Miami Neighborhood Guide

The oceanside city of Miami is vibrant, colorful, and unlike anywhere else in the world. From the white sand beaches to cultural hotspots to luxury high-rise resorts, there’s a Miami neighborhood for everyone to enjoy.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach is undeniably the main attraction of this gorgeous Florida city, where tourists and locals alike can swim in the warm ocean waters, lay out on the soft sand, or play a game or two of beach volleyball. But what you may not know is that Miami Beach has three distinct areas that line this stunning coastline. South Beach is undoubtedly the most famous of the three sections, where pretty much every movie set in Miami is shot, and brightly colored lifeguard towers dot the shore. Visitors can walk along Ocean Drive and its art deco-style buildings filled with some of the best restaurants and nightlife in the city. Restaurants like Serena offer delicious dishes that you can enjoy on the rooftop terrace before heading to some of the city's hottest clubs to dance the night away. 

Mid Beach is where the giant, luxury 5-star resorts and multi-million dollar yachts sway in the marina. This stretch of oceanside luxury is the perfect blend of the trendy, high-energy style of South Beach and the calm atmosphere of North Beach. Explore the nearby Faena District, the premier dining, shopping, and entertainment district in the city, where unique, modern architecture and luxury hotspots combine. The North Beach neighborhood in Miami is mostly residential and is much calmer than its two southern counterparts. This family-friendly area has quieter coastlines, large, grassy parks, and outdoor activities like golf and tennis.  

Bal Harbour & Surfside

The affluent Miami neighborhood of Bal Harbour is where travelers can find the best luxury beachside resorts, like the famous Ritz-Carlton, that cater to a wealthier clientele. The streets are lined with high-end boutiques, renowned spas, and mouth-watering dining options, all in a gorgeous tropical setting. Located at the very tip of Miami's sparkling coast, this area offers an exclusive style of getaway for discerning visitors. Surfside, also known as Miami's Uptown neighborhood, is the small area between Bal Harbour and North Beach that boasts a retro vibe that perfectly blends luxury resorts like the lavish Four Seasons Resort with Jewish delis, eclectic locally-owned shops, and historic architecture that dates back to the 1930s

Little Haiti

As the Afro-Caribbean hub of Miami, Little Haiti’s streets are filled with vibrant street art, authentic Caribbean food, and cultural attractions. Based on the Iron Market in Haiti’s capital, The Caribbean Market is a 9,000-square-foot space with street vendors, live music, and open-air seating perfect for grabbing lunch and enjoying this cultural hub. There are also plenty of contemporary art galleries and unique exhibit spaces throughout the neighborhood, along with the must-see Moksha Family Artist Collective that brings together a variety of unique creators into one space with the desire for ‘universal oneness.’ 

This area is a more local-centric neighborhood of Miami instead of being tourist-oriented, giving it a more authentic feel with a thriving community events calendar that visitors are also welcome to enjoy.

Downtown Miami

As the center of Miami, the Downtown area includes the famous Little Havanna, Brickell, the Design District, and Edgewater to create a non-stop high-energy hotspot from day to night. During the day, you can stroll along the water at Riverwalk, where the tree-lined pedestrian walkway offers some much-needed shade on hot days, or head to the Bayside Marketplace for some shopping or to ride the Ferris wheel overlooking the water. 

The Design District is where art, architecture, and innovation collide to create a truly breathtaking space filled with creativity that can be found on every corner. This neighborhood focuses on art in every form by offering a selection of trendy shops, unique dining destinations, and swaths of galleries featuring some of the best artists in the world. For those looking for an authentic cultural experience, head over to Little Havana, where Miami’s Cuban heritage explodes in a neighborhood full of Hispanic flavors, gorgeous murals commemorating historic Latin figures, and where live music will have you dancing the mambo, salsa, or cha-cha with the locals.

Overtown

North of Downtown Miami lies the historic neighborhood of Overtown that boomed during the 1930s and is now considered one of the most prominent places in the country to celebrate Black heritage. This fantastic neighborhood features multiple museums, tons of beautiful street art, and restaurants like the Red Rooster Overtown that serves dishes that honor Miami’s Black culture. Two of its most famous landmarks are Jackson’s Soul Food, which has been a local favorite restaurant since it first opened in 1946, and the Historic Dunns-Josephine Hotel, which offered room and board to guests like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and the famous French dancer Josephine Baker. Overtown has been revitalized over the past few decades to bring it back to its former glory from before the highway split the neighborhood in two in the 1960s. Black culture is now celebrated and honored throughout the area, making it a fantastic destination for visitors and locals to experience.

Wynwood

The Wynwood neighborhood of Miami is the city’s creative and cultural hub that offers visitors a laid-back vibe and local-centric atmosphere. Spend the day exploring the area and its many locally-owned boutiques and eateries, grab a drink or two at one of the area's craft breweries, and make sure to check out the gorgeous world-famous street art at Wynwood Walls. Artists flock from around the world to contribute to this massive, living art installation that began in 2009. The neighborhood as a whole was only a collection of dilapidated warehouses that was transformed in the early 2000s by entrepreneur Tony Goldman into the urban art oasis that it is today. The restaurants here are as artistic and eclectic as it's many magnificent murals, with one of our favorites being the adorably feminine Little Hen that is decorated in bright pastels, lush florals, and large windows that offer the perfect sun-soaked spot for brunch.

Coconut Grove

As Miami’s oldest neighborhood, Coconut Grove features homes and shops dating back to the 1870s, making it a fantastic cultural and historic destination. The Vizcaya Museum & Gardens showcases the history of the area beautifully with it's gorgeous Mediterranean Revival architecture and perfectly curated Renaissance style gardens. Famous for boating and other outdoor activities, Coconut Grove offers a Bohemian vibe that is calmer than other areas of the city. The layout is compact, making it easily walkable and able to be explored in one day. Highlights of this fantastic neighborhood include the “Little Bahamas,” one of Miami’s most historic Black communities, Peacock Park, which houses Miami’s first hotel built in 1883, and the fabulous CocoWalk shopping center. Dining options here like the Bayshore Club Bar & Grill offer gorgeous views of the ocean filled with bobbing sailboats while still offering some historic flair by being built on the iconic site of Dinner Key, the first continental naval air station in the United States.

Coral Gables

This Miami suburb, originally created in the 1920s, is home to the famous Biltmore Hotel, fantastic global cuisine, and gorgeous outdoor spaces. One of our favorite destinations here is the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, an 83-acre acre space that features over 3,400 species of tropical flowers, fruits, butterflies, and many more plants, both natural and exotic in origin. If working on your tan is on your to-do list, consider visiting the Venetian Pool. Once a former rock quarry, this sun-soaked aquatic destination features massive waterfalls, caves, and gorgeous rock formations. Daily admission is super affordable, making it perfect for large groups or families to enjoy without breaking the bank.

Key Biscayne

Technically an island off the coast of Miami, Key Biscayne is a natural oasis filled with stunning beaches and nature preserves perfect for those looking for a serene space to spend the day. This coconut plantation turned vacation destination offers a variety of water activities like kayaking, diving, and even chartering a fishing boat for the day to try and catch some tuna, snapper, shark, or mahi mahi.