Miami Beach is one of the sunniest and most sought after gay getaways in the US. The city offers top notch culture, art, nightlife and cuisine–all things LGBT travelers crave when heading out of town. Combine that with the city’s tropical climate, picturesque beaches, and art deco architecture to create a travel destination unlike any other.
Centrally located in North Beach or NOBE between Bal Harbour and South Beach, is the Hilton Cabana Miami Beach. This beachfront boutique hotel is the perfect home base from which to explore all that makes Miami great. Mixing Miami modernist architecture with contemporary luxury, the Hilton Cabana Miami Beach nods towards Miami’s history while incorporating what’s hot now. At Hilton Cabana Miami Beach, LGBT travelers can make the most of their stay through the Stay Hilton. Go Out package, including:
- High-speed internet access
- A one-year digital subscription to OUT magazine – one of the world’s leading gay magazines
- Two welcome beverages
- Late checkout when available
We pulled together a perfect weekend itinerary to help you navigate the best that this one-of-a-kind city has to offer. Check it out below:
EAT
Head to Michael’s Genuine for a neighborhood bistro feel. Located in the design district, this restaurant serves fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, is always packed and considered very reliable. Nearby you’ll find Mandolin, an open-air Greek bistro perfect for warm Miami evenings. In mid-town, check out Blackbrick for “innovative Chinese” and Midtown Oyster Bar or Mignonette which are quickly becoming favorites among locals. Great views beckon at Shuckers Waterfront Grill on the 79th Street Causeway along with a friendly staff, tasty seafood, and drinks.
Currently trending are the Latin American eatery Loba and the gastropub Pubbelly. Cabana Grill (above), at the Hilton, also serves Latin American fare, making the best of Miami’s cuisine easily accessible for its guests. Check out Yardbird for its Southern comfort food (think fried chicken, bourbon cocktails and more). Balans is perfect for brunch and people watching on Lincoln Road. For upscale dining try CVI.CHE 105. If you want to ogle some handsome wait-staff (and restaurateurs) try Colette. Grabbing a quick bite? Stop in at Huahuas Taqueria. Coffee lovers will want to fuel up at one of Panther Coffee’s two locations.
GO OUT
For weekend fun and outdoor cocktails, hit up Miami Beach gay institution Palace. It’s opposite the gay beach, making it the perfect spot for an aprés-sunbathing drink while you take in a drag performance from one of Palace’s famous queens. For the best straight-up (but still very gay friendly) cocktails in all of Miami, go to The Corner in Park West, Downtown Miami, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.
Gay nightlife seekers should head to Twist. Established in 1993, Twist is the longest running gay club in South Beach with various dance floors, seven different bars and a stripper lounge. This place gets packed for late night. Score is another must-see, now moved from its old location on Lincoln Road to a location on Washington Ave. With 15 years’ history in Miami, Score has a huge dance floor perfect for letting loose. If you knew Snatch, Lux, or Shock over the years, that is where Score is today. Score’s upstairs dance floor is the old Liquid nightclub. Ladies should check out iCandee events. And if you want a more revealing show, you might check out Floppy Rooster.
HAVE FUN
Hit up 12th Street Beach in South Beach, Miami’s unofficial gay beach. Look for the crowds of men sunbathing on their towels. There are usually a few rainbow flags flying as well. If you’re feeling adventurous head to Haulover Beach, a clothing optional beach just north of Bal Harbour and Miami Beach which has a gay portion at its north end. For a beach day that’s a little more serene and less of a scene, try Crandon Park on Key Biscayne or the Hilton’s own scenic beachfront (above).
When it comes to water activities, there’s plenty to occupy you, whether it be renting jet skis, paddle boards, or boats. For the best windsurfing, travel to Hobie Beach. You can also take a quacky Duck Boat Tour and see the city by water.
Fitness addicts will find plenty to keep them moving in Miami. In South Beach, gyms like Crunch, Equinox, and L.A. Fitness are favorites. Barry’s Bootcamp will give you a hardcore workout in a class setting. Meanwhile, Anatomy at 1220 gives off a luxe club feel. If you want to stay close to home check out the new high tech 24 hour fitness facility at the Hilton.
Miami’s great weather also makes this city a great place to rent a bike. Check out this list of bike shops to find one that suits your needs.
For all that’s new and hot in the Miami art scene, go to the Wolfsonian Museum, The Bass Museum of Art, Wynwood’s Wynwood Walls, the Botanic Glass Garden and the Perez Art Museum.
