Where to stay, what to do, where to eat
Looking for some winter sun? Middle of summer sun? Just some general vitamin D sun? Add Miami to your list of holiday destinations. Located on the Atlantic coast and not far from the southernmost point of the US, you might think you know what to expect from this Florida city. Sandy beaches, bustling nightlife, Art Deco architecture and a retro vibe to match – absolutely. But there’s so much more to explore.
Nestled just 26 short miles away is the Everglades, a National Park of flooded grasslands currently at the centre of extensive restoration projects to aid sustainability efforts. It aligns with other sustainability initiatives recently launched throughout the city with hotels and restaurants committing to programs that foster a more environmentally conscious and socially responsible tourism industry. Something eco-conscious tourists with a real wanderlust (AKA me) are becoming more and more invested in, especially as a means to counter a 10-hour flight from London.
So, if you want to travel with purpose and make your Miami Beach visit a green one, we’ve rounded up pretty much everything you need to know. For where to stay, eat and go in Miami that places a real, genuine focus on sustainability, read on!
Where to stay
When it comes to location, it doesn’t get much better than The Palms Hotel & Spa. Mere steps from the beach, you can wake up each morning to panoramic ocean views before heading down to a beach yoga class. With an on-site restaurant and bar (more on that below), a heated outdoor pool, gym and Aveda spa, The Palms has everything you could possibly want and need for a relaxing getaway.
Naturally, its beachside location has also inspired an environmental focus. Part of Beyond Green, a global portfolio of planet Earth’s most sustainable hotels, The Palms Hotel & Spa adheres to strict criteria including operating with environmentally friendly practices, supporting the protection of natural and cultural heritage and ensuring the social and economic well-being of local people. Guests are invited and encouraged to get involved in a hands-on way too, including via the ‘Fill A Bucket’ beach cleanup program that offers a complimentary scoop of gelato in exchange for a bucket of collected rubbish.
Where to eat
Essensia Restaurant at The Palms Hotel & Spa
I wasn’t joking when I said The Palms has everything you need. I could have happily eaten every meal at Essensia – the hotel’s restaurant – dining al-fresco on the breezy terrace. With a farm-to-table philosophy, the menu is delicious and consists of locally sourced, seasonally inspired cuisine with Asian and Mediterranean influences. Don’t forget to order a craft cocktail to wash it down with.
Stubborn Seed
Should you want to venture out of the hotel and explore a bit more of Miami Beach, it’s definitely worth making a reservation at Stubborn Seed. Owned by Top Chef winner Jeremy Ford, this Michelin-starred restaurant is rooted in sustainability with local, farm-grown produce – much of which is supplied by Ford’s Farm in South Miami – integrated into a fresh, dynamic, ever-evolving menu. It goes without saying the food tastes incredible, and it looks just as good too, each course presented to resemble a work of art on the plate. Truly engaging all of the senses, a large window in the centre of the dining room lets you watch the chef crew at work. It’s like having a front-row seat to a live episode of The Bear, albeit with the absence of cousin’s chaotic energy.
What to do
Miccosokee Airboat Ride
A visit to the Everglades is essential to understanding just how extensive this untouched, natural region stretches and the quiet beauty it possesses. The best way to experience this gem in the US National Park sites is by airboat. The boats are captained by the Indigenous Miccosokee people, a Native American tribe who have lived in this part of the Everglades since the late 18th century and therefore possess an innate sense of direction for touring the marshlands.
As well as flora, fauna, butterflies and birds from herons to egrets, you’ll spend much of the airboat tour on the lookout for alligators and crocodiles, the only place in the world where these two species coexist. While the airboat is too noisy when in motion to allow for much conversation (headphones are provided for the tour), our driver Elvis knew exactly where to stop to allow for scarily close alligator sightings.
Everglades Tour & Wet Walk via Wild Lime Adventures
Calling all nature lovers: if a boat road isn’t quite up close and personal enough for you, sign up for a wet walk. Wild Lime Adventures hosts walking tours led by naturalists and biologists that are designed to immerse you in remote areas of the Everglades in ecologically sustainable ways. I signed up for a Big Cypress National Preserve wet walk led by Ryan, who was incredibly passionate and knowledgeable on the area.
With water shoes and walking sticks provided, we trekked for about an hour starting out in ankle-deep water and going further and further into the cypress trees until the water was about mid-thigh depth. Don’t worry, there weren’t any alligator sightings! In fact, my group didn’t encounter any animals on the wet walk, but we did come across a number of fascinating plants including incredibly rare and protected orchids. I wouldn’t describe myself as an outdoorsy girl but this ended up being one of the highlights of my trip. It was unlike any adventure activity I’ve done before and the scenery was truly stunning.
Little Havana Food & Cultural Tour
Want to stay on dry land? Head down to Little Havana for a very different kind of adventure – one that revolves around your taste buds! For the many Cuban immigrants who have relocated here, this neighbourhood in Miami is a slice of home. Bursting with vibrant Hispanic culture, Latin American street art decorates cafes with walk-up windows selling Cuban coffee to cigar-smoking patrons and Latin music spills out of busy restaurants onto the street.
To get to know the best stops, sign up for a Miami Culinary Tour. One of the longest-running food tour companies in the city, a local expert leads a half-mile walking tour through the heart of Miami’s Cuban community. You’ll stop for a homemade Cuban sandwich, drink Cuban coffee, savour a ground beef empanada, indulge in a sweet guava pastry and a crunchy churro, and enjoy a refreshing cup of freshly made guarapo (pure sugarcane). All while learning about Little Havana’s historic, political and culinary contributions. Word to the wise, arrive hungry.
Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
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