South Beach may be party central in Miami, but downtown's Brickell neighborhood is a fast-rising challenger. Considered the Manhattan of Miami for its wealth of financial institutions, the neighborhood's ascendancy is unmistakably signified by a forest of high-rise cranes. Flagged as Miami's Arts and Entertainment District, Brickell's revitalization started with the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts and hotels from Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental. It now steps up higher still with the $25-million restaurant-club extravaganza known as Karu&Y. There is much to discover within the many micro-environments of this water-themed "sanctuary of art, cuisine and entertainment," a splashy new arrival that entices with Spanish-influenced alta cocina ("Cuisine of the Americas"), private island cabanas within lush Zen-inspired gardens, and dazzling plasma-screen TV art displays.

Dinner Tuesday–Saturday, 6 p.m.–12 a.m.; Lounge Wednesday 6 p.m.–2 a.m., Thursday– Saturday 6 p.m.–3 a.m.; 71 NW 14th Street; tel. 305-403-7850; www.karu-y.com

Sit with strangers and leave with friends at this Left Bank "café society" interpretation that serves up communal dining with stimulating conversation. Since debuting last year at the boutique Sagamore Hotel, Social Miami's "culinary lounge experience" has seduced the loquacious, the gregarious and the flirtatious from Miami and beyond. The sleek, artwork-adorned white walls of this multi-room venue are natural conversation starters, while chefs Michelle Bernstein and Sean Mohammed keep tongues singing with tantalizing small-plate specials. The club-like atmosphere dances late into the night, with guests filtering out to classic Miami amenities such as outdoor cabanas with video screens. Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest nights, with Moroccan-themed Wednesdays, complete with belly dancers, also heating up.

Whether you want to make an impression, or just indulge in sensational culinary fun, veer just off SoBe's main thoroughfares and head straight for Barton G. Weiss's truly original restaurant. A firm believer in constant innovation and boundless imagination, Weiss, an international event designer and producer, stages a multi-sensory experience that includes an Eden-esque orchid garden and high-octane cocktails infused with -320- degree Fahrenheit liquid nitrogen. In lesser hands, whimsicalities such as Bass-in-A-Bag and Lobster Pop-Tarts (with Gruyère in a flaky crust) might have gone awry, but Weiss, along with his amazing staff, deliver perfection and laughter every time. Possibly an industry first, Weiss also serves six different wines from Italy and France made only for the restaurant—no slapped-on labels.

James, the eminently personable and resourceful concierge at the Regent South Beach, joins many of his Miami counterparts in sending hotel guests to Spae. Whether stepping out from an event at the nearby convention center or luxuriating your time away, this ultra-modern, "open concept" unisex spa is a hip place to socialize while indulging in blissful facial, body and cosmetic treatments. The spa has SoBe's first Oxygen bar, the world-renowned Repêchage four-layer facial, and experiences such as the Ménage a Spa, with simultaneous manicure, pedicure and deep cleansing facial. It's all about you at Spae, and whether cruising through or taking the three-and-a-half-hour "Cloud Nine" treatment ($350), you'll leave Miami one relaxed business traveler.

May all your culinary dreams come true at this romantic indoor-outdoor garden restaurant designed by fashion star Todd Oldham. Located at The Hotel, the AAA Four Diamond-rated Wish illuminates the mood with candlelight and glowing ice cubes in the house's signature neon-colored cocktails. Of mixed Italian and Vietnamese heritage, executive chef Michael Bloise delivers delicious Asian-American tastes equal to the setting. After savoring sensations such as sugarcane-skewered pork loin ($15), caramel-glazed wild salmon ($36), and black chai tea crème brûlée ($12), head up to the rooftop Spire Bar & Lounge for spectacular skyline views.