Local’s Guide to Miami

What do you picture when you think of Miami?  Beaches, models, Gloria Estefan, Pitbull and cocaine?  Miami is more infamous than famous thanks to television shows like Miami Vice, CSI Miami and Burn Notice, to name a few. Miami is an exciting vibrant city and although these shows do exaggerate, much of how Miami is portrayed is actually somewhat accurate. It’s a crazy place with tons to do and this Locals’ Guide to Miami will give you the lowdown.

Miami is a city of over 400,000 people with a variety of interesting neighborhoods. Most tourists don’t venture beyond Miami Beach which is understandable because this is the most popular and well-known part of Miami. However, Miami is more than just beaches and glamorous people.

If you want some South Beach tips I’ve got ’em. Also if you’re looking specifically for places to eat and drink in Miami, I gothchu.

For the brave souls who dare to make that long trek across the causeway to explore the vast unknown of the mainland, here are some ideas of where to start.

The Wynwood Art District

This is one of my favorite neighborhoods. An artsy, gritty neighborhood that is home to many art galleries and boasts impressive murals on the walls.

The Wynwood Walls are now Instagram famous and the neighborhood itself is becoming “gentrified”.  You can make a whole day of visiting the Wynwood Art District as there are many great places to eat and drink here.

Shopping

Shopping in Miami is plentiful and fabulous. The malls here are outstanding but I’m honestly averse to the hassle of mall shopping so I don’t do it as much anymore. However, for you shopaholics out there, you will be in heaven!

Aventura Mall

The Aventura Mall, is probably your best bet for the maximum amount of stores and the most diverse mix of price points. I must admit, this area is absolute torture for me as far as traffic and parking. It’s not the mall’s fault, it’s Aventura’s (I call it “Aventorture”) fault. 

Bal Harbor Shops

Bal Harbor Shops is considered one of the most beautiful malls in the world. However, the shopping is what I would call “Luxury on Steroids”. I could easily spend an entire paycheck on just one item in one store. It is gorgeous with great restaurants and how often do you get to hobnob with the Russian mafia? It’s all part of the fun.

The Shops at Merrick Park

The Shops at Merrick Park has a perfect combination of beauty and great shopping. Flanked by Nordstrom’s and Neiman Marcus, this outdoor Mediterranean courtyard-style shopping mall is a pleasure to walk through, plus there are many good restaurants. 

 There are other smaller local shopping venues more central to Miami and I cover those in the appropriate section. See below under Brickell/Downtown for shopping in that area.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

This Italian style villa was once the winter home of James Deering, constructed in 1910. It is now a museum with gardens and is a National Historic Landmark.

I highly recommend a visit here for a taste of old-world splendor on a beautiful sunny day.  Vizcaya hosts a number of events including a Halloween and New Year’s Eve party. They also offer high tea on the terrace from time to time. You can check their calendar for event information.

www.vizcaya.org

The Everglades

The Everglades is a two million acre wetland ecosystem that reaches from central Florida, near Orlando, all the way south to Florida Bay. South Florida was at one time mostly Everglades but construction has aggressively encroached on this river of grass that is home to hundreds of animal species including the endangered panther, the manatee, 37 types of snakes, 350 types of birds and of course, alligators!

This is why you often see Florida in the news because someone found an alligator in their pool. Well, you built a house in the Everglades homie! Duh!

There is a section of Everglades protected from further development and you can visit. These areas are also ancestral tribal lands of the Seminole and Miccosukee Indian Tribes.

There are tons of ways to explore the Everglades one of my favorites is to bike ride at Shark Valley. You can rent bikes easily and there is a 14-mile loop that takes you into alligator territory. Halfway through is an observation tower where you can look down into the water and view the creatures lurking beneath.  You are guaranteed to see TONS of alligators. They are literally everywhere. There are also beautiful birds and the scenery is a tranquil nature lover’s paradise.

Just don’t get too close…they don’t seem friendly and I don’t recommend turning your back to them!

It’s also quite a hoot to take an airboat ride where you can really get into the heart of the Everglades and see even more gators.

One of the best airboat Everglade tours is done by the Miccosukee and is called Buffalo Tigers

You can learn more about both Indian Tribes, if you wish, by visiting their respective villages and various tours that they offer, some of which involve wildlife and of course, gators.  The links to both are below.

Seminole Village

Miccosukee Village

Oleta River State Park

Oleta River State Park is a short twenty-minute drive north of downtown Miami and is a beautiful green nature-tastic getaway from the city. You can bike, hike, picnic, swim or kayak.

Read More:  Best Late Night Eats in Miami

Brickell/Downtown

Located directly on Biscayne Bay is the financial and business district of Miami. Brickell and Downtown are sometimes referred to synonymously since the distinction between them is nebulous but generally, the Miami River forms a border of sorts between them if you want to get technical. 

Brickell has been a hotspot for young professionals and Downtown has essentially caught up in the past few years thanks to massive construction of fancy new apartment buildings all with fabulous bay and ocean views.  With the recent addition of the enormous Brickell City Center, there are even more shopping and dining options.

Here are some cool things to do in this neighborhood, arguably the heart of Miami, geographically and from an urban perspective. 

Perez Art Museum 

This modern and contemporary art museum locally known as “PAMM” has an envious location right on Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami. The museum has a cafe called Verde with a lovely terrace and in an ideal place for a weekend brunch. 

Bayside Marketplace

Bayside is an outdoor waterfront mall with shopping and dining. It hosts many small local vendors with some unique “Miami” items. If you just want to take a stroll with water views this is a good place to do so.

Brickell City Center

This glittering new mixed-use project spans 5 city blocks and is flanked by Saks Fifth Avenue. It is ideally located right in the middle of Brickell, walking distance to downtown and Mary Brickell Village. The restaurant scene in here is new and constantly changing.

Mary Brickell Village  

This little local’s shopping center has it all. Shopping, Eating, Bars, Nails, Hair, Gym, Massage and more. Check out Beer and Burger joint for some seriously creative and delicious burgers. 

Places to Eat and Drink in Brickell

Casa Tua Cucina New restaurants are popping up in Brickell City Center every few weeks it seems. One of these that I recently tried and am over the moon for is Casa Tua Cucina. It’s a buzzy hip Italian restaurant with mouth-watering homemade pasta and other things.

River Oyster Bar   Hard to find amidst the construction but this is a local hotspot. Great food, classy but relaxed environment and good bar scene.

Sugar at East  Located in the East Hotel at the brand spanking new City Center, this rooftop bar and garden is beautiful and the views spectacular, but it is relatively new so there’s usually a line. Bring your standing shoes! I’ve been twice and I must say that the bouncers are fairly polite. Thankfully they haven’t succumbed to South Beach levels of rudeness yet.

Ceviche 105  Modern and classic Peruvian cuisine that is a big hit with just about everybody. I also take people from out of town here to experience one of the best cuisines in the world.

American Social  Indoor /Outdoor dining and bar with good food and a great scene. Located on the Miami River this is the place to have an outdoor happy hour or to watch a game. The Sunday brunch here is great as well.

 PLACES TO AVOID

I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t warn you of bad places. As a former Miami native I can attest to the horrible-ness of these two. Just stay away!

Cantina la Veinte  You will wait minimum two hours even with a reservation and the 16-year-old girls working at the front will look at you like you haven’t bathed in weeks.

Seaspice   Unless you are a celebrity you will be seated far away from the fun part, even when the fun tables are empty for hours. Criminals seem to be in charge of this place so if that’s your thing and you like spending $30 on two bites of raw tuna…

Key Biscayne

Key Biscayne is an island just south of Brickell and north of Coconut Grove. The Miami Seaquarium is here but I currently am boycotting it until they release Lolita, known as the world’s saddest Orca, to a sanctuary. She currently resides in one of the smallest pools of any captive orcas. Shame on you Seaquarium. The annual Miami Open Tennis Tournament has it’s headquarters and tennis courts on this island. The Miami Open is every year in late March to early April. 

Key Biscayne has beautiful beaches which are part of Crandon Park. This park is woodsy and the beaches are more naturally lush than those on South Beach. There are picnic tables and grills for use as well. There is even a dog beach. Only in a local’s guide to Miami can you find out where the best beaches are. 

Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove, aka “The Grove” is a lush, gorgeous, old Miami neighborhood known for a hippy vibe. You see everything here from cozy small cottages to gated mansions. Coconut Grove has its own shopping, nightlife and restaurant scene as well as Peacock Park on the water. There’s no shortage of places to have water views in Miami. 

Some of my favorite restaurants in Coconut Grove are: 

Lokal Sustainably, locally sourced ingredients with a cool industrial vibe. LoKal is the 1st restaurant in Miami-Dade County to use 100% clean, renewable energy sourced from wind and solar power!

Bombay Darbar  This place is a gem, a diamond in the rough, aka one of two really good Indian restaurants in Miami-Dade County. Indian food and Asian food, in general, is tough to find in Miami.

Ariete A relative newcomer, they feature an innovative take on New American cuisine in an indoor-outdoor space

Bianco Gelato Fresh natural organic gelato and they even have vegan options

Peacock Garden Cafe  A classic “Grove” spot with a beautiful garden. Great for lunch or brunch on a nice day. Pictured above.

Greenstreet Cafe This has long been a locals’ favorite meeting place, a place to see and be seen, offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night. I would describe the food as upscale comfort. You never know who you’ll see here…a famous athlete, a politician, or maybe just your Mom. 

I hope my local’s guide to Miami helps the next time you are in Miami or if you are a local looking for something new to do. Miami is many things, but boring is not one of them!

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