Miami Beach: Our Romantic Weekend of Love and Luxury

Miami, FL! Eric and I set out on separate Miami weekends for our bachelor and bachelorette parties two decades ago before our wedding in Negril, Jamaica. Fast forward to today, it’s only fitting that we’ve circled back to Miami to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. And here’s where we decided to have the ideal setting for our celebration.

Where we celebrated in miami:

Fontainebleau Miami Beach, a historic and architecturally significant hotel, graces the exclusive Millionaire’s Row on Collins Avenue and has long been a symbol of sophistication and elegance. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted with luxury and opulence – from the three stunning chandeliers that resemble upside-down wedding cakes to the black marble bowties on the floor to the infamous stairway to nowhere.

Getting in late Thursday evening had its perks – no waiting in line during check-in. The staff was quick to help, and they gave us the lowdown on the sprawling property. Plus, we had the opportunity to appreciate James Turrell’s “Tall Glass” work without any interruptions.

Fun Fact: The lobby chandeliers cost $1 million each and was designed by Ai Weiwei.

By the way, Eric, our in-house travel agent, took care of all the booking details; I just thumbs up the dates. It wasn’t until we were checking in that I realized Eric had reserved the Le Ciel Ocean Front Suite. Let me tell you, it was a beautiful surprise! He knows how much I love the ocean, and this suite has breathtaking views and happens to have the largest private terrace in the entire Chateau Tower. My man! My Man!

As soon as we stepped into our suite, we were greeted by a beautiful basket of treats from Chez Bon Bon. After a long day of travel, we were ready to eat as soon as we landed, so we opted for room service. I’m not entirely sure if they expedited our order or if the Fountainbleau’s room service is just incredibly efficient, but our food arrived lightning-fast. While we ate, we seized the chance to wander through our gorgeous suite and have a chat with our girls back home. One of the highlights of our suite, apart from the incredible view, had to be the artwork and the fact that they filmed scenes from The Bodyguard right here in this very suite.

Outdoor relaxation

On Friday morning, we hit the beach bright and early, even though it was technically the off-season. The weather and water were fantastic, especially for a beach enthusiast like me. We decided to rent a daybed, which came with the plushest beach towels I’ve ever seen. They were white with embroidered ‘FB’s and had elegant silver piping. Like, they might be nicer than the towels at my house! The cabana included two lounge chairs and an umbrella, which was perfect for us. I enjoy the sun, while Eric prefers the shade, so this arrangement suited us perfectly. It also provided the most private beach experience, allowing us to have our own little world and giving Eric space to enjoy his cigar. Umbrellas are available for rent from 11AM to 6PM, and the cabana beds cost approximately $250 for a full day. The later you reserve, the more cost-effective it is.

lunch time

While you can order fun beach drinks and food directly from your cabana, we opted to do a bit of exploring. Our choice for lunch was the French Mediterranean open-air restaurant La Cote, where we both had kabobs. I chose the organic chicken, while Eric went with the jumbo wild shrimp. The food was beyond delicious; I devoured all my food and managed to sneak a few of Eric’s shrimp. Just as we finished lunch, the DJ started spinning, so we decided to get another round of drinks and hang out at the bar a bit. I had one of the best mojitos EVER! How do you go to Miami and not get a mojito? Back at the beach, we enjoyed music and each other’s company, alternating between the daybed and the water until it was time to head in and get ready
for dinner.

Eric made reservations for dinner at Prime 54, a truly stunning restaurant that offers a dining experience like no other, with impeccable service and a menu that suits the pickiest of eaters. To make our anniversary even more special, they graciously treated us to complimentary dessert and a bottle of fine champagne, adding an extra touch of luxury to our evening.

After dinner, we decided to explore the hotel in depth due to the torrential downpour outside. And let me tell you, we got some prime people-watching action going on—whew, chill!

The Fontainebleau is like a goldmine of excitement! This place has it all: a spa, salon, gym, nightclub, 6 casual dining spots, 3 fine dining options including one with a Michelin rating, and 6 shops/boutiques. They even have a Moet & Chandon vending machine. I found my tribe! With the night still young, we had endless options to explore!

On Saturday, we slept in and treated ourselves to a leisurely brunch. Our choice? Vida. I mean, they’ve got bottomless mimosas and avocado toast on the menu. You know how much I love avocado toast. What more could a girl ask for, right? But hold on, it gets even better! They also offer a buffet, so you can pile your plate high with all your brunch favorites, from fluffy pancakes to crispy bacon. It’s brunch heaven on a plate!

That evening, we had reservations for Hakkasan, the swanky Michelin-rated restaurant located inside Fontainebleau. It exceeded expectations. The service, the food, the drinks? All on point. My absolute fave had to be the green salad with mango and plum dressing. Seriously, I contemplated licking the plate clean!

time to say goodbye to paradise

Sunday morning, our final day in this beach paradise, Mother Nature decided to wake us up with some serious thunderclaps. Is it just me, or does thunder sound extra booming by the beach? Anyway, since our flight wasn’t until later in the afternoon, we got ourselves a sweet deal with a late check-out, giving us all the time we needed to savor our last moments.

Now, here’s a classic dilemma for you: We spent a solid hour going back and forth on where to eat. Come on, we can’t be the only couple who does that, right? Eventually, we decided to keep it simple and headed back to La Cote to enjoy the sun one more time before leaving.

When Eric first mentioned this Miami trip, I was so excited, not just because it was our 20th anniversary. I had plans to go back to the Miami Design District, but they don’t always go down as intended. If you’ve never been, do yourself a favor and go. They have Saint Laurent, Gucci, Maison Margiela, Bottega Veneta, to name a few. In addition, the Baccarat Boutique Bar and Lounge, where all the drinks are served in Baccarat crystal— that’s some rich-b!tch sh!t right there!

Instead, we opted for the “lazy, no-schedule” approach, and it turned out to be a blast. We took relaxation to a whole new level. We enjoyed fine dining, artisan cocktails, and much-needed R&R. The best part was reconnecting with each other. It turned out to be a lazy, lovely getaway we didn’t know we needed.