updated 3.20.2022
The DL: Miami is the perfect place for any trip. You can find secluded parts of the city if you are looking for a remote beach trip (northern) or a more lively scene coming for a bachelorette or girls weekend head down south. Besides the beautiful water, Miami offers culture, art, and a fabulous food scene. It can get a bad wrap but here are 8 things to keep in mind when planning your next trip.
1. Find what area to stay in
The water here reminds me of the Caribbean, it’s so blue its almost clear. Some of the best spots to go:
- Sunny Isles Beach – Collins Ave. – 157th St. to 193rd St. – named one of Miami’s best, more family friendly
- Bal Harbour Beach – Collins Ave. – 96th St – home to many luxury resorts and condos
- Surfside – Collins Ave. – 88 St. -96th St. – Uptown Beach Town
- North Miami Beach – Collins Ave. – 46th St. to 78th St – public restrooms available
- Miami Beach – Collins Ave. – 21st St. to 46th St. – my personal favorite and where we stay, its quieter than south beach but still lots to do
- South Beach – Ocean Drive & 5th Street to Collins Avenue & 21st Street – home to tourists, celebs, partiers and more.
Depending on area you can get a rental car, we tend to uber, citibike or take the free trolley if we cannot walk.
2. Where to find nightlife or vibes
When you think of Miami, you think beach and clubs, here are some of my faves:
North Beach
- Fontainebleau liv – hotel pictured above, think loud club and bottle service
- Freehand Broken Shaker
- Los fuegos
- Gitano Jungle Rooftop
Mid Beach/Southbeach
- Watr at the one hotel – views of the ocean, Polynesian-inspired rooftop restaurant, my FAVORITE spot
- Serena – Rooftop at Moxy
- Juvia – restaurant and rooftop , date night, go for happy hour food deal
- Chotto matte
- My Sweet Liberty – dark, lots of seating, craft cocktails
- Lido bayside (on Venetian island) – the Standard hotel’s restaurant on the water – go for happy hour drinks and bites (one of my favorites)
- Nikki Beach – fun on the weekends, don’t need a resy if you sit at the bar
- Goodtime hotel – strawberry moon for brunch
- Versace Hotel – swanky vibes
Downtown/Brickell
- Sugar – East Miami Hotel (can have per person minimums so check find print)
- Area 31 – Epic Hotel
- Baby Jane – fun spot, dj, good drinks, more of a bar
- Ball and Chain – little Havana
- Lost boy – eclectic, craft cocktails, lounge vibe
- Conrad hotel bar on 25th floor
Wynwood – check out full guide
- Astra – sunset views, Mykonos vibes
- Lucky 1-800
- No 3 social
3. What to do
- Beach of course
- Any water activities like a boat tour, renting a boat, jet skis, etc.
- Afternoon tea at the Biltmore – Anastasia Avenue in Coral Gables
- Millionaire’s Row sea cruise
- Walking tour
- Museum
- Art Galleries
- Attend a sports game; the Heat, Dolphins, Marlins
- Find one of the hotel pools having a party and get a day pass
- Venetian Pools Coral Gables
- Visit a garden: Miami Botanical Gardens, Vizcaya Musem and Gardens, Fairchild Botanical Gardens – Coral Gables, Fruit and Spice Park
4. Where to stay
Expensive:
- 1 Hotel
- Faena
- W Hotel
Mid level:
- Natilus by Arlo
- Fountainbleu
- Goodtime hotel
- Edenroc Hotel
- Nobu Hotel
Cheaper (not on beach but all walking distance less than 5 minutes):
- Circa 39 – (pool and beach chairs across the street)
- Sonder Hotel – The Abbey (no pool but walking distance to beach, very new)
- The Plymouth (next door to Sonder, pool and has beach chairs)
The DL: I would not stay in south beach personally, its super crowded and not as many good spots to eat in walking distance. Very touristy, unless you are planning to do a lot there.
5. Where to shop in Miami Beach
- Bal Harbour Shops in northern Miami Beach
- Bayside Market
- Design District Plaza
- Lincoln Road Mall – this a fun outdoor mall with lots of restaurants and shops
- Fifth and Alton – for more common stores
- Adventure Mall
- Brickell City Center Farmers Market
- Dolphin Mall
- Wynwood
6. Where to eat in Miami
Breakfast
- Mondrian Caffe – water and downtown views, go for bottomless mimosa brunch
- Panther Coffee
- Under the mango tree – acia bowls
- Dos Caminos – boozy brunch
- Honey Inhibited – brunch
Lunch
- Timeout Market – foodhall
- La Cote – in the Fontainebleu, south of France vibes, has water views
- Orange blossom – good breakfast/lunch – sit in the hidden garden outside area
- Koa poke bowl
- Lido Bayside Grill (or for happy hour)
Dinner
- Joes stone Crab – one of the favorites of Miami and only open Oct – May for crab season
- Prime 112 – literally sat next to J-lo and A-rod here
- Barsecco – night time lounge vibes
- Planta – Upscale plant based
- Juvia – rooftop restaurant, upscale (again go for happy hour)
- Watr at 1 hotel – get the Brussels and sushi, and a bottle of rosé of course
- S and W Steakhouse – water view while eating your steak
- Rusty Pelican – Key Biscayne (need a car to get here)
- Calle Ocho – Little Havana
- Los fuegos – a chefs table recommendation and fabulous atmosphere
- Lucali for NYC pizza
- Sushi garage – sushi spot in cool environment
- Orilla – date night spot
- Lure Fishbar – crispy rice is delish
- Carbone – NYC classic, vodka pasta
7. Check out the surrounding Neighborhoods in Miami
- South Beach – really nice restaurants south of 5th avenue, mostly beach and very very touristy
- West avenue – shopping, newer restaurants, good for large groups
- Design District – high end shopping and unique sculptures
- Midtown – We liked the 17-25 st area, there was a lot to eat and do here
- Downtown – Brickell was the hoppin spot, the downtown streets were hit and miss but the bars we did go to were great
- Wynwood – hip, art district – full guide here
- Coconut grove – take the trolly to see history of this area
- Little Havana – vibrant Cuban culture
- Coral Gables – Biltmore Hotel, Ventian Pools
- Matheson Hammock Park is well-known for its natural landscape of swaying palms, mangroves and old oak trees.
- Little Haiti – vibrant Haitian culture and markets
- Key Biscayne – get lunch to go from somewhere and sit on the beach at Crandon Park under the palm trees, must need a car, and there is a toll road
8. Take a Day Trip
- Ft. Lauderdale
- Keys (more than a day trip but still so close if you want to extend your trip)
- Palm Beach
- Everglades
- Key Biscayne and Virginia Key Beach
- Naples
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