Tips for Visiting Wynwood Art District in Miami

By now you have probably heard of the Wynwood neighborhood in Miami. It is extremely Instagrammable photogenic, so you have likely seen colorful images of artsy murals.  Not so long ago this neighborhood was so crime-infested that locals drove through nervously on their way to somewhere else. Now it is a buzzing tourist destination. Here are my tips for visiting Wynwood Art District.

Wynwood Art District has become Miami's buzziest neighborhood. Learn how to visit this gritty cool neighborhood with my local's tips! Share on X

How to get to the Wynwood Art District?

Wynwood is just north of downtown, south of midtown and west of Edgewater. It is a 25 minute drive from South Beach and about 10-15 minutes from downtown or Brickell. 

Getting to Wynwood is easy. The two main streets in Wynwood are N. Miami Ave and NW 2nd Ave. The Wynwood Walls is the center of it all on NW 2nd Ave. If you self drive, street parking is everywhere just make sure to pay the meters.  If you Uber or Lyft to get there just put in the address of a restaurant or “Wynwood Walls”.  From here just pick a direction and walk. The area is a grid so you can organize yourself to go a few blocks in each direction to see all the different murals.
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Go Early

I recommend going on a weekday if you can. If you only have the weekend, go early. Like 9:00 am early. The main Wynwood Walls don’t open until 10:00 am, but this is not the only thing to see. In fact it is much more fun to wander the streets and see what goodies you find. It is still possible to find streets where there are no other people since the art is so spread out. The most congested area will be the “Wynwood Walls”.

Stay Safe

Be wary, this is still not the safest area. Use precautions such as keeping your bags close and be aware of who is around you. There are lots of empty parking lots and alleys where you will find random murals. It is still a gritty neighborhood, which frankly is what makes it so cool. If you are alone and don’t know the area well, better to stick to areas where you see other people milling about. Take special care at night and don’t venture too far away from the center.

What to Wear

Anything goes as is typical in Miami. You can wear a ballgown or a tank top and jean shorts. Many people will be dressed up to look their best next to the walls. My Miami uniform of choice is usually a sundress or maxi dress. Whatever your wear, remember that you will be on your feet for a couple of hours so comfortable shoes are a must. Also, it will be hot any time of the year so wear light clothing and bring sun protection. Miami sun is no joke!

Consider Taking a Tour

Do you like learning more about history and art? Consider this 1 hour Wynwood Art District Buggy Tour. Want to combine the art with a Little Havana walking tour?

What to Eat and Drink in the Wynwood Art District

After the exhausting business of walking around admiring art and taking adorable photos posing in front of them, you will likely need to eat. Here are some suggestions!

Panther Coffee

This was one of the first establishments in Wynwood. They specialize in small-batch roasting of high-quality coffee.  I always feel like I’m not hipster enough for this place but the baristas are super friendly and happy to tell you about the different coffees.

2390 NW 2nd Ave

Wynwood Kitchen and Bar

This is a well-established restaurant and bar right in the midst of the “wall” area. It is the cafe you see in the featured photo. The global/Latin inspired food here is consistently good and the decor is cool and arty, as one might expect for being in the Wynwood art district.

2550 NW 2nd Ave

Zak the Baker’s

Great place to start your morning in Wynwood. The naturally leavened handmade bread has become legendary in Miami and used at many local restaurants (you’ll see signs saying “we use ZTB bread”).  Try the avocado toast here or the shakshuka. The chocolate babka is a force to be reckoned with. Just make sure you try this bread!

295 NW 26th St

Plant Miami

Refined and artfully presented vegan cuisine. The garden outside looks like Thailand or Bali and they will happily give you a kitchen tour to see the behind the scenes vegan magic.

105 NE 24th St

Dr. Smood

This organic cafe offers tons of yummy healthy options like juices and nondairy smoothies. They offer light food such as soups, salads, wraps, and breakfasts as well. I mean, there is a whole avocado toast menu. Enough said. 

2230 NW 2nd Ave

1-800-Lucky

This sprawling food hall and both indoor and outdoor areas with Asian inspired food and modern industrial decor. It also turns into a late night club. It’s odd but cool and suits the Wynwood Art district perfectly with this level of quirk. Bonus points for being dog-friendly.

143 NW 23rd St

LAID fresh

Great breakfast or lunch spot complete with LEGOs and headphones hanging from the ceiling. Their signature dish is the LAID Egg, a gooey soft poached egg over a crispy potato cake with bacon marmalade and hollandaise. They also offer mugs of mimosas and freshly made beignets.

250 NW 24th St

Lagniappe

One of the oldest restaurants in Wynwood, this incredibly cool without trying venue has an amazing wine and cheese selection with live jazz while you sit outdoors on mismatched lawn furniture. 

3425 NE 2nd Ave

Beaker and Gray

Small shareable plates and cool cocktails in a former factory space with a cool rustic vibe.

2637 N Miami Ave

Wood Tavern

Craft beer and cocktails with great outdoor space in an industrial and (you guessed it) “artsy”. environment.

2531 NW 2nd Ave

Gramps

Laidback bar with craft beers and good outdoor space. Great for watching sports or hanging out with your dog.

176 NW 24th St

If you’re looking for more to do in Miami check out the Little Havana neighborhood or go to South Beach!

If you’re planning on visiting the Wynwood Art District and have more questions please comment below!

Have you been to Wynwood? What did you think?

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