Miami has Cuban coffee windows, Art Deco hotels by the sea and Michelin-starred tables worth booking weeks ahead. Pick a side of the bay, save the addresses you want, and plan one causeway crossing a day.

Miami at a glance

Time zone
Eastern Time: UTC−5, and UTC−4 from March to early November
Currency
US dollar ($). Cards and phone payments are taken almost everywhere; prices are shown before sales tax
Language
English and Spanish. At Cuban counters and in Little Havana, staff often speak Spanish first
Airports
Miami International (MIA): the free MIA Mover to the Metrorail station, then the Orange Line to Brickell or Government Center; Fort Lauderdale (FLL): about 45 minutes by car to Miami Beach
Best months
December to April; hurricane season runs from June to November
Power
Type A and B plugs, 120 V
Tipping
About 18–22% at restaurants and bars. Check the bill first: many add a service charge

Know who’s in Miami when you are

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Where to spend your time

  • South Beach Walk Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue early for the Art Deco hotels, then swim off the beach by South Pointe Park.
  • Lincoln Road and Collins Park Walk the Lincoln Road pedestrian mall, see The Bass, and on some Saturday nights watch a free WALLCAST concert outside the New World Center.
  • Little Havana Order a cortadito at a walk-up window on Calle Ocho, watch the domino players at Máximo Gómez Park, and come back at night for live music.
  • Wynwood See the murals on a weekday morning, then coffee and pastries a few blocks away.
  • Design District See free contemporary art at ICA Miami between the flagship shops, then go a mile north on NE 2nd Avenue for dinner.
  • Downtown and Brickell Ride the free Metromover between PAMM on the bay and Brickell’s towers; eat near Government Center.
  • Coconut Grove Visit Vizcaya’s house and gardens by day, then have dinner on Main Highway.

Where we’d send a friend

  • Panther Coffee Wynwood, Miami. A Miami roaster’s first café, open in Wynwood since 2010. 2390 NW 2nd Ave, Miami. Open daily, 7 AM to 7 PM. Website
  • Zak the Baker Wynwood, Miami. A kosher bakery and café: sourdough, babka and rugelach. 295 NW 26th St, Miami. Order: Babka, or a loaf of sourdough to take away. Closed Saturdays and major holidays. Walk-ins welcome; reservations recommended on weekend mornings. Website
  • Versailles Little Havana, Miami. A Cuban restaurant since 1971, with a walk-up coffee window, La Ventanita, on Calle Ocho. 3555 SW 8th St, Miami. Order: A cortadito at the window; the Cuban sandwich inside. Open daily from 8 AM (9 AM on Sundays) until midnight, later on Fridays and Saturdays. Website
  • Sanguich de Miami Little Havana, Miami. A Cuban sandwich counter on Calle Ocho. 2057 SW 8th St, Miami. Order: The Sanguich de Miami, or the pan con bistec. Open daily, 10 AM to 6 PM. Order at the counter. Website
  • Joe’s Stone Crab South Beach, Miami Beach. Stone crab claws, served cold with mustard sauce, at the southern tip of Miami Beach since 1913. 11 Washington Ave, Miami Beach. Order: Stone crab claws, with key lime pie after. Stone crab season is October 15 to May 1. Lunch Wednesday to Sunday, dinner daily. Walk-ins welcome; tables on OpenTable. Joe’s Take Away next door needs no reservation. Website
  • Boia De Buena Vista, Miami. A small Italian restaurant with a Michelin star, in a strip-mall plaza under a pink neon exclamation mark. 5205 NE 2nd Ave, Miami. Order: Saffron tonnarelli alle vongole. Dinner daily from 5:30 PM. Book on Resy; a $20 a head fee applies to cancellations within three hours. Website
  • Ariete Coconut Grove, Miami. Michael Beltran’s Michelin-starred restaurant: Cuban-American cooking, with a tasting menu or à la carte. 3540 Main Hwy, Miami. Order: The tasting menu, or the rabo encendido. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Book on SevenRooms; a 20% service charge is added. Website
  • Los Félix Coconut Grove, Miami. A Michelin-starred restaurant on Main Highway, cooking inspired by Meso-American heritage. 3413 Main Hwy, Miami. Closed Mondays. Dinner Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday 5:30 PM to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday to 11 PM; brunch Saturday and Sunday 11 AM to 3 PM. Book on OpenTable; late cancellations and no-shows cost $25 a guest. Website
  • Mandolin Aegean Bistro Design District, Miami. Greek and Turkish cooking in a small house with a garden; a Michelin Bib Gourmand. 4312 NE 2nd Ave, Miami. Order: Eggplant carpaccio, then the whole grilled sea bass. Open daily, noon to 11 PM. Book on Resy. Website
  • Tâm Tâm Downtown, Miami. Vietnamese drinking food and wine; a Michelin Bib Gourmand. 99 NW 1st St, Miami. Government Center, about 2 min. Order: The wings, with fish-sauce caramel. Closed Mondays. Dinner Tuesday to Sunday from 5:30 PM. Book on Resy or walk in; an 18% gratuity is added to every bill. Website
  • Ball & Chain Little Havana, Miami. A Calle Ocho bar since 1935, with live Latin music from noon and dancing at night. 1513 SW 8th St, Miami. Order: A Bananita Daiquiri. Open daily from 11 AM. Over 21 only after 8 PM, with photo ID; tables for the evening shows can be booked online. Website
  • Café La Trova Little Havana, Miami. Julio Cabrera’s cantinero bar and Cuban restaurant, with live music every night. 971 SW 8th St, Miami. Order: A Daiquiri Clásico. Opens at 4 PM daily, with live music every night. A 20% service charge is added. Dress is smart casual. Website
  • Mac’s Club Deuce South Beach, Miami Beach. A dive bar since 1926, with a pool table and a jukebox. 222 14th St, Miami Beach. Open daily, 8 AM to 5 AM. Cash only; two-for-one happy hour until 5 PM. Website
  • Churchill’s Pub Little Haiti, Miami. A live-music pub on NE 2nd Avenue in Little Haiti, open since 1979. 5501 NE 2nd Ave, Miami. Open daily from 11:30 AM: to 3 AM Monday to Thursday, to 5 AM Friday to Sunday. Check its calendar for tonight’s show; tickets for bigger shows are sold online. Website
  • The Webster South Beach, Miami Beach. A multi-brand fashion store in a 1939 Art Deco hotel by Henry Hohauser: clothes, shoes, bags and jewellery across 20,000 sq ft. 1220 Collins Ave, Miami Beach. Open Monday to Saturday, 11 AM to 7 PM; Sunday, noon to 6 PM. Appointments can be booked by email. Website
  • Books & Books Coral Gables. An independent bookshop since 1982, with a courtyard café and author events. 265 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables. Order: The Cubano panini, or key lime pie. Open daily from 9 AM, until 11 PM (10 PM on Sundays). Website
  • Pérez Art Museum Miami Downtown, Miami. Modern and contemporary art on Biscayne Bay, with hanging gardens and views across the bay. 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami. Museum Park (Metromover), about 2 min. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Open until 9 PM on Thursdays, free after 5 PM. Tickets can sell out; buy online. Website
  • ICA Miami Design District, Miami. Free contemporary art in the Design District, with a sculpture garden. 61 NE 41st St, Miami. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Open 11 AM to 6 PM. Free; reserve a ticket online for guaranteed entry. Free tour at noon. Website
  • Rubell Museum Allapattah, Miami. A family’s contemporary art collection in six converted warehouses, with a courtyard garden. 1100 NW 23rd St, Miami. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Free guided tour at 3 PM; buy tickets online or at the desk. Cards only. Website
  • Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Coconut Grove, Miami. A 1910s villa and formal gardens on Biscayne Bay. 3251 S Miami Ave, Miami. Vizcaya (Metrorail), about 10 min. Closed Tuesdays. Open 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Some rooms and garden areas are closed for restoration in 2026. Also closed Nov 26, Dec 11–15 and Dec 25. Check before you go. Website
  • The Wolfsonian–FIU South Beach, Miami Beach. Design, propaganda and decorative arts from 1850 to 1950, in a 1920s storage building. 1001 Washington Ave, Miami Beach. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Open until 9 PM on Fridays, free from 6 PM. Website
  • The Bass Collins Park, Miami Beach. Contemporary art in a 1930s Art Deco building in Collins Park. 2100 Collins Ave, Miami Beach. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Open noon to 5 PM; free on third Thursdays, 6 to 9 PM. Website

A first week in Miami

  1. Day 1: Land and walk South Beach. Drop your bags and walk Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue as the hotels light up. Eat nearby rather than crossing a causeway on your first night.
  2. Day 2: Little Havana. Start with a cortadito at the Versailles window, then take a short ride east along Calle Ocho to the domino players at Máximo Gómez Park. Have lunch at Sanguich; stay for music at Ball & Chain or Café La Trova.
  3. Day 3: Wynwood and the Design District. Coffee at Panther and the murals in the morning; ICA Miami and the Design District after lunch. Book dinner at Mandolin.
  4. Day 4: Coconut Grove. Visit Vizcaya when it opens at 9:30 AM, then spend the afternoon by the bay. Have dinner at Ariete or Los Félix, booked ahead.
  5. Day 5: Out of town. Choose one: the Everglades at Shark Valley, or Key Biscayne for the lighthouse and the beach. Both take most of the day.
  6. Day 6: Downtown and Brickell. See PAMM in the morning (it’s closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays), ride the Metromover loop, then have dinner at Tâm Tâm.
  7. Day 7: Collins Park and Lincoln Road. The Bass at noon, a swim, then Lincoln Road. End with a drink at Mac’s Club Deuce.

Where people meet

  • Live music Ball & Chain has live Latin music from noon, and Café La Trova has live music every night.
  • Free concerts On some Saturday nights the New World Symphony shows its concerts on the outside wall of the New World Center (WALLCAST). Bring something to sit on.
  • Art evenings Museums open free in the evening: PAMM on Thursdays after 5 PM, The Wolfsonian on Fridays from 6 PM, The Bass on third Thursdays.
  • Art Basel week In early December, Art Basel Miami Beach and the fairs around it bring talks, openings and parties to both cities. Book hotels months ahead.

Eating in Miami

  • Cuban coffee At a ventanita, a walk-up window, order a cafecito (sweet espresso), a cortadito with a little milk, or a colada: several shots in one cup, with small cups to share.
  • Check the bill Many restaurants add a service charge of about 18–20%. If it’s there, you don’t need to tip again.
  • Book the hard tables Boia De and Ariete have Michelin stars and fill up. Book on Resy or SevenRooms as soon as your dates are set, and set a notification for cancellations.
  • Stone crab season From October 15 to May 1, stone crab claws are served cold with mustard sauce. Joe’s Stone Crab has served them since 1913.

Getting around

  • Mostly by car Rideshare is the usual way between neighbourhoods. The causeways to Miami Beach slow down at rush hour and on weekend nights, so group your plans by side of the bay.
  • Free rides Metromover is free and loops Downtown and Brickell, 5:30 AM to 10 PM. Some stations are closed for upgrades in late 2026, so check Miami-Dade Transit first. Metrorail’s Orange Line links the airport, Brickell and Coconut Grove; Miami Beach runs its own free trolley.
  • Late nights Metromover stops at 10 PM; after that it’s rideshare or taxi. Fares surge on weekend nights in Miami Beach, so check the price before you book.

Good to know

  • Swim by a tower Swim near a staffed lifeguard tower and check its flags; a purple flag means stinging marine life.
  • No glass on the beach Glass containers are banned on Miami Beach’s beaches. Bring cans or plastic.
  • Spanish first In Little Havana and at Cuban counters, staff may greet you in Spanish. “Buenos días” is a good start.
  • Dress codes Some bars and restaurants set dress codes; Café La Trova asks for smart casual. Check before you go out.

When to go

December to April is dry, warm and busy, with Art Basel Miami Beach in early December. From June it’s hot and humid, with afternoon storms. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 and peaks from mid-August to mid-October: book flexible rates, and follow the National Hurricane Center if a storm forms.

December to April
Dry, warm and the busiest season. Book hotels and the hard tables early, especially over the holidays.
Early December
Art Basel Miami Beach and the satellite fairs fill hotels and restaurants for the week.
March
Spring break brings crowds and extra security measures to South Beach. For quiet, stay in Coconut Grove or Brickell.
May
Hotter and less busy after the high season, before the summer rains.
June to September
Hot and humid, with short, heavy afternoon storms. Plan the beach and walks for the morning.
Mid-August to mid-October
The peak of hurricane season. A storm can close airports for days: book flexible rates and follow the National Hurricane Center.
October 15 to May 1
Florida’s stone crab season. Joe’s Stone Crab serves the claws only in these months.

Day trips and next stops

  • Everglades Drive to Shark Valley, then take the two-hour tram tour or cycle the 15-mile loop. Check tram times with the park before you go. About 1 h.
  • Islamorada Drive the Overseas Highway into the Upper Keys for boat trips, snorkelling and fish by the water. Leave early: US 1 is slow at weekends. About 1 h 30 m.
  • Key Biscayne Cross the Rickenbacker Causeway to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park for the lighthouse and the beach. About 30 min.
  • Palm Beach Take Brightline from MiamiCentral to West Palm Beach, then cross the bridge to Worth Avenue. Check the timetable before you go. About 1 h.

Questions people ask

Is Miami a good city for meeting people?

Try the live-music bars on Calle Ocho, the free museum evenings or a WALLCAST concert. If you’re an O member, you can also see people who choose to share overlapping travel dates.

Should I stay in Miami or Miami Beach?

Miami Beach (South Beach or Collins Park) puts the sea outside your door. Brickell, Downtown or Coconut Grove put you nearer the city’s restaurants and museums. They’re separate cities, about 20 minutes apart by car without traffic.

How do I get in from the airport?

From MIA, take the free MIA Mover to the Metrorail station, then the Orange Line to Brickell or Government Center, or the Miami Beach airport bus (every 30 minutes, about $2.25) to South Beach. Taxis and rideshare leave from the arrivals level.

Do I need a car?

Not for South Beach, Downtown and Brickell, where you can walk, ride the free Metromover or take a rideshare. Rent one for the Everglades or the Keys.

When is hurricane season?

June 1 to November 30, with the peak from mid-August to mid-October. Book flexible rates, consider travel insurance, and follow the National Hurricane Center if a storm forms.