Beach Goddess-ness this Way...

With the Mercedes Benz Swim Fashion Week in full swing over in Miami, its pretty impossible to avoid the barrage of catwalk shots of models in bikinis. As I flick through the photos, a couple of thoughts spring to mind...:

1. OH GOOD GOD I need to get to the gym IMMEDIATELY;
2. I am so pleased that I don't live anywhere even vaguely in the vicinity of Miami Beach and therefore nowhere even vaguely in the vicinity of this gaggle of sickeningly perfect beach bodies;
3. I need new uber-flattering swimwear and an enormous Muumuu in time for my next shuffle between the shore and my sunlounger...

Images via: www.huffingtonpost.com

So, while I vow to get up an hour early tomorrow morning so that I can put in some quality time on the cross-trainer, I bring you a round-up of my favourite online purveyors of bikinis, beachwear and general promises of being sprinkled with a little of the Miami Swim models' magic in exchange for your credit card details...


Beach Flamingo
In Brief: Brand new swimwear site, Beach Flamingo, is a bit of a family affair. Founded by two sisters (one of whom is Grazia's Shopping Editor, Lily Russo) and their Mother,this one-stop beachwear shop brings together a carefully curated selection of swimwear labels from around the globe. The Russo girls spend two months a year on the beach in Italy so when it comes to looking good in small scraps of lycra, they know what they're talking about...

The Brands: A range of cutting edge brands from all over the world, our favs include Caffe, We Are Handsome, Mara Hoffman and Zimmerman. The site also stocks their own brand range of accessories - embellished beach baskets, retro tasseled sun hats and cute leather sandals.
3BM Top Crush: Zimmerman Floral rebel Frill Bikini - £147.00

Image via: www.beachflamingo.com

Itsie Bitsie
In Brief: We've got good news! Our favourite Hong Kong Swimwear brand, Itsie Bitsie, has just launched an online store! At last, everyone everywhere can get their hands on Itsie Bitsie's gorgeous Bali-made bikinis, beach cover-ups and accessories. Wonderwoman, Cristina Wilkinson, not only runs the business (including often being on-hand in store to help pick out your purchases) but also designs all the swimwear herself. The brand only launched this year but has already become a life-saver for Hong Kong girls ensuring that when junk season kicked-off, we were all kitted out in uber-flattering, affordable swimwear. Top Tip: Itsie Bitsie has also just started selling personalised bikini bottoms - the perfect honeymoon gift for all your bridezilla buds.

The Brands: 100% Itsie Bitsie - stacks of choice though, definitely something for everyone (boys and babies coming soon apparently!)

3BM Top Crush: The PaperDoll Cut Out One-piece - HK$780

Image via: www.itsiebitsie.com

Beach Cafe

In Brief: Part swimwear boutique, part travel magazine, Beach Cafe has teamed up with boutique hotel gurus, Mr & Mrs Smith, to make every step of holiday planning as painless as possible. Hop over to the site to pick-up a caseload of holiday must-haves in between browsing destination guides for a variety of exotic spots. Handpicked hotels, the lowdown on all the best restaurants and boutiques and the inside track on where you can find the best sunset cocktails (the Mice think that planning your next trip based on where there are Mojitos with a view is eminently sensible). The website also has a team of style advisors on hand to ensure that you find your perfect holiday wardrobe. Tell them where you're off to, let them know about your body hang-ups and they'll pull a selection of pieces that'll have you chucking your sarong to the side and parading around the pool in no time.

The Brands: All the top designer beachwear brands, think Melissa Odabash bikinis, Sam Edelman sandals and Tom Ford sunglasses.

3BM Top Crush: Melissa Odabash Jemima Hat - £96.00

Image via: www.beachcafe.com

The Girl and The Water
In Brief: Waterbaby and wanderluster, Melissa Derreumaux, set up The Girl and The Water after falling in love with Hawaiian bikini brand Acacia. The online boutique sells everything you need for a day at the beach from teeny bikinis to brightly coloured Turkish towels. Melissa's a keen paddle boarder and has tried and tested every piece that she carries so you're guaranteed flattering swimwear that can withstand more than just poolside posing.

The Brands: Lots of unusual brands that we haven't found elsewhere. We particularly love Hawaiian brands Acacia and Posh Pua (the Posh Pua Nui bottoms are the most flattering bikini bottoms we own!). The site also carries our favourite find from a trip to Mexico earlier this year, Josa Tulum.
3BM Top Crush: Josa Tulum Low-back Halter Dress - USD$170
(And you can get your hands on this bad boy for 25% less than usual for a few more days with the 3BM x The Girl and The Water Summer Offer! Just type JOSA25 at the checkout until 31st July to get 25% off all Josa Tulum cover-ups!) 

Image via: www.thegirlandthewater.com

Beach Tomato Shack
In Brief: We have a confession to make, we're a little Tomato obsessed. It all started with a mild crush on luxury travel company Black Tomato (go check out its travel porn website to see why). It intensified with the discovery of the Black Tomato travel e-zine, Beach Tomato bringing us our daily dose of sunshine via fun features like Celebrity Beach Bag and Beach House of the Week. It then developed into a full blown love affair with the launch of sister site and online holiday boutique, Beach Tomato Shack. The quirky website features a mind-boggling range of super stylish beachy fashion modelled by squirrels, kittens and robins...yes really!

The Brands: From your trusty go-to designers through to the newest kids on the block - Beach Tomato Shack has all bases covered. We particularly love Roksanda Ilincic, Tara Matthews, Mileti and Violet Lake.

3BM Top Crush: Roksanda Ilincic Black Cut Out One-Piece - £365

Image via: www.thebeachtomatoshack.com

And if you still want more, over on Moda Operandi two super amazing trunkshows are currently shoppable - We Are Handsome (until 28 July) and Charlie By Matthew Zink (until 31 July). We're coveting everything We Are Handsome right now and particularly...


The Poisons String Bikini
€187

The Spirit Sleeveless Dress
€299

The Calypso Cut Away One-piece
€272

Images via: www.modaoperandi.com

Drink All Day, Play All Night...We're in Miami Trick!

This is our final Miami instalment...boo hoo seems like a distant memory now!! You should be totally up to speed on restaurants and know exactly where you're staying.  So what else could there be left to swot up on.... after hours activities of course! 

I can by no means claim to be an expert after only seven days in Miami, especially as the going out scene is so vast and we barely made a dent in it (despite valiant efforts)! However we did check some goodies off the list that are definitely worth blogging about! So let the partying commence...

Dare the door at the Delano...

One of my favourites had to be the Delano - located in an amazing Art Deco style building, this urban resort hotel is on Collins Avenue right amid the buzz of South Beach. The hotel boasts 208 rooms, two restaurants - Bianca and Umi Sushi and Sake bar, The Rose Bar, the Delano Beach Club and a club called FDR. Everywhere is decorated with a sleek, clean finish and in greek-isle inspired white! Philippe Stark was enlisted to design the interiors of the Delano and has evidently created a masterpiece exuding world class style.

Image via www.delano-hotel.com

It's notoriously difficult to get in if you aren't a guest so one word of advice, girls dress to impress and boys take some hot girls with you! We were lucky enough to make friends with a group of guys in The Shelborne next door, who knew the manager of the bar at the Delano Beach Club and we managed to walk straight in and right into a VIP cabana...eeekk!

Everything about the Delano oozes class and style, from the difficult doormen, the dimly lit hotel lobby, to the long walkways through the reception surrounded by billowing white curtains creating hideaway coves and secret snugs just begging for bad behaviour! The outside space is simply beautiful, candles and lanterns are littered everywhere lighting the paths and steps to the Beach Club. There is a real seal of exclusivity to this hotel, especially the sought after pool side bungalows...I peeped through a window of one and spied some Kartell Louis Ghost chairs, huge pristine sofas and white, white, and a bit more white - they looked amazing!! 


The bar served up strong, crisp Hendricks (extra gold star!), however I couldn't tell you if it was expensive or not, as girls, whip out your british accents and BAM, free drinks all round!!!

Image via www.delano-hotel.com

Look for the Light...

The one thing I will say about Miami that trumps London everytime, is how friendly the people are. Actually scratch that, how friendly guys are - the girls on the other hand took a massive disliking to us everywhere we went...in our hotel, in bars, at clubs and even in restaurants! However as a London girl you will make tonnes of guy friends everywhere you go! Someone we met at the Sunday pool party suggested we go to Foxhole, he said it's a top secret bar where lots of famous sport stars go in the hope not to be hassled or recognised! So of course off we went...to change all that!!

All I will tell you is think super cool, a bit more casual than typical Miami bars, dim lighting and a wrap around bar, oh and for the guys there is even a pool table and a juke box!! Just look for a bright red light down an alleyway off Alton Road (close to our new obsession Whole Foods!!) and there you have it!! 

Sip Champagne at the Setai...

TOP TIP - after hours of pre-Miami internet research I stumbled across Champagne happy hour at The Setai hotel - what better kind of happy hour is there than a Champagne happy hour?! On Fridays and Saturdays from 5-7pm, head down and you get glasses of Tattinger Champagne for $16 each and complimentary canapes!

If that isn't good enough for you then just wait until you see the Setai! This hotel is incredible...pure tranquility and total zen. You feel a definite gear change as soon as you enter the hotel; the Mondrian, Delano and Shelborne concentrate on being 'happening' hotels, where as the Setai can only be described as luxury. The attention to detail is everywhere and a relaxed ambience takes over immediately but without being pretentious! 

Image via www.setai.com

As you walk in, to your left there is a long ornate bar with a chunky granite top and beautiful oriental details which leads out to gorgeous seating pods surrounding numerous water pools - perfect for early evening drinks. You then follow the path down to the pool area which consists of three pools scattered with big comfy sun loungers and over sized mattresses! Right at the very back is the pool bar, this has a gorgeous view overlooking the beach and is ideal for a sunset champagne cocktail! 

Image via www.setai.com

Mansion Madness...

We weren't initially planning to go to Mansion, but thank god we did as we had so much fun!! We headed down around midnight and girls, once again be prepared to skip the queue (well crowd as Miami don't seem to understand the concept of a line?!) we also got discounted entry so paid about $15 cover each!

As soon as we were greeted by a girl bathing in rose petals dressed only in jewels and 'beauty is a sign of intelligence' sign, I knew I was going to be a fan... 

The club itself was pretty impressive, big but not so big that you get lost every time you go to the bar, modern minimalistic interior with constant spectacles to keep you entertained...if the people watching, amazing music and beautiful boy spying doesn't suffice! Girls just appear dropping from the ceiling doing acrobatics on ropes, ridiculously toned guys dancing on podiums in nothing but tight golden shorts and huge feather wings and the one that kept me amused for hours, a nipple tassel wearing, fire sparking woman in a feather head-dress?!? Much better than Essex boys and coconut cocktails in Mayfair! 

Cocktail Kings....

By the time we'd landed in Miami, spent two hours getting through visa and passport control and had sorted out four broken key cards to finally break into our suite...all we wanted was a strong drink to make us feel human again! Lucky for us there had been an 'off the hook' party by our pool at the Mondrian that Saturday so we didn't have to stray far from our room! 

The Sunset Lounge isn't huge in size but with an ornate black spiral staircase accented with lots of high gloss white, killer cocktails, amazing bar snacks and a DJ playing fun music, you couldn't ask for much more! 

Image via www.mondrian-miami.com

We sipped on Lychee and Elderflower Caipirinhas from jam jars, super strong but super yum...you just couldn't resist ordering the next round! We also nibbled on the Asia De Cuba bar menu, opting for Pulled Pork Belly and Black Soy Beans, Rock Shrimp and Calamari Tempura, Wagyu Tartare rolls and Edamame beans...super delicious and every scrap disappeared (however we had been dining on Virgin Atlantic food all day!!)

As the night went on the bar got busier and the small dance floor filled up...the night ended with a dance off between a group of professional dancer / models followed by a late night paddle in the pool to cool down! Perfect way to fill a jet lagged first night we thought!!

Live it up at LIV....

Before jetting off the one thing everyone told us to do in Miami was go to LIV Club at the Fontaine Bleau Hotel. We eventually made it down on our last night, a bit of a tight squeeze but we made it in the end! As it was a Friday it was $40 entry and once again a HUGE crowd around the door. Flash that Brit accent and your hot outfit and you'll be in before you know it! 

Another impressive Miami haunt but personally I'd say Mansion ranked higher in the club stakes for me. We had loads of fun, the music was good but the crowd was a lot younger and a little pretentious - more interested in making sure that everyone was looking at them than having fun...definitely not the scene for a dance off or two!

However I did come across my favourite scenario in a nightclub... A bride and groom with half their wedding party at a post reception rave! Very surreal to see a dainty bride in a huge white wedding dress, necking grey goose from the bottle whilst dancing on a podium!!! 

So that's it, our Miami adventures are well and truly over...boo hooo hooooo! I can't recommend it all highly enough, we had so much fun and if you're going I am SUPER jealous!! 


So now for my next holiday....any suggestions?!?!

Come Dine with Me....In Miami....

So Middle Mouse has already filled you in on our Miami abode for the week, but the Mondrian wasn't the only playground for beautiful people...pretty much every corner you turn is! *One exception being Ocean drive...all sights can be seen here but top points for people watching!

It seems that Miami makes every effort to achieve perfection in all aspects of life...cocktails, luxury hotels, service, exercise, beautiful men and my favourite thing in life, FOOD! I am not just referring to dinner here, this covers...breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, puddings, ice-cream and even Supermarkets - Whole Foods on Alton Road can only be described as WOW....my actual heaven! Even though we had a jam-packed itinerary of restaurants to visit we couldn't resist filling the fridge in our suite with pots of scrumptious snacks, fruit, olives and drinks...I can safely say I wasn't hungry once in Miami! 

Before holidaying anywhere I always spend hour upon hour trawling through tripadsior reviews and forums, reading up on where to stay, where to eat and what should be top of my 'to-do' list. My pet hate is arriving, feeling totally lost and for the first night eating somewhere that has photographs on its menu and chomping your way through chewy pre-frozen prawns covered in a sauce from a jar. Miami was no exception, if anything the research took an all time high - Middle, Minnie and my bestie Nikki were on it and sending an email every few minutes with new finds to add to Nikki's Miami List (she is a PA and therefore has a list and schedule for everything!) My Miami Luxe Guide came in super handy, a fold out guide in a waterproof plastic cover (perfect to chuck in your beach bag), no pictures wasting space just recommendations of chic places to visit and top tips for your destination.

So here you have it, 3BM's Food Guide to Miami....

Beauties that Brunch...

If you're in South Beach on a Sunday the only place to been seen brunching is Asia De Cuba at The Mondrian Hotel. Every Sunday the pool boys lay out every bed possible in anticipation for the party ahead - it gets so busy that you can only get up from your sunbed by shuffling down to the end of the lounger, not the best look when trying to look super chic in front of the god like male torsos ambling past! It is the place to be seen, to tan, to eat, to drink and most importantly, to party! 

We sat out on Asia De Cuba's terrace overlooking the poolside antics while grazing on the most incredible food.  I definitely enjoyed my meal but i can't deny the constant worry of eating so much I would then sink in the pool afterwards! However this didn't stop me from visiting the dessert table...the chocolate dipped strawberries were too good to miss! I ate my way through a mouth watering Marine Lobster and Blue Crab Omlette, Chinese five-spice Cuban French Toast with fresh berries, the freshest tomatoes and creamiest mozzarella followed by melt in your mouth Vanilla Pod Creme Brulee balancing on a rich chocolate brownie square - definately a step up from scrambled eggs and bagel al la Middle Mouse!

Image via www.mondrian-miami.com

Asia De Cuba - Mondrian South Beach

1100 West Avenue

Miami Beach

FL 33139

(305) 514-1500

  

If it's good enough for Versace....

If you fancy a good hearty Miami breakfast, why not opt for the News Cafe - Gianni Versace's former favourite spot which he visited every morning for breakfast and his daily Italian newspapers. The Cafe opened in 1988 starting as a newstand with a few tables and has over the years devleoped into one of the most popular brunch spots often with queues around the block. 

Why not kill three birds with one stone... 1. the New Cafe is on Ocean Drive so you can experience some of the most interesting people watching, 2. Versace's previous Miami home, Casa Casuarina (no known as the Villa by Barton G),

is just a few steps away.  It was on the steps of Casa Casuarina that Versace was shot and mudered in 1997.  Morbid history aside, the mansion is a definite Miami must see and you will know you are there by the huge plant pot outside with the Versace logo on it and 3. pick up your breakfast/ brunch/ lunch/ dinner/ drunk snack from New Cafe. 

The Versace Residence

The News Cafe is open 24hours, the food is amazing, the pink lemonade is delicious and the french toast...well an picture speaks a thousand words...

Miami Beach

800 Ocean Drive

FL 33139

(305) 538-6397

Designer Dining...

We headed to the Design District to try out the impressive Michael's Genuine Food and Drink. It was touted as a food sensation that foodies and funkstas come from miles to visit and it didn't disappoint! 

Located in between two mini malls chocka block with high design boutiques, labels galore and razzle dazzle dresses...basically chic stores left, right and centre - we were in heaven! 

The decor was simple and modern with dark tables and chairs, offset by bright red lanterns and complimented by gorgeous barmen - seriously I do not know where they find such beautiful people! We sat out in the pretty courtyard at the front of the bistro among wooden tables and striped chairs which had a real buzzy neighbourhood feel to it. 

The waiters were very friendly and talked us through the menu, recommending wines and dishes (some people may find this a little pushy but we were glad for some direction, my worst envy is food envy, so menu dissecting is extremely important!) We shared starters so that we could try as many creations as possible...the best was definitely the creamy Buratta, with juicy sliced tomatoes and nutty olive oil, we then all opted for 12oz steak with green peppercorn and brandy reduction which was tasty but I think there were definitely more interesting choices to be had on the menu. 

As we were paying the bill, our favourite waiter came out with a complimentary dessert for us - by this point my dress was bursting at the seams and the room I had left for a couple Hendricks and tonics disappeared fast! He said it was his favourite and we had to try the Tangerine Creamsicle Pot de Creme - to you and I this is warm doughnuts with an orange cream and blackberry tarragon jam - divine are the only words!!!

Image via http://www.michaelsgenuine.com

135 Northeast 40th Street

Miami Beach

FL 33137

(305) 573-5550

Romantic rendezvous...

If a candlelit courtyard is more your thing, then Casa Tua is the one for you! Behind green wrought iron gates and tall green hedges on a residential street you will find this charming Italian restaurant. It has an indoor seating area which is smart but the place you really want to be seated is the beautiful courtyard. Lit by hundreds of lanterns and candles, chunky wooden chairs ,thick white tablecloths and the most impeccably dressed and mannered waiters, this is a little slice of heaven (even the toilets are lit by candles and smell like a chic spa!). 

Image via http://www.casatualifestyle.com/

The food is simply amazing Italian cuisine and I would definitely say that it topped all the food that we ate in Miami. The menu itself sounded incredible but our waiter, Andy, couldn't have made the experience any more enjoyable - however he made picking from the menu nearly impossible! He knew every dish off by heart and back to front and had tasted each one - he talked us through each choice in such a beautiful way that we were all mesmerised and could have listened to him all night! Picking was a little more difficult as he'd made everything sound perfection! I opted for Taylor Bay Scallops to start followed by Marine Lobster Risotto, melt in your mouth deliciousness on a plate, I couldn't have enjoyed the evening anymore!

My only complaint (if you can count it as a complaint) was the wine list was about 200 pages long and for Mice with limited wine knowledge, a little daunting! We got past this by opting for prosecco - such a hardship!

This would definately be on my list of restaurants to dine at on my last day on the planet, the only change I would make would be to cram in dessert as well!

Casa Tua Restaurant

1700 James Avenue

Miami Beach

FL 33139

(305) 673-1010

Effortlessly Cool...

I was probably most excited to go to Soho beach House to eat at Cecconi's - I love Shoreditch House in London and was desperate to see the Miami version! 

As we walked in we were immediately impressed however all felt extremley at ease. The decor was very traditional with dark wool panelling, comfy sofas, dimmed lighting with relaxing jazz music playing - a complete contrast to the sleek, buzzing east London Shoreditch House just round the corner from our flat. We were lead through to Cecconi's and to the bar to wait for our table and to enjoy a pre-dinner champagne cocktail. The only word to describe the decor would be twinkly - there are silver Buttonwood trees throughout the space wrapped in white fairy lights, as the majority of the restaurant is outside this looks absolutely gorgeous in the dusky evening light. It really has been designed in such a beautiful, magical way and I can imagine to be very romantic if visited with someone special! 

Image via www.cecconismiamibeach.com

The service was definitely not the best we'd had in Miami, we were put on quite a small table and had no cushions on our metal chairs (organised PA Nikki soon rectified this for us!) However the ambience and food definitely made up for this. 

We shared starters once again to get the best of all worlds and struggled to rank them as they were all delicious  - Gorgonzola Gnocci, Beef Carpaccio with the most fabulous dressing and Scallops with Rosemary and Prosciutto. For my main course, I had homemade ravioli filled with pork, beef and veal with a beautiful sage and butter sauce. Once again top points and I was left rolling out of the restuarant as I was too full to walk! (In actual fact I was running out as I stupidly forgot my credit card, we had to use all our remaining cash to pay the bill and we were $1 short...not a good look at Soho Beach House!)

Soho Beach House

4385 Collins Avenue

Miami Beach

FL 33140

(786) 507-7902

Sushi Sensation...

Ok imagine....a sushi restaurant surrounded by stores covered in neon lights, among noisy clubs and bars, a busy road with yellow cabs zipping past its door, basic decor, a simple wine list and frequent visitors including Richard Branson and his family - what do you have? Toni's Sushi! 

It isn't by any means fancy but it serves great sushi and very tasty Malborough wine! So good in fact that we frequented Toni's twice...fab sashimi, incredible creamy rock shrimp, Spider rolls and every single sushi roll you can imagine. Fuss free but really fantastic, easy food. 

It's location is also pretty good for pre-night out meals, with Mansion only a few steps away. Once again a definite for the Miami schedule if you're a sushi lover like us!

1208 Washington Avenue

Miami Beach

FL 33139

(305) 673-9368

So there you have it...the best of what we sampled while in Miami and we loved every minute of it! There is so much more left to explore (especially Joe's Stone Crab - a legendary institution in Miami) which we just didn't have time to cover...I think this calls for a second visit don't you?! Stay tuned for my low down on Miami bars and clubs....