Each year, Miami Speed Week celebrates racing and entertainment, bringing even more life and excitement to the city of Miami. For the first time ever, Miami Speed Week aligns with Miami to host the Big Race. From May 7 to 8, Miami will be filled with fan experiences, music, sponsored activations, racing celebrities and so much more.
Those looking to partake in the celebrations can check out the guide below to find some of the most perfect spots to stay during Miami Speed week and the best spots to dine nearby the festivities in Bayfront Park. The restaurants and hotels featured in this guide are ideal for relaxing and cooling off after a long day outside, while keeping the prestigious atmosphere of the race.
Where to Eat
Villa Azur Miami Beach
The chic French supper club Villa Azur is a classy culinary and lifestyle experience, and located five miles from the Miami Speed Week festivities at Bayfront Park. The dynamic restaurant and lounge transform a high-end dinner service into a vibrant atmosphere. In celebration of the Big Race, Villa Azur will be offering a special cocktail, the Grand Prix, made with Casamigos Blanco Tequila, Anchos Reyes, fresh lime, strawberry purée and a flavorful tajin rim ($23). Guests can also enjoy fresh and extravagant dishes from Villa Azur’s menu. Those looking for a meal from the land can taste the carefully roasted Chateaubriand Au Poivre, made of 2 lbs of prime filet mignon and paired with bordelaise and béarnaise sauces. For fresh seafood, the Dover Sole Meunière is made with whole fish, caper, lemon and brown butter and is prepared tableside for a stunning visual. Additional bites include a Latin twist on Tuna Tartare with avocado salsa verde or the cognac-flamed Pâtes a la Meule pasta served tableside.
EST.33 Thai Craft Brewery & Kitchen
From Bangkok to Miami, EST. 33 Thai Craft Brewery & Kitchen harmoniously brings together the classic tastes and techniques of American barbecue to traditional Thai cuisine. Located 10 minutes from the Miami Speed Week festivities, EST. 33 was recently awarded “Best Restaurant in Brickell” by Miami New Times’ Best of Miami 2021. By blending bursts of salty, spicy, sour and sweet with smoky, acidic and savory, the restaurant offers a thoughtfully fused food menu that pairs Asian spices with hickory wood flavors. In addition to crafted dishes, EST.33 presents a thorough beverage selection, including the chance for guests to take a tour of the restaurant’s brewery to learn just how it designs its experimental creations.
Dogfish Head
Only 15 minutes from Bayfront Park and the Miami Speed Week celebration, Dogfish Head Miami serves as a hub for one-of-a-kind, multi-sensory experiences, giving locals and visitors alike a place to gather and enjoy innovative beers and local food alongside music and art. On tap, guests can choose from a rotating lineup of house-brewed exclusives infused with Florida’s native flavors, as well as a selection of Dogfish Head’s national specials. Fan-favorites include Starpucker IPA (6.2%), a hazy IPA with a magnificent mélange of fruity-juicy hop aromas and flavors made with Florida-grown starfruit, as well as Mas Hops (10%), a Double IPA made with Delaware malt and four types of hop varieties, with intense pine notes and a cascade of tropical aroma. To pair with their off-centered ales, guests can chow down on a menu of mouth-watering morsels, like Florida Shrimp Gazpacho, Bao Bun Barbacoa, Sweet Potato Cheesecake and more. Pro tip: The first Friday of every month, join Dogfish Head Miami for its Vintage & Vinyl party from 5 – 7 PM. Stop by on May 6 to catch DJ Booty spinning a surprise vintage stash.
Uchi
Less than 20 minutes away from Bayfront Park, Uchi originates from the James Beard Award-winning chef and owner Tyson Cole, whose mastermind brings over a decade of experience under two sushi masters to the Wynwood arts district. Beyond classic sushi rolls and freshly caught sashimi, Uchi offers yasaimono, agemono, makimono, toyosu, one of a kind specials and a multi-course omakase selection. Guests can witness chefs in action from the sushi counter, dine in its sophisticated floorplan or take a seat on the outdoor wraparound patio.
Kosushi
Kosushi Miami is known for its authentic yet contemporary take on traditional Japanese cuisine with Brazilian flavors created by 5x Michelin Star Award-Winning Chef George Koshoji. Located five miles from Miami Speed Week events at Bayfront Park, its bold flavors come in offerings such as small cold or hot dishes, from the chilled King Crab Truffle to the steaming Wagyu Gyoza, as well as a vast variety of sushi. To pair the perfect drink, Kosushi serves an exclusive cocktail selection created by the talented Brazilian mixologist Márcio Silva, featuring drinks like “Shokobutsuen” (Gin, fresh lemon juice, basil, cucumber, mint and organic sugar syrup), as well as a curated list of wines and sakes showcasing flavor profiles for every palate.
Chotto Matte
Chotto Matte, the pioneering global Nikkei dining destination, celebrates the very best of authentic and innovative cuisine, set in a vibrant, stylish architectural space less than five miles from Bayfront Park’s Speed Week events. Nikkei is a unique blend of Japanese and Peruvian culinary traditions, a lively combination of ingredients and techniques both with a deep appreciation for fresh fish and seasonal ingredients. Chotto Matte’s innovative menu stays true to the Nikkei staples – Ceviche, Tiradito, Anticucho BBQ, Sushi, Sashimi and Tempura – while ensuring the ingredients are organic and sustainably sourced.
Fratelli La Bufala
Known as Miami’s first Neapolitan Pizzeria, Fratelli La Bufala has operated its authentic Italian traditions in Miami Beach since 2005, only a short five miles from Bayfront Park. The taste of tradition shows in Fratelli La Bufala’s expansive menu of pastas, pizzas and other classic Neapolitan fare. The popular pizzas are all made with fresh mozzarella and come with toppings ranging from artichoke hearts and ham to roasted potatoes and sausage. In addition to the vast selection of 20+ pizzas, the restaurant also serves pastas from Lasagna and Gnocchi to Bucatini alla Carbonara and Linguine ai Gamberi. Like they do in Italy, guests can sip on freshly brewed espresso after their hearty meal.
Shooters Waterfront
Since 1982, the Fort Lauderdale restaurant Shooters Waterfront has provided its guests with fresh cuisine from its elegant dining destination along the Intracoastal Waterway. From a spring breaker’s paradise to a neighborhood eatery, this waterfront restaurant has experienced it all, and is a short drive from the Big Race at Hard Rock Stadium. Shooters has been recognized as one of Restaurant Business Magazine’s Top 100 Independents for 2019 and 2020, cracking in most recently at #39. Its coastal-inspired menu offers a fresh selection of dishes from Asian-inspired sushi to All-American St. Louis Style Ribs. With its neutral and distinguished decor that spans from its luxurious dining rooms to its chic outdoor lawn peppered with fire pits, those dining at Shooters can’t help but be transported to a coastal oasis.
Casa Sensei
Located only 30 minutes from the Grand Prix, Casa Sensei brilliantly blends traditional Latin American cuisine with Pan-Asian staples to create the best of both worlds. The fusion eatery presents a deliciously dynamic environment for an immersive dining experience in the restaurant’s elegant dining room, dog-friendly waterfront patio or via a scenic Riverfront Gondola Tour along the Himmarshee Canal. Authentic comfort dishes include favorites like the Korean BBQ Beef and Kimchi Fried Rice or opt for a tantalizing specialty dish like the freshly fished Lobster Guacamole. After an elegant meal where East meets West, guests can satisfy their sweet tooth with a complimentary cloud of cotton candy.
Mehzcla at The Balfour Hotel
Mehzcla, spearheaded by chef Steven Acosta, unifies a variety of Latin American culinary influences found throughout the hotel, welcoming people from all walks of life to enjoy a seat at the table. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the menu combines Latin recipes and ingredients in tribute to the property’s Miami Beach heritage. The Balfour Hotel’s nod to Latin America is found throughout Mehzcla’s design. Diners enter the restaurant through a wrap-around terrace with ample outdoor seating overlooking scenic Ocean Drive. The dining room is centered around the historic building’s original marble fireplace, terrazzo flooring, and an inviting lobby bar featuring a well-crafted, classic cocktail program. Serving as the hotel’s social hub, this space celebrates Miami’s diverse cultural scene with its plush rattan furniture, pops of tropical prints and warm hues, and the rotating gallery of local art from emerging talent from South Florida art schools.
Verde at The Pérez Art Museum Miami
Verde, located in Pérez Art Museum Miami with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay, is a modern, casual restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. Verde’s expansive patio offers panoramic views of Biscayne Bay and leads out onto the entrance to Museum Park, a scenic outdoor experience for diners looking to experience sunny South Florida’s perfect weather and immerse themselves in the city’s cultural offerings with access to the museum’s sculpture garden and scenic views of Downtown Miami.
Mamey
Mamey is an island-inspired restaurant by James Beard Nominee and Food & Wine’s Best New Chef of 2020, Chef Niven Patel. Located inside THesis Hotel, Mamey is inspired by Chef Patel’s travels throughout Asia, French Polynesia and the Caribbean. As is true of all Chef Niven’s endeavors, Mamey, which is named after the tropical fruit, features locally grown produce, most of which is sourced from his own farm, Rancho Patel in Homestead, Florida. The restaurant showcases the exotic flavors and spices commonly found in the islands. Mamey’s seasonal offerings are complemented by fun, innovative cocktails that will transport you to the tropics. Nestled on the third floor of THesis Hotel is the vibrant rooftop extension of Mamey Miami, Mamey on 3rd. The island-minded rooftop oasis serves happy hour and bites daily and brings the vibes with live music to be enjoyed with friends and family.
Orno
Located inside of the THesis Hotel Miami in Coral Gables, Orno, is a modern restaurant with an open-kitchen concept, helmed by 4x James Beard Nominee and Food & Wine’s Best New Chef of 2020, Chef Niven Patel. Orno offers guests a true, farm-to-table experience using locally sourced ingredients from Chef Patel’s very own farm, Rancho Patel. The restaurant consists of New American cuisine featuring the finest selection of meats and seafood. Wood-fired culinary creations are complimented by specialty cocktails inspired by literary classics which can be enjoyed in the main dining room or in The Library, Orno’s hideaway lounge and private dining room.
The Lincoln Eatery
The Lincoln Eatery is the first food hall in Miami Beach. The urban food collective houses a curated selection of 13 unique dining and drinking options featuring an eclectic assortment of global culinary concepts. The Lincoln Eatery serves diners a quick bite, lively programming and events, a great drink or a chic space to meet, mingle, work or hang. Many of the Eatery’s tenants are new to the market, bringing authentic, and in most cases, homegrown made-in-Miami options to a wider audience with first time brick and mortar retail locations.
Where to Stay
THesis Hotel
THesis Hotel Miami, a modern property that serves as a cultural hub in historic Coral Gables, has 245 modernly-appointed guest rooms and suites in a strikingly designed building. Amenities include a sun-filled rooftop pool with tropical views and a poolside bar; two on-site restaurants, Mamey and Orno, led by Food + Wine Best Chef of 2020 winner and James Beard nominee Niven Patel. With a robust, year-round calendar of programming and events – all open to the public – THesis is not only a hotel, but a destination that fosters genuine connection and creative expression; a place where curious, like-minded individuals exchange ideas, celebrate art, discover new cultural experiences, and engage with their community.
The Balfour Hotel
The Balfour Hotel is a historic property, formerly known as The Lord Balfour Hotel, with 82 guest rooms and suites spread out over two Art-Deco style buildings connected by an enchanting courtyard. Designed in 1940 by Anton Skislewicz, an important architect behind Miami Beach’s Art Deco history, The Balfour Hotel caters to design-conscious visitors with a unique style that has an undeniably timeless appeal. An elevated, plunge pool with an underwater window provides the perfect Instagram shot of swimmers behind the glass wall. Terracotta mosaic tiles, chaise lounges and ratan lounge seating invite guests to sunbathe and enjoy the seasonal rotations of refreshers including frozen grapes and fruit smoothies.
The Gabriel Miami
The Gabriel Miami is a 129-key lifestyle hotel in Downtown Miami, offering spacious rooms and suites and views of Biscayne Bay. Adjacent to the hotel’s palm-tree-lined sun deck on the 14th floor is a rectangular pool with views of the intracoastal waterway, the Miami Beach skyline, PortMiami and Biscayne Bay, providing guests with the ultimate venue for relaxation and tranquility among the city’s cultural epicenter. Select rooms feature balconies with outdoor seating, providing the ultimate venue for watching the sunrise over the Miami skyline.
The Gabriel South Beach
The Gabriel South Beach is a boutique property located on Ocean Drive in South Beach. The boutique property has with two pools, including a show-stopping, glass bottom pool on the roof overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and is comprised of three individual buildings – including the historic Park Central Hotel, Heathcote Apartments and the Imperial Hotel, presenting travelers with the classic Art Deco design and architecture synonymous with Miami Beach. Guests will find a 30-foot-tall mural by the French-born, Los Angeles-based street artist Mr. Brainwash, known for his large-scale installations and prints of celebrities like Madonna, Kate Moss, and Marilyn Monroe and his practice of subverting cultural iconography similar to Andy Warhol and Banksy. The hotel blends Art Deco modernism with tropical allure.
The Shelborne South Beach
The Shelborne was originally built in 1940 and designed by famed Art Deco architects Igor Polevitsky and Thomas Triplett Russel. It was embellished in the 1950s by Neo-baroque design master Morris Lapidus. The property houses an iconic Art Deco pool, David’s Cafe (For authentic Cuban coffee) and Sweet Beach, with cuisine by James Beard Winner Michelle Bernstein. The bar was conceptualized and operated by the team at locally celebrated Sweet LIberty Drinks & Supply Co. Finally, head out to the pool for a relaxed vibe and traditional South Beach nostalgia. There’s also an amazing Oasis Garden, offering various moon watching events and fitness programming on weekends.
Hillsboro Beach Resort
Hillsboro Beach Resort, known for exclusivity and privacy, is the only resort located on exclusive Hillsboro Mile, known colloquially as “Millionaire’s Mile” for the numerous oceanfront mansions and luxury yachts lining the town’s street. The luxury resort boasts 72 well-appointed guestrooms, studios and suites, including rooms with views of the beach. Guests can expect to delight in internationally inspired cuisine at the resort restaurant Roí or can experience the relaxed atmosphere of the ocean view resort pool or private beach. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, guests can enjoy a day of watersports from the resort’s intracoastal mooring or head out on one of the resort’s beach cruiser bicycles to explore the surrounding areas.
By ML Staff. Images courtesy of each featured property
