The Perfect Weekend in Miami

@afar
 on 2022.02.03
Multiple locations
22 Places
@afar
If you only have three days in Miami, you can still get a good feel for the Magic City. Explore South Beach's Ocean Drive and the historic Art Deco district, head to the Design District for art museums and modern architecture, take a leisurely cruise on Biscayne Bay or an Everglades tour, and groove long into the night at one Miami Beach's velvet-rope nightclubs. Credit: Collected by GiAnna Wyatt, AFAR Local Expert

1130 Ocean Dr

Miami Beach

"Miami’s Number One Attraction For a taste of the good life, head to South Beach, known for itsArt Decohotels liningOcean Drive and Collins Avenue, glittering nightlife, and see-and-be-seen vibe.The long stretch of beach, starting with the pier at the top of historic Washington Avenue, is a great place to take in the Miami of postcards and enjoy the sunset over the cityscape. This is where you’ll find some of Miami’s bestshopping, top-tier nightlife, and award-winning restaurants, not to mention great people-watching and luxury-car spotting."

Photo by agefotostock

Art Deco Welcome Center

Tourist information center · Miami Beach

"Art Deco Tour in Miami Beach Miami Beach’s Art Deco Historic District is the first 20th-century neighborhood to be recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, with 800 structures of historical significance, most built between 1923 and 1943. The Miami DesignPreservation Leaguehosts tours to view some of the city’s buildings and historic outdoor spaces. The candy-colored buildings overlook the emerald waters of the Atlantic and haveporthole windows, ship-like railings, sleek curves, glass blocks, shiny chrome, and gleaming terrazzo floors resemblingthe ocean liners of yore."

Photo by Angelo Cavalli/agefotostock

Miami Brewing Company

Brewery · Miami-Dade County

"Brewing Up Something Special Thecraft beer scene is here inSouth Floridawith the opening of the Miami Brewing Company—the region’s first craft brewery—at Schnebly Redland’s Winery in Homestead. The family-owned operation uses the tropical fruits and flavors of South Florida to make flavorful flagship and seasonal beers, including Big Rod Coconut Blonde Ale, Miami Vice IPA, andLittle Havana Cafe con LecheMilk Stout.Stop in at the brewery for a craft beer tasting or pick up a to-go growler."

Photo courtesy of Miami Brewing Company

Schnebly Redland's Winery & Brewery

Restaurant · Miami-Dade County

"The Everglades' Only Winery and Brewery The Florida Everglades is certainly one of the most unusual places to find a winery and brewery, but Schnebly Redland's Winery excels in both arenas in what some would call "the middle of nowhere." Guests are greeted by a stunning wine bar ahead, a beer bar to the right and a counter on the left that sells cheeses and snacks. You can also buy any of the selections you've imbibed, either bottles of wine or growlers of beer. The wines are unique, made from local fresh fruits like mango, guava and lychee and made on premises. Schnebly's beers, brewed for Miami Brewing Company, are equally exotic, with brews like the Big Rod Coconut Ale or the Shark Attack Mango Wheat Ale. Tastings start at $7 and go up if you want to keep the glass. Tours of the facilities are available on weekends."

Photo by Caroline Eubanks

"Take an Airboat Through the Everglades The Florida Everglades are home to a vast array of plant and animal life, and an airboat cruise through partof Everglades National Park’s 1.5 million acresrevealsa beautiful display of south Florida’s natural flora and fauna. Among the water- and landscapes: swamps, mangroves, sawgrass marshes, and pine and cypress forests. The Everglades are home to the endangered leatherback turtle and the Florida panther, as well as abundant racoons, possums, deer, and birds. The big draw is alligators—lots of alligators. Awalking tour includes a scenic stroll under a green canopy of towering bald cypresses."

Photo by Pete Corradino

"Dinner with the Best View in Magic City This Brickelleatery on the 25th floor of the Conrad Miami has panoramic views of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami. With its warm ambience, thesleek contemporarydining room isthe perfect spot for a celebratory dinner or a romantic night out. Fortunately, the food can stand up to the view, with a menu of seafood and prime meats such aslobster salad with mango and avocado, andtender confit porkwith roasted beets. The curatedwine list leans heavily on New World vintages."

Photo courtesy of Conrad Hotels & Resorts

"Sail VIP Style Even ifyou’re in Miami for a short amount of time, it’s important to get out on the water. Take a90-minute sightseeing cruise departing from downtown Miami and you’ll cruise pastBrickell Key, Fisher Island, and the stretch known as Millionaire’s Row on Miami Beach, as well as get a great view of the Miami skyline and the big cruise ships steaming out of thePort of Miami.The tour passes the homes of Shaquille O’Neal, Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, and Al Capone, the house where Scarface was filmed, and more."

Photo courtesy of Island Queen

Lincoln Road

Shopping mall · South Miami Beach

"Take a Stylish Stroll in South Beach Lincoln Road is a pedestrians-only boulevard in the heart of South Beachandone of the most popular places to visit in the area. Lined with shops and restaurantsin historic Art Deco buildings and shaded by tall trees and fountains, Lincoln Road Mall has some of the best people-watching in Miami . Every restaurant has outdoor seating, and there are street performers and a farmers’ market that showcases the local community, farms, and purveyors. Visitors come from all around the world, so grab a cortadito and take it all in. By Thomas June"

Photo by agefotostock

The Standard Spa, Miami Beach

Hotel · Sunset Islands

"The Miami outpost of a hotel brand well known for its Los Angeles and New York properties, The Standard Spa, Miami Beach is less a hotel in the traditional sense, and more a spa with guest rooms set amid tropical gardens. The concept extends to the hotel’s atmosphere, which is downright staid compared to the party scene of so many Miami Beach hotels. A nearly all-white color scheme and extra-comfortable linens, pillows, and robes give rooms—small by local standards—a calm, comfortable air. Extra attention has been invested in the hotel's common areas, with lots of Danish and 1950s-inspired furniture and spaces arranged in such a way that some spots offer solitude while others focus on bringing people together. There's a reason many guests have called The Standard a playground for adults: a co-ed hamam, gardens with hammocks and swing chairs, and a hydrotherapy circuit (including bayside infinity and icy plunge pools)are just a few of the on-site attractions."

Photo courtesy of The Standard

Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant

Seafood restaurant · Miami Beach

"Everyone in these partseagerly awaits the Florida stone crab season, which runs from October through May. As soon as it starts, they flock to Joe’s Stone Crab, a South Beach institution that’s been cracking the sweet crustaceans for more than 100 years. Tuxedo-clad waiters serve claws ranging from medium to colossal, best eaten with a side of mustard sauce (while wearing a bib). Joe’s tangy Key lime pie is the way to end your meal. While the crab, sold at market price, nevercomes cheap, the fried chicken is a stealat $6.95. By Angela Carlton"

Photo courtesy of Joe’s Stone Crab

PĂ©rez Art Museum Miami

Art museum · Downtown

"A Must-See for Art Lovers in Miami The intimate PĂ©rez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) opened its doors off Biscayne Boulevard in December 2013, offering world-class exhibitions, outdoor sculptures, and spaces for art, relaxation, and dining. Prior to entering the three-story building, you meander along a walkway past cruise ships and several acres of meadows, before coming face-to-face with the striking vertical greenery of the Hanging Gardens, designed by Patrick Blanc. The thought-provoking exhibitions often skew political, with a focus on international 20th- and 21st-century art. The very natty gift shop, located on the ground floor, is also worth exploring, with items like robots and unusual objects for the home. In2017, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science opened next door. By Charu Suri"

Photo by Armando Manny

Fontainebleau Miami Beach

Hotel · Miami Beach

"Fontainebleau is perhaps Miami 's most legendary hotel, dating back to the mid-20 th -century golden age of South Beach's social scene. Opened in 1954, the hotel has seen a number of celebrities—as well as scandals—over its six decades. Frank Sinatra filmed the movie A Hole in the Head here, and the Black Tuna Gang used the hotel as a front for its drug-running activities. Fontainebleau has had several owners over the course of its existence; it closed in 2006, only to reopen again in renovated splendor two years later. Common areas have Vegas-like glitz and glam, with lots of gold accents and sparkly chandeliers (made by, of all people, Chinese dissident artist Ai Wei Wei). The hotel's art collection is enviable; besides Ai, there are Sol Le Witt and Damien Hirst pieces. Rooms are full of attentive design elements, too. Turquoise-and-green color schemes evoke the ocean, and high-tech amenities include 20-inch iMacs. Concerts take place at several venues on the property, including poolside and at the nightclub, and the hotel has some serious star pull. Recent concerts have featured Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Pitbull."

Photo courtesy of Fontainebleau Miami

Bayside Marketplace

Shopping mall · Downtown Miami

"To Market, To Market Just minutes from PAMM, this festive downtown Miami marketplace is onBiscayne Bay. Take a stroll, rent a charter boat, or simply practice your photography skills, as the views along the bay are breathtaking, especially at sunset. Restaurants range from a Bavarian beer hall toa seafood bar and grillto a Cuban hot spot. To truly soak in the Miami music spirit, venture here in the evening for the free concerts. Expect crowds when there’s gorgeous weather (since this is Miami, that would be most days), but you willstill be able to find some open space to take in the scene. By Charu Suri"

Photo courtesy of Visit Florida

Southwest Coconut Grove

South Coconut Grove

"Find Your Groove in the Grove Coconut Grove represents old-schoolMiami. This small pocket of bayfront parks, marinas, shops, and restaurants just south of downtown Miami was one of the city’s first neighborhoods, and people from all over the city are realizing that the Grove is cool again. Recently, independent shops and restaurants have been opening, and young families have started moving in to enjoy the art galleries, green spaces, and pedestrian-friendly streets. Coconut Grove’s waterfront location and historic charm kick off its appeal, but the real winner here is the dining scene. Mouthwatering options include French, Peruvian, Hawaiian, and Mediterranean cuisine, creamy gelato, and more. Come hungry."

Photo by Angelo Cavalli/agefotostock

Bodega Taqueria y Tequila South Beach

Restaurant · Miami Beach

"South Beach Secret Hot Spot When you first show up at Bodega, you could easily mistake it for a popular neighborhood taqueria. Between the Airstream trailer serving tacos and the picnic tables, it looks like a low-key spot. It is that, but as you see the Ubers full of models and clubgoers arriving and disappearing into the small taco joint, you get a sense there might be something more going on. Look around for a guy with an earpiece at the back of the room and tell him your friend sent you, and you might just get directed to a back door that looks like an entrance to a Porta Potti. Pass through here and you’ll enter a graffiti-filled men’s washroom. It’s only after passing through yet another door that you will enter one of South Beach’s hot hidden nightclubs. The mixologists have an extensive menu that relies heavily on “illegal” mezcal, and the DJ keeps the room pumping all through the night. It caters to a friendly, slightly older crowd and makes for a good introduction to the South Beach scene minus the cover charge and lineups that you’ll find at clubs closer to the beach. By David Brodie"

Photo courtesy of Bodega South Beach

Miami Design District

Design District

"Browsing in the Design District While the call of the beach is powerful in Miami, sooner or later world-class art, architecture, and shopping lure most visitors to the Design District. Marc Quinn’s acrobatic Myth Fortuna sculpture of Kate Moss and Fernando Botero’s iconic Maternity are among the eye-catching installations on display in the neighborhood’s plazas and along its palm-lined streets. The newInstitute of Contemporary Art,Miami (ICA Miami) opened in December 2017, and other top galleries include Locust Projects and Maman Fine Art. When it comes to the art of fashion design, major brands are well represented: Versace, Bvlgari, Harry Winston, Miu Miu, Prada, and Max Mara, just to name a few. Refuel between stops with creative comfort food (and refreshing cocktails made with hand-squeezed juice) at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink."

Photo by Iwan Baan

Ricky's South Beach

Permanently Closed

"A 1980s Night Out If you want to travel back to the 1980s à la Stranger Things but still be able to order a drink,Ricky’s South Beach is the place to go. With air hockey, board games, and arcade gameslike the Terminator and Dance Dance Revolution, you can relive the unplugged past, or relive college days at thebeer pong tables. The impressive whiskey collection is very adult, however, and bands and comedians perform on the large stage. Ricky’s also serves the no-frills bar food of your dreams: waffle mac ’n’ cheese, Korean frog’s legs, stacked chicken nachos, and funnel cakes."

Photo by Lev Dolgachov/agefotostock

Little Havana

West Little Havana

"Experience Miami’s Cuban Culture Calle Ocho or Little Havana is where all things Cuban and Latino come together in Miami. Start your walking tour of Little Havana at Maximo Gomez Park (aka Domino Park). If you play dominoes and have the patience to wait for a spot at a table, you will be in on the hottest game this side of the Florida Straits. Or just watch as all ages face off for hours and hours. Then follow the pink marble of the Calle Ocho Walk of Fame that honors Latin stars such as the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz.Stop for tostones (fried plantains)and ropa vieja (shredded beef), or a medianoche, a morning or late-nightversion of the Cuban sandwich with sweeter, lighter bread . And don’t be afraid to try some chicharrones (fried pork rinds). ¡Buen provecho! By Heidi Siefkas"

Photo by Luis Castañeda/agefotostock

Freehand Miami

Hotel · Miami Beach

"Freehand Miami Freehand Miami bills itself as “a hostel for a new generation of travelers.” Indeed, a visit here confirms that it’s very far from the stereotypical dingy hostel. In fact, were it not for the shared rooms, the Freehand would likely fall into the “boutique hotel” category. Room decor includes vividly colorful modern art and Mexican blankets, and free Wi-Fi is available. There are also private rooms that come with work desks and flat-screen TVs. The complimentary breakfast is popular with guests and includes Cuban pastries and locally roasted Panther coffee. Evenings are well-spent at the hostel's on-site bar, the Broken Shaker, which in 2014 was listed #22 on Drinks International’s World's 50 Best Bars list. It specializes in inventive “garden-to-glass” cocktails, which blend familiar spirits with unique homemade bitters and ingredients that aren’t usually found in cocktails, such as green bean juice."

Photo courtesy of Freehand Miami

The Fillmore Miami Beach

Live music venue · Miami Beach

"Roll Up for Some Entertainment The Fillmore Miami Beach, located on famous Washington Avenue, opened in 1950 and was the home of The Jackie Gleason Show in the 1960s. It’s now one ofSouth Beach’s top live music and entertainment venues where you can catchJohn Legend, Janelle Monae, the Alabama Shakes, and many other stars, as wellas world-class comedians and Latin musicians. The theater is small and intimate, perfect for watching some of your favorite artists up close."

Photo by Johnny Louis/agefotostock

Yardbird Table & Bar

Restaurant · Miami Beach

"A Southern Twist in South Beach Looking for some down-home comfort food with an upscale twist? Head to Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, named one of Bon Appétit ’s 50 Best New Restaurants and whose fried chicken was declared the best in the South by Southern Living magazine. From start to finish, and despite the hefty servings, each course leaves you wanting just a taste more as they remove your plates. Fried green tomato BLT with tomato jam and house-made pimento cheese, Mama’s Chicken Biscuits with pepper jelly, and a heavenly pasta dish served with duck meatballs are a few of the highlights. Add to it the fun, lively vibe and it’s easy to see how this could quickly become a regular dining spot if you lived in South Beach. By Susie Wellendorf"

Photo courtesy of Yardbird Southern Table & Bar

27 Restaurant & Bar

Temporarily Closed

"Eat and Drink in a Hip House There’s nothing quite like27 Restaurant & Bar at the Freehand hostel in Mid-Beach.The Freehand stands out among five-star luxury hotels as the best spot in town to chill by the pool with a craft cocktail from the house bar, the Broken Shaker. And the restaurant is just as much of a mold breaker. No glitz or glam here—rather, this historic two-story house, built by famed architect Russell Pancoast in the 1930s, has a homey feel and low-key vibe, with a mix of old tiles and wood and hipstery prints and patterns. The phenomenal menu melds Middle Eastern and Asian flavors with American and European dishes, such as yogurt-tahini kale and Florida middleneck clams with miso and lemongrass, and at the bar, it’s easy to indulge incitrus cocktails, strong takes on old favorites, and inventivedrinkswithspecialty reductions."

Photo by Justin Namon