3 perfect days in Miami

Despite what you've heard about Miami's legendary nightlife, as a local I can tell you that the city is more than just untz, untz, untz beats and rowdy bachelorette parties on yachts. (Though let's be honest, you will definitely see and hear both of those). Instead, Miami—known as the Magic City—is a vibrant, and sometimes contradictory, combination of sights, sounds, and multicultural experiences that makes it feel unlike anywhere else.

This three-day itinerary will guide you through some of the best the city has to offer. You’ll get a feel for the city’s distinctive neighborhoods and also its under-the-radar restaurants and attractions using traveler favorites from our community. Whether you want to eat the city’s best Cuban sandwich while lazing on the warm sandy beach or splurge on Michelin-rated cuisine in a 5-star hotel, I can help you choose your own adventure in a city where the possibilities are endless.

Start your day by grabbing an everything bagel with cream cheese and lox or avocado toast on sourdough bread at the Michelin Bib Gourmand winning kosher bakery and cafe, Zak the Baker. (Unless it’s Saturday, when they’re closed in observance of the Sabbath.) The hip spot’s colorful facade is the perfect introduction to Wynwood, which is like a graffiti explosion in the best way possible.

When you’re done carb-loading, hop on an open-golf cart tour and get a funky and unique one-hour look at the artists behind the Instagram-famous Wynwood walls.

Continue your art tour and take a quick drive (or rideshare) to the Rubell Museum in Miami’s up-and-coming Allapattah neighborhood, one of the city’s newest art hubs. Housed in a former DEA warehouse (a reminder that this is Miami, after all), you’ll find a tightly curated collection of contemporary pieces from artists such as Richard Prince, Basquiat, and Keith Haring. Leku, the Basque-style restaurant attached to it, is as inspired as the artwork in the museum and is worth a visit for a post-museum tapas tasting.

After spending the morning touring new Miami, venture back in time with a visit to Little Havana. Declared a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2017, it’s considered the most popular Cuban exile neighborhood in the world.

Start your DIY walking tour on the neighborhood’s main street, Calle Ocho (8th Street), at Sanguich, a popular gourmet Cuban cafe with a walk-up window that has earned both a Travelers’ Choice and Michelin Bib Gourmand awards. Get there early or be prepared to wait in line (you can also order ahead on their website) for a taste of authentic Cuba with the media noche (pressed roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese and pickles) sandwich and a side of fried croquetas. If you have room, order a classic Cuban pick-me-up of a colada (Cuban coffee) or coladita (coffee milkshake).

Head east and walk five blocks to Domino Park, which is not a park per se but several pavilions with tables and chairs where locals play dominoes, and usually smoke a few cigars while they’re at it. It’s fun to stop and get a glimpse of the Cuban pastime in action. Continue a few more blocks to learn about the fight for Cuban independence at Cuban Memorial Boulevard Park.

Miami has one of the largest and most colorful skylines in the U.S., and you’ll want to find a great vantage point from which to view it. While South Pointe Park in Miami Beach has one of the best views of the skyline, head to Sugar rooftop bar in Brickell to be in the middle of it all.

Come down to earth and head downtown by crossing Brickell Avenue Bridge by foot or car. It’s here you’ll get one of the prettiest (and overlooked) vantage points in the city. Like most of Miami, this neighborhood has changed dramatically in recent years, and still is. Stop into the multilevel food and entertainment venue Julia and Henry’s to peruse what some of the city’s most notable chefs are cooking up. Or, walk a few blocks to Jaguar Sun for crudo, oysters, and a tasty selection of pastas.

The Miami Beach boardwalk runs seven miles, the full length of Miami Beach, from 5th Street on South Beach to 87th Terrace on the border of Surfside. Explore by walking, jogging, or picking up a Citibike rental, which has bike stands in locations along the way.

Once a sleepy stretch of hotels that were home to retirees, the Art Deco District—a one-mile zone running from 5th to 23rd streets along Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue, and Washington Avenue, became a historical legend thanks to the formation of the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) in 1976, who advocated for the preservation and restoration of the district's historic buildings. From there artists, photographers, and designers followed, including Andy Warhol and Gianni Versace, who helped cement the area’s icon status over the next several decades. Today, you can view the same buildings you’ve seen in shows and movies like Miami Vice and The Bird Cage on a DIY walking tour, stopping to see buildings such as The Carlyle and The Colony Hotel. For more in depth history, consider the official Art Deco Walking Tour by Miami Design Preservation League.

End your Art Deco tour on 14th Street and head over to local favorite La Sandwicherie. The French-owned eatery now has several locations across Miami, but this counter was the first one to make beach-perfect sandwiches starting in 1988. No matter which combo you get, just don’t forget the cornichons and vinaigrette (also known as the “magic sauce”), which somehow tastes even better if you eat it with your toes in the sand.

If relaxation is next on your list, walk back east with your sandwich and find your perfect beach spot. Even if you’re not staying at a beach hotel with chair access, many will offer rentals for a fee. Or, look for a Boucher Brothers or Esteban's for chair and umbrella rentals.

Espanola Way, located in Miami Beach's South Beach neighborhood, is a picturesque pedestrian street that has seen a resurgence in the past few years thanks to the opening of the boutique Esme Miami Beach Hotel, along with several adjoining restaurants and bars. Tropezon is a highlight, featuring Andalusian-style tapas and infused gins, all made in-house.

A one-mile walk or drive south will take you from Spain to Italy with dinner at candlelit Macchialina. Listen to 90s R&B and hip-hop while you dine on gnocco fritto (puffed bread), homemade cacio e pepe, and veal milanese. If you’re willing to let the chef make all the decisions for you, try the four-course tasting menu and wine pairing. If you find a bottle you love, you can buy a few on the way out at their small market in front.

If the thought of going to a crowded club makes you want to curl up next to your lasagna, visit Mac’s Club Deuce, dubbed the “oldest bar in Miami.” And while it seems like nothing much has changed inside since it opened in 1926, you can revel in the fact that you’re probably standing exactly where Don Johnson did when Miami Vice threw their wrap party there.

Keep breakfast light and mobile for your day ahead by grabbing a Miami mocha smoothie from local health staple Pura Vida in the Design District. With your superfood in hand, you can get your fair share of window shopping done in the ritzy neighborhood’s high-end stores such as Chanel, Bottega Veneta, and Celine.

Once you (or your wallet) have had your fill, head south to one or two of Miami’s most popular waterfront cultural destinations: The Perez Art Museum or the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science next door, which features a three-level aquarium and planetarium. When you’re done, walk outside and through Maurice A. Ferré Park. Formerly called Museum Park, the 21-acre plot catches you a great glimpse of the cruise ships that call Miami home.

Continue heading south by car or taxi; if you need gas, all the better. Your lunch stop is El Carajo, a Spanish tapas and wine market located inside a working gas station. Order the seafood paella and grab a bottle of some of the world’s highest rated wines from the shelves to have with your lunch (for a small corkage fee).

Despite the portable restroom outside, the restaurant still has plenty of old-world charm. If you’re wondering how some of Miami’s wealthiest families really used to live, take a 23-minute walk or three-minute drive to Vizcaya Gardens. The palatial 12-acre waterfront estate was once the winter home of industrialist James Deering, and has been the filming location for movies such as Any Given Sunday, Bad Boys II, Iron Man 3, and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. After roaming the 32 rooms in the villa (including nine guest rooms and bathrooms, none of which are portable), grab a spot on a bench in the formal gardens. If you visit on Sunday, you can also check out their weekly farmer’s market for a small selection of locally grown produce and handcrafted goods.

Miami is often referred to as New York’s sixth borough. If that’s the case, then Coconut Grove would surely be Brooklyn. With lush foliage and some of the city’s best restaurants and bars, the neighborhood is loved by locals and tourists alike. (Plus it’s only 20 minutes from the beach, unless there’s traffic).

The bayfront neighborhood is home to several amazing local eateries, including Los Félix, a “milpa to mesa” (farm to table) Mexican restaurant complete with homemade tortillas, plus vinyl records playing in the background. Its sister restaurant Krüs Market is located upstairs. It focuses on seasonal dishes such as bone marrow pudding and grilled scallops as well as a large selection of natural wines. If reservations are hard to come by, Le Bouchon Du Grove across the street is a charming and intimate bistro with French classics such as chicken fricassée, garlicky escargots, and giant pots of moules-frites.

Vermouth isn’t just for mixing at Victoria's Vinos y Vermuteria Vermouth Bar, just a few blocks south. Cozy up to the dimly lit intimate bar and try a glass of their homemade vermouth on the rocks, a classic Spanish aperitif.