Believe it or not, we actually started out our monthly travels/work remote situation in Miami Beach back in September of 2020, so coming back to live in Miami from March-May 2023 was a full circle moment! However, instead of being by the beach, we opted for downtown Miami (Brickell to be exact). If you aren’t familiar, Brickell is the place to be if you want a taste of the vibrant Miami lifestyle. Picture this: modern skyscrapers with a side of palm trees swaying in the breeze, surrounded by good food, shopping, and nightlife… and that’s Brickell for you. Today I’ll be sharing our FULL Miami travel guide, but be sure to check back at my Miami Beach travel guide if you’re wanting that scene 😉
If I had to describe Miami (Brickell) in three words, it would probably be: diverse, dynamic, and densely populated! Haha! It’s a city near the water, filled with luxurious high rise buildings, high end shopping, and is a foodie/clubbing scene for most! I’ll admit, we kept a fairly low profile and did our own thing the last couple months since we’re past our clubbing days 😉 We still did have a ton of fun getting out of Brickell and venturing off to other parts of Miami, and the Florida Keys, so I’ll share a little of everything here, mainly focused on Brickell. So grab your shades and sunscreen, because we’re about to dive headfirst into the Miami heat (literally)!
WHERE TO STAY:
We rented a 2bd/2ba gorgeous apartment with Stay Sojo (and I think I conquered my fear of heights considering if was on the 47th floor woohoo)! Stay Sojo is one of my favorite corporate rental companies to stay with for many reasons, but overall, they just get it! When we lived in Nashville, our apartment was also rented through them, and it was an amazing stay! They are insanely friendly, very communicative, and always anticipate a guests needs! The apartment truly felt like our home away from home, and they are able to offer any add-ons you may need in the apartment to make your stay just right, which is such a nice personal touch! They have apartment rentals everywhere, so definitely check them out if you’re looking for a great stay! We’re already planning where to Stay Sojo next 😉
WHAT TO DO:
-Brickell City Center Shopping
-Walk around Brickell Key
-Rent e-scooters/mopeds at Fly E-Bike (we rode these ALL DAY and had the most magical time). Ride around Miami Beach but definitely cruise around the Venetian Islands and look at all the houses. Crazy and very cool!
-Enjoy a beach day in South Beach (our favorite spot to avoid crowds is actually mid-beach), but you can rent umbrellas and chairs at the beach
-Walk around Coconut Grove: cutest little downtown streets/shopping/restaurants. We also rented bikes here at Suncycling and rode along the bike path and out to Coco Plum (insane $15+Million houses).
WHERE TO EAT/DRINK:
BRUNCH:
-Limonada: my man took me here for my birthday brunch and OH MY GOSH amazing! You eat right next to a 80s vibe pool, under yellow umbrellas, and they play the best music. A must!
-The Biltmore: our favorite “old Florida” feel for brunch at the most GORGEOUS setting! Truly beautiful hotel and setting, felt like a movie! Plus, the bottomless drinks/brunch was delicious!
-Morgans: located in Wynwood and delicious outdoor brunch!
-Lightkeepers @ Ritz Carlton Key Biscane: insanely AMAZE delicious brunch with bottomless food/drinks set right on the water! Great experience!!
DRINKS:
-The Wharf: a vibe-y spot with food trucks, bars, outdoor games, etc set along the Miami River where you can watch yachts go by
-Whiskey Joe’s: a very “Florida” feeling tropical bar set under a palapa where you can watch the boats come in and out of the harbor with a view of Miami in the background!
DINNER:
-Doloros Lolita: great rooftop vibes for drinks/dinner!
-Moxies: probably our top restaurant in Brickell (they have everything on the menu you could want- definitely get the lettuce wraps and spicy marg), and enjoy people watching
-Hutong: my #1 favorite restaurant in town! insanely delicious asian food!
-DC Pie Co: quick, easy, delicious Italian food
OTHER HELPFUL INFO:
-My favorite pilates studio in town is called Tremble! Book a free class here
-Need your hair done? Rob at Headspace Salon is my go to in town! Tell him I sent you 😉
-Looking for botox/filler? Get it at Sisu Clinic in Brickell City Center
-Definitely utilize the People Mover (it’s a FREE tram that circles around Brickell and downtown Miami). We used this almost everyday to get around, to go to whole foods, etc.
Miami has A LOT to offer, so whatever you’re into, it’s probably here- shopping, art, museums, food, partying, dancing, exercising, going to the beach, biking, etc! Like anywhere, it’s all what you make of it! Let me know if you visit and what your favorite part was so I can add it to my travel guide 🙂