48 hours in Miami

Stay

Standing a short stroll away from South Beach’s golden sands, The Lennox originally opened in 1936 as the opulent Peter Miller Hotel. A three-year, £53-million renovation was completed last summer, retaining many of its original Art Deco features, such as marble archways, with 119 stylishly-decorated rooms and an outdoor pool.

Flights from low-cost airline Norwegian make a long weekend break financially feasible (from £159.90 one way; £275 return), and convenient flight times mean tourists can leave London on Friday mid-morning and enjoy two full days and nights in Miami, before arriving back at Gatwick at dawn on Monday.

Eat

The Time Out Market leads a wave of new eateries to have opened in Miami Beach.

The second of its kind in the world after Lisbon, it offers 17 pop-up versions of Miami’s best cuisine: Vietnamese pho, Cuban ice cream, and locally caught oysters are sold alongside mouth-watering burgers and fine steaks.

Drink

In the heart of Little Havana, locals, largely of Latin American descent, mix with visitors at the memorably-named El Pub on Calle Ocho, a sports bar offering snacks, coffee and live music.

Nearby, the Ball & Chain pub entices weary punters with its pulsating live music and lip-smacking mojitos. The distinguished list of musicians to have delighted crowds here includes Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Billie Holiday.

See

South Beach’s most famous landmark is Casa Casuarina, built in 1930, but better known as the Versace Mansion, where the fashion designer was assassinated in 1997. The sprawling beachside building is now a luxury hotel and restaurant.

More than 800 Art Deco buildings are scattered around Miami Beach, perhaps the best known being the iconic Breakwater Hotel, on the corner of Ocean Drive and 10th Street.

For something a bit different, a two-and-a-half-hour kayak adventure along the stunning Key Biscayne costs £23 and offers unrivalled views of the city.