TRAVEL GUIDE TO MIAMI
You’re heading to Miami for the weekend! While Miami is known for their world-class clubs, staying up late and all day parties — there is so much more. While we mixed in a bit of that partying, we loved taking in some sun on the famous South Beach, riding bikes along Ocean Drive, checking out the artwork in Wynwood Walls district and shopping in the Design District. For a weekend to remember in Miami, check out where we went, what we did and how we spent our time in the city.
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SOUTH BEACH MIAMI HOTELS
There are a few areas to stay in Miami and choosing a hotel will largely depend on what you want to do. South Beach is known for being the place to stay in Miami since it has a little bit of everything, plus it’s easy to get around. You have the beach, night clubs, and great restaurants in this area. However, since it is such a hot spot, it can get pricey. There’s also the Brickell area in Downtown Miami or you can go further up Miami Beach for a quieter vibe and a cheaper price tag.
We chose to stay in South Beach for all the reasons I mention above. While there, we enjoyed our stay at the Nautilus Hotel We also had a chance to check out 1 Hotel South Beach, Betsy Hotel and Soho Beach House. All of them were so lovely and the 1 Hotel pool is to die for. Some other perfect stays on south Beach are Nobu Hotel and the W Hotel.
Use the booking finder below to find the perfect hotel stay for your weekend in Miami.
WHAT TO DO in miami
You won’t be bored in Miami for the weekend. Whether you are traveling with friends, family or it’s a couples getaway, there is something for everyone in Miami.
+ WYNWOOD WALLS
The Wynwood Walls and area surrounding this part of Miami is such a fun and different vibe than I expected. The street art is on nearly every corner you turn. Wynwood Walls specifically is an urban graffiti art museum and it’s all outdoors. The art is constantly changing giving you something new to look at even if you’ve visited previously. Outside the museum there are art galleries, shops and restaurants to make a perfect day exploring the area.
+ DESIGN DISTRICT
Ahh Miami’s design district is exactly what you’d expect. Designer stores everywhere! If designer items aren’t your thing (which they aren’t for everyone and I totally get that) then you can opt for some more local shopping in this area too. It’s truly a shopping district fit for any type of shopper. The area is known for being innovative in not only the fashion industry but the design and architecture surrounding it is something to take in, too.
+ RIDE BIKES ON OCEAN DRIVE
One of my favorite things to do while in Miami for the weekend was riding bikes every morning along Ocean Drive. Ocean Drive is where you’ll find some of the most infamous Miami hotels and not to mention it is across the street from South Beach making it an ideal location. On one side there’s sand volleyball leagues and outdoor gyms while the other side of the street hosts pedestrians enjoying their morning coffee. Regardless of your speed, a bike ride in Miami is a must.
+ ART DECO DISTRICT
If you can’t tell already, Miami kind of has a thing for unique art and architecture. Miami’s Art Deco District is one of the best areas to take it all in. It’s actually a historic district located in the South Beach neighborhood and is known for housing the late Gianni Versace. This district specifically has the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world. You can even opt for a tour of this area or explore on your own.
+ POOL PARTY
Okay, you can’t go to Miami for the weekend without attending at least one pool party. If your hotel doesn’t have it’s own pool or you want to take it up a notch then head to one of the iconic pool parties like Nikki Beach, 1 Hotel, FountaineBleau or Hyde Beach.
+ SOUTH BEACH
There’s Miami Beach and then there’s South Beach. Technically, South Beach is Miami Beach since it’s a neighborhood of Miami Beach, but there’s a huge difference between the two. South Beach is more known for hosting a party scene, but when you hear people reference Miami Beach it typically means the area in general. You’ll also hear people talk about Mid-Beach or North Miami Beach where there is a more relaxed and local vibe. Either way, spending some time at the beach is the thing to do in Miami. Our hotel offered beach chairs and umbrellas for guests and it was the perfect way to spend our last day in Miami.
WHERE TO EAT in Miami
There are so many great food options in Miami that it’s impossible for me to try them all in a year let alone a weekend. Take a look at some of our favorite restaurants in Miami Beach.
+ JUVIA
If you are looking for a place close to Miami Beach with a stunning view then Juvia is your go-to. This restaurant not only had the best vibes, but it has the best ceviche I’ve ever had. So, grab some ceviche as an appetizer and enjoy the view at this rooftop restaurant.
+ PURA VIDA
After a night of drinking, your body may be craving a green juice and a coffee. The best places to get a healthy fix is at Pura Vida. There are plenty of locations around the city making it easy to find one. And, if green juice isn’t your thing, they have tons of other breakfast options ranging from smoothie bowls to avocado toast to egg sandwiches.
+ BEBITO’S
I loved Bebito’s. This cute little cafe is in Miami Beach and it’s the perfect place for a coffee break in-between a morning bike ride.
+ DIOR CAFE
So you already know I fell in love with Miami’s Design District, but you are doing it wrong if you visit the district and don’t see the Dior Cafe. Above the Dior store is this rooftop cafe serving up cappuccinos and small bites. They don’t take reservations, but you can put your name in while you shop around and you’ll get a text when your table is ready. While I did love the cafe overall, the cappuccinos are overpriced… but it’s also Miami we are talking about so the designer price tag is bound to come with it.
+ CECCONI’S
Cecconi’s was another restaurant we ate at on our weekend in Miami located in Soho Beach House. Overall I would still recommend, but it’s definitely not the best we ate at. The food was good (not great), but the drinks were something I would come back for. They have one of the best espresso martinis.
+ CARBONE
Carbone. There are truly no words for me to describe our experience here. The service was out of this world and the food was everything I had hoped for and more. A couple things to know before heading here is it’s definitely a see and be seen restaurant. On our visit we saw two separate tables filled with celebrities. The second point I’ll make about Carbone is with great food and service comes a hefty price tag which you’ll pay here. But, I can also say it’s absolutely worth it. Come hungry, order the spicy rigatoni and enjoy every second.
Places I wish I had time for: Pubbelly Sushi, Casa Tua, SugarCane, Komodo, Swan Miami.
WHERE TO drink in miami
On to one of my favorite things to talk about, the drinks! Just like their restaurants, Miami has so many bars to choose from for a night out which makes it incredibly difficult to decide where to go! Hopefully my recommendations below will help you out.
+ WATR (1 Hotel)
Okay, I quickly grew obsessed with this rooftop bar. From the music, to the vibe and the service, Watr has it all. We grabbed a few drinks here before dinner on our first night and it was a packed house. We made reservations in advance, but if you are one who likes to fight for a spot at the bar then no reservations are needed. This is also a see and be seen type of spot.
+ broken shaker
Broken Shaker came up a lot on my research of Miami. It’s actually a poolside bar located in the Freehand Hotel. I wasn’t super impressed by the cocktails here, but it’s a fun place to hang out before getting some dinner!
+ sweet liberty
I like to think of Sweet Liberty a great in-between bar. It’s the perfect spot if you’re not ready to head to a club just yet and it’s also perfect for those who never want to step foot into a club. There is still a dance floor and DJ, but there’s also tables and booth for those who aren’t feeling a dance vibe. Not to mention, their cocktails are delicious!
+ LIV, Story or E11eVen (or all three)
Okay, so you are in Miami for the weekend and you are wondering which club is the best. There are honestly a lot of clubs in Miami to choose from and they all have their own little twist on the club scene. We chose to head to LIV in the FontaineBleau and let me tell you, that was an experience in and of itself. Lot’s of people watching, dancing and a liiiitttle too much to drink. There’s also Story that hosts great DJ’s every weekend and E11even is a 24 hour club located downtown.
As you can see, there is no shortage of good times with a weekend in Miami. If you want a more low key beach destination in Florida, check out my guide to Anna Maria Island.
