Three Oh Five: A Guide To Miami
This blog post has been a very long time coming. If you’ve been following me for a short time or a long time, you know I have a deep love for the city of Miami. I’ve been here more times than I can count and will never stop going back. Who knows, I may even move there. But that’s another post for another day.
I actually didn’t think many would be interested in a Miami blog but after being asked many times, here it is without further a do:
Things To Do:
Art Walls in Wynwood: Every time I come to Miami I always stop in Wynwood for photos. The murals in this area are unmatched and they change every so often so make sure you come and check it out. The actual art wall exhibit used to be free but now it’s $10 t0 get in (not sure how I feel about this). There is also a of street art along NW 20th street and some cute bars, restaurants and ice cream shops to try on this street.
Little Havana: This neighborhood is a completely different vibe and does sort of remind me of Havana, Cuba. You’ll see people playing dominos in Domino park, live music from different restaurants and vintage colorful buildings that are great for photos.
Ocean Drive: You’ve never been to Miami if you haven’t walked Ocean Drive. There’s countless bars ad restaurants here so take your pick and enjoy. Wet Willies is a staple and I stop by every time. I find it to be a bit more expensive to eat and drink on Ocean Drive compared to other neighborhoods in Miami. But nonetheless, one must visit this happening strip at least once.
Yacht Rentals: If you want to feel luxurious for the day, gather your girls/guys and rent a yacht. Sail along the Biscayne Bay and see all of the multimillion dollar homes on the water. Theres tons of yacht rental companies to choose from . You can find a rental for about $2000 for four hours. I’ve done a yacht rental twice in Miami and thoroughly enjoyed each one. Check out https://www.miamiyachtingcompany.com for prices.
Have a Beach Day: You know I love beaches. Walk over to ocean drive and catch some sun.
Water Activities: Of course if you’re going to have a beach day you might as well do some activities. You can rent jet skis (not my personal favorite but I know people love them) or be daring like me and go parasailing.
Nightlife/Clubs: One thing about Miami, this city knows how to party. Some of my best night club experiences have been out here. However I can honestly say it’s very expensive to do so. Be prepared to pay entry fees as high as $100 or more. If you have the extra coins, check out Liv (one of the leading night clubs in Miami) on Sunday, King of Diamonds (strip club), The Office (strip club) and Cameo.
Getting Around:
Moving around this city is relatively affordable compared to New York. I find Uber’s to be much cheaper so I tend to use them a lot when I’m in Miami. I’ve also rented cars here before but wasn’t a fan of the traffic and looking for parking.
What to Wear:
Miami has a pretty warm climate year round so have your summer clothes and swimsuits ready. But I’ve also noticed that it can be a little breezy at night. I always bring a light cardigan and a pair of linen pants.
Where to Eat:
Mofungo’s: Puerto Rican cuisine located in Little Havana. I came here for a late dinner and couldn’t believe the large portions served. The mofongo was very good even though I couldn’t finish it. This was also the cheapest meal I had during my last visit In Miami so I definitely recommend coming here if you’re on a budget.
World Famous House of Mac: A Black owned restaurant located in Wynwood (with a second location in Biscayne Bay) that blew me away. I had the Salmon Jerk Pasta that was delicious. I also had a fruit punch drink that was incredibly sweet and definitely worth a try.
Prime Fish: My favorite restaurant in Miami still to this day. I stumbled across this place one night while I was with my sister. We were trying to go to Prime 112 but they were all booked up. So we came here and loved the food. My go to is the blackened salmon and the sweet potato mash. Be sure to make your reservations on the Open Table app.
Yard Bird: I first went to Yardbird in 2017 for dinner and believe it or not I hated it. I decided to give it another chance last month when visiting with friends. We came for brunch and I was shocked and how much I loved the food. We ordered a spread of things like chicken and waffles with watermelon, Pancakes, lobster Mac & cheese, biscuits, etc. You name it, it was on our table. The mojitos were top notch! Try the raspberry or the passion fruit flavored ones. My meal wasn’t actually on the menu, I ended up picking two separate things. I had the crab cakes with a side of grits which was a surprisingly great combination.
B-Bistro: A great brunch spot located in Brickell. There are no reservations here so try to get here early because they close at 4pm. I did a solo brunch here and had a salmon burger with a Bellini to drink.
Swan: Located in the Miami Design district, Swan is definitely a vibe. With great food and atmosphere I would definitely recommend a visit here. Make your reservations on their website because it fills up fast. I came here for lunch with my girl Monet and we had the lobster cavatelli, fish tacos, and margarita pizza. For drinks we had the swan and the kiwi sunrise ( I ordered two of them). If you’re on a budget, there is a $29 lunch special Monday-Friday 12-3pm.
Honey Inhibited: Another Black owned restaurant with good brunch options. I didn’t get to come and eat here because unfortunately they were closed on the days I tried to go. Not sure of the reason but heard great things about this place. Hopefully they are open the next time I visit Miami.
Komodo: Another place I couldn’t make it to but this time it was because it was all booked up. I hear it’s a good Asian fusion restaurant.
Where to Stay:
The Mondrian: If you’re a long time follower, you know this is my favorite hotel in Miami. I first stayed at the Mondrian in 2015 back when it was just a low key hotel that didn’t have pool parties. Over the years it’s evolved to a more happening hotel. I love this hotel because the rooms are huge, the food is great and the views from the pool are one of my favorites.
East Miami: I ended up staying at this hotel on my most recent visit to Miami and was blown away by how beautiful it was. I usually stay in South Beach so staying in Brickell was a great change of pace. It’s located right in the heart of Brickell and next to a good shopping mall with stores like Zara and Sephora. East Miami has a beautiful pool area and three restaurants. The balcony views from the rooms are amazing and the rooms are super modern. Try to book a corner room with a wrap around balcony and thank me later. Additionally, Sugar is a rooftop bar and restaurant with a wonderful view of the city.
Kimpton Palomar: The previous two hotels are more luxurious. The Kimpton Palomar is a great luxury on a budget option in South Beach right on Alton road. The rooms are clean and they are a good size. There’s also a nice rooftop pool here that very much gives luxury vibes. Prices for rooms here start at about $130 per night.
The Catalina: Most people may not agree with this option, but way back when I didn’t have a high budget to stay in luxury hotels, the Catalina was my go to in Miami. The rooms are a bit small but they are clean and the hotel is located on Collins Avenue which is a hotel strip so it’s a busy area to stay in. They have a rooftop pool and offer a daily complimentary happy hour from 5pm to 6pm to guests. Sounds like a great option to me if you’re in Miami on a budget. Rooms here start at around $120 per night.
Where to Shop:
Aventura Mall: This luxury indoor mall is about a 30-35 minute ride from south beach and it’s one of my faves. You will find all of your favorite luxury stores here like Saint Laurent, Gucci, etc.
Bal Harbour Shops: This luxury mall is the place to be seen. Bring out your best attire when shopping here and don’t forget to have brunch at one of the cafes. Here you will find Saint Laurent, Bottega Venetta, Chanel and all luxury department stores like Neiman Marcus.
Miami Design District: Aside from more luxury shopping, there are a lot of photoshoot locations in the Miami design district. My current favorite is the yellow walls outside of the Fendi store. You should also check out the Dior cafe and the Fendi cafe as well.
Brickell City Center: A mix of luxury and budget shopping with stores like Chanel, Saks, Zara and Sephora. It’s an indoor/outdoor shopping mall with two floors as well as a food court.
Lincoln Road: A budget outdoor shopping strip with stores like Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters. There are also outdoor restaurants on this strip as well. I’ve been here quite a few times and would recommend passing by.
Sawmills outlets: One thing I will always love is luxury shopping on a budget. This luxury outlet mall is technically not in Miami, and I actually haven’t been here yet because I always run out of time or money haha. But on my next trip to Miami I am making it my business to stop here. Luxury outlets like Gucci, Fendi, Saint Laurent and Jimmy Choo have items marked down up to 50% off.
I can’t quite put my finger on why I love this city so much. Actually I can but it’s a bit more personal and I will share that another day. For now i’ll say I love the fact that Miami has so much to offer visitors. You can enjoy this. city on a budget as well as in luxury. You can also enjoy it if you’re here to party of just kick back and relax. In many cities it’s usually one or the other. Miami will always have a special place in my heart so stay tuned because there definitely be more visits here coming soon.