

Living well in Miami means understanding proximity, not just to water or light, but to the city's centers of taste. From Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove, the Design District sits seven miles north: only twenty minutes by car, but a world apart in character. The Grove offers canopy and calm, a bayside enclave where luxury reads as restraint. The Design District offers something else — luxury fashion at flagship scale, museum-grade contemporary art, and dining that doubles as theater. It's a short drive that maps Miami's range from residential serenity to curated spectacle, and residents who know both understand the full equation.
The Design District's luxury retail core is built around two flagship maisons that set the tone for everything else. Hermès (163 NE 39th Street) occupies a three-story glass box designed by the Paris-based architecture and interior design firm RDAI, with a white steel exoskeleton and a rooftop garden helmed by a sculptural horseman waving orange flags —a nod to the brand's equestrian heritage. Inside, all fourteen product categories, from Birkin bags on the ground floor to watches and home furnishings above, are staged in a space defined by terrazzo staircases, dark oak shelving, and floods of natural light.
A few blocks over, Louis Vuitton's façade reinterprets the brand's Damier motif in cut aluminum panels, the work of Japanese architects Jun Aoki and Mirei Uchibe. The interiors lean into Miami's 1950s Tropical Modernism—curves, lighter palettes, breeze-inspired lines—while carrying the full runway, leather goods, and fine jewelry offerings. Here, the architecture does as much work as the inventory.
A few blocks from the Hermès flagship, the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (61 NE 41st Street) offers a different proposition: free admission, serious programming, and architecture that prioritizes art over spectacle. The building, designed by Aranguren & Gallegos and opened in 2017, is a faceted aluminum structure with 20,000 square feet of galleries, a north-facing glass wall for natural light, and a sculpture garden at the rear. The programming runs deep: intergenerational exhibitions, first U.S. surveys for under-recognized artists, outdoor commissions, daily tours, and an Art + Research Center that anchors the institution's scholarly ambitions. Recent and current exhibitions range from Sanaa Gateja and Miriam Schapiro inside the galleries to long-term installations and billboards that spill onto the street. In 2024, the museum acquired the former de la Cruz Collection building around the corner; the de la Cruz Collection itself was a significant private contemporary art institution in the District, effectively doubling the ICA's exhibition, collection, and education space. The acquisition signals that the museum intends to grow as the neighborhood's cultural spine, offering depth and access where the rest of the District offers luxury and polish.
The Design District's dining anchors include COTE Miami (3900 NE 2nd Avenue), which boasts a Michelin star and houses over 100 seats with smokeless grills built into each table, plus a visible dry-age room. The concept merges Korean barbecue with American steakhouse: USDA Prime and American Wagyu cuts, Japanese A5 options, a "Butcher's Feast" tasting experience, seafood towers, high-end caviars, and a wine list with over 1,200 labels. The space features dark wood finishes, subtle lighting, a bar area that has its own energy, and an interactive experience, with guests grilling premium cuts at their tables. Nearby, Michael's Genuine Food & Drink (130 NE 40th Street) has been a District fixture from Chef Michael Schwartz, earning a James Beard Award and a Michelin Bib Gourmand along the way. The menu emphasizes seasonal ingredients and local sourcing: wood-roasted whole fish, house-made pasta, crudo, pizza, crispy hominy, all organized by portion size to encourage sharing. The space has been refreshed but keeps a neighborhood feel — warm lighting, a patio, the kind of place that works equally for a business lunch or a relaxed dinner. Le Jardinier (151 NE 41st Street) brings French technique and vegetable-forward cooking, with a light-filled, greenhouse-chic interior and a menu that balances seasonal produce with serious proteins.
The Design District sits seven miles north of Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove. Among Miami luxury homes, the setup is efficient: live in the Grove's established waterfront enclave, access the city's concentrated retail, art, and dining when needed. Contact us to discuss availability and arrange a private presentation.

















