There was a Vespa in the middle of it all. The “Vesbar,” a modified motorcyle with an ice chest in the back, kept cocktails cool for chicly-dressed guests—very apropos for an extravagant Italian supper club-themed fête hosted by Carbone and American Express.
The second thing I noticed at Carbone Beach, the buzziest party during Miami’s Formula 1 weekend, was a behemoth of an ice sculpture brimming with caviar and other seafood. (I later learned that the whole thing weighed 2,500 pounds.) Celebrities and influencers like Venus Williams and TikTok’s GRWM darling Alix Earle came out to celebrate the race, which was held in Miami for the first time last year, and the evening was capped off by a performance from none other than Diana Ross, who commanded the makeshift stage in a lime green sequined dress to sing her hits like “I’m Coming Out,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” and “Baby Love.”
It was sensory overload. It was sparkly and fabulous. It was the ultimate kickoff to the Miami Grand Prix.
To paint a picture, the Carbone party took place on Miami Beach in a tent set up on the sand. The evening began with bubbles by Dom Pérignon, followed by cocktails made by Lobos 1707 and Belvedere Vodka; afterward, a family-style dinner of Carbone’s famous spicy rigatoni, copious amounts of Parmigiano Reggiano, and—what else?—chicken parm was served. When Diana Ross glided onto the stage, everyone stopped dining and started dancing. Earle whipped out her to phone to record it all.
All of this was just night one of Carbone’s four-day affair. On night two, Diddy, Fabolous, and Busta Rhymes rapped onstage. The Gipsy Kings performed on night three. And Lauryn Hill closed out night four. Other attendees included Lindsey Vonn, Madelyn Cline, Lukas Gage, Chris Appleton, and Luis Fonsi. The entire experience was curated by American Express for its card members, who received first access to individual tickets.
F1 race week in Miami is about fast cars, of course, but it’s also about seeing and being seen. Click through our gallery below for a look at the best-dressed guests at Carbone Beach.
Rose is a Senior Editor at ELLE overseeing features and projects about women's issues. She is an accomplished and compassionate storyteller and editor who excels in obtaining exclusive interviews and unearthing compelling features.
