to riders of all levels. You’ll cycle through the costal shores and get a chance to check out the native vegetation (there’s more than palm trees, promise!).
Where To Shop
Gifts
The Bazaar Project
The first thing you notice walking upon The Bazaar Project is founder Teliz Titiz’s profound love of color. From the turquoise-painted façade to the Turkish rugs inside, Titiz has curated an unparalleled and exuberant selection of gifts that belies her extensive globe-trotting and fashion industry background.
Each item in the store hints at Titiz’s various world travels, from Turkey to Asia to Scandinavia. You’ll find a special mix of Turkish rugs, men’s moccasins, coffee table books, an in-house brand of vintage kilims, robes, and home accessories as well as Titiz’s jewelry line, Sura.
In fact, Titiz is always on hand to tell you a story about every item in the store so you’re not only getting a unique item but an exclusive shopping experience as well. The entire shop radiates joie de vivre in a way only a Miami spot can.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Jalan Jalan Collection
This Design District furniture store houses one-of-a-kind home design pieces curated from cultures across the globe. Owners Bruce and Aurelie Platt have an unparalleled eye for quality— to that point, they’ve been in the Design District for 15 years, practically pioneering the revitalization of the entire area on their own.
From African mud cloths to Moroccan tufts, Jalan Jalan is bursting with hand-selected, hand-made pieces from all over the world that come together in a singularly sophisticated aesthetic. “Jalan Jalan” means “create your own path” in Malay, and Bruce Platt is an expert at taking historic pieces and making them modern, essentially guiding you to find your own unique aesthetic.
“It’s living art,” Platt says of the collection, as many of their nature inspired pieces would feel just at home in a museum collection as they would in your dining room. Jalan Jalan is one of the last bastions of this type of design showroom— a haven for the design-obsessed to visit from all over to find soulful, unique pieces with a story. There’s a natural warmth and celebratory exuberance to Jalan Jalan that keeps us coming back each time we’re in Miami. And that’s probably not often enough— Platt says the inventory changes daily, remarking with a laugh that “it’s exhausting…we just don’t stop buying!” Exhausting for him, but a total luxury for us.
Personal Wellness
Pilathon
Precious 7’s EIC Anna Maria Sandergren counts this Wynwood Pilates studio as her go-to workout spot when she’s in Miami. In addition to group and private Pilates classes, Pilathon offers a customizable training program that includes yoga, indoor cycling, rowing and Pilates. Owner Emily Bench’s mission is to keep you in shape while you’re in Miami (and long past your vacation!).
Where To Eat
Mandolin Aegean Bistro
This charming Mediterranean bistro offers traditional Turkish and Greek cuisine, like lamb chops over orzo, grilled octopus, Moussaka, fresh fish, Spanokopita and gyros that satisfies vegetarians and carnivores alike. Share a sampling of their simple, rustic dishes and a bottle (or two!) of rose on their patio, post an afternoon spent poolside.