The global art scene descends on Miami during Art Basel Miami Beach with world-renowned galleries, cutting-edge artists, collectors and celebrities and socialites buzzing around town. That means one big party. From secret pop-up nightclubs to A-list VIP fêtes, Art Basel is an exciting week for Miami nightlife.
Here’s your guide to some of Miami’s hottest parties and events during Art Basel Miami Beach 2021.
COTE Miami
To commemorate COTE Miami’s first year celebrating Art Basel, guests will be treated to the exclusive Basel Feast ($95 pp) from December 2-5, a thoughtfully priced offering that provides guests with a tour of COTE’s finest plates featuring five selected cuts of COTE’s most notable USDA Prime and American Wagyu cuts including Japanese A5 Wagyu complemented by an array of Korean accompaniments including pickled seasonal vegetables and salads; fresh Red Leaf Lettuce with Ssaam-jang; fluffy Savory Egg Soufflé, Two Stews with Rice; followed by Soft Serve ice cream topped with soy sauce caramel for dessert. COTE Miami is America’s first KOREAN STEAKHOUSE™ which unveiled at the entrance of the Miami Design District last winter. COTE marries the fun and fire of Korean barbeque with the hallmarks of a classic regal American steakhouse. Conceptualized by proprietor and visionnaire Simon Kim, the brand’s expansion reflects the notable energetic spirit behind their acclaimed New York-based flagship celebrated for being the first Korean steakhouse of its kind to blend world-class ingredients, impeccable service, and a show-stopping beverage program –a distinct methodology that has earned COTE several James Beard Award nominations and a Michelin-star each year since opening (four consecutive years) – the only star awarded to a Korean steakhouse in the world. Under the helm of Executive Chef David Shim, the dynamic concept showcases an intimate and interactive experience revolving around state-of-the-art charcoal grills at every table, where steaks are grilled to perfection by their experienced servers.
Address: 3900 NE 2nd Ave. Miami, 33137
Hours: Sunday – Wednesday from 5 p.m.- 11 p.m. and Thursday – Saturday from 5 p.m.- midnight.
Leku (Rubell Museum)
Located within the Rubell Museum in the Allapattah neighborhood, LEKU brings the pleasures of eating in Spain’s enchanting Côte Basque to Miami. Featuring innovative cuisine without losing sight of its Basque roots, LEKU follows the same principle of adhering to seasonal local ingredients and cooking methods based on tried and true techniques. As their acclaimed cocktail menu evolves seasonally, LEKU is thrilled to introduce their Fall Cocktails featuring one-of-a-kind flavor combinations that are drinkable works-of-art on their own. In honor of Art Basel and inspired by Allison Zuckerman’s “Eternal Recurrence” hanging over the bar at LEKU, LEKU’s mixologists created their own cocktail masterpiece — the ALLISON ($19), a flavorful, easy to drink, concoction with Felipe II Brandy, asturian ice-cider, amontillado, uchuva, and demerara topped with a floating disk of edible rice paper imprinted with a section of her LEKU showpiece.
Address: 1100 NW 23rd Street, Miami 33127
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday / Lunch: 12 p.m.- 3 p.m. and Dinner: 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Pubbelly Sushi
“Artistic Brunch” on Sunday, December 5th from 11:30 am to 4 pm at all locations
Pubbelly Sushi will host an artistic brunch experience with a live DJ at all four locations on Sunday, December 5th! A limited-time-only week long specialty cocktail “Tequilart” — a yummy mix of tequila, grape juice, lime juice, agave and soda– will be served in their signature Lucky Kat glass custom designed by a local artist and avid Pubbelly fan, Robert Greene. The best part is you get to take the custom glassware home as a commemorative Art Basel souvenir! There will also be an artist designed Pubbelly T-Shirts that will be available for purchase and proceeds will be donated to YoungArts. Guests can also expect giveaways of special Art Basel inspired merch–think keychains, stickers and more!
Miami Beach: 1424 20th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Brickell: 701 S Miami Ave #421, Miami, FL 33131 (inside Brickell City Centre)
Hours: Daily from Monday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to midnight; Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Menu: HERE
Mareva 1939 at The National Hotel
Mareva 1939 at The National Hotel kicks things off early starting Sunday, November 28th with a Josephine Baker Tribute; then it’s the Inlist’s “Wanderlust around the World” party featuring Miguel Paredes on Thursday, December 2nd; followed by the launch of the Dimka rooftop art activation on Friday, December 3rd; and to close off the festivities, Nelly’s List: GET LIT featuring a Hanukkah Lighting Ceremony and a live art demonstration by Jason Skeldon “SKEL” on Saturday, Dec. 4th.
Address: 1677 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(Near Miami Beach Convention Center and other Satellite Fairs)
Hours:
- Breakfast: Daily from Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to noon.
- Dinner: Daily from Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Menu: HERE
Natasha Tomchin’s Digital Art at MILA
Take your senses on a journey to experience MILA’s Art Basel visual installation. Local digital artist Natasha Tomchin’s creativity and design will stimulate your perception with video mapped projections in the pool on MILA’s terrace, adding whimsey to your dining experience. Lights and reflections cascade off the water and surround our elevated Fire Dancing shows each evening. Sam Tobey will be flying in from Los Angeles to perform her unique “rope dart” and bring burning man vibes to MILA.
Sunday, November 28
Josephine Baker Tribute
Time: 6:30 – 11:30 p.m.
The City of Miami Beach will be paying special tribute to French-American music hall performer Josephine Baker on November 28th to honor her for her achievements in advancing equal rights in Miami when she performed for a non-segregated audience at the Copa City Club in 1951. There will be a permanent installation in honor of Josephine Baker revealed in addition to a special evening featuring a piano bar VIP mini session, celebration of the proclamation day of Josephine Baker with a video montage by the American Black Film Festival Miami, a musical and dance celebration by Bianca Rosario and The Josephine Jazz Sextet, and more!
Thursday, December 2
Inlist presenting Miguel Paredes “Wanderlust around the World”
Locally renowned artist Miguel Paredes known for combining his cutting-edge techniques of street art, pop art and Japanese animation to create his own genre of trend-forward pieces. Guests will enjoy a complimentary open bar along with live entertainment and original immersive NFT Art Installations. Time: 8 – 11 p.m.
Friday, December 3
Dimka Spontaneous Artistic Duo
Time: 12 – 5 p.m.
Dimka, an artistic street artist duo constituted by two spontaneous and atypical young men: Inca and Dimitri will be showcasing their permanent rooftop art activation on the rooftops of the 3rd floor Tower and Cabana building.
Saturday, December 4
Nelly’s List featuring Hanukkah Lighting Ceremony and Jewish Art Display
GET LIT
Art Basel & Hanukkah Bash
Time: 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Curated by Nelly Rosenking Fronen + the Jason Perez Art Collective + MTLE Studios and hosted by Tibby Camacho, the art and cultural community event will feature LEGENDS Mixed Media and a Judaica Art Basel Showcase with live entertainment in the lobby and pool with a performance of “We Back” by Dre Knight; live body painting; live art demonstration by Jason Skeldon “SKEL” on an exotic car at entry; displayed art by Shlome Hayun, Diane Portwood, Nikolett Vardi, and Neitzah; a Hanukkah Menorah lighting ceremony and more! Additionally, NFTs in exhibit will be available for purchase using cryptocurrency.
Semi-Permanent Art exposition
Dates: November 2 through April 20
Antoine Dufilho
Antoine Dufilho is a self-taught artist, who experiments with different techniques such as molding and welding to gradually build the aesthetics of his art around this DNA that characterizes his creations. His work consists in exposing alternations of Fullness and emptiness, materializing a skeleton, decomposing forms into successive layers. The dynamic effect is accentuated by an alternation of symmetries and asymmetries, causing an acceleration or deceleration effect. His love for the artistic vision of the automobile led Antoine to the creation of car sculptures. He started working aluminium to sculpt a Buggati Type 37, which was one of his great-uncle garage jewels. His collection counts, today, about thirty models, which all have that identifiable style from the artist. A semi-permanent art exposition of vintage cars are on display in the lobby of the National Hotel including a Porsche 356 1950-1965, Jaguar E-Type 1960-1970, Ford GT40 1966-1969 and Ferrari F40 1987-1992.
