It’s time to indulge in yourself. As we work toward reclaiming our pre-pandemic lifestyle, admittedly health and wellness are at the top of our minds more than ever. And as a result of our pandemic boom, Miami has become an increasingly sophisticated destination known for its gastronomy, wellness focus, and the arts that’s attracting a growing cohort of international travelers. With a slate of innovative treatment options, luxury accommodations and dedicated practitioners ready to dispense their golden touch, Miami (and Miami Beach) are the ideal locales to rejuvenate and reboot. Dive into a nourishing journey for the body and soul with our spotlight on the region’s top destinations for wellness travelers seeking the fountain of youth.
Best Hotel and Spas
Home to the largest spa on the Eastern Seaboard (70,000 sq. ft.), the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort is at the forefront of the wellness industry, boasting an impressive list of cutting-edge treatments to jump start your self-care journey. From “touchless wellness treatments,” luxe accommodations, upscale French cuisine by a Michelin-starred chef, and more, a getaway to Carillon offers a curated experience to leave every solo traveler rested, rejuvenated, and ready to return. Experience touchless wellness services like no other: think—a Prism Light Pod, luxury energy delivery systems that utilize vibroacoustic, electromagnetic, and infrared heat (V.E.M.I.), Halotherapy, meditation pods, Salt Float Bath therapy, and more. After immersing yourself in treatment, you can head over to the traditional European Thermal Hydrotherapy Circuit to relax, restore and end your spa day on a high note. Of course, the spa also offers an extensive range of facials and massages in addition to their non-traditional spa and wellness services, but it’s pretty clear that there’s not much—if anything— this spa doesn’t have to offer.
In South Beach, W South Beach recently reopened following a $30 million renovation. Instead of dark and shiny, the guest rooms are now light and bright with white tones and warm oaks. The 400 rooms here are the largest guest rooms in South Beach, each with balconies and expansive ocean views. The recent renovation gave the rooms a brighter feel with beach house-style millwork, natural oaks, neutral textures and a beige color palette with accents of soft corals and shaded teals. High-tech elements like circadian lighting with three preset mood modes and underbed lights are a futuristic flourish. The property also has a new spa, Away, that focuses on detoxification with amenities such as complimentary elixirs and charcoal cookies. A bastion of calm and pampering, the spa is a light-filled sanctuary where chlorophyll-infused water greets you upon arrival and the locker room showers are festooned with Eucalyptus branches for uber-natural aromatherapy. Treatments are customized according to each person’s specific needs.
The St. Regis Bal Harbour, the exquisite Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond resort celebrating its 10th anniversary year, recently introduced a new spa concept, The St. Regis Spa, featuring an all-new menu of luxury treatments and wellness experiences in 14,000 square feet of indulgence with 12 treatment rooms, whirlpool, sauna, steam room, and relaxation lounge. Inspired by Caroline Astor and reflecting the resort’s sense of place on Miami’s most glamourous stretch of beach, the spa is a jewel box designed for indulgence. Upon entering the scented welcome lounge, guests can select a treatment, all of which feature products from the world’s best-known spa and beauty brands including Sothy’s, Omorovicza, and Intraceuticals.
The most coveted treatment, and one that exemplifies Caroline Astor’s opulence, is the 24K Gold Wrap, a 90-minute bespoke journey designed to relax and reconnect mind and body while leaving the skin hydrated and luminous. The experience starts with an invigorating full-body exfoliation using a golden sugar scrub, followed by a gentle scalp massage. While the cleansing mask works to warm and detoxify the skin, a harmonious hydro massage leaves the mind deeply relaxed. This exquisite treatment is exclusive to The St. Regis Bal Harbour Spa and cannot be had anywhere else in the world.
The Best Spots for Healthy Eats:
Pura Vida
Offering an array of nutritious and delectable dishes, sourced from high-quality and fresh local ingredients, Pura Vida has the perfect health-focused options for those looking to eat mindfully. With a dozen locations throughout the city the restaurant’s beloved menu includes a range of raw, organic acai bowls, freshly squeezed juices, superfood smoothies, fresh salads, wraps, bowls and more. New menu items for 2023 include the Harvest Kale Salad made with pomegranate seeds, scallions, toasted pumpkin seeds, and roasted sweet potato tossed in apple cider vinaigrette; a selection of hot teas including the Happy Green Tea Blend, Earl Grey Creme, and Pacific Coast Mint; and thirst-quenching options like the Hibiscus Cooler and Passion Fruit Jasmine cold teas. Pura Vida Miami also introduced a Chocolate Protein Muffin packed with 15g of protein – perfect for a guilt-free post-workout treat.
Icebox Cafe
This Sunset Harbour haunt is a hit with local yogis who frequent the studios surrounding it for a reason. Basics like avocado toast topped with roasted tomatoes to ropa vieja lettuce wraps to a smoked turkey Reuben are healthy takes on comfort food. But if you’re really trying to cut calories, avoid the dessert menu at all costs – the place is famous for their multi-layer “icebox” cakes, after all.
Jaffa at MIA Market
Housed in the Design District’s sleek food hall this “stall” (which features a u-shaped bar with seats) serves Mediterranean eats devised by owner Yaniv Cohen aka “The Spice Detective” and his affinity for holistic cooking and Israeli cuisine. Hummus here comes topped with classic chickpeas or tumeric wild mushrooms while the deconstructed Babaganoush is a whole-roasted eggplant topped with sumac-spiced tahini. Don’t miss the whole-roasted turmeric cauliflower, served with zahtar-spiced tahini.
Love Life Cafe
Wynwood’s favorite plant-based eatery by Diego Tosoni and Veronica Menin opened its new location in early 2023 on the ground floor of the 545 Wyn building offering guests an elevated version of the delicious vegan cuisine for which the brand is known and loved. The perfect place to indulge guilt-free, Love Life Cafe’s menu is composed of everyday favorites in plant-based form. Think: pizza, tacos, mac & cheese, arepas, burgers, rice bowls and more. The new location’s menu will feature tried and true Love Life staples such as the award-winning Love Life Burger, made with a superfood patty, homemade guacamole, pickles, plant based cheddar, marinated kale, and cilantro aioli; and El Chamo Bowl with organic basmati brown rice, black beans, shredded jackfruit meat mechada, plantains, avocado, guasacaca sauce and cilantro aioli. New on the menu are dishes such as the Marvelous Mushroom Pizza made with homemade sourdough, white sauce, oyster mushrooms and micro-greens; Gluten-free Avocado Toast with beet infused corn toast made in house, smashed avocados, local greens and edible flowers; and the Eat Good Karma Bowl made with Love Life’s new “dofu,” the restaurant’s version of a lentil-based protein. Love Life Cafe also offers low ABV cocktails and Seedlip mocktails including: Majik Mojito with Seedlip Garden, Blue Majik, lime, date syrup and seltzer; and Spice Hibiscus Margarita with Seedlip Spice, date syrup, hibiscus tea and lime.
The Rogue Panda at Time Out Market
The Rogue Panda serves delicious, indulgent Chinese food that happens to be made 100% from plants. Located at the South Beach-based Time Out Market, menu highlights include Dan Dan Noodles, a Sichuan street noodle, with Impossible™ Pork ragu, Mapo Tofu, with silky tofu, and Kung Pao Brussels, with crispy Brussels sprouts, peanuts, scallions and Kung Pao sauce.
The Best Spots for Mocktails:
Sushi by Bou Brickell
Recently opened Sushi by Bou located in SLS Brickell serves up a selection of mocktails amongst its timed and elevated omakase experience. The Galaxy is a tall purple dream, while the Shiso Fly and the Easy Peasey are mixed with shiso leaves for a citrusy twist.
Dom’s Brickell
Brickell’s go-to neighborhood bar Dom’s Brickell is known for its great programming, vibey atmosphere and craft cocktails. However, the bar is very much mocktail-friendly as it offers some of the best classic cocktails sans alcohol so guests don’t have to miss a night out. Bar goers can enjoy zero-proof cocktails featuring Lyres NA Spirits including the NA Negroni with Lyres London Dry, Lyres Aperitif Rosso and Lyres Italian Orange; NA Aperol Spritz with Lyres Italian Orange and club soda; NA Mojito with fresh mint, lime, simple syrup and soda water; and others. The bar team at DOM’S is also happy to craft custom mocktails using fresh fruit, juices and NA spirits for bar goers based on flavor preferences.
Saloni Bar by Meraki
Mixologist Vanessa Serrano from Downtown Miami’s intimate bar with a focus on natural wine, local craft beers and fresh pressed cocktails created two signature mocktails: Jamaican Power with spiced hibiscus and lime and This Minty Cucu with cucumber, lemongrass and lime. Guests can also catch a buzz without the booze with a bite from Saloni Bar’s new Delta 8 Desserts (a naturally occurring psychoactive substance found in the Cannabis sativa plant) menu featuring a variety of flavors like Blueberry Cookies, Vanilla Wedding Cake and Malibu Rum. Delta 8 Desserts are available to enjoy in house for $15 at 75mg and for take home for $40 at 300mg.
