Planning A Trip To Bal Harbour, Ritz-Carlton

Planning Your Trip

Secluded on a peninsula yet only 15 minutes from the energy of Miami’s South Beach, the hotel is perfect for a weekend getaway. From beautiful beaches to a night out on the town, here’s what to bring along.

The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami

What to Pack

While Miami’s weather is just about perfect, unexpected rain showers do happen. Pack a small umbrella in your tote bag to take along as you explore the city.

Weekend Getaway

Just a quick jaunt from cities like New York and Washington, D.C., Bal Harbour and the surrounding Miami metro area make for a perfect weekend destination. Bring along a few essentials to ensure you’re able to cover a lot of ground in a short time.

Pack a pair of comfortable sandals that can take you from lounging on the beach to exploring the city.

One of Miami’s greatest assets, the sunny weather, requires a few extra accessories to keep your skin protected. Bring along a wide-brimmed hat and stylish sunglasses to avoid overexposure.

Stash a lightweight scarf in your beach bag to transition from day to night — the ocean breezes can be chilly once the sun goes down.

Exploring the City

Bal Harbour, situated at the northern tip of Miami Beach, has ideal access to many of the city’s best museums, galleries and botanical gardens, as well as shopping and dining. Here’s what to pack.

There’s so much to see and do in and around Bal Harbour — opt for a pair of stylish sneakers to keep you comfortable as you explore the myriad museums, galleries and boutiques.

For evening outings, do as the locals do and err on the side of dressy: slacks and button-downs for men, sheath dresses and high heels for women.

There is an abundance of great shopping in Miami, beginning with the Bal Harbour Shops just down the street. Consider bringing along an extra tote bag for packing your new wares.

Beach Vacation

While there is so much to experience in Miami, simply relax on Bal Harbour’s white-sand beaches — which are wonderfully secluded compared to the rest of the city’s beaches. Stock your beach bag with these must-haves.

Pack multiple swimsuits so that you always have a dry option at the ready. Ladies may want to consider bringing different suit types for different activities.

A waterproof beach bag (or pouch within) is vital to keep e-readers and tablets safe from unexpected ocean swells or rain showers.

A sarong or lightweight cover-up will take you seamlessly from the beach to happy hour on the patio — stash a couple of stylish options in your suitcase.

The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami

What to Reserve

Whether a romantic getaway or a relaxing girls' trip, a little planning can ensure you’re able to do everything on your itinerary. Classes at Exhale spa, a table at LIV nightclub, a session with the hotel’s Couture Concierge and dinner at Miami's best restaurants can all be arranged prior to your arrival.

Dining Reservations

Outdoor dining is a must-do in a sunny locale like Bal Harbour. Book a table on the patio at Juvia, where you can take in the sights of South Beach as you nosh on eclectic fare like Wagyu Short Rib Gyoza and Duck Foie Gras Terrine. For cutting-edge, plant-based cuisine, head to Plant Food and Wine, where the stunning modernist space competes for attention with the food. For delightful fusion cuisine, reserve a table at Makoto, where chef Makoto Okuwa his developed his own take on Japanese cuisine. The fresh sushi is delightful, but don’t pass up a chance to try some of the more unique offerings, too, like Japanese risotto and tuna pizza.

Nightlife

Home to a bustling live music scene, vibrant nightclubs and evening art shows, Miami was practically made for a night out on the town. For a unique evening out, head to El Tucán, a modern-day cabaret that pays homage to Cuba in the 1940s and transports revelers to the bygone era of glitz and glamour. For all-night revelry, reserve a table at LIV, one of the city’s most storied nightclubs, which recently reopened after a $10 million renovation. To truly dress the part, book an appointment with The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour Couture Concierge Service, which includes wardrobe planning and personal shopping at nearby designer boutiques.

Spa Appointments

Find a few moments of respite with a trip to Exhale Bal Harbour. The 10,000-square-foot waterfront spa and fitness boutique offers wellness treatments that relax, restore and rejuvenate. Start your morning with a barre, yoga or HIIT class in the light-filled studio overlooking the ocean, then unwind in a private treatment suite as you enjoy offerings like the Signature Flow Massage, Power Facial and Glow Body Scrub, before wrapping up your day in the steam room and sauna.

Museum Tickets and Cultural Sights

One of the country’s biggest destinations for art, there’s no shortage of masterpieces to view in Miami. As part of the Bal Harbour Unscripted program, guests of The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami get tickets to numerous museums — ask your concierge for more details. Additionally, arrange for a private tour at the Pérez Art Museum Miami, a work of art in itself where visitors can take an architectural tour of the 200,000-square-foot building, designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning firm Herzog & de Meuron. Inside are rotating special exhibitions as well as a section dedicated to Latin American and Caribbean art, in honor of the region’s cultural heritage. For evening entertainment, ask the concierge at The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami to secure you tickets to a show at the Adrienne Arsht Center, which plays host to the Miami City Ballet as well as traveling Broadway shows and various musicians.

The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami

Itineraries

Bal Harbour offers a distinct destination: amid the energy of Miami Beach yet secluded enough to feel like a true getaway. To make the most of your visit, the hotel’s local experts have crafted itineraries for a romantic retreat and an arts-focused weekend.

2-Day Romantic Getaway

Combine the warmth of the sunlight, the sound and sight of gentle Atlantic waves and the natural splendor of Bal Harbour, and it adds up to a relaxed, romantic getaway. This upscale Florida village and surrounding beaches are home to the perfect places to let time drift away as you spend time together in fine restaurants, elaborate gardens and intimate venues. These coastal adventures will create idyllic memories that ignite the flames of love, and keep them well ablaze.

Day 1

Morning

Wave Hello. Stroll hand in hand and survey the sand and seawall of the beach at Bal Harbour on the landscaped Beach Walk, which runs parallel to the water the full length of the seaside village, down into Surfside.

Worth a Shot. All breakfast selections at Artisan Beach House include coffee and a “juice shot”; pair the avocado toast with the Mandarin Mint (tangerine juice and mint leaves) for a light, beach-friendly breakfast.

Midday

Privacy, Please. Bal Harbour Beach is among Miami’s most sumptuous, with tranquil waves lapping at the shore of well-groomed white sand. Enjoy the access and view from a luxury cabana at The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami, which includes two lounge chairs, a day bed, beach towels, refreshments, bottled water, personal concierge service, privacy curtains and a plunge hot tub. Or opt for a private beach bed, with two lounge chairs and umbrellas stationed close to the surf.

Afternoon

The Great Estate. Step back a century and explore Vizcaya. Industrial heir James Deering’s estate was built in the early 1900s but was designed to look like a baroque 18th-century Italian villa. The National Historic Landmark is now open for tours of the 38,000-square-foot main house, the 10 acres of formal gardens filled with statues, busts, vases and urns from as far back as the 1700s, and a collection of 2,000 orchid specimens in “orchidarium.

Evening

Sit Back and Sup.Be prepared to truly savor dinner at Naoe; the average meal at this intimate Japanese restaurant on Brickell Key lasts 2½–3 hours, while Executive Chef Kevin Cory lavishes attention on his eight — yes, eight — guests. (Reservations are required, and the Chef’s Choice omakase menu is prepared especially according to what’s new and fresh and can be paired with sake from Cory’s family distillery.) Forbes Travel Guide has awarded the restaurant five stars, the top score, every year since 2013.

Day 2

Morning

Here’s to You. Salute the sunrise with mimosas from your breakfast table on the ocean-side patio at Artisan Beach House. Start the day with Eggs Your Way or opt for the Garden Frittata, filled with locally sourced squash and other vegetables.

Purchasing Power. Browse the Bal Harbour Shops to find the perfect outfit, souvenir or gift. The boutiques and department stores in America’s most successful open-air luxury center run from A to Z — literally, from Agent Provocateur to Zimmermann — so virtually any retail dream can be realized within.

Curated Couture. For a more specialized shopping experience, engage a Couture Concierge. Celebrity stylist Elysze Held will organize personal shopping experiences at boutiques and designer showrooms or assist with one-on-one wardrobe consultations.

Midday

Paris Amid the Palms. Double James Beard Award winner Stephen Starr’s 200-seat brasserie, Le Zoo, features classic French bistro fare, such as escargot, steak or salmon frites, and salade niçoise.

Rest and Recharge. Retreat to your room for quiet time. All rooms and suites at The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami have 10-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, free-standing soaking tubs that look out to the water, and terraces with at least partial ocean views.

Afternoon

Heaven Scent. Arrive at Exhale Bal Harbour at least a half-hour prior to your scheduled Fusion massages in the couple’s suite. You’ll want plenty of time to unwind in the sauna and steam room before your treatment, which combines rhythmic massage with aromatherapy oils.

Evening

Grand Finale. Reserve your table in the Mosaic Garden at Gianni’s at the Villa and dine facing a pool tiled in 24-karat gold at The Villa Casa Casuarina, the 1930s oceanfront mansion that was built by the heir of a Standard Oil executive but is best known as the former residence of Gianni Versace. Then squeeze in for a postprandial cocktail at the six-seat Onyx Bar, a conversion of Versace’s former kitchen.

3-Day Cultural Treasures

Miami’s arts and cultural scene are internationally renowned; Art Basel Miami Beach draws more than 70,000 visitors a year, making it one of America’s leading art shows, while modern art and midcentury modern architecture continue to define the city’s famous aesthetic. Bal Harbour, situated at the northern tip of Miami Beach, has ideal access to many of the city’s best museums, galleries and botanical gardens. Visitors don’t have to go far to start: Bal Harbour’s public Beach Walk is home to exhibitions organized by the city’s Unscripted art program.

Day 1

Morning

Get Some Space. The Frost Museum of Science takes visitors on a journey from the human cell to outer space. Its Planetarium uses an immersive 16-million-color, 8K visual system and 3-D projection to delve into the problems and promise of asteroids, while the digital games of the health-focused MeLab explore viruses, diet and more.

Midday

Art Attack. The Pérez Art Museum Miami is a work of art in itself — visitors can take an architecture tour of the 200,000-square-foot building, which was designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning firm Herzog & de Meuron. Inside are rotating special exhibitions as well as a section dedicated to Latin American and Caribbean art, in honor of the region’s cultural heritage.

Afternoon

Hit the Walls. Internationally acclaimed artists Shepard Fairey, Kenny Scharf and Osgemeos are among the dozens of muralists whose works adorn the Wynwood Walls, a project that covers more than 80,000 square feet of walls in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District. (Vogue magazine named it “one of the 15 coolest neighborhoods in the world.”)

Evening

Neighborhood Watch. The “unassuming but elegant” motif at Joey’s is found not just in the décor (marble tables, polished concrete floors) but also in the menu. The restaurant — the first to open in Wynwood, back in 2008 — offers quietly sophisticated cuisine inspired by Italy’s Veneto region, with a wine list to match.

Day 2

Morning

Form Fitting. Start your morning out walking in Miami Design District, a creative neighborhood and shopping destination dedicated to innovative fashion, design, art, and architecture.

Afternoon

A Genuine Pleasure. Rest and recharge at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink. Local James Beard Award winner Michael Schwartz’s farm-to-table concept includes modern takes on comfort food. The menu features roasted vegetables, hearty sandwiches and pizzas, and a raw bar.

New Works, New Home. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, displays works by local and nationally renowned artists in its new permanent home, which opened in the Miami Design District in December 2017. The institute’s permanent collection includes works by Louise Bourgeois, Sterling Ruby and Julian Schnabel, while its ICA Performs stage presents new and recent works by performance artists.

Evening

Net Royalties. The fresh coastal cuisine at Artisan Beach House is rivaled only by its views of the Atlantic Ocean and Haulover Inlet. The restaurant inside The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami is renowned for its fresh seafood sourced over the Atlantic and local produce procured to create dishes inspired by global culinary traditions. After sundown, try a smoked rum and Coke, with Kirk & Sweeney's 23-year-old rum and house-smoked Coca-Cola.

Day 3

Morning

The Great Estate. Step back a century and explore Vizcaya. Industrial heir James Deering’s Italian-inspired estate, built in the early 1900s for an estimated $26 million, now is a National Historic Landmark open for tours of the 38,000-square-foot main house, 10 acres of formal gardens and a collection of 2,000 orchid specimens.

Tropical Trek. Stroll through The Kampong, a National Tropical Botanical Garden filled with exotic plants and flowering trees from around the world. Horticulturist and explorer David Fairchild, head of the USDA Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction from 1897 to 1928, also collected tropical fruits, palms, vines and shrubs to plant on his estate, which is now a living campus for botany and horticulture students and fans.

Afternoon

Modern Masters. In addition to a permanent collection that includes the works of Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein, Peggy Nolan and James Turrell, the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami exhibits eight to 10 group and solo shows each year, including three of emerging or experimental artists.

Evening

Shellfish Motives. Order the oysters at Mignonette, a contemporary oyster bar. The seafood options are plentiful, from Oysters Rockefeller (with dandelion, Pernod and Parmesan) and buffalo scallops to lobster tail and caviar.

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