Art Basel Miami Beach is the favorite annual meeting place for the international art world, which draws A-List celebrities, cultural icons as well as art lovers from all over the world. The winter edition of the major Swiss-based art fair is held on the first week of December, and takes over the Miami Beach Convention Center, while satellite shows and special events spread out over the rest of the Magic City.
On December 6th through 9th, the 17th edition of Art Basel Miami (ABMB) will host special curated programs, late-night parties, and cutting-edge art from artists and galleries from around the global. We’ve put together a few of the best satellite art shows and special events, plus the perfect cocktail destinations for thirsty art-lovers needing a break between Art Basel Miami Beach events:
ART
Scope Miami Beach Fair
The 18th edition of SCOPE Miami Beach returns to the sands of Ocean Drive and 8th Street to feature 140 International Exhibitors from 25 countries and 60 cities. This year, SCOPE Miami Beach deepens its ties with the New Contemporary and Street Art genres by celebrating HI-FRUCTOSE’s 14th year in publication. The legendary publication will be transforming the SCOPE tent with ambitious projects featuring artists Okuda, HOTTEA, and AJ Fosik alongside immersive Special Projects, and compelling brand integrations.
Scope Miami Beach Details
801 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
VIP Preview: Wednesday, December 4 from 4 – 8 pm. Private event by invitation only.
Public Hours: Thursday, December 5 – Sunday, December 9 from 11 am – 8 pm. Ticketed event open to public.
Tickets: scope-art.com
Superfine! – The Fair
Founders, Alex Mitow and James Miille, will kick off their city-hopping art fair stop in Miami Beach with complimentary cotton candy clad champagne, performance artists and live music at their Twilight Vernissage first look on Wednesday, December 5th. During the five nights and four full days of Miami’s favorite art fair will host panel talks, a LGBTQ+ Art Film Series, and 45 booths of independent solo artists and galleries hailing from Miami and around the globe.
Superfine! – The Fair Details
Art Deco Welcome Center, 1001 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
Twilight Vernissage First Look Preview: Wednesday December.5 from 7 – 11 pm. Sold out ticketed event.
Public Hours: Thursday, December 5 –Saturday, December 8 from 11 am – 10 pm, and Sunday, December 9 from 11 am – 8 pm. Ticketed event open to public.
Tickets: https://superfine.world/miami-beach
TIP: Young Collectors’ Ice Cream Social, an event filled with Ice cream, cocktails, and art collecting camaraderie, is also hosting an ARTstagram social media contest, with a $500 art spree grand prize, on Friday , December7 from 7 – 10 pm. Ticketed event open to public.
COCKTAILS
The Bellhop Bar at Loews Miami Beach Hotel
Loews Miami Beach Hotel is nodding to the past and serving up locally, handcrafted cocktails with The Bellhop Bar pop up, a retrofitted steamer trunk packed with bespoke beverages stored in antique apothecary-style bottles, on display at Bar Collins – the hotel’s lobby bar and restaurant. Choose from two pre-batched cocktails that use Angel’s Envy Bourbon or Hangar One Vodka. Additionally, a red and sparkling wine, from The Count by Buena Vista Winery, is available.
Old Fashioned con Mango
A spirit forward cocktail made with Angel’s Envy Bourbon, mango-infused simple syrup, mango bitters, orange bitters and a garnish of dehydrated mango.
Miami Startini
A refreshing citrus cocktail made with Hangar One Vodka, St. Germain liqueur, simple syrup, fresh star fruit juice, Cointreau, lemon juice and a garnish of sliced star fruit.
The Bellhop Bar (lobby of Loews Miami Beach Hotel), 1601 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Hours: Daily from 5-7pm, until mid-January 2019
Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Co
For a world-class cocktails, head to Sweet Liberty on Miami Beach; currently listed as #21 out of the World’s 50 Best Bars of 2018.
Strawberry Daiquiri (JL Remix)
This is the best Strawberry Daiquiri you will ever have! Both fruity and savory, it is shaken with Bacardi Superior Rum, Manzanilla Liqueur, fresh Strawberry, Lime, Sugar, and, Salt and Pepper, then, served chilled and straightup.
Our Piña Colada
This is the best Pina Colada you will ever have! Both rich and boozy, it is mixed with crushed ice, Sweet Liberty 3 Rum Blend, Pineapple, Coconut Cream, and Jamaican Coffee Beans, plus, a Pedro Ximénez Sherry float.
237 20th Street, Miami Beach, mysweetliberty.com
Hours: Monday – Saturday from 4 pm to 5 am, & Sunday Brunch from Noon to 5 am
Happy Hour: Daily from 4 to 7 pm
Juvia – Miami
An ultramodern outdoor/indoor restaurant atop a designer parking garage overlooking famous Lincoln Road.
Garden Tonic
Nolet’s Gin, Suze, Lemon Juice, Basil, Arugula and Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic.
Hennessy Jam
Hennessy VS Cognac, Apricot, Fresh Mint, Ginger Shrub and Ginger Ale.
Choco Smack
Grey Goose Vodka, Bouvery Chocolate Vodka, Espresso, Kalhua Liquor and Malibu Coconut Rum
1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
Hours: Sunday – Thursday from 6 to 11pm
, Friday from 6pm to 12am, & Saturday from 6 pm to 1 am
AQ Bar at Acqualina Resort & Spa
The Warhol
Art-loving cocktail-drinkers will be sipping art-inspired cocktails such as The Warhol during Miami Art Week at AQ Bar located at the five-star Acqualina Resort & Spa. The stylish interior of AQ Bar, inspired by the smooth and sultry era of the Parisian jazz movement, creates an eclectic vibe, and features brass finishes, an antique mirror and mid-century modern furniture.
Guests can admire AQ Bar’s iconic original works by Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring and Jeff Koons as well as the hugely popular Liz by Andy Warhol painted in 1964 and Alfred Hitchcock from 1983, and British contemporary artist Damien Hirst’s Mickey in blue glitter –with this tasty libation in hand.
“We are huge fans of Andy Warhol” admits the artful cocktail’s creators, AQ Bar’s Ana Maria Mejia, Head Mixologist, and Carlos Ariza, Director of Operations, “and have the great privilege of having some of his original masterpieces at our bar and lounge.”
“We are equally very passionate about mixology, and are always creating new, fun and creative drinks. When the opportunity presented itself to create a cocktail in honor of Andy Warhol, we created our very own masterpiece. The Warhol is a Pop Art cocktail that combines several flavors, aromas, colors and textures for a perfectly balanced drink.”
17875 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach, (Miami), FL; acqualinaresort.com/AQ-bar: @Acqualina
MR CHOW – Miami
At the W Hotel South Beach, MR CHOW’s stunning dining room is centered by a 123 foot Gold-leaf and Swarovski crystal chandelier designed by Michael Chow, or enjoy the ambience on the spacious outside dining patio and interior bar and lounge.
Shoreside
House made Cucumber Mint Tequila, Lime Juice, Chili-infused Agave and topped with a Fresh Mint Sprig.
2201 Collins Avenue (at W South Beach), Miami Beach
Hours: Sunday – Thursday from 6 to 11:30 pm, & Friday – Saturday from 6 pm to 12 am
ART BASEL MIAMI SPECIAL EVENTS
Design Miami X Lexus Cocktail Reception
Design Miami and Lexus, kickoff the art fair’s 14th edition with champagne toasts and hors d’oeuvres at the chic Le Sirenuse Miami at The Surf Club. Lexus is the official automotive partner of Design Miami, a museum-quality exhibition of twentieth and twenty-first century furniture, lighting and objets d’art; adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center and the winter home of Art Basel Miami Beach. On site at the Design Miami fair, the LF-1 Limitless Future Concept Vehicle will be exhibited in an installation titled The Future is Limitless -a mixed reality installation designed by Japanese architect Socha Ichikawa. Private event; by invitation only.
Le Sirenuse at The Surf Club, The Four Seasons
Hours: Monday, December 3, from 6-8 pm
Special Events at The Sagamore Hotel
Starting on Tuesday December 4, Miami Beach’s historic Art Deco hotel, The Sagamore Hotel, known for its rotating experiences of museum-quality art year-round, presents an immersive experience of ambitious and innovative art programs coordinated by Sebastien Laboureau, resident art advisor of the Sagamore Hotel. This year, #SagamoreIsArt presents an immersive solo show by Jason Newsted, (the former bassist of Metallica). Other highlights include the sculptures in the hotel’s newly-renovated garden by Gillie and Marc Schattner and digital art by REO presented by ART REPUBLIC. The Sagamore Hotel is one of the only venues in Miami Beach where guests can experience museum-quality art for free and open 24/7 to the general public, including at a party on Thursday, December 6.
1671 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Dates: Tuesday, December 4 – Sunday, December 9
After-School All-Stars Party with Arthur J. Williams, Jr.
After-School All-Stars, a national non-profit organization founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger to help low-income children in schools across the United States, is hosting a cocktail reception at The Setai Hotel in Miami Beach featuring the works of Arthur J. Williams, Jr., a notorious American counterfeiter who reinvented himself as an artist. Williams Jr. came to fame after he perfected counterfeiting the 1996-issued $100 bill. While incarcerated, he mastered his craft by taking art classes, is the subject of the book The Art of Making Money by Jason Kersten.
The Setai Hotel, 2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Date & Hour: Wednesday December 5 from 8-11 pm. Tickets will be $250/pp for the exclusive VIP cocktail event, art preview, Q&A with the artist and live entertainment.
Special Events at The National Hotel
The National Hotel, a historic Art Deco property in the heart of South Beach, has partnered with The University of the Arts in Philadelphia to host the some of the school’s top visual artists and performers , who will fuse the arts through moving-image installations, contemporary art pieces, photography, and musical performances throughout the hotel from December 5-9th. The Miami Art Week experience will include a neon video installation projected on the hotel’s exterior by contemporary American artist Stephen (ESPO) Powers,and, dynamic duo Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib will showcase their collaborative large-scale, immersive moving-image installations using original imagery and unique soundtracks. In the interior of the hotel, visitors can enjoy photography by internationally renowned African-American artist, photographer, writer and educator Deborah Willis.
The hotel will host an Invite-Only VIP Reception on Wednesday, December 5th from 7-9 p.m., and a free Public Preview Party on December 6th from 8 p.m. to midnight, featuring one-of-a-kind art displays from all artist-alums of the University of the Arts, live entertainment, signature Art Basel cocktails, and bites from Tamara’s Bistro.
The National Hotel, 1677 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Dates & Hours: Reception /Party Hours: (Only VIP) Wednesday, December 5th from 7-9 pm & free Public Preview Party on December 6th from 8 pm to midnight
Montauk’s Surf Lodge at The Confidante
Montauk hotspot Surf Lodge returns for a fifth year to celebrate Art Basel with exclusive events and programming at The Confidante. Evening programs include Private VIP dinners and parties by invitation only, such as the Wheels Up Party & After Party with special performances. The Daytime events below are open and free to hotel guests.
Surf Lodge at The Confidante Hotel, 4041 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Wednesday, December 5 – Thursday, December 6
Events, Locations & Hours:
10 to 11 am: Equinox and Zella (Nordstrom activewear brand) hosts fitness class on the Spa Terrace
11 am to 12 pm: Passed Whispering Angel rosé, Glacce crystal treatments, GlamSquad services, Caudalie facials, food in The 1930s House and the pond area.
10 am to 6 pm: Pop-up shop with BCBG and Zella at Nordstrom lounge poolside.
Special Events at The Miami Beach EDITION
Starting Wednesday, December 5, Ruinart Champagne will also take over the lobby bar at The Miami Beach EDITION with a special ABMB curated menu, plus live Cuban music each night through Saturday. Online platform Artsy will take over Tropicale, the casual al fresco venue at the EDITION, with a special product launch with limited-edition items by New York based artist Misha Kahn. Later that night, Studio Drift, an artist collective will co-hosted a dinner with PACE Gallery on the Matador Terrace.
Down in Basement Bowl, the hotel’s entertainment space and nightclub, Alexander Gilkes and Paddle 8 will present a bowling competition along with several galleries and collectors. Then, late into the night, Fondation Beyeler, Switzerland’s prestigious art museum founded by Art Basel founder Ernst Beyeler and Nordstern, one of Switzerland’s leading cultural institutions for underground music, have partnered to bring an extraordinary experience of contemporary art and electronic music.
The Miami Beach EDITION, 2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Wednesday, 5 December – Events, Locations & Hours:
Ruinart Lobby Takeover – Lobby – 4 to-11pm (Daily; Wednesday December 5 – December 8, Saturday
Artsy x Prospect NY Present Misha Kahn – Tropicale – 5 to 8pm
Paddle 8 Presents a Bowling Evening – Basement Bowl – 9 to 11pm
Studio Drift x PACE Gallery Dinner – Matador Terrace – 9 to11pm
Art.set with Seth Troxler (All Night Long) x Tobias Rehberger – Basement – 10pm to Late
An Evening of Cocktails with Antonio Citterio
“An Evening of Cocktails with Antonio Citterio” will celebrate the Italian architect’s first architectural work in North America, Arte. Arte– the new ultra-luxury condominium residences in Surfside – as well as Art Basel and Design Miami week, with “Ritual”, a custom video art installation of luminous marine scenes projected directly on the 12-story building, which spans more than an acre. The cocktail party event will also debut a private collection of rare and unseen works by Australian designer Marc Newson CBE, curated by Stuart Parr.
Arte, 8955 Collins Avenue (Surfside), Miami Beach.
Date & Hour: Thursday, December 6, Private event by invitation only.
Public Art Installation Viewing Dates & Hours:
Monday, December 3 – Sunday, December 9, from 5:30 – 11 pm
MAXIM December 2018 Cover Issue Party
MAXIM magazine will celebrate their December 2018 issue with an epic party transforming the Plymouth South Beach Hotel into a chic outdoor lounge for hip Art Basel trendsetters. Presented by blu, hosted by cover model Chase Carter, the private, invite only event is sure to be one of the most talked about events of the year.
The Plymouth South Beach, 318 21st Street, Miami Beach
Date & Hour: Friday, December 7 from 8 – 11 pm. Private event by invitation only.
17th Annual Iconic Sagamore Brunch
As one of the most highly-anticipated events of the year the elite of the international art world, the event will feature live art performances by Jason Newsted (former bassist of Metallica) and the Chophouse Band, a rock-and-roll inspired ballet by Grace Arts and the Cuban Classical Ballet. Invited guests will enjoy brunch bites and cocktails in the newly-renovated sculpture garden.
Sagamore Hotel, 1671 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Date & Hour: Saturday, December 8 from 9 am – 1 pm, Private event by invitation only.
STAY
1 Hotel South Beach
1 Hotel South Beach was designed with comfort, luxury and nature in mind. Inspired by Earth’s natural beauty, 1 Hotel South Beach boasts next-level hotel amenities. From small details like custom organic cotton bedding to bigger ones like the ocean views that come with the hotel’s spacious rooms, everything about this hotel is 1-of-a-kind.
nEspecially during the Art Basel Miami Beach madness, 1 Hotel serves as a beautiful and calming retreat. The Zen-like hotel will also be offering daily re-energizing events, such as Basel Ready 60-minute workout curated by Anatomy and a popup by Fithouse Room, also known as “The All Class Club” , with AM total body workout classes.
2341 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Special Events at 1 Hotel South Beach
Pop Up, Pop Open & Chill Out with 1 Hotel South Beach
Throughout the week, Procell, a Lower East Side shop with luxury sportswear and vintage garments, will host a pop-up shop open to the public. In partnership with Procell and Moet et Chandon, Dom Perignon and Veuve Cliquot, 1 Hotel’s lobby bar DRIFT will serve as a gathering spot for the hotel with a vintage list of champagnes by the bottle and flute and Organic Beats programming with DJ Yissel.
Hours: Daily, Monday December 3 – Sunday December 9
1 Hotel South Beach Lobby, 2341 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
Our Best Stories Delivered Daily
