Miami
Latin America’s “other” capital is a high-energy metropolis. Business deals are focused in Coral Gables and the banking corridor of Brickell Avenue. Avoid traffic trouble by selecting a hotel near your meetings, then add a couple vacation days to play on the beach.
Sleeping
Conrad. Marketers call the Conrad “reassuringly expensive.” In the concave-glass elegance of the Espirito Santo Building, the 25th floor check-in lobby has floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay. There’s complimentary Wi-Fi and a “pillow menu” to make sure you sleep well. www.miami.conradmeetings.com
Mandarin Oriental. The last word in luxury. High speed Internet, Bose sound system and a daily newspaper at your door begin the laundry list of amenities. Its Azul restaurant is one of the city’s finest, Sambal restaurant has an award-winning wine cellar and the M Bar offers 250 martini choices. Oh yes, and did we mention the private beach? www.mandarinoriental.com
Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove. Slide away from Coral Gables into the next-door enclave of Coconut Grove. This hotel is walking (or jogging) distance from the waterfront and marina. Coral Gables has a wider selection of dining, but the Grove scene is far more relaxed. Unwind with the hotel’s food-and-wine tastings in The Lounge or sip a cocktail on your balcony. www.ritzcarlton.com
Four Seasons. The Four Seasons is courting executives who want to add-on a weekend with the children. Wading pools, milk-and-cookies at bedtime and a Kids for All Seasons Activity Centre (for ages 4-12) keep the youngsters busy. On the work side, the hotel has 24-hour business services and wireless Internet. Insider tip: Take your camera to the roof to capture the best panoramic shots in the city. www.fourseasons.com
Relaxing
Delano. Even if you’re working, this ultra-posh hotel makes you feel like you’re on vacation. On the roof, in the Agua Spa, you’ll be treated to 360-degree views and a breeze that belies the subtropical humidity at ground level. That’s also where you can indulge with treatments like the stone therapy massage. This is a splurge, which explains why the Hollywood set hangs out here. Worried about straying too far from work? The Delano will equip you with a cell phone. www.delanohotelmiamibeach.com
Eating
Tarpon Bend. Just open since the start of the year, this laid-back seafood eatery is giving nearby Houston’s steakhouse big competition for the young and beautiful crowd in Coral Gables. The raw oyster bar is complemented by outstanding fish dishes. Not into seafood? There’s also a burger menu. www.tarponbend.com
Mosaico. This Brickell-area sensation serves up Spanish cuisine, and its special business menu makes it a hot spot for power lunches. “The corner tables are the most coveted,” says Chef Jordi Vallès, who hails from Barcelona. Try the tasting menu. Friday happy hour features $5 mojitos. mosaicorestaurant.com
Chispa. Reviews for this long-anticipated Robin Haas restaurant have been electric. Foodie publications, including Bon Appetit, say Chispa’s karma is as sweet as its signature Tres Leches dessert. Sip wine at the 40-foot bar as you prepare for a meal that weaves together Latin American influences. Near Coral Gable’s Merrick Park. chisparestaurant.com
Macaluso’s. This is what you’d get if the Sopranos ran a restaurant: out-of this-world homemade pasta (there must be a real-life nonna in the kitchen) but no – and we mean it – changes, substitutions or special orders. Don’t even ask unless you’re prepared for a withering glare. The superb meatballs are the magnet that draws in celebrities from time to time. There’s an interesting police mug shot in the bathroom. In South Beach at 1747 Alton Road; phone: 305-604-1811.
Drinking
Check your shoes at the door, sink your toes into the sand and unwind after a day of power broking at Barefoot Oasis. The Mandarin Oriental’s Friday night party – where a DJ spins and champagne flows into plastic cups – attracts some 1,500 young professionals. Or head to Coconut Grove and slide onto a stool at super-casual GreenStreet Café, one of the city’s best neighborhood bars. greenstreetcafe.net With 88 years of history, earthy Tobacco Road has been an oasis for lovers of two US classics: burgers and the blues. Don’t come here to discuss business, you’ll want to listen to the music. www.tobacco-road.com