Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Frontiers: Where To Go In Miami, Florida

·

,
South Beach, Miami

This post may contain affiliate links. Every link is hand-selected by our team, and it isn’t dependent on receiving a commission. You can view our full policy here.

Despite growing up in Florida, I never spent that much time in Miami. You’re on a peninsula, where a beach is never more than an hour away (and rarely more than 20 minutes), so I never felt that compelled to make a 5-hour road trip. But whoa, was I missing out! After a few trips over the years — and some excellent recommendations from friends in the area — here are the places I’d recommend hitting up again and again.

FOOD:

Bodega Burritos
Photos: Candace Braun Davison

Bodega 
1220 16th St., Miami Beach

Oh. My. Burritos. If you’re looking for a creative taco or burrito, look no further. All the classics are here — carnitas, baha fish, chicken — but you can also find surprising mixes, like a Philly cheesesteak-inspired taco. Hands down, though, my favorite dish was the Cubanito, a combo of refried black beans, roasted pork with ends crisped to caramelized perfection, oaxaca cheese, pickled onions and stone ground mustard. There’s a tanginess that hits you with every bite and leaves you wanting more, more, more. Until you’re about to burst. Plus, at night, there’s a secret bar in the back — through what looks like a Porti-Potty door. Sounds scary, but it’s actually amazing.

 

Airport Cafe & Liquors 
4427 NW 36th St, Miami Springs

Nobody makes more creative burgers than Chef Reuben. Every day’s a new special, and the toppings range from jalapeno mac & cheese and chorizo to cherry-Jack Daniels glazes and Doritos-crusted, deep-fried cheese. It’s right by the airport, so make it your last stop before you catch that flight.

South Beach, Miami

 

Bazaar 
1701 Collins Ave, Suite 100, Miami Beach

If you splurge on one meal and one meal only, grab drinks and appetizers at the outdoor bar at Jose Andres’s restaurant. The Salt Air Margarita has a frothy, salty top that reminds you of foam caps on the ocean, and the marg is perfectly balanced without being too sweet. The papas fritas are more like creamy, salty wedges of magic, but the true standout are the ham and cheese croquettes. Crispy on the outside, pure gooey, cheesy, salted pork bombs on the inside.

 

FUN:

Museum Of Ice Cream

Museum Of Ice Cream
3400 Collins Ave, Miami Beach

From now through April 29, you can catch the Museum Of Ice Cream’s Miami outpost, which features its iconic sprinkle pool, along with four floors of fun, interactive, pastel-colored exhibits. It’s not so knowledge-heavy — more made-for-Instagram eye candy — but it’s a heck of a good time. Plus, every floor features a frozen treat, from chocolate-covered frozen bananas to key lime pie ice cream cones.

Ice Cream Sundae Pie

Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop
2818 N Miami Ave, Miami

Straight-up food porn. Every single dessert fits the bill here with its OTT decadence. There’s no defined menu, because the whole idea is to order with your eyes. Look at the display case, full of brownies the size of your whole hand, three-layer cakes in every flavor imaginable (sold by the slice, of course), and pies of all flavors. The ice cream sundae pie is a doozy, with a thick layer of ganache atop its graham cracker crust, sliced bananas, and a Funfetti cream pie top layer that’s as creamy as gelato. It’s the perfect mid-afternoon hangout, when you just want to catch up with a friend. And take some outstanding ‘grams.

Frose

 

South Beach

C’mon, it’s Miami! You have to go to the shoreline, even if it’s only to stick your toes in the sand. While there, hit up Nautilus for a frose (AKA a rose slushy). It’ll be pricey, but you deserve one frozen drink during your trip, and theirs isn’t a syrupy sweet mess, like some spiked slushies.

 

FULFILLMENT:

Wynwood - Fireman Derek's Bake Shop

Wynwood 

Take in some killer art — all for free. This district, about 15 minutes from South Beach, features an outdoor museum you can explore any time of day. Wynwood’s streets are covered in mind-blowing murals by renowned artists. Plus, it’s a great way to get your steps in. Especially after downing a slice (or pie-topped shake) from Fireman Derek’s nearby.

Little Havana

Take a walking tour one afternoon, explore the shops, order a cafe con leche, and uncover the incredible Cuban culture that gives the city so much of its vibrance and personality.

 

Looking for other getaways?

Check out our guides to:

 

Optimized with PageSpeed Ninja