A full throttle weekend guide to Miami

Pietro Fittipaldi is racing royalty and the first Fittipaldi heir to be born and raised in Miami. Here are his picks for enjoying his hometown, during F1 season and beyond.

Primarily known for its glorious weather, luscious beaches and vibrant nightlife, Miami has also established itself as one of the most exciting sporting cities in the world over the last few years.

Just over a year before Lionel Messi's move to David Beckham's Inter Miami CF, the first-ever Miami Grand Prix finally took place at the Miami International Autodrome after years of proposals and negotiations.

"It's so amazing because there's so much passion for motorsport in Miami," says Pietro Fittipaldi, Haas' test and reserve driver who replaced Romain Grosjean for two races at the end of the 2020 season. "Miami is very different to other American cities. It's this hub between the United States, Europe and Central and South America. People there are so passionate about motor racing and many fly in from South America to watch the race. It's in the perfect location to bring people from everywhere because, obviously, everybody wants to visit Miami."

Fittipaldi is perfectly positioned to discuss the importance of Miami having its own Formula 1 race; his grandfather Emerson is the 1972 and 1974 Formula One world champion, his first cousin once-removed Christian raced 43 times in the 1990s, while his uncle Max Papis drove seven times in the sport in 1995. Fittipaldi is also the only Formula One driver in history to have been born and raised in Miami, although Williams Racing's Logan Sargeant was born 48km up the road in Fort Lauderdale.

"I was born and raised in Miami," says Fittipaldi. "My parents met in Miami after my dad moved from Brazil in the early 1990s; my mum grew up there. Me and my siblings grew up north of downtown Miami."

We asked Pietro Fittipaldi to help us get a better idea of the best places to visit in his thrilling hometown, whether you're there for the Grand Prix or just looking to top up your suntan.

One of the most vibrant, colourful and welcoming parts of Miami, Little Havana got its name after exiled Cubans made the area their home during the 1960s. According to Fittipaldi, strolling down Little Havana's main road Calle Ocho, watching people play dominoes in Maximo Gomez Park, eating a Cubano sandwich, drinking a Cuban espresso, and soaking up the music and atmosphere sums up exactly what makes Miami so unique.

"I learned and now speak fluent Spanish because I lived in Miami," says Fittipaldi. "So many students were Cuban obviously, but there were a lot of Colombian, Venezuelan and Brazilian. The first language you grow up hearing is Spanish." That's why his first port of call whenever he is back in his home city is Little Havana. "You need to experience Calle Ocho and the little Havana neighbourhood for the Cuban coffee, Cuban food and culture," he says.

Website: https://www.calleocho.com

Address: 1444 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135

Phone: (305) 859-2717

Instagram: @littlehavana.miami

Miami doesn't just have the sun, fun and gorgeous beaches to lay out on; there's also plenty of culture for visitors to take in and absorb. Top of the list for anyone looking to appreciate some art is the Wynwood Art District. "For a family afternoon, people need to head out and visit the Wynwood neighbourhood," says Fittipaldi. "It's covered in all kinds of street art from local and international artists. It's so cool in the art districts, plus there are many new restaurants and a lot of things to do in that area."

Wynwood is most notably home to Wynwood Walls. This group of abandoned warehouses has had murals, drawings and various colours swashed across it, while the gardens are also dotted with contemporary art sculptures by artists from across the world – and the Museum of Graffiti is right next door.

Those looking for more traditional museums (or who just want to use their air conditioning for a respite from the heat) will enjoy a visit to The Institute of Contemporary Art and The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. There's also the World Erotic Art Museum and, 40 minutes outside of the city by car, Coral Castle, which reclusive Latvian engineer Edward Leedskalnin built over 28 years after his fiancée cancelled their wedding just one day before the ceremony.

Website: https://thewynwoodwalls.com

Address: 2516 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127

Phone: (305) 576-3334

Instagram: @wynwoodwallsofficial

Miami has so many different neighbourhoods that picking a spot to stay can be difficult.

For first-time visitors, Fittipaldi believes that being situated in downtown Miami makes the most sense, as it's so centrally located that you can easily get to South Beach, Little Havana and Wynwood. "Downtown Miami is the cool spot that you want to go to," he says.

Nearby, there are a plethora of great restaurants, especially between SE First Street and NE First Street, as well as sophisticated places to drink cocktails. Being downtown will also leave sports fans in the prime location to see the Miami Heat basketball team, something that Fittipaldi does whenever he's back in the city. "I'm a huge Miami Heat fan. I used to go to the Kaseya Center with my brother. I grew up doing that," he says. "I really love the basketball scene, and Miami has always had a great one."

Website: https://www.kaseyacenter.com/

Address: 601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132

Phone: (786) 777-1000

Instagram: @kaseyacenter

First opened in 1913, Joe's Stone Crab is a Miami icon, says Fittipaldi. "It's Miami's most famous restaurant," he says of the swanky, old school seafood establishment – most famous for its platters of chilled stone crab claws. Enjoy the stone crabs with a side of hashed brown and creamed spinach, and cap off the meal with a fat slice of creamy, tangy Key Lime pie – the classic Floridian dessert.

If you're not able to get a table at Joe's Stone Crab, Fittipaldi also recommends Carbone's, an offshoot of the hugely popular New York Italian restaurant, which is just around the corner. Joe's and Carbone's are located in Miami Beach's South of Fifth area, which is one of the most prestigious and exclusive areas in the country, to say nothing of the city.

Lastly, Fittipaldi recommends his childhood favourite restaurant, Tutto Pizza, which is found in the Brickell neighbourhood, and serves thin-crust pies. "It's a classic Italian restaurant," he says. "We'd go every Sunday with family and friends."

Website: https://joesstonecrab.com

Address: 11 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Phone: (305) 673-0365

Instagram: @joesstonecrab

Of course, it's impossible to visit Miami without sunning and lounging on one of its famous beaches. 

"Growing up, we were 30 minutes from the beach," says Fittipaldi. "My mom would have to force us to go there. But now I really appreciate that we had it."

South Beach is the most iconic and popular destination for Miami visitors looking to get sand between their toes; there's plenty of room, too, as it stretches for 2 miles (3.2km). For those looking to venture further out (and who have a little more time in their agenda) Fittipaldi also recommends Key West; the Southernmost city of the United States that's accessible via a quick 1hr flight or 3.5-hour boat ride. "It's beautiful," says Fittipaldi. "A lot of my friends go deep sea fishing off the coast of Florida."

Race-fans hoping for a fix before the Miami Grand Prix can also check out Opa-Locka's Concours Club racing circuit. One of the most technologically advanced driving circuits in the world, it's described as an automotive country club and has all the exclusive and luxurious amenities to prove it. Located just over 12 miles (20km) outside downtown Miami, this is where Fittipaldi got his first taste of racing. "I'd go once a month at first," he says. "Then once a week, twice a week, three times a week. I started really competing in racing when I was seven, eight years old. I was hooked ever since." 

Website: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov

Address: Ocean Dr & 15th Street

Instagram: @miamibeachnews

Fittipaldi travels often for his high-speed career, but whenever he's back in Miami, he hits Wynwood for epic nightlife, in particular off NW 24 St between NW 5th Ave and N Miami Street. He's also quick to point out that Brickell, Downtown Miami, South Beach and Little Havana will each be able to deliver the drinks, music, dancing and excitement that makes Miami such a popular destination all year round. Fittipaldi sometimes finds himself at the stylish and nostalgic cocktail bar, The Sylvester on Miami Avenue, its decor channelling a Miami abuelita's living room… if she threw ragers with cutting-edge drinks. "[It's] pretty cool," he says.   

"Miami has grown so much," Fittipaldi says proudly. "It's massive. It feels different every time I go there. The city just keeps growing and growing. It's really crazy and it always amazes me."

Website: https://www.thesylvesterbar.com/

Address: 3456 N Miami Ave Miami, Florida 33127

Phone: (305) 364-5635

Instagram: @thesylvesterbar

BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.

--

If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features, videos and can't-miss news, delivered to your inbox twice a week.

For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.