Miami Travel Guide
Famed for its tropical climate, Hispanic culture and Art Deco seafront, Miami has the glamour to rival LA but offsets any glitz with a gritty urban edge.
Dominated by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and its tended golden beaches, the city may seem brash at first but it has much more to offer than bling, beach babes and celebrity fans.
Its eclectic architecture should present clues as to its cultural and historical depth. Just look at its diverse neighbourhoods: Downtown Miami is a place of gleaming glass and steel skyscrapers, while Little Havana is home to a thriving Cuban community. The salty Port of Miami, meanwhile, is unlike either. This is where cargo ships and Navy destroyers moor alongside gargantuan cruise ships en route to the Caribbean.
Miami Beach is famous for its glittering strip of vast hotels, palatial homes and glamorous locals. The surrounding showy neighbourhood of South Beach is instantly recognisable with its candy-coloured buildings set against a pure South Florida backdrop of cloudless skies, dazzling blue ocean, pale sandy beaches and swaying palm trees.
The city is swiftly becoming a hub for culture too. The Wynwood Arts District and Miami Design District are a case in point, as is the Biscayne Bay museum quarter. Frank Gehry’s New World Center is a spectacular example of post-modernist design, while the wonderful Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is alluring on a smaller scale.
There is no shortage of things to do outside Miami either. If the beaches lose their appeal, head west to the Everglades, a sprawling flooded wetland which is home to thousands of wild alligators.
Further up the coast is Fort Lauderdale, with its Venice-inspired canals and vast cruise terminal, while to the south is the wonderfully bohemian Florida Keys (or The Conch Republic as it is known to some independently-minded locals). So, whether you are exploring the city centre or relaxing in the sunny suburbs, Miami is one city that never gets boring.
Miami’s history dates back around 10,000 years when Native American settlers lived on the banks of the Miami River.
When the first Europeans arrived, sailing into Biscayne Bay from Spain in the 1500s, the area was populated by Tequesta Indians. The region’s geographic location would attract swathes of settlers from different continents over the next 300 years.
The US gained possession of Florida in the 1800s and to help make land available to settlers, they passed treaties and created reservations to remove the Native Americans. Years of resistance from the Seminoles followed.
The development of steam power in the 19th century led tycoon Henry Flagler to build a railroad in Miami that would carry citrus fruits from the frost-free south.
As additional land for agriculture, tourism and homes followed, so did roads, bridges and airfields. A real estate boom in the 1920s brought thousands to the area as cities, tourist resorts and skyscrapers sprung up. The population continued to grow throughout the Great Depression, and the military helped to further expand it during the Second World War, as South Florida’s mild climate attracted training centres for soldiers.
Post-war, the greatest period of change came in the early 1960s with thousands of refugees fleeing Cuba after Fidel Castro seized power. In 1965 alone, 100,000 Cubans fled from Havana to Miami. Most exiles settled into the Riverside neighbourhood, which became known as “Little Havana”, a predominantly Spanish-speaking community.
In the 1980s, Miami’s growth was spurred on by the cocaine trade as the city became a hub for narcotics from South America. Money from drugs transformed parts of the city with the rise of swanky properties and nightclubs, but most of it was underpinned by violent crime.
By 2010, Downtown Miami was transformed by a high-rise building boom, which put the city just behind New York and Chicago for its skyscraper-dotted skyline.
Suntan lotion was invented by Miami’s Benjamin Green, an airman and later a pharmacist, in the 1940s to help protect WWII soldiers stationed in the South Pacific from the sun.
Miami remains the only major US city to be founded by a woman – Julia Tuttle.
There are over 800 Art Deco buildings from the 1930s and 40s in Miami’s South Beach – the highest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world.
Miami has year-round warm weather, with temperatures typically around 20°C-30°C (68°F-86°F).
Spring (March to May) is often considered as being the best time to visit Miami as temperatures stay in the comfortable 22°C (72°F) to 26°C (79°F) range. Coincide your visit with Calle Ocho, a fun-filled Cuban-American festival with fantastic street parties and delicious street food.
Summer (June-August) is warm and gorgeous, although beaches can be crowded and you will need to book your accommodation well in advance. Put on your best shades and join one of the many pool parties or Sunday night parties – Miamians know how to have fun, and you will never be bored.
Autumn (September-November) is rainy with a risk of tropical storms and hurricanes (technically the hurricane season starts from June to November). You can get cheap hotels in Miami during this season.
Miami is a wallet-friendly destination to seek some sun during winter.
Its
winter (December to February) is mild with temperatures hovering around 20°C (68°F). This time is best for a cultural experience – the city kicks off the Art Deco Weekend in January, and the South Beach Wine & Food Festival starts in February.
Getting around Miami
Due to the size of the city, getting around Greater Miami can be difficult. Nevertheless
Miami-Dade Transit (MDT)
Telephone: +1 305 468 5900
Website: www.miamidade.gov provides a variety of useful public transport options, including Metrorail, Metrobus and Metromover.
The Metrorail is a 40km (25-mile) elevated rapid transit system. It runs from Kendall northwards through South Miami, Coral Gables, downtown Miami and then northwest to the Hialeah district. Trains run approximately every 10-20 minutes on weekdays and less frequently during the weekend. The trains connect to the Metrobus and Tri-Rail. Metrobus operates a comprehensive bus service with more than 95 routes, with some running every 24 hours.
Blue and green bus-stop signs list the routes and destinations. To pay your Metrorail or Metrobus fare, you need a reloadable EASY Card or an EASY Ticket. These are sold at all Metrorail stations and various sales outlets across the city or can be purchased on the EASY Pay Miami app. One-day and seven-day passes are available. Downtown Miami is served by the driverless Metromover, an elevated, three-loop, fully automated monorail.
It operates daily from about 0500 to midnight. The Metromover is free to all travellers. It is safe, air-conditioned, and it also provides unparalleled views. The South Beach Local makes getting around South Beach a breeze. The bus runs every 10-15 minutes and is very cheap.
Although taxis are plentiful, it is not the norm to hail one in the street. They are easily available from taxi stands outside most hotels and shopping malls, although it is more common to telephone for one. Firms include
Yellow Cab Taxi
Telephone: +1 786 830 6253
Website: www.yellowtaximiami.com
Super Yellow Taxi
Telephone: +1 305 888 7777
Website: www.superyellowtaxi.com A 15-20% tip is expected.
Greater Miami comprises 107 municipalities, but the city of Miami itself is divided into quadrants. Flagler Street runs east-west, thus dividing the city into north and south sections, while Miami Avenue runs north-south, splitting the city into east and west sections. Most Miami addresses refer to these quadrants. Greater Miami traffic can be terrible; cars can come to an absolute standstill along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue in South Beach during weekday rush hour and nights over the weekend.
There is plenty of metered parking available in Miami, but you should check displayed information for rates and hours of operation. Most meters accept Visa and Mastercard as well as cash. On weekends, parking garages fill up with shoppers during the day and clubbers during the night. Further information on locations of car parks, hours and rates is available from the
Miami Parking Authority
Telephone: +1 305 373 6789
Website: www.miamiparking.com
Bike-friendly Miami has many hire outlets. They include the:
Miami Beach Bicycle Center
Address: 746 Fifth Street.
Telephone: +1 305 674 0150
Website: www.bikemiamibeach.com
Bike and Roll
Address: 210 Tenth Street.
Telephone: +1 305 604 1001
Website: www.bikeandroll.com
Bikes and Segway Tours & Rentals
Telephone: +1 305 280 0522
Website: www.bikesandsegway.com is Miami’s bike share scheme.
Although membership is better suited to residents, visitors can buy access for anything from 30 minutes to a full day. Miami occasionally holds car-free, bike-and-stroll days in and around downtown Miami, Brickell and the Miami River. Look out for details in the local press.
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Things to see in Miami
Attractions
A cluster of tiny coastal towns located on a slender sandy island, Miami Beach is the place to go for top-class watersports, among them windsurfing, jet-skiing, sailing and parasailing. The best beaches start at Lincoln Road Mall and extend northwards to 87th Street. The historic boardwalk is also home to pretty Art Deco lifeguard stations. Haulover Beach, located on the north side, is clothing-optional so if you like to sunbath in the nude, this is the place to be.
Address: Miami Beach, Off the Julia Tuttle Causeway, Miami.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Website: www.miamibeachfl.gov
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Coconut Grove is one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods and has been continuously inhabited since 1873. Settled by a multicultural group of Bahamians and New Englanders, it is now a trendy district with a bustling village atmosphere, full of colourful galleries, theatres, nightclubs, fine restaurants, hip sidewalk cafés and shops.
Address: Coconut Grove, Off the South Dixie Highway, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 461 5506
Opening time: Daily 24 hours.
Website: www.coconutgrove.com
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
After Fidel Castro took power of Cuba in 1959, refugees fleeing the country settled just west of downtown Miami in a neighbourhood now known as Little Havana. Today, this colourful district has a distinctly Latin atmosphere with signs in Spanish, Cuban coffee bars and restaurants, small cigar factories and street-side food stalls.
Address: Little Havana, Around South West 22nd Avenue, Miami.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
This excellent contemporary art gallery, which looks out across Biscayne Bay, owes much to Jorge Pérez, the property tycoon whose name hangs above the door. He has bequeathed much of his collection to PAMM, which is made up of 20th-and 21st-century photography, prints, sculptures and paintings. Visiting exhibitions change regularly.
Address: 1103 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 375 3000
Opening times: Thu-Mon 10:00-18:00.
Website: www.pamm.org
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
A must for anyone interested in getting an insight into Florida’s past, this museum has a small but impressive collection of hands-on displays, archive material, historical objects and multimedia presentations. Covering some 10,000 years, it stretches from Seminole Indian artefacts to an aviation collection. It also hosts regular temporary exhibitions.
Address: Downtown, 101 West Flagler Street, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 375 1492
Opening times: Wed-Sun 10:00-17:00.
Website: www.historymiami.org
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Affiliated with Florida International University, the Wolfsonian is a quirky collection of 180,000 objects amassed by an eccentric world-traveller. One-of-a-kind exhibits address several 19th- and 20th-century political themes, but the most interesting displays show propaganda and the art used to persuade, nationalise and rally citizens.
Address: Miami Beach, 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 531 1001
Opening times: Wed-Sun 10:00-18:00.
Website: www.wolfsonian.org
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Zoo Miami is a state-of-the-art cage less zoo, with more than 310 species of animals roaming the 116-hectare (290-acre) grounds, separated by moats from spectators. Wildlife shows, a petting zoo, tram tours, monorail, gift shops, food courts and a playground provide fun for all the family.
Address: SW 152nd Street, 1 Zoo Boulevard, Richmond Heights.
Telephone: +1 305 251 0400
Opening times: Daily 10:00-17:00.
Website: www.zoomiami.org
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
This creative neighbourhood is home to over 100 galleries and studios, as well as spectacular public art displays including the Fly’s Eye Dome, a geodesic dome designed by architect and systems theorist Buckminster Fuller and the much anticipated Institute of Contemporary Art.
Address: 140 North East 39th Street, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 722 7100
Opening times: Mon-Sat 11:00-20:00, Sun 12:00-18:00.
Website: www.miamidesigndistrict.net
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
This magnificent 34-hectare (83-acre) botanical garden, landscaped by William Lyman Phillips, contains an extensive collection of rare tropical plants, a vast conservatory, 14 lakes and lily ponds, and even a rainforest exhibit that is set between a waterfall and stream. A variety of educational programmes and narrated tram tours are available.
Address: Coral Gables, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 667 1651
Opening times: Daily 10:00-17:00.
Website: www.fairchildgarden.org
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya is a beautiful Italian Renaissance-style palace set in 17 hectares (43 acres) of picturesque formal gardens. Built as a winter residence for Chicago industrialist James Deering between 1914 and 1922, the mansion is neo-classical by design, and its 70 rooms are filled with antique furnishings spanning the 15th to 19th centuries. Tours are available.
Address: Coconut Grove, 3251 South Miami Avenue, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 250 9133
Opening times: Wed-Mon 09:30-16:30.
Website: www.vizcayamuseum.org
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Local developer George Merrick created this elegant, Mediterranean-style residential district during the Florida land boom of the 1920s. Situated approximately 10 km (6 miles) southwest of downtown Miami, Coral Gables is known for its art galleries and also boasts the exclusive Miracle Mile shopping street, numerous golf courses and spectacular Art Deco architecture.
Address: Coral Gables, Off Coral Way, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 446 6800
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Website: www.coralgables.com
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
- Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
Address: Brickell Key, 701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2700, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 539 3000
Opening times: Mon-Fri 08:30-17:00.
Website: www.miamiandbeaches.com
Tourist passes
- The Go Miami All-Inclusive pass
Website: www.gocity.com grants admission to over 27 attractions, activities and tours. It is available as a one, two, three, four or five-day pass. With the Go Miami Explorer pass three, four or five attractions can be visited within 30 days.
Things to do in Miami
- Dive to the lost city of Atlantis (almost)
Located off the coast of Key Biscayne
Neptune Memorial Reef
Telephone: +1 754 208 1203
Website: www.nmreef.com is the largest man-made reef in the world. Below the surface are stone roads, columns and decorative lions. Visitors can take a boat or dive to see the statues at this underwater mausoleum.
- Stroll the South Beach promenade as the sun sets
Warm evenings make for ideal walks along Miami’s most iconic promenade. Lit in electric pink and neon blue, the area’s Art Deco decadence never looks grander as when the sun has set.
- Take a cooling dip in a Venetian Pool
For a picturesque swim, head to Miami’s prettiest suburb Coral Gables. Built in the 1920s, the area was designed as part of the City Beautiful architectural movement. Among the tree-canopies and grand buildings is
Venetian Pool
Telephone: +1 305 460 5306 a Mediterranean-style building surrounded by paradisiacal waterfalls and refreshing spring water pool.
- Take a peek at some adult art
For adults hoping that some of Miami’s neon signs lead to something a little sordid, seek out the
World Erotic Art Museum
Telephone: +1 305 532 9336
Website: www.weam.com
Boasting one of the globe’s most diverse collection of all things explicit, the museum is both eye-opening and educational. However, it is not family-friendly.
- Walk the Wynwood Walls and beyond
Once Miami’s warehouse district, the large windowless buildings of Wynwood
Telephone:
+1 305 531 4411
Website: www.thewynwoodwalls.com are now brick canvases revitalised by bright graffiti.
Aside from the six main warehouses, the area brims with nearly 70 galleries and museums with walking tours available to guide visitors through the ever-changing landscape.
Miami tours and excursions
Miami tours
The Blue Moon Outdoor Center offers a unique way to see Miami and its outlying natural areas by kayak and bike. Self-guided tours and expedition packages of varying length and difficulty are offered, most of which start in the Oleta River State Park at the northern end of Biscayne Bay.
Telephone:
+1 954 781 0073
Website: www.bluemoonoutdoor.com
Miami is not always the easiest place to explore on foot, but the Miami Design Preservation League is hoping to change all that with daily, 90-minute walking tours of South Beach’s Art Deco historic district departing from its Art Deco Welcome Center. Self-guided audio tours are also available.
Telephone:
+1 305 763 8026
Website: www.mdpl.org
Miami excursions
One of the largest national parks in the entire US, the Everglades is home to 10,000 sq km (4,000 sq miles) of marshes, mangrove forests, freshwater and saltwater areas and open grass prairies. Gator-spotting is one of the main attractions in this vast subtropical wilderness, which is also home to an abundance of rare plants, birds and animals – including wild orchids, Florida panthers, ospreys, manatees and giant loggerhead turtles. Visitor centres are run by the park authorities, which also lay on walking, boat and tram tours.
Telephone:
+1 305 242 7700
Website: www.nps.gov
A cluster of small coral-and-limestone islands south of Miami, the Keys offer some of the best sport fishing, scuba diving, boating, swimming and snorkelling in the world. Key West is its quaint and festive jewel, offering a myriad of museums, Caribbean-influenced restaurants and art galleries. Back towards Miami, the main draw is Key Largo, which is home to a dolphin rehabilitation centre. It also has a protected marine park that shimmers with tropical fish.
Telephone:
+1 305 352 5397
Website: www.fla-keys.comShopping in Miami
Shopping in Miami abounds with opportunities, with a broad assortment of sophisticated malls to small specialist boutiques. Since the city is quite sprawling, it pays to know beforehand which district to head for.
The Miami Design District is a hub for designer fashion from Marni to Louis Vuitton. Miracle Mile in Coral Gables has quality galleries, boutiques and department stores, while the 6.5-hectare (16-acre) waterfront Bayside Marketplace, in downtown Miami, offers an unusual mix of retail shops and local artisan stalls.
Other key areas include the funky boutiques of South Beach (most notably the Lincoln Road shopping district), The Gallery at CocoWalk and the numerous malls scattered about Greater Miami. A stretch of Collins Avenue, between Sixth and Eighth Streets, in South Beach, has a handful of local boutiques and medium-price chain stores like Banana Republic and Urban Outfitters. Ocean Drive is lined with designer shops.
Miami has a plethora of farmers’ markets, including one in Coconut Grove every Saturday between 10:00-19:00 and one on Lincoln Road close to Miami Beach every Sunday between 09:00-18:30. Both are open year-round.
Aventura Mall
Address: 19501 Biscayne Boulevard.
Telephone: +1 305 935 1110
Website: www.aventuramall.com
One of the most popular malls, featuring Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, JCPenney and over 200 smaller shops.
Bal Harbour
Address: 9700 Collins Avenue.
Website: www.balharbourshops.com is renowned for its high-end designer boutiques, such as Tiffany & Co and Gucci.
Sawgrass Mills
Address: 12801 W Sunrise Blvd, Sunrise, FL.
Telephone: +1 954 846 2350
Website: www.simon.com is the largest single-story outlet mall in the US with more than 350 discounted brand-name stores.
For chic interiors and objects for the home, nothing surpasses the Miami Design District where high-end décor and furniture shops are open to the public.
Opening times vary for each venue.
Look out for arts, crafts, jewellery, fashion, clothes and trendy homeware.
Sales taxes are 7% on all goods, and there is no system for claiming this back. Credit cards are widely accepted.
Restaurants in Miami
From Cuban street food to glittering celebrity hangouts, the restaurants of Miami are almost as diverse as its population. The restaurants below have been grouped into three different price categories:
Expensive (over US$35)
Moderate (US$20 to US$34
Cheap (under US$20)
These prices are for an average three-course meal for one person with a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they do not include taxes, service charge or tip. Expect to pay a 7% sales tax. The levy is used to help the homeless. Tax is added to the bill at the end of the meal and is not reflected in the menu prices. A few places also include a service charge in the bill, but this is not common. It is normal to leave a tip of 15-20% for service.
Expensive
Cuisine: Seafood
Part of the Art Deco district, A Fish Called Avalon is the place to go for some of the city’s best seafood – all served up in airy, chic surroundings with views over the street and beach opposite. Served to a soundtrack of Latin-Caribbean music, typical dishes include the spiced grilled grouper and Florida snapper with mango relish.
Address: Miami Beach, 700 Ocean Drive, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 532 1727
Website: www.afishcalledavalon.com
Cuisine: American
Serving upmarket American classics, Barton G the Restaurant is the place to come for US cuisine with a side of theatrics. Owned by A-list caterer Barton G Weiss, the décor is plush and cosy, and the presentation of the dishes is Instagram-worthy. Expect popcorn shrimp to be served in a real popcorn machine or giant cutlery used as a centrepiece on a plate of steak or tuna.
Address: Miami Beach, 1427 West Avenue, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 672 8881
Website: www.bartong.com
Cuisine: Fine dining
Michelin-Starred Stubborn Seed is the result of pairing unrelenting passion with an unapologetic approach. It aims to unearth cravings of the palate while constructing a reward in each bite. This philosophy takes honest ingredients and elevates them to be splendidly elegant through rigid and persistent execution. At the helm is 2022 James Beard Award Semi-Finalist and Bravo’s Top Chef Season 13 Winner, Chef Jeremy Ford. In 2022, Stubborn Seed was awarded one Michelin star in the highly coveted inaugural Florida guide.
Address: 101 Washington Ave, Miami Beach.
Telephone: +1 786 322 5211
Website: www.stubbornseed.com
Moderate
Cuisine: Seafood
A sleek seafood emporium located in Downtown Miami, Area 31 combines a lounge-style appearance with sustainably-caught crustacea and a very glamorous crowd. Despite its good looks, the prices are not off the charts, and you can eat well here at an affordable price–just try not to miss the excellent crab.
Address: Downtown, 270 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 424 5234
Website: www.area31restaurant.com
Cuisine: American
At the heart of the South Beach hustle, this retro diner and sports bar serves classic all-American fare to a young crowd. As the name suggests, practically everything (from the barstools to the menu) is pink. The satisfying American comfort food is the real draw though, especially the TV dinner served in a six-compartment tray.
Address: Miami Beach, 157 Collins Avenue, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 532 4700
Website: www.mylesrestaurantgroup.com
Cuisine: International
Casual poolside dining is the name of the game at this charming little restaurant, which is part of the 61-hectare (150-acre) Biltmore Hotel estate. Cascade overlooks the largest pool in the US and has a similarly watery menu with fresh seafood, Caribbean dishes and healthy, organic spa cuisine topping the bill.
Address: 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables.
Telephone: +1 305 913 3189
Website: www.biltmorehotel.com
Cheap
Cuisine: Cuban
Along with the Cuban sandwich, the frita (a burger spiced with industrial quantities of paprika) is one of Cuba’s best contributions to the Miami street food scene. Nowhere does it better than El Mago de las Fritas, where the eponymous ‘El Mago’ (former chef Ortelio Cárdenas) had been making them since 1984.
Address: West Miami, 5828 South West 8th Street, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 266 8486
Website: www.elmagodelasfritas.com
Cuisine: Cuban
Proof positive that there is authentic Cuban food outside Calle Ocho, North Miami’s Little Havana is a popular choice with locals thanks to its beautifully cooked dishes. Open daily, specialties include lobster-stuffed yucca pastry and Masas de Puerco, a tender, crispy fried pork dish that is a favourite among patrons.
Address: North Miami, 12727 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 899 9069
Website: www.littlehavanarestaurant.com
Cuisine: American
Occupying a log cabin decorated with mounted boar, caribou heads, saddles and cowboy hats, this barbecue house has Americana written all over it. Very informal, the food here is served at long wooden picnic tables, with specialties that include barbecued ribs accompanied by fries, coleslaw, corn on the cob and chilled, thirst-quenching beers.
Address: West Miami, 11575 South West 40th Street, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 227 3196
Website: www.shortys.comMiami Nightlife
New York might be ‘The City That Never Sleeps’; however, Miami runs it a very close second. The city offers a panoply of choice ranging from sleepy beach bars to thumping nightclubs. Although no part of the city is without distractions, the main scene is around South Beach where neon-lit, Art Deco buildings provide a suitable backdrop to hedonistic crowds.
Bars generally close around 0300 and nightclubs around 0500. The minimum age for admission to clubs in Miami Beach (including South Beach) is 21 years – the minimum drinking age in Florida. However, for those that are 18 but not yet 21, there is still a grand collection of clubs to choose from. It is advisable to carry ID, and dress codes often require chic attire.
Bars in Miami
As you would expect from the spot where James Bond took on Goldfinger in a game of gin rummy, Bleau Bar is seriously glamorous and a favourite with visiting celebrities. Modernised several times since its 1950s heyday, it offers excellent cocktails including Bond’s favourite vodka martini, shaken not stirred.
Address: Miami Beach, 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 674 4760
Website: www.fontainebleau.com
Nestled inside a classic 1930s Art Deco building, handcrafted cocktails using garden herbs and exotic spices make this an award-winning bar and a Miami Beach favourite.
Address: Miami Beach, 2727 Indian Creek Drive, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 531 2727
Website: www.freehandhotels.com
A painfully hip hangout in Miami Beach, the WunderBar is a small but chic affair inside the Circa 39 Hotel with blue-painted bar stools and a huge selection of rum. Crowds coo over the crafted cocktails and cabaret shows, but the coolest clientele chill under the cosy poolside cabanas.
Address: Miami Beach, 3900 Collins Avenue, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 538 4900
Website: www.circa39.com
Clubs in Miami
This club in the Edition Hotel has a huge dance floor, technicolour bowling lanes, and a 2,000-square-foot indoor ice skating rink illuminated in different shades of neon. It’s ‘mega dope’ as one would say.
Address: Miami Beach, 2901 Collins Avenue, Miami.
Telephone: +1 786 257 4600
Website: www.basementmiami.com
Located inside the Fontainebleau Hotel, Liv’s domed ceiling once saw Sinatra swing but now swells with sweaty, cyber-eyed ravers for EDM megastars like David Guetta and Fatboy Slim. With three bars and exclusive, VIP table service, you will need to dress fine for entry, but once in, the dancefloor turns into a monstrous mess of arms and lasers.
Address: Miami Beach, 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 674 4680
Website: www.livnightclub.com
There might be branches in Ibiza and Saint Tropez, to name a few, but the original Nikki Beach still has a faithful following in its Miami hometown. Located on a glorious stretch of white sand, it has an indoor and outdoor dancefloors, fabulous cabanas and lounges which attract a young, glamorous crowd.
Address: Miami Beach, 1 Ocean Drive, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 538 1111
Website: www.miami-beach.nikkibeach.com
Live music in Miami
If your idea of a good night out involves twirling up a sweat to Latin rhythms, try Hoy Como Ayer. Located in Little Havana, the intimate venue regularity welcomes huge salsa artists and offers an authentic Latin music experience. Expect perfectly mixed mojitos and a night full of dancing.
Address: Little Havana, 2212 South West 8th Street , Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 506 1537
Website: www.hoycomoayer.business.site
Home to the New World Symphony, the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center is a striking glass and steel building that offers more than 60 performances a year. The building has a dramatic rooftop garden with sea views and can be toured on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1600, Fridays at 1300 and Sundays at 1500.
Address: Miami Beach, 500 17th Street, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 673 3330
Website: www.nws.edu
This historic Art Deco live music venue in South Beach is the place to go for national acts as well as local singer-songwriters. The vibe is relaxed and intimate, the crowd is eclectic, and the drinks are delicious.
Address: Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Avenue, Miami.
Telephone: +1 305 673 7300
Website: www.fillmore-miami.comMiami Food And Drink
Food In Miami
Florida stone crabs prefer to feed on oysters or small mollusks, bristle worms, and other crustaceans. They occasionally eat seagrass and carrion too. Meat that doesn’t fill the shell means there were predators in the water or a storm decreasing the crabs visibility.
The sandwich consists of roasted pork, ham, pickles, cheese, and mustard served on
Cuban bread. The
sandwich mixto served as the foundation for the Cuban sandwiches that developed in Tampa and Miami.
- Chicken ‘N’ Watermelon ‘N’ Waffles
Chicken ‘N’ Watermelon ‘N’ Waffles: cheddar cheese waffle, fried chicken, spiced watermelon, bourbon-maple syrup and honey-hot sauce.
- Traditional Chinese Classics
Fried Rice (Try It: Fried Rice) Peking Duck (Try It: Easy Peking Duck with Mandarin Pancakes) Stinky Tofu (Try It: Stinky Tofu) Chow Mein (Try It: Chow Mein)
Blue masa tortillas, juicy carnitas, fresh cilantro, pickled red onions—these are the ingredients to the Miami tacos of our dreams. We believe a taco can be enjoyed at any time of day.
The arepa is a flat, round, unleavened patty of soaked, ground kernels of maize, or—more frequently nowadays—maize meal or maize flour. It can be grilled, baked, fried, boiled, or steamed. The characteristics vary by color, flavor, size, and the food with which it may be stuffed, depending on the region.
Drink In Miami
Juice is a drink made from the extraction or pressing of the natural liquid contained in fruit and vegetables. It can also refer to liquids that are flavored with concentrate or other biological food sources, such as meat or seafood, such as clam juice.
Miami Vice is a cocktail that represents the city’s glitz and glamor. It is a frozen drink that consists of strawberry daiquiri and pina colada. Swirled together, Miami Vice gives off an ombre effect that is the perfect refresher and always ‘gram ready.
Generally, tap water in Miami is considered safe to drink by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.
One of the most famous cocktails that originated from Cuba remains a top pick for many Miami visitors. Made with fresh mint leaves, lime, white rum, and soda, the mojito is a refreshing drink that is perfect for a hot Miami day.
As a classic cocktail of Mexican descent, the margarita is typically made with tequila and lime juice paired with a citrusy liquor like Triple Sec or Cointreau. Made in proportions according to taste and personal preference, this tropical drink can transport you to a beachy vacation in seconds.
Soon enough, sangria began showing up at cocktail parties, picnics and restaurants. It was made with red wine, white or rosé; blended with vodka, sherry, cava or vermouth; and served with chunky bits ranging from fresh orange wedges to gin-soaked raisins to canned fruit cocktail.
However, there is a key difference between the two. While they both contain lime juice, the margarita is made from tequila and triple sec, and the daiquiri is made from rum and syrup. So, naturally, your preference on which drink will suit your tastes better all depends on if you prefer tequila or rum.
It’s made with a Brazilian rum called
Cachaca which is made from sugar cane, you sweeten it with sugar or agave in this case, and lots of fresh lime juice. If you love margaritas, I am going to go ahead and say that you will love this drink and it just might…just might.
While the combination of rum, Coke and lime may seem simple, within those three ingredients lies a synergy that has pleased palates for over a century. The Cuba Libre’s creation can be traced to early 1900s Havana, shortly after the Spanish-American War.
Miami Hotels
Famously glamorous, Miami glitters under the Florida sunshine. This vibrant city attracts everyone from well-dressed business travellers to curious cultural buffs, eager partygoers and families looking to kick back at the beach. Accommodation options vary hugely, including cosy guesthouses, swish skyscrapers and classic beach resorts, fit for whole host of tastes and budgets. Whatever the reason for your trip, our list of the best places to stay in Miami has it all.