Sure there is tons of fun to be had in South Beach — beautiful people, trendy nightspots, great beaches — but get trapped in those two and half miles and you’ll miss out on the best of what Miami has to offer.
Little Havana
Photo Credit: wallyg / flickr
Rumor has it, if you are Latino and don’t visit Little Havana, the ghost of Celia Cruz will haunt you in your dreams. Actually, that sounds like fun. Either way, you should visit.
Versailles Restaurant
Photo Credit: @versaillesmiami
Wanna eat where the locals eat? Versailles Restaurant on Calle Ocho is your spot. Grab a cortadito and take your pick from delicious sandwiches and pastries.
Venetian Pool
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Don’t miss out on what many consider to be the most beautiful pool in the world: the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables. It’s a freshwater pool with Italian architectural flourishes and waterfalls.
El Mago de las Fritas
Photo Credit: elmagodelasfritas / Facebook
El Mago, who won’t reveal his secret recipe, is doing something right: his fritas, Cuban-style burgers, were featured in an episode of Burger Land. Oh yeah, and some guy named President Obama has been there, too, ’cause YUM!
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Club Deuce
Photo Credit: Peyri Herrera / flickr
Club Deuce is a divey spot near South Beach. It’s been around since 1926. Best part? Their happy hour is really, really long, like 11 hours long.
13 People and Places Keeping San Francisco’s Latino Roots Alive
Fairchild Botanical Garden
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Photo Credit: @erinwanderer
What in the world is that Dr. Seuss looking tree?! Check out all the crazy tropical and subtropical plants at Fairchild Botanical Garden.
Churchill’s Pub
Photo Credit: southbeachcars / flickr
Since opening in 1979, Churchill’s Pub in Little Haiti has been a popular hub for live music.
The Broken Shaker
Photo Credit: The Broken Shaker / Facebook
Head over to The Broken Shaker where the menu of cocktails changes almost daily. The drinks are handcrafted with elixirs, infusions and herbs and spices picked from the Broken Shaker’s own garden.
Design District
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The Design District is a “neighborhood dedicated to innovative fashion, design, architecture and dining experiences.” Translation: if you dig and can afford luxury living, this is for you.
READ: 11 Ways to Get Weird in Austin
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Photo Credit: grufnik / flickr
For a second you’ll wonder if you are in Italy during the Renaissance, but check your phone’s GPS – it’ll remind you that you are in present day Biscayne Bay at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Check out all sorts of European treasures from the 16th to 19th centuries.
Little Buenos Aires
Photo Credit: dannydelgado / flickr
In just a 10-block radius you can easily be transported to Argentina. Sip a cortada, have a delicious steak and listen to some old guys argue about Boca Juniors and River Plate.
The Kampong
Photo Credit: The Kampong / Facebook
In Coconut Grove you’ll find The Kampong, a beautiful botanical garden with a wonderful selection of cultivated tropical fruit such as kaffir oranges, elephant apples and bael fruit.
Wynwood Walls
Photo Credit: visitflorida / flickr
An ever-changing display of free, outdoor urban art is located at Wynwood Walls, a warehouse district turned large canvas.
Pérez Art Museum
Photo Credit: miamism / flickr
Pérez Art Museum is housed in an award-winning building by architects Herzog & de Meuron and a must-see for it’s permanent collection of 20th and 21st century art from around the world.
