South Beach
South Beach, whose small name SoBe was given in comparison with the district of SoHo in New York, is a kind of ultra-urbanized island not to be missed by tourists, where the buildings are still growing. Very touristy, this district, located between Biscayne Bay and the ocean, is the part of Miami that developed first in the 1910s.
It is here that the most animation reigns. South Beach is the vibrant heart of Miami and often the only destination that tourists are content to explore... However, Miami is not only South Beach, this southern part of the island of Miami Beach, but it is true that beach lovers prefer to stay there. It is indeed in South Beach that one comes to perfect one's tan, on the vast strip of white sand which gives on the ocean, and where one finds the famous coloured cabins of the lifeguards, all of different forms. And the advantage is that you can get around this area very easily on foot, so just leave your car parked at the hotel and walk or take an Uber or Lyft if you're tired.
South Beach is also the home of Art Deco buildings, built in the 1920s and 1930s, beautifully restored and preserved. They give a crazy charm to this district which has become the postcard image of Miami alone.
Orientation. The neighborhood is articulated from north to south around Ocean Drive which runs along the ocean, from1st Street to15th Street without interruption. It is in the first 15 streets that the activity of the city is concentrated and that we find most of the points of interest. Parallel to Ocean Drive are Collins Avenue, Washington Avenue and finally the westernmost, Alton Road. On the east-west axis, only Lincoln Road and Española Way stand out from the various streets that make up the neighborhood. At the very south end of the island, the tip of South Beach is a pleasant pedestrian area.
Public transportation. South Beach is served by buses but they are often slow and late. Trolleys, small buses with a retro look, also run on South Beach free of charge, but they are a little less frequent.
Cars. Parking lots and parking meters are the dreaded thing for drivers because the prices are prohibitive if you want to stay for a few hours.
Uber and Lyft. To get around South Beach quickly, the most cost-effective and fastest way is by Uber or Lyft! But we recommend that you take the option that allows you to share your ride with passengers going in the same direction as you. Unbeatable and so practical! Provided you have downloaded the Uber or Lyft application beforehand of course...
Miami Beach and its beaches
They are the real reason for Miami Beach's existence and who would be surprised? The island of Miami Beach was originally a simple sand barrier that protected the mouth of the Miami River. It is in the 1910s, thanks to John Collins, that it is exploited and transformed. It was he who, with the help of Carl Fisher, began to make it a tourist destination by gradually transforming it into a residential area and by building a bridge between Miami and Miami Beach. This new means of access considerably facilitated access to the island from the mainland, and it became a vacation spot for many Americans eager for sun and mild temperatures.
Collins and Fisher may not have imagined that a century later Miami Beach would still be, and more than ever, oriented towards tourism. The main reason for this is, of course, its beautiful beaches. The entire economy of Miami Beach is centered on the pleasures of the beach. That's why it's always there, and always free. So there are 10 miles (16 km) of free sand available to you from South Pointe Park (and 1st Street) to 192nd Street (Sunny Isles).
Note however that in some places, the beach is not directly accessible from the street. Indeed, private establishments often restrict access, which does not mean that you cannot access the beach but that from the road, it will not always be possible to reach it!
Some beaches are supervised bylifeguards, whose presence may be necessary due to strong underwater currents in the area. Their lifeguard posts, so photogenic, are decorated with pastel colors, to match the beautiful Art Deco facades!
Mid, North Beach and North Miami
Mid Beach and North Beach. Miami Beach continues well beyond South Beach, across the very long Collins Avenue that eventually changes its name to Ocean Boulevard. We consider ourselves to be in Mid Beach, or word for word, in the middle of the island of Miami Beach, after passing Dade Boulevard, all the way to North Bay Village. From North Bay Village begins what is called North Beach, the northern part of Miami Beach. This area includes strictly speaking the whole area around Indian Creek Drive with Indian Creek Village. To the north, in the extension of North Beach, we find the neighborhoods of Surfside, Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles Beach.
North Beach and Mid Beach are the most touristy areas with modest hotels and motels that have taken in all those who were driven away by the unchecked development of South Beach. The beaches are still not very crowded, but the continued growth of tourism in South Beach is beginning to transform and gentrify this area. Several large hotel complexes have been built on this part of Miami Beach in recent years, including Sunny Isles. The clientele is also much more family than in South Beach. In terms of points of interest, we must admit that the area is quite poor. For the moment, you will have to make do with the beach on the leisure side, but it is rather pleasant as a consolation gift, isn't it? And if you are really looking for more entertainment, you can get to South Beach by car in 30 minutes, starting from Sunny Isles. In fact, this part of Miami Beach is very pleasant to live at the rhythm of its inhabitants, far from the crowds of tourists of South Beach. You will find a lot of restaurants and bistros in the area, intended for a really American clientele, and this is a big change from the more showy establishments of SoBe where the main goal is to attract a tourist clientele. Finally, the Bal Harbour shopping center, in the Bal Harbour neighborhood, targets a wealthier clientele with essentially luxury boutiques, but it is also very pleasant for a simple stroll because it is open air and it offers a tropical-Caribbean setting that can be appreciated for a coffee break or a meal in one of its restaurants.
North Miami Beach. North Miami Beach is located in the north of the island of Miami Beach but on the mainland, bounded by Aventura Mall to the north, North Miami to the south and Norland to the west. It is a very residential area without much tourist interest, apart from the old and remarkable Spanish monastery that can be reached by the Sunny Isles Causeway bridge. The Aventura Mall, in the Aventura district, is really the biggest mall in the city with hundreds and hundreds of stores. It's hard not to find what you're looking for, because absolutely all the American brands that might interest you are there, and most of the big European brands are there too.
North Miami. The North Miami neighborhood is immediately south of North Miami Beach and extends to Biscayne Park, bordered by Opa Locka and Westview Florida to the west. Very popular, and with a predominantly Latin and Haitian population, it has little tourist interest outside of the MOCA Museum (Museum of Contemporary Art).
Downtown, Brickell, Little Havana and Overtown
Downtown Miami. Downtown Miami is the downtown area of Miami and the historic heart of Miami with its origins dating back to the late 19th century. The neighborhood is home to several museums, theaters and businesses.
The part known as Downtown extends from NE6th Street to the north, Biscayne Bay to the east and the Miami River to the east and south. South of Downtown is Brickell, known as the financial district with its huge glass buildings and luxury residential buildings and hotels. This area is really in full development today and there is a lot of construction going on, between two skyscrapers. An important ultra-design shopping mall, the Brickell City Centre, was built in 2016 and many new hotels continue to open in the area.
Brickell is now an increasingly residential neighborhood, not just a business district. It's even very lively at night thanks to the Mary Brickell Village complex, which has many restaurants and bars open late at night.
Apart from Brickell and Bayside Market Place - a huge complex on the marina with restaurants and bars - Downtown Miami has another nightlife hub which is concentrated on NE11th Street, not far from the Perez Art Museum and the FTX Arena: the E11even (open 24 hours), the Space, the Heart are three very large clubs which attract a lot of people, especially on weekends.
In addition to the many buses that crisscross the neighborhood and reach the outlying districts, Downtown is served by the Metrorail and especially the Metromover, a real attraction in itself, which allows you to discover the neighborhood for free in small elevated shuttles.
Little Havana. Little Havana touches the western part of Downtown. Originally known as the heart of the Cuban exile community, it is now primarily a tourist district that concentrates all that is typically Cuban in Miami. It occupies ten blocks, crossed by the famous Calle Ocho (8th Street) and houses many restaurants, cafes, bars with nightlife, some art galleries, cigar factories, several historical places such as a memorial, churches, a cemetery. Finally, on the ground, we will not forget to admire the alley of the stars with, as in Hollywood, stars that are dedicated to the main Latin celebrities. The old-timers meet every day to play endless games of dominoes in the friendly atmosphere of the Maximo Gomez Park.
On the residential level, if many Cubans still live there, Latin Americans from other countries like Nicaragua or Peru have also settled in this area over the years. Some people even have fun saying that there are not really any Cubans left in Little Havana, but this is an exaggeration of course... The Cuban community has been the first Latin community in Miami for a long time and finally, Miami residents of Cuban origin live everywhere in Miami and not only in Little Havana.
Recommendations. If you go to this neighborhood, keep in mind that outside of the main street, the area is not totally safe after dark. Stay on Calle Ocho and avoid the deserted streets.
Overtown: This neighborhood developed in parallel with the construction of the railroad in Miami. Many African-American workers took up residence here, which earned it the nickname of "Colored Town". Very little visited by tourists, it is however the second oldest district of the city. During the segregation period, world-famous artists such as Louis Armstrong, Josephine Baker or Ella Fitzgerald performed there. Overtown - which is still one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city - has been neglected for a long time and is now coming back to life. We recommend you to go there during the day. You can taste the soul food of the South and discover three exciting museums: the Historic Black Police Precinct Courthouse and Museum, the Historic Ward Rooming House (art gallery) and the Black Archives - Historic Lyric Theater.
Overtown is served by the orange and green Metromover lines, stop Historic Overtown / Lyric Theatre.
Coral Gables, Key Biscayne and the South
Coral Gables. This neighborhood was built in the 1920's by George Merrick, who, fascinated by European culture, wanted to give a very Mediterranean touch to the buildings. "The Gables", as the locals call it, is now a very chic residential area with restaurants and luxurious boutiques. The Biltmore Hotel is worth a visit: a mix of Spanish, Italian and Moorish architecture, it is free to visit every Sunday. Al Capone is said to have had a speakeasy there. Nearby, the Venetian Pool, an old quarry transformed into a pool with Venetian accents, as its name suggests. Not far from there, the tropical garden is a good place to enjoy the calm.
Coral Gables is served by Metrorail at 3 stations: Douglas Road, University, and South Miami. Douglas Road allows you to reach the Village at Merrick Park and Miracle Mile shopping centers by taking the free streetcar from there. University logically joins the university and South Miami the other commercial pole, Shops at Sunset Place.
Coconut Grove. Initially, Bahamians started to settle and develop this fertile land far from downtown by planting coconut trees. Then the area was taken over by artists and intellectuals, who were soon supplanted by wealthy investors. Coconut Grove was an independent municipality before being annexed to the city of Miami in 1925. From a bohemian spirit, the neighborhood became chic and touristy. According to many Miamians, it is the most pleasant area. It is a very green neighborhood, quite quiet, with however pleasant bars and restaurants with many good addresses. Far from the hustle and bustle of Miami Beach, "The Grove" (as it is also called by the locals) is the ideal place for pleasant walks along the marina or around Coco Walk, a small shopping center.
Apart from the buses, the Metrorail serves the area through 3 stations: Vizcaya, Coconut Grove and Douglas Road. Vizcaya Station allows you to reach the Vizcaya Museum and the Science Museum, while the other two stops are in the center of Coconut Grove.
Virginia Key. This small island of a little less than 4 km² is especially known for its beautiful beaches. It is located south of Miami between Fisher Island and Key Biscayne. You will find the Miami Seaquarium, a marine theme park with a large aquarium but also where many marine mammals live, including dolphins with which it is possible to swim (with reservations).
Key Biscayne. The beaches of Key Biscayne are among the most beautiful on the coast. Key Biscayne is a sort of long sandbar with lush vegetation, where ultra protected residences succeed buildings for retirees in resort. It is the southernmost island of Miami Beach, bordering the Biscayne National Park. The road that leads to it is absolutely beautiful. Famous for its international tennis tournaments, Key Biscayne is also popular for its water activities, including windsurfing, kitesurfing and jet skiing. It's the place to be for locals who come to lay their towels on the beaches on weekends.
From Miami, take US 1 south to the intersection with the Rickenbacker Causeway. This highway is not free and you will have to pay 1.75 US$ to reach the island but you will not be able to pay in cash, you will pay either via your Sunpass (transponder automatically scanned at the toll, it can be reloaded with a credit card on the Net), or via your license plate which is then flashed (the whole is then sent to the sign of renting your car and you pay at the end, with a withdrawal approximately one month after having returned your car).
Little Haiti, Wynwood and Design District
Little Haiti. Bastion of the Creole community, it is, despite its colorful and hand-painted stores, some of which have French names, one of the poorest neighborhoods of Miami with Overtown. It owes its name to the large Haitian community that moved here in the 1960s to escape the dictatorial regime of their country. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was called Lemon City, because of the lemon fields that grew there at that time, until the area was absorbed by Miami during the city's expansion. Today, the area is not known for being the most peaceful and muggings are possible at night, in isolated streets, due to the presence of gangs and drug problems, even if the area is also experiencing a promising cultural revival thanks to many local initiatives of which the Haitian cultural center is a good example. The Caribbean Marketplace, between NE2nd Avenue and 60th Street, offers colorful handicraft stores and small stalls to eat typical products like plantains as well as a bar.
The neighborhood extends from 85th Street to 41st Street, giving way to the new Design District, which is very upscale and includes several art galleries and showrooms.
If you visit Little Haiti, it is recommended to stay on the main streets, not to venture into the alleys and to avoid lingering there after dark. To be safe, come by car rather than by public transportation. And, in this case, do not leave any valuables in your car. The easiest way is to come by Uber or Lyft.
The MiMo. The neighborhood called Miami Modern Architecture, or MiMo, stretches along Biscayne Boulevard, from 50th Street to 77th Street, between part of Little Haiti to the west and the sea on its eastern side. This neighborhood is characterized by the exuberant and glamorous architecture of the 1950s and 1960s, a style that is a reaction to the austere and minimalist post-war architecture. The MiMo style of architecture is currently very trendy in Miami, and particularly popular. The district is therefore in the process of rehabilitation, and many investors are buying hotels or buildings that they restore, keeping the original MiMo style. This rather poor area of Miami, where the hotels swarmed until a short time ago, is thus in full mutation. It is more and more populated by bobos and artists eager for underground style, at the top of the trend and far from the fury of Miami Beach.
Design District. In the heart of Miami, this growing district is the nerve center of design. Real estate developer Craig Robins was responsible for the creation of this district in the early 2000s. It used to be an old, fairly poor residential neighborhood in downtown Miami. And if the poor neighborhood of Little Haiti adjoins Design District, it is not by chance ... Design District stretches from 41st Street to 38th Street and is home to nearly 130 luxury boutiques and showrooms for a rich and wealthy clientele. In this den of contemporary art in terms of decoration, there are many luxury stores; Louis Vuitton, Celine, Dior and Louboutin have settled there. This makes Miami the temple of luxury and design! It will take you an hour maximum to walk through the Design District. This area of showrooms and expensive boutiques, which was not very lively at the beginning, tends to change with the opening of more and more restaurants and an ethnic and trendy food market. You can also simply stroll around and admire the many works of contemporary art scattered around Palm Court, the epicenter of the neighborhood. During the Art Basel festival, at the beginning of December, the Design District becomes the epicenter of Miami because the most sumptuous parties take place there.
Wynwood. It adjoins Design District. In full expansion, this neighborhood is concentrated, as Design District, on a few streets. Framed by NE2nd Avenue and NW6th Avenue, it starts at20th Street and goes to 37th Street (Design District starts at 38th Street). Wynwood was developed by real estate developer Tony Goldman, who died in September 2012. It was he who literally transformed this disused industrial area of Miami into the new artistic epicenter of the city. It is in this neighborhood that street art lovers will find something to satisfy their passion for graffiti and stencil art. Indeed, the majority of the walls of the district are covered with these ephemeral works made by artists from all over the world, strange and sublime contrast with the rest of the city. Get your smartphones ready for offbeat selfies with giant, colorful works of art that often have such a short lifespan.
But Wynwood is more than just great graffiti, it's a vibrant art district with many art galleries, even if their number has been declining in recent years. They are generally open to the public and you can discover superb works by famous contemporary artists. In the evening, this neighborhood is now one of the liveliest, along with South Beach and Brickell, as many alternative restaurants and bars have opened in recent years. You'll mostly run into locals and artists on the go, far from the superficial style of South Beach, because everyone is dressed very simply in Wynwood. And people are perhaps much more outgoing than elsewhere in Miami. Don't hang out in the deserted streets and don't wait for your taxi/Uber/Lyft alone on the sidewalk at night... But don't deprive yourself of discovering Wynwood by night because of that. It would be a shame because it's a very nice and safe neighborhood in 99% of the cases.
As for parking, there are very few parking meters in Wynwood. To pay for parking on the street, you have to download an application (indicated on the signs) on your smartphone and pay online. You'll need to enter your license plate and the number of the parking space indicated on the sign near your car. Don't worry, it's a breeze! You can even extend your parking time remotely from your smartphone. Another option: outdoor parking by the day.
Midtown. This modern neighborhood, which adjoins Wynwood, was born in the 2000s and is growing rapidly. It is very modern and mainly made of buildings built in the 2010s. It stretches from North20th Street to the south, with I-95 to the north and west and Biscayne Bay on its eastern flank. It is composed of many new restaurants, bars, stores and also offices.
