MIAGuide
Where To Go When You Just Got A New Haircut
Your hair looks fantastic (according to you), and you have roughly 24-48 hours to take advantage of that fact. Here’s where to go.
You just got a really good haircut, if you do say so yourself, and you know that no matter how many instructions and products you’re given to help “recreate it at home,” tomorrow it will probably look like you did it in the dark wearing giant Mickey Mouse gloves. So you want to go someplace where people other than you, your iPhone camera, and your roommate’s pet hamster will be able to appreciate it. You need a spot that’s fun and a little sceney—and you want to eat something good, too. These places should do the trick.
THE SPOTS
The Standard is always a scene perfect for debuting a new look or scamming a traveling billionaire into investing in your sketchy start-up idea to build the world's most exclusive members-only club. And The Lido, The Standard's waterfront restaurant, is one of the few parts of the Miami Beach hotel a civilian can step foot into without getting immediately kicked out for not being a paying member. The food here—a mix of generic hotel dishes and seafood—is kind of whatever. But you’re not coming for the food. You’re coming to let the bay breeze caress your new bangs on a dock full of walking trust funds.
Makoto is an upscale Japanese restaurant inside the land of very thick credit cards known as Bal Harbour Shops. The space underwent a big renovation in March 2022, and it really breathed new life into the restaurant. Now, it's got a colorful dining room that feels like eating inside a perfectly ripe peach as well as some lovely patio seating and a cute outdoor bamboo bar. The dining room even has lots of mirrors on the wall, strategically placed so you can discretely make sure your hair still looks good while maintaining the conversation. It's the kind of restaurant great for a luxurious lunch after an afternoon of buying irresponsibly expensive clothes to match your new hair.
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You can pretty much see the entire room from any seat at this narrow little Downtown wine bar. So there’s a good chance at least a few folks casually rubber-necking for beautiful people will spot you and your absolutely perfect haircut. Margot also has a purplish-orange lighting situation that does wonders for both skin and hair, so it’ll only enhance what’s going on on top of your head. You should obviously be drinking here, but they also have some tasty small plates involving cheese, raw fish, marinated olives, and more.
Just in case Margot is packed or not quite the vibe you're after, NIU Wine is another worthy contender in Miami's Adorable, Delicious Little Wine Bar universe. The narrow space has an intimate dinner party energy, a noise level that’s perfect for conversation, and lots of candlelight, which will reflect off your freshly-conditioned hair like moonlight on a lake. Hopefully. The wine selection here is phenomenal, and there's a rotating food menu full of wine bar-appropriate tapas like bacalhau with sofrito aioli, charcuterie, and a spiced chocolate truffle you definitely want alongside a glass of that red you picked because you liked the label.
Sure, you could debut your new cut at some South Beach clubstaurant. But all that product in your hair could very well combust if it gets too close to a sparkler, so keep it safe (and slightly more classy) by going to Orilla. This Argentinian spot is one of our favorite restaurants in South Beach. It’s stylish enough for the most pristine of haircuts, but still a fun spot where you can cut into a perfectly-cooked steak while swirling a martini.
For the purposes of this guide, this pick is conditional: you have to come during lunch. Because when the sun sets at this almost entirely outdoor restaurant, it’ll be too dark for anyone to notice your subtle balayage. But if you stop by at 1pm, there's enough natural light to make you feel like you’re in L'Oréal commercial. Plus, Mandolin always delivers a great meal. The Mediterranean food here is delicious and the restaurant (a converted 1940s bungalow right on the edge of the Design District) is gorgeous. It is a very hard table to get though, so make that reservation right after you book your appointment.
Itamae’s seating is located outside in one of the most trafficked areas of the Design District. So lunch here will feel like you’re walking the runway. Except you’ll be sitting down. And also maybe unconsciously moaning as you eat some of the best Nikkei dishes in the universe. Nonetheless, your beautiful head will be in prime view of hordes of pedestrians whose credit cards just got declined at the Louis Vuitton store.
Uchi is well-lit, in the heart of Wynwood, and full of delicious yet delicate dishes that won’t distract too much from the wolf shag your stylist absolutely nailed this time. It’s also quite a large restaurant, which just means even more eyeballs might possibly find their way to your scalp. And we’ll take any excuse to make a reservation at Uchi. The sushi here is some of Miami’s best, but the huge menu also has plenty of stellar Japanese dishes. Tell your server what you like, and they’ll steer you towards something awesome.
Not only is Doya a great restaurant (and one of the few restaurants worth braving the perpetual chaos of Wynwood) but it's big and bright and constantly full of lots of people who will take one look at you and think, Wow. I like their hair. It's a fun, lively place perfect for dates, celebrating, or just loading up the table with lots of excellent Mediterranean small plates. They have a perfectly-sized menu of cold and hot meze. There are easy-to-love dishes like a simple, stunningly tender octopus salad alongside things we’ve never seen on Miami menus, including a pile of refreshing sea beans with garlic yogurt that pop in your mouth like salty little water balloons.
Tropezón is just the kind of South Beach hotspot where you might run into all kinds of people you want to impress, including your ex, your ex's ex, and maybe even your future ex. Long story short: your cute outfit and fresh haircut won't go to waste here. The Andalusian gin and tapas bar is located on Española Way and the space is a 50/50 split between a bar and dining room. There's always a great energy here—as well as great cocktails and good tapas. Dinner feels like a proper night out, but not one so wild that it'll mess up your hair.
