Miami is a party town year-round, but it really comes into its own on New Year’s Eve. There are firework displays in towns all along the coast and the best views going are those from a superyacht anchored off Miami Beach. The scene ashore puts on a pretty spectacular show, too. There’s such a bounty of food and nightlife you can easily find yourself only returning to your yacht at sunrise.
Where to anchor
If you’re looking for superyacht marinas in Miami, Sunset Harbour Yacht Club on Miami Beach caters for yachts of up to 45.7 metres and is conveniently located for provisioning. As well as a location in the heart of South Beach and a full list of amentities, it provides an Olympic-sized heated swimming pool.
Contact: sunsetharbouryc.com
Where to eat
Prime 112 has been a local and celebrity favourite for a decade and is one of the best restaurants in Miami Beach. Its excellent steaks and quirky sides – try truffled lobster mac and cheese – are a delicious way to prepare for a night of celebration. For something less formal, Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami Beach serves a fantastic array of fresh seafood. Both will be busy, however, so ask your captain to make a reservation far in advance.
Contact: mylesrestaurantgroup.com, joesstonecrab.com
Where to party
Miami nightlife is an ever-morphing landscape of hot spots, but a raspberry mojito at the Delano hotel on South Beach is a perennially cool start to a night out – our favourites are the lobby bar and glorious Art Deco Rose Bar. The Ocho bar on the eighth-floor of the nearby members-only Soho Beach House serves mezcal and tequila by the pool with stunning views of the Atlantic. Afterwards, the club at the new Edition hotel will be the hottest ticket in town – it has just opened and owner Ian Schrager has an impeccable pedigree as the man behind New York’s legendary Studio 54.
Contact: morganshotelgroup.com, sohobeachhouse.com, edition-hotels.marriott.com/miami-beach
Where to recover
Start with a decadent brunch at the local branch of Asian super-chain Zuma. Now for some pampering. The spa of the Standard hotel has a pared-back Miami style that is immediately calming. It is famous for the “summer hammam ritual” in one of the largest hammams in the Americas, although the “All in your mind” treatment that combines head, neck and jaw massages with meditative music may better soothe a hangover. If you don’t feel ready for public view, the Mandarin Oriental spa has six large VIP spa suites, while the Philippe Starck-designed spa at the Viceroy hotel is soothingly stylish with stunning city views, and offers a Raindrop Harmony massage. Heavenly.
Contact: zumarestaurant.com, standardhotels.com, mandarinoriental.com, viceroyhotelsandresorts.com