Things to do in Miami
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AC Fine Art
One our favorite galleries, AC Fine Art specializes in limited editions and originals (!) of masters like Dalí, Picasso, Lautrec, Warhol, Basquiat and Lichtenstein.
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777 International Mall
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1111 Lincoln Rd
The West Side of Lincoln Rd is anchored by what may be the most impressive parking garage you'll ever lay eyes on, a geometric pastiche of sharp angles, winding corridors and incongruous corners that looks like a lucid fantasy dreamed up by Pythagoras after a long night out. In fact, the building was designed by Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, who describe the structure as 'all muscle without cloth'.
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Venetian Pool
Just imagine: it's 1923, tons of rock have been quarried for one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Miami, but now an ugly gash sits in the middle of the village. What to do? How about pump the irregular hole full of water, mosaic and tile up the whole affair, and make it look like a Roman emperor's aquatic playground? Result: one of the few pools listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a wonderland of coral rock caves, cascading waterfalls, a palm-fringed island and Venetian-style moorings. Take a swim and follow in the footsteps (finsteps?) of stars like Esther Williams and Johnny 'Tarzan' Weissmuller. Opening hours vary depending on the season, so check…
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Hiho Batik
Hiho is a neat little shop where you can design your own batik (wax-and-dyed artwork; here they usually put it on T-shirts) with a friendly staff of artsy types. Located about 7 miles north of the Design District.
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Northern Miami Terminal
One of Greyhound's major terminals. There are several buses daily to New York City ($115 one-way, 27 to 30 hours) and Washington, DC ($109 one-way, 23 to 25 hours); five daily to New Orleans ($95 one-way, 20 to 22 hours); and 10 daily to Atlanta ($95 one-way, 16 to 18 hours).
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Española Way Promenade
Española Way is an 'authentic' Spanish promenade…in the Florida theme-park spirit of authenticity. Oh, whatever; it's a lovely, terra-cotta and cobbled arcade of rose-pink and Spanish-cream architecture, perfect for browsing art (it was an arts colony in the 1920s and today houses the studios of several local artists), window-shopping, people-watching and cafe-sipping. A craft market operates here on weekend afternoons.
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Books and Books
The best indie bookstore in South Florida is a massive emporium of all things literary. Hosts frequent readings and is generally just a fantastic place to hang out. Has other outposts on Lincoln Rd and the Bal Harbour shops.
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Zeke's
- Miami, USA
- Entertainment › Bar
Zeke's is a great beer bar and one of the few nightspots on Lincoln Rd where it feels like the focus is more on having fun than looking prettier than anyone else. The beer selection is pretty awesome – they have Beer Lao, from Laos! That's a find in the USA, as are the dozens of other brews.
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Room
- Miami, USA
- Entertainment › Bar
The Room's a gem: a crowded, dimly lit boutique beer bar where you can guzzle the best (brew) Miami has to offer and gawk at the best (hotties) South Beach has to show off. It's hip as hell, but the attitude is as low-key as the sexy mood lighting. Just beware, it gets crowded and it can be tough to find seats as the night goes on.
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Metrozoo
Miami's tropical weather makes strolling around the Metrozoo almost feel like a day in the wild. Look for Asian and African elephants, rare and regal Bengal tigers prowling an evocative Hindu temple, pygmy hippos, Andean condors, a pack of hyenas, cute koalas, colobus monkeys, black rhinoceroses and a pair of Komodo dragons from Indonesia. Keep your eyes peeled for informative zookeeper talks in front of some exhibits. For a quick overview (and because the zoo is so big), hop on the Safari Monorail; it departs every 20 minutes. There's a glut of grounds tours available, and kids will love feeding the Samburu giraffes ($2). Last admission at 4pm.
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Ace Blue Waters Charters
- Miami, USA
- Activities › Other
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Sustain
Sustain is one of the leading – and more affordable – purveyors of locally sourced, organically grown, raised and caught food in the Miami area. The lovely dining room blends smooth white walls with warm wood paneling and rounded metallic edges. The food is fantastic; try the bright, meltingly textured fish sandwich or fired chicken swimming in creamy kale and barbecued beans. The menu changes with the season. Vegetarians and vegans are always catered to, although carnivores will find plenty to enjoy as well.
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South Beach Bike Tours
Three-hour, two-wheel tours of South Beach.
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Señora Martinez
At the time of our research, Señora Martinez was the most exciting top-end restaurant in Miami, pushing the boundaries of experimentation and plain good food. The menu is eclectic, with no one overriding regional influence, besides perhaps Miami, entrepôt that it is. Squid-ink risotto comes with chimichurri sauce; roasted bone marrow is scooped out next to pickled onions; duck sausage swims in port wine. The cocktail menu is as exciting as the food; with bartenders mixing up stuff like espresso tequila, fernet and honey, or rum, allspice, cider and maple syrup. Eat up, drink up, revel in your own decadent excess and hit the town.
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PanAmerican Art Projects
Despite the name, PanAmerican also showcases work from European and Chinese artists. But much of what is on display comes from fine artists representing Latin America, the Caribbean and the USA.
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New World Center
The new home of the acclaimed New World Symphony is one of the most beautiful buildings in Miami.
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Miami Heat
At the time of research, the Heat were (forgive us) one of the hottest teams in the NBA. The team plays at American Airlines Arena.
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Miami Dolphins
'Dol-fans' are respectably crazy about their team, even if a Super Bowl showing has evaded them since 1985. Games are wildly popular and the Dolphins are painfully successful, in that they always raise fans' hopes but never quite fulfill them. Sun Life Stadium is in Miami Gardens, 15 miles north of Downtown.
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Miami Design Preservation League
Learn about art deco and its icons on a 90-minute walking tour departing from the Art Deco Welcome Center at 1200 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach.
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Miami City Ballet
Formed in 1985, this troupe is guided by artistic director Edward Villella, who studied under the great George Balanchine at the NYC Ballet. So it's no surprise Balanchine's works dominate the repertoire, with shows held at a lovely three-story headquarters designed by famed local architectural firm Arquitectonica. The facade allows passers-by to watch the dancers rehearsing through big picture windows, which makes you feel like you're in a scene from Fame, except the weather is better and people don't spontaneously break into song.
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Metro-Dade Cultural Center Plaza
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Little Haiti Cultural Center
Miami has the largest community of Ayisyens (Haitians) in the world outside Haiti, and this is the place to learn about their story. The cultural center is a study in playful island designs and motifs that houses a small but vibrant art gallery, crafts center and activities space – dance classes, drama productions and similar events are held here year-round. The best time to visit is for the Big Night in Little Haiti, a street party held on the third Friday of every month from 6pm to 10pm. The celebration is rife with music, mouth-watering Caribbean food and beer, and is one of the safest, easiest ways of accessing the culture of Haiti outside of that island.
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HistoryMiami
South Florida – a land of escaped slaves, guerilla Native Americans, gangsters, land grabbers, pirates, tourists, drug dealers and alligators – has a special history, and it takes a special kind of museum to capture that narrative. This place, located in the Miami-Dade Cultural Center, does just that, weaving together the stories of the region's successive waves of population, from Native Americans to Nicaraguans. It's interesting for kids and manages to explain the story of Miami's many demographic groups while still feeling tightly focused. Get off the Metromover at the Government Center stop.
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Florida Panthers
NHL hockey season runs mid-October to mid-April.
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