48-Hours in Miami: 2 Days of Food & Cultural Adventures

If you’re staying at one of our favorite hotels in Brickell, your location will be perfect for navigating this day. We love the Four Seasons in Brickell for families, couples and groups. It’s close to the cruise ports for pre/post-cruise and has the most amazing pool set up, food venues and even direct access to an Equinox for gym time. You could be happy just spending your day here but we have things to do and see!

Start with a morning walk on the Riverwalk trail and Bayfront Park for views of the Miami River and great local scenery. A quick breakfast at Pura Vida our favorite healthy way to start the day, sets you up for your first destination, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (If it happens to be a Sunday its a bonus as you can also check out the Farmers Market!)

Next we’re leading you to the vibrant neighborhood of Wynwood to check out the Wynwood Walls, an outdoor museum featuring murals by world-renowned street artists. We can set up a Wynwood Walls tour for you or you can just wander and take in the always changing street art on your own. This also happens to be one of our favorite neighborhoods for food! For lunch we’re sending you to the casual local Kosher artisanal bakery, Zak the Baker. We strongly suggest that you try the whole roasted cauliflower, breakfast plate with salmon bacon and bagel platters. Any baked goods rule here (yes to the Babka and cinnamon rolls!). The crowds can be intense here but we promise it’s worth the wait. Insider tip: Put your name on the list and stroll the neighborhood checking out the art and shops while you wait!

If you fall in love with the Wynwood vibe we have so many dinner/drink suggestions too. However, you need to move on to your next destination where you will experience a completely different culture in Miami- Little Havana. A mere three miles away (we recommend taking an Uber) is a little piece of Cuba in the heart of Miami. Walking down Calle Ocho (8th Street – the center of Little Havana), you’ll be surrounded by the smell of great food. We suggest doing a food walking tour here where you can sip real Cuban coffee at a walk-up ventanita, see world-renowned cigars rolled by an expert torcedor, and indulge in some of the best homemade Cuban sandwiches anywhere.

Back to your hotel for a little late afternoon pool time or a quick work out so you can finish your day with a Brickell Happy Hour and dinner. We might have you start with rooftop cocktails and breathtaking views at Rosa Sky where they feature a Happy Hour Wednesday-Saturday from 4:30-7:00. Or, if the kids are with you one of our favorite pizza stops (ask us about our Brickell Pizza Crawl!), DC Pie Co. has a great happy hour and special prices on personal pies. Maybe a quick stroll around Brickell City Center to shop and work up an appetite before dinner?! You might have to slip into Casa Tua if you're a fan of all things Italian, home goods, food and wine. Which leads us to dinner! If you are feeling a little fancy we might suggest a local supper club steakhouse, Dirty French it is vibe-e and their bar program is top notch too. If you want to dress to impress and have some serious people watching opportunities check out Gekko you’ll definitely need a reservation. If you're feeling casual and can’t decide where you want to eat, then check out the new food hall downtown called Julia & Henry There are so many great eateries here. Even a Key-Lime Pie vending machine, how Miami is that?!

We suggest starting day two in South beach. If you’re staying at The Setai or 1 Hotel Miami then this day will start steps away from your hotel room.

Start with a morning bike ride on the beachfront trail. Your hotel may have complimentary bikes or there is always the option to grab a Citi Bike. Check out the architecture along Ocean Drive, take a peek at Versace’s Mediterranean mansion, visit Espanola Way, or just get a good sweat from biking along the ocean!

Next on the agenda is lunch in the iconic Design District another creative destination known for fashion, art, architecture and dining. We love Sofia for brunch or lunch with a great Italian inspired menu and beautiful cocktails. Their outdoor seating in Palm Court is great for people watching on a nice day or sit inside in the pink-hued decor.

After lunch wander the streets shopping and checking out the art installations. Visit the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) where admission is free! When you need a little something to cool you down visit our favorite cart called Japow, located in Paradise Plaza, for a Japanese Kakigori (shaved ice). You will love this!

It’s time for happy hour and we think the happiest happy hour is at the Klaw Rooftop Bar which overlooks Biscayne Bay in Edgewater. Uber here, it is located in a cool historic Miami Women’s Club building. Klaw has great prices on oysters, wine and even cocktails. You will feel like your atop a cruise ship. Awesome for sunset!

For dinner we recommend a classic Miami Beach institution, Joe's Stone Crab. It’s not hard to guess what you should be ordering here based on the name! The other must-order is key lime pie for dessert. It’s old school all the way and an experience that is truly “Miami”.

If you feel like a club experience needs to be a part of your two day trip we suggest heading down to Club Space for a classic Miami nightlife experience. Or, if house music is more your vibe, you’ll want to hit up Do Not Sit On The Furniture in Miami Beach for dancing and DDJs.