The Coolest Neighborhoods in Miami to Spend a Weekend (2024)

Miami is more than a city, it’s a state of mind. A sprawling, tropical wonderland that’s transformed from simply a vacation paradise to a major world metropolis this century, where the spirit of the hustle runs deep and colorful characters abound. Sure, most people who come to our fair city are here for the sun and sand, but venture beyond the beach and you’ll see why Will Smith so eloquently said, “Ain’t no city in the world like this.”

From city blocks plastered in murals to streets literally covered in lush plant life, Miami’s neighborhoods offer ways to experience the city outside the South Florida stereotypes. All of them are packed with world-class restaurants and welcoming hotels, and no matter where you stay you’ll get a different experience every time. So come along and learn about all the neighborhoods in Miami, and see where to stay in Miami to get the most out of the Magic City.

For artsy types: Wynwood

Miami’s colorful street art district is a veritable outdoor museum, where you can walk through blocks of provocative murals all the while popping into boutiques, bars, and restaurants. The warehouses adorned by murals are slowly being replaced by low-rise apartment buildings, but for now Wynwood’s streets are still the most colorful in the city.

While you can meander down nearly any block between N. Miami Ave. and NW 5th Ave. and find some of the best street art in the world, the Wynwood Walls is the city’s only permanent mural museum. The Walls charges admission, but the $12 is worth the price as you’ll get a curated collection from world famous artists like Kenny Schark and Shepard Fairey. This year, the Walls also added a reclaimed subway car to its collection, retrofitted as a piece of modern artwork.

Where to eat in Wynwood:

For the past few years, Wynwood has seemingly been the hotspot for every new concept that opened in Miami. Uchi is many locals’ top pick for best sushi in Miami. Doya is an outdoor Mediterranean gem whose ambience is like eating in an Aegean garden. Rishtedar brings a menu of Indian food not often seen in American restaurants, offering regional specialties that are worth branching out from the usual tikka masala. Lira Beiruit is a small, unassuming Lebanese restaurant with unusual wines and a cozy, neighborhood vibe. Doma is ideal for a chic Italian dinner or a dimly-lit romantic date. For a late-night slice, hit the Pizza Tropical at Gramps bar, a slice window that’s worth the wait.

Where to stay in Wynwood:

Wynwood recently welcomed the Arlo Hotel, the neighborhood’s first full service property that takes much of the street art inspiration into its decor and boasts a sunny rooftop bar at Higher Ground. If you want more of a full apartment to spread out in, check out Strata, where residents rent out their places to visitors with a hotel-like rental pool. Later this summer, Wynwood will welcome a new Moxy hotel too, whose small rooms and lively common spaces create social hubs wherever they land.

For beach lovers: South of Fifth (SoFi)

The southern end of South Beach is also its best neighborhood, where a peaceful park, calming beach, and blocks upon blocks of walkable restaurants sit in the shadow of luxury condos. The beach South of Fifth is about as relaxing as South Beach sand gets, though the shoreline is still filled with locals, families, and a smattering of tourists.

From the grassy hills inside South Pointe Park you can take in panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, Fisher Island, and the sunset over the Miami skyline. It’s home to Smith and Wollensky steakhouse, where you can grab a table just steps from the water, or enjoy the scene with a drink in hand from the outdoor bar. The park’s paved path allows for easy jogging and rollerblading, and it ends at a rock jetty where you can try your hand at fishing in the Atlantic.

Where to eat South of Fifth:

SoFi is best known as home to landmark Joe’s Stone Crab, but it’s gained even more fame as home of Gordon Ramsay’s latest outpost of Lucky Cat. It’s about two blocks from SoFi’s best place for margaritas at the Mexican steakhouse Casa Matilda. Another fantastic steakhouse, Red South Beach, is also in SoFi serving hearty cuts and a stellar Italian menu. Grab post-beach tacos at Mexihco Organico, where the healthy Mexican fare helps you hang on to your beach body. You’ll find fantastic sushi at Kosushi or the swanky omakase counter at Azabu. Just off the sand at the Hilton Bentley, Santorini by Giorgios is Miami’s best Greek restaurant where they may run through more plates than pita.

Where to stay South of Fifth:

SoFi was a little slower on the tourism uptake than the rest of South Beach. That means the neighborhood isn’t teeming with hotels like the hectic streets further north, so you can kick back on your balcony at the Marriott Stanton and breathe in a beach with far fewer crowds. The Life House is a comfortable boutique option with small rooms and a great happy hour at the lobby bar. The Balfour is another great boutique option, where art-inspired rooms and hallways give way to the street’s top hotel restaurant at Mehzcla.

For the party people: Brickell

Miami’s financial district is the most densely populated neighborhood in the 305, where glass-and-steel high rises tower over streets bustling with lively bars and international restaurants. If you're a traveler who wants access to everything—from sandy shores to all-night parties—Brickell puts you in the center of the action.

Don’t miss: A walk (or run) around Brickell Key

Once a forgotten spoil made of dredgings from the Miami River, Brickell Key is now an exclusive island boasting the Mandarin Oriental and several luxury highrises. Its 1.25-mile walking path runs the perimeter, where views change from the Brickell skyline to the bay, PortMiami, cruise ships, and downtown. Take a pleasant half-hour stroll to work up an appetite for dinner or take a couple of laps around at a faster pace and you’ll get a pretty decent workout.

Where to eat in Brickell:

Chef Gaston Acurio’s La Mar is the quintessential Miami dining experience, pairing killer ceviche with skyline views and a front row seat to Biscayne Bay. In Mary Brickell Village, Hampton Social offers a breezy, elevated perspective on the scurrying crowds below. Zeru at the AKA hotel brings bold Basque flavors and Mediterranean seafood to corporate dining types. For something more casual, Coyo Taco is generally regarded as Miami’s best taqueria. And Burgermeister is a German import with over-the-top burgers that are enough for two meals. Looking for something lighter? Vale Food Co. offers fresh smoothies and bowls ideal for an after-workout meal.

Where to stay in Brickell:

For luxury stays with a stunning view, the Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key is the move with large rooms and balconies boasting warm bay breezes. Business travelers should look at the AKA, the brand’s first urban business offering with a jaw-dropping bar view on the 25th floor. The EAST hotel offers lush greenery and Feng Shui-inspired design and instant access to shopping at Brickell City Centre.

For a waterside respite: Coconut Grove

This lush, waterside artists’ enclave has gone from college bar central to the city’s top outdoor dining destination over the past decade. Alongside Biscayne Bay, it is a haven for boaters and fishermen, maintaining the last vestige of the city’s salty ethos. Just off the water, its banyan tree-covered streets are a magical place to immerse yourself in lush tropical foliage.

Miami does a lot of things well. History usually isn’t one of them. But tuck into this nondescript drive off Main Highway and you'll magically be transported to 19th-century Miami, and the city’s longest standing private home. The onetime residence of Miami pioneer Ralph Middleton Munroe is a two-story waterfront estate that’s been painstakingly preserved for more than 130 years. Rangers lead regular wildlife and history programs, and admission is only $2.

Where to eat in Coconut Grove:

Once a wasteland of party bars and late-night taco shops, The Grove is now one of Miami’s top dining destinations, complete with a hidden omakase counter at Sushi by Scratch. For a more casual sushi experience with seafood that’s just as good, find Midorie tucked into a small shopping plaza off Main Highway. Planta Queen is a plant-based spot that’ll have you rethinking veganism. Though if you want beef, the burgers atLoKal are tough to top, as are the steaks at The Key Club. Inventive taco stalwart bartaco has a location in the Grove too, a couple of doors down from Green Street Cafe, a locals’ classic for brunch and light dinners. And Harry’s Pizza comes to us from celebrated chef Michael Schwartz, and makes a strong case for the top pizza in the city.

Where to stay in Coconut Grove:

The Mayfair House Hotel and Garden recently finished a big time upgrade, making the verdant, floral landmark a fully modern boutique complete with rooftop pool and co*cktail bar. The Courtyard Marriott is, well, a Courtyard Marriott, but its ideal location puts you steps from both the Bay and the abundant restaurants and bars. The new Mr. C Hotel is pure Italian luxury, the creation of the same people who bought the world Cipriani. It feels a little like eating inside a yacht on the Med, and the rooftop restaurant and pool are filled with the same kinds of people you’d find summering in Europe.

For aesthetic seekers: Coral Gables

The City Beautiful, as Miami’s Mediterranean revival suburb dubs itself, is indeed an aesthetic gem. George Merrick’s planned community features banyan tree canopies over the streets, a walkable downtown, and Miami’s most iconic historic hotel.

This old rock quarry not far from the venerable Biltmore hotel is one of the coolest public swimming spaces in America, where coral walls give way to deep blue waters giving the sense of swimming in a far-off European resort. The pools are as historic as they are scenic, a 1930s celebrity hotspot where none other than Tarzan himself Johnny Weismueller was known to frequent.

Where to eat in Coral Gables:

At least one meal during your Coral Gables stay must be on Giralda Plaza, a pedestrian street filled with inviting outdoor restaurants. Luca Osteria is your best bet if you can snag a seat, an Italian concept from Chopped champ Giorgio Rapicivoli. Talavera is a Mexican staple in downtown Gables whose moles could challenge any in Oaxaca. Eating House has been drawing lines around the block for its brunch for over a decade, though it’s great for other meals too. And you won’t find better ceviche in the Gables than at Ceviche 105, which has an extensive Peruvian menu that will have you seriously thinking about ordering something other than Lomo Saltado. Though if you do insist on Lomo, find Shadow Wagyu, a gourmet butcher shop with a small eating space and the best collection of meats in Miami.

Where to stay in Coral Gables:

The Coral Gables skyline is dominated by the Spanish-inspired tower at The Biltmore, the 1926 architectural masterpiece that’s rumored to be haunted. For something more modern, grab a room at the new Loews Coral Gables, a short walk from downtown. Near the University of Miami, the THesis Hotel is a thoughtful boutique with two restaurants and a rooftop bar. You’ll likely find a handful of students living there, as the Alix Earle effect has created more enrollment than dorm rooms.

For a fancy family trip: Surfside

Just north of Miami Beach, this tiny beachside town offers big-time restaurants, great hotels, and a quiet escape from South Beach for those who would rather relax than rage. The beach at Surfside is Miami Beach’s most family friendly, boasting a long boardwalk for biking, running, and other ways to enjoy being steps from the ocean.

You don’t need to book a room at this historic, 1930s beach club to appreciate its architectural beauty, where original wooden beams line the ceilings surrounded by original frescos. Post up for a drink at the ornate Champagne Bar, which offers far more than bubbly with rare Japanese whiskys and hard-to-find rums.

Where to eat in Surfside:

No discussion of Surfside restaurants is complete without a nod to Thomas Keller’s Surf Club Restaurant. But you don’t need to do fine dining tasting menus to appreciate the village cuisine.Josh’s Deli offers Miami twists on traditional Jewish deli food, the like Jewban sandwich, and sriracha cream cheese latkes. Lido at the Surf Club offers first-rate Italian food under frescos restored from the original 1930s decor. Middle eastern specialties abound at Neya, a modern Israeli spot that does ceviche as well as it does falafel. And beach days end best with ice cream from Serendipity, a Miami favorite that sells in Publix and other supermarkets.

Where to stay in Surfside:

Surfside’s crown jewel is the Four Seasons Surf Club, a towering glass addition to the historic 1930s Surf Club. For luxury travelers, it’s the runaway best bet as the floor-to-ceiling windows and high tech room amenities make it feel like the ultimate Miami fantasy. If that’s a little out of your price range, the Grand Beach offers a large-scale, full-service property with ocean views at a reasonable price.

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