Things To Do
Area 31 Restaurant
Miami has no shortage of beautiful views, but Area 31 is a rooftop bar and restaurant that does it in unparalleled style. Perched on the 16th floor patio of the Kimpton EPIC Hotel, Area 31’s happy hour is always packed with locals lounging outside with beer, wine, and signature cocktails—all before an iconic view of Downtown Miami, Biscayne Bay and Brickell. In the dining room, executive chef Wolfgang Birk serves a sustainable seafood-focused menu. You’ll find visitors from around the world as well as plenty of locals enjoying the food and the view.
Manolo & Rene Grill
Whether you’re craving a cafecito to wake up or a cafe Cubano at 2 a.m. before you sleep, look no further than the Manolo & Rene, a 24-hour cafeteria. The iconic hole-in-the-wall eatery has been serving up Cuban favorites for nearly 40 years, but moved to a new spot in Downtown after its original location flooded during Hurricane Irma. It’s always sporting an eclectic mix of visitors, neighborhood locals and off-duty workers—all of whom the friendly staff seems to know. It’s cash only, but sandwiches average just $5, so you won’t need much.
Soya e Pomodoro Restaurant
A charming Italian restaurant, Soya E Pomodoro is a romantic collision of food and ambiance. Former owner Armando Alfano built a menu inspired by his hometown of Pompeii, a tradition chef Cristian D’oria carries on with dishes from housemade pasta to filet mignon, fish, and eggplant-based sfoglia di melanzane. Lunch and dinner are served to diners inside the wing of the Shoreland Arcade, a historic 1920s building once planned to be the towering skyscraper headquarters of the Shoreland Company before a 1926 real estate bust caused both the company and construction to end. The remnants make Soya E Pomodoro a remarkable and unique setting for a delicious meal.
Bayfront Park
Located on the waterfront in the heart of all the action in Downtown, Bayfront Park is the site of major events like Pitbull’s New Year’s Eve Revolution. It’s also a retreat for locals, whom you’ll find running along its wide paths, relaxing in the Adirondack chairs along the bay and picnicking with families near the playground. Free yoga is offered weekdays at the Tina Hills Pavilion and music (plus shops, restaurants, and every kind of daquiri) can be found most nights on the park’s north end at Bayside Marketplace. The Bayfront Park Amphitheatre hosts frequent concerts from big names like Nickie Minaj and Counting Crows, but you’ll need to book ahead.
Brickell City Centre
Though it’s technically located in Brickell, the neighborhood just south of Downtown, it’s a quick walk over the bridge to the new and luxurious Brickell City Centre. The state-of-the-art shopping center features a variety of high-end retailers and restaurants, a swanky hotel called EAST, Miami with popular rooftop bar Sugar, a movie theater and plenty of fun events
Maurice A. Ferré Park
Formerly known as Museum Park, Maurice A. Ferré Park is a 30-acre public park and home to two of Miami’s most prominent cultural institutions: Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science and Pérez Art Museum Miami. Catch a view of Biscayne Bay with your meal at Verde, the in-house restaurant at PAMM, featuring a menu curated by celebrated restaurateur Steven Starr.
Miami Design District
In the Miami Design District, the art and design scene is matched only by inventive dining, creative entertainment and expertly curated retailers. This area is a local nexus of art galleries, showrooms, creative services and architectural firms, fashion stores, antiques dealers, cafés and bars.
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is a leading science museum dedicated to sharing the power of science, sparking wonder and investigation, and fueling innovation for the future. Located in Downtown Miami’s waterfront Museum Park, Frost Science is divided into four buildings: the Frost Planetarium, Aquarium, and North and West Wings. Here, guests can learn about the core science behind living systems, the solar system and known universe, the physics of flight, light and lasers, the biology of the human body and mind, and much more. Guests can explore the world of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in an experiential setting with interactive exhibitions and unique shows. Frost Science is also dedicated to education, earning national awards for its summer camps and after-school programs.
Pérez Art Museum Miami
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is a modern and contemporary art museum dedicated to collecting and exhibiting international art of the 20th and 21st centuries.