Get your bearings
The yacht-filled waters of
Biscayne Bay separate Downtown Miami from
South Beach,
Miami Beach and
Key Biscayne island
, linked by causeways. Art Deco hotels and trendy bars line South Beach’s Atlantic shores, spilling over to Miami Beach.
Downtown Miami, seven miles from Miami International Airport, is home to Bayside Marketplace’s shops and eateries and the Cuban quarter,
Little Havana. South lie affluent
Coral Gables and
Coconut Grove and beyond, the suburb of
South Miami.
Rest and relaxation
Most people take a Miami vacation to relax on golden sands of
South Beach and
Miami Beach. Boisterous beach bars, lazy brunch spots and pastel-colored Art Deco hotels line
Ocean Drive’s Atlantic seafront.
Brickell Key, off the coast of
Downtown Miami, is home to Miami’s only five-star spa at the
Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Cool down on a
Biscayne Bay sailing boat trip or escape the urban buzz in the 32-acre
Bayfront Park in Downtown.
Historic Miami
From old Latino neighborhoods to high-rise beach view apartments, Miami’s history is mirrored in its urban landscape. Miami’s Cuban neighborhood,
Little Havana is on 8th Street, (Calle Ocho) where old men play dominos, Spanish tunes blast from stereos and English is a second language. Miami’s architecture is eye-catching, from the sleek, high-rise condominiums on
Miami Beach and Art Deco structures in
South Beach to the ornate, country club-style Biltmore Hotel in
Coral Gables. Latin dining
Miami is known for its ‘
Floribbean’ gastronomy -- Florida flavors blended with Caribbean cuisine. In this beach-body-conscious city, food is light with a focus on seafood. Dine in world-conquering South Beach eateries like
Nobu or head to long-time favorite,
Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant, (open mid-October to mid-May). Tiny hole-in-the-wall Cuban cafes serve fearsomely strong coffees to fuel those South Beach bar hops.
After-dark
Sleek lobby bars, rooftop terraces with outdoor beds and open-air beach clubs compete for A-list guests and designer interiors.
Nikki Beach Miami on Ocean Drive, the Moroccan-inspired
Skybar at the
Shore Club on Collins Avenue and deco lobby of the
Raleigh Hotel are South Beach picks. Away from beachside haunts, head to Miami’s oldest bar,
Tobacco Road, in Downtown Miami for jazz and blues.
Shopping
Quirky boutiques, expansive malls and designer stores all have their place in Miami.
South Beach is fashion central, in particular
Lincoln Road Mall and the southern end of
Collins Avenue. Cash-rich shoppers head for
Bal Harbour’s exclusive shops on northern
Miami Beach. For freshly rolled Cuban cigars, head to
Little Havana’s Calle Ocho. Coconut Grove’s alfresco mall,
Cocowalk is home to chain stores and boutiques.
