A visit to Miami has been on my travel bucket list since the day Will Smith’s song, Welcome to Miami, was released in the late 90’s. The year it was released, I was still in the depths of recovering from substantial injuries I had sustained while fighting a fire. A majority of my travel involved riding in an ambulance or being transported from my hospital room to procedure rooms. A plane ride to Miami seemed as much of a reality as flying to the moon. But, there was something so captivating about how Will Smith described Miami and the lifestyles of those who lived or frequented the hot, sizzling city.
(Don’t have time to read the whole post now; bookmark this and get the quick guide below.)
In my mind’s eye, Miami was hopping with tons of beautiful people walking South Beach in tiny neon bikinis, muscly guys playing beach volleyball or doing pushups in the sand, and long summer days fading into a dark night that was highlighted with lively nightclub lights and endless expensive cocktails that were delivered poolside at luxury hotels. I would never fit in with any of those people or at those high-end hotspots.
As it turns out, I wasn’t completely wrong, but there were many, many things that I was surprised by.
A little over two decades after my injury, I found myself in Miami with my daughter for a work trip. So many things that I imagined Miami to be came to life as the energy of the city came rushing into the rental car we were in. I was awestruck by the buildings, the traffic, and the city streets that slowly gave way to the strip in front of the sandy beaches and the ocean. Yes, there were beautiful, well-dressed people everywhere, but there were so many people who looked just like me with very little make-up and messy ponytails. I was captivated. We saw many of the touristy areas, walked miles on the beach, swam in our hotel pool with fancy mocktails in hand, and did a lot of people-watching. We were awestruck by the diversity of the people. The way they dressed, the languages they spoke, and the way they carried themselves. I was fascinated. I felt like I was in a different country but yet somehow the city also felt “all-American.” We only had a couple of short days in the city and I knew I needed more time to explore all Miami had to offer. I didn’t know when or how I would get back there, but I was bound and determined to keep Miami on the bucket-list. There was much left to explore.
A couple of months after that trip, another work assignment in Miami presented itself and there was no way I was turning that opportunity down. This time my daughter was away, working at summer camp, and I could afford to stay a few extra days (hence one of my favorite lyrics in Will’s song: I only came for two days of playing, but every time I come, I always wind up stayin,’ this the type of town I could spend a few days in). But, on this trip, I wanted to explore a different side of the city: neighborhoods, restaurants and food the locals recommended, tiny coffee shops, and independent bookstores I could happily disappear into for a few hours. I wanted to visit places where wandering alone felt less lonely, since I was traveling solo, and more like a luxury. This trip, I was able to stay for five days and see not only the hot-spots, but also some of the more quiet spaces in and around areas a little farther out from South Beach.
If you are thinking about going to Miami, I would like to share some of the places that I enjoyed such as neighborhoods, restaurants, and shops. I didn’t visit any of the nightclubs but if you are more interested in a great cup of coffee or little shops to visit, here are some of the places I think are worth adding to your list.
Where I Stayed: Andaz Miami Beach
On this last trip I stayed about a mile further down from South Beach at the hotel, Andaz Miami Beach. When my daughter and I first visited, we stayed at Loews, which was closer to South Beach and the Art Deco area of the city. While I loved staying there and enjoyed the property immensely, it felt like a typical touristy hotel. For this last trip, staying a bit further down the beach, I think, had a lot to do with how much I enjoyed this trip.
The Andaz still offered the beautiful beach and oceanfront experience, without quite as much noise and energy as staying right on South Beach. The whole area’s vibe felt a little more laid back and relaxed, which I didn’t realize I would enjoy so much.
I could spend time at the beach or pool, have a slow morning, and then head out when I was ready to explore. When I came back at the end of the day, it felt like I was returning to a lovely apartment overlooking the ocean. The amenities and the attention to detail brought the relaxation level way up.
If you’re going to Miami because you want to be in the middle of the South Beach nightlife, then I would choose Loews, but if you still want easy access to South Beach while having a quieter place to retreat to, then I would highly suggest the Andaz!
For a solo trip especially, it was a great home base.
Two Places to Visit Away from the Beach
I spent my evenings wandering the beach and during the day I visited neighborhoods like Coconut Grove and Coral Gables.
Coconut Grove has a completely different personality from the Miami you see on IG reels and YouTube videos. It’s lush, walkable in pockets, and filled with restaurants, cafés, shops, and enormous trees that make you forget for a moment that you are actually in the middle of a major city.
Coral Gables also has a different ambiance. I am a sucker for architecture and also buildings in quaint small towns. Coral Gables seemed to capture both very well. It has bold touches of Mediterranean architecture, beautiful streets with cute boutiques, historic landmarks including the Biltmore Hotel, and plenty of restaurants and coffee shops to choose from!
If you have a few hours in your day without a planned agenda, I suggest taking some time to explore both areas.
Where to Eat
I am a foodie at heart and one of my favorite parts about living in Houston is our incredible food scene. Not many cities can match it but I would say Miami is a great contender! Here are some of my favorites:
The Aguasal at the Andaz
https://www.aguasalmiamibeach.com/
This was one of my favorite restaurants by far. Usually I have found hotel restaurants to not have high-quality food or unique dishes. That wasn't the case at Aguasal! I enjoyed two dinners and a breakfast there. The breakfast buffet reminded me of the breakfast buffets that I visited in Europe. Their dinner menu was exquisite with bold flavors and unique ingredient combinations.
Their description on their website perfectly sums up my experience:
This signature restaurant offers a seaside celebration of Mediterranean flavors, blending inspirations from Miami to Majorca.
Here, Florida’s rich bounty is elevated through time-honored preparations, fragrant herbs, and signature bites, all paired with handcrafted beverages. A laid-back, luxe coastal ethos infuses every dish and guides everything we do, creating an unforgettable dining experience.
Limoncello
https://limoncellomiamibeach.com/
An authentic Italian restaurant with coastal-inspired dishes, I enjoyed how fresh and light the pasta, bread, and seafood tasted. Between the blue and yellow décor and the homemade-inspired menu, I felt as if I was sitting in an Italian grandmother’s kitchen tasting recipes that have been passed down through the generations.
With all of that being said, what could be a turn-off for some is that the staff can be incredibly persuasive about recommendations such as wine, appetizers, and desserts. They are very friendly but also pushy. However, if you are one who isn’t easily persuaded and can stick firmly to your original order, I would highly recommend this place!
Versailles
https://www.versaillesrestaurant.com/
You can’t come to Miami without eating at least one meal at a Cuban restaurant. There are many to choose from, which can be overwhelming! If you are having a hard time trying to narrow your choices down to one or two, I would ask a local! They always know the places that are off the beaten path and not over-saturated with tourists.
On this trip, I had one day where I was with a work group for my job. One of the fire chief’s recommended Versailles and it did not disappoint! Known as the World’s Most Famous Cuban Restaurant, they have been serving up Cuban dishes for nearly fifty years.
They have this to say on their website: Soon after it opened its doors in 1971, Versailles became the gathering place and unofficial town square for Miami’s Cuban exiles. With its uniquely French-inspired aesthetic, the iconic establishment is a landmark to the community and remains the unrelenting gauge of the city’s diversifying pulse.
They are located in the heart of the Cuban community.
For the Coffee People
Naturally, I had to investigate the coffee situation. Here are some of my favorites!
Café Fleur
https://fleurcafeandbeignet.com/
A little New Orleans inspired pastries and drinks with inside and sidewalk seating. I enjoyed the latte and the vibe.
Navi Coffee & Flowers
https://www.navimiami.com/
A charming café in Coconut Grove with my favorite things: coffee, tea and flowers, I enjoyed spending a couple of hours sitting at a window seat getting some work done. This was one of my favorite spots but it is quite small and does not have a lot of seating. It’s absolutely worth a visit though!
Macondo Coffee Roasters
https://www.macondocoffee.com/
My last coffee shop stop was a Colombian café that featured beans sourced directly from small Colombian farms. The latte was rich and flavorful. It’s taken me a couple of years to start liking coffee (at the behest of my daughter), and so I was a little concerned if this drink would be too strong or too bitter for me. It was not at all, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it!
If you are looking for a bite to eat as you are exploring Coral Gables, they have an extensive, tasty menu to check out!
And, Of Course, Bookstores
There are few things I love more when traveling than finding good independent bookstores (and journal stores). My daughter and I have made it a habit to look for independent coffee shops and bookstores whenever we travel. I believe you find a lot of local culture in those places.
Here are two of my favorite shops that I found:
Books and Books
https://www.booksandbooks.com/
I went to two locations. The location in Coconut Grove was smaller and located in a two story building with a café. I loved the location and though it was smaller, it had a great selection of books. If I had not just bought coffee at Navi, I would have purchased a drink here and hung out a little longer.
The other location I visited was in Coral Gables. This store was expansive with a courtyard in the middle. It had a mysterious feel and I felt like I could get lost for hours (in a good way) browsing the many rooms and hallways that encircled the courtyard. They also had a café and apparently, it’s a favorite local hangout spot because it was packed! It had a great vibe and I could have spent hours there.
Both locations captured the vibe of the neighborhoods they were located in. Same company, different energy!
Posman Books
https://posmanbooks.com/
This was my favorite bookstore. It was a wonderful combination of gift shop items (think Paper Source) and books. This ticked off the spot on my bucket list to visit a journal store. It had the perfect combination of journals, stickers, pens, fun little gifts, and lots of books tucked away on shelves, stacked on tables, and hidden in corners. The shop was bright and airy. The staff was friendly and helpful and I walked away with more items than I should have!
A Few Places Worth Seeing
When you need a break between eating, drinking coffee, and buying books, Miami has plenty of great places to explore.
Spend some time wandering through Coconut Grove and Coral Gables rather than limiting yourself to the beach.
While you’re in Coral Gables, make a quick stop at The Biltmore Hotel. I didn’t stay there, but I wanted to see it in person, and I’m glad I took the time to stop. The historic hotel is absolutely beautiful, and it’s worth walking through just to take in the architecture and get a glimpse of old Miami glamour. You really only need an hour. They do have a pool-side restaurant if you would like to spend your lunch or dinner there. It’s an easy stop to work into your time in Coral Gables, especially if you appreciate historic buildings and beautiful spaces.
Back in Miami Beach, take some time to wander down Española Way. This charming pedestrian-friendly stretch feels a little different from the rest of South Beach, with its Mediterranean-inspired architecture, restaurants, cafés, and colorful atmosphere. It’s an easy place to stroll, grab something to eat, or simply slow down and enjoy another side of Miami Beach. On some of the side streets, I felt as if I was wandering streets in Greece.
I also enjoyed exploring the shopping area around 10th Street and Washington Avenue. It’s a fun place to wander through the shops and do a little browsing while you’re already exploring South Beach. It’s a great place to people watch and there are fun sculptures scattered around the shopping area. You can easily combine this with Española Way, Ocean Drive, and the Art Deco District rather than making separate trips.
Visit Little Havana for a completely different side of Miami. Walk Calle Ocho, listen to the music spilling out of restaurants and shops, watch the domino players, and stop for Cuban coffee. Don’t drink the Cuban coffee to late in the day though, otherwise, you will be up all night! Great coffee and an even better energy rush!
And definitely give yourself time to appreciate the Art Deco Historic District in Miami Beach rather than simply driving through it. The colorful buildings and unmistakable architecture are such a big part of Miami’s personality that even if South Beach isn’t really your scene, it’s still worth experiencing.
If you want some time near the water without necessarily spending the entire day on the sand, find a spot along Biscayne Bay and simply sit for a while.
Not every moment of a trip needs an itinerary. Sometimes stopping somewhere simply because it looks interesting becomes one of those little moments you remember.
A Few Things I Learned About Visiting Miami Solo
Miami is a vast, spread-out city, so think about geography and the type of culture you want to explore when planning your days. Grouping restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, and attractions by neighborhood will save you a surprising amount of time.
I also wouldn’t try to see everything. I would choose a neighborhood in the morning to explore and one in the afternoon, knowing that you may love the first neighborhood so much that you want to stay for the entire day.
My biggest tip is to leave enough room in the day for something you didn’t plan. Ask the locals, such as Uber drivers, and café barista’s for their local recommendations. Visiting those places you can almost never go wrong!
Not having a strict plan and giving myself flexibility to explore has become one of my favorite parts of traveling alone.
Would I Go Back?
A resounding yes!
But I would go back for a different Miami than the one I once imagined. Also, yes!
I realized after day one that I spent several hours completely on my own without ever feeling particularly alone or lonely. There was always a local to chat with and always something to do. There is something wonderfully freeing about discovering a city with such freedom.
Miami surprised me, and yet it didn’t. I expected it to be grander than I thought, and it was, but it was also down-to-earth, and everyone was welcoming. I didn’t have to fit into some sort of glamorous role to feel accepted. I was just me, and I felt like I fit right in. I can’t wait to go back for another visit sometime in the future!
My Miami Outfits
Outfit links (some, but not all, may be affiliate links)
White linen short-sleeve shirt
Ruffle Trim Mixy Tank Top
Light blue short-sleeve t-shirt
Wide-leg jeans
Linen Pants
White Maxi Skirt
Textured White Long-Sleeve (Splendid shirt no longer available but this is similar)
Jean Jacket
Reef Sandals
Ecco Tennis Shoes
Teva Sandals
Miami Playlist