City Guide: Miami

If you’re looking for the best girls trip destination in a warm climate, look no further than Miami. From nonstop nightlife to amazing food, Miami has a little bit of everything to offer wanderlust junkies and Spring Break dwellers.

Miami City Guide

I had been wanting to go to Miami for quite some time now, eager to see what the hype was all about. After visiting for the first time a few weeks ago with a couple of girlfriends from work, I not only loved the area, but already wanting to plan a trip back. South Beach – the “Vegas Strip” of Miami Beach – offered a great location close to the best beaches and nightlife, Little Havana highlighted salsa dancing and live Latin music, Brickell – the “downtown” local hangout – catered a familiar city feel to back home, and Wynwood – Miami’s art district – gave a glimpse into Miami’s local art scene (not to mention the best Instagramable wall murals). Read below for my Miami City Guide!

Wynwood

Dress: Express // Necklace: 6th Borough Boutique // Handbag: H&M // Sandals: Steve Madden

The Wynwood area is jam packed with colorful murals and artistic flavor. Each block features one-of-a-kind wall art creating the perfect – and Instagram worthy – backdrop for a photo op. Above are just a sliver of my favorite walls that were found along the streets, however the Wynwood area also has a designated Wynwood Walls outdoor museum showcasing urban graffiti for viewers to admire. What makes Wynwood special, aside from the murals, were the local art vendors along the sidewalk and gallery stores. I got the most beautiful copper ring from a vendor called Daddy Daughter Jewelry – shop their items here!

El Patio

Hands down the best place to dance.  Held outside on a – well, patio – party goers shake their hips to a mix of Latin/Pop remixes. El Patio is unique in the sense that you pay a $30 cover fee (bring cash!), which is then given back to you in “tickets” to use at the bar. I honestly felt like we were playing Monopoly as the tickets looked like play money. Each drink was about 2 tickets! We went on a Sunday night and it was crowded back-to-back with nonstop dancing and good times. I could only imagine how much fun a Saturday night would be!

Nikki Beach Miami

Forget the prestigious pool parties and head to Nikki Beach Miami, a chic beach club on the tip of South Beach. All you need to get in is your ID, swim suit, and good attitude. Featuring cabana beds, bars, and beach access, Nikki Beach Miami offers the perfect bougie spot to have a drink and mingle while showing off your new bikini. The cabana beds range from $350-$750, however there are many other areas to hangout while sitting or standing. Make sure to take a pic in front of their notorious tee-pee!

Bodega South Beach

Ever been to a hidden speakeasy? What looks like a small, casual taco joint on the outside is actually concealing a swank bar, featuring velvet seating and pricey cocktails. While grabbing $3 tacos from Bodega’s exterior, we noticed people opening a not-in-use porter potty door adorned with stickers, attached to a corner wall. After confirming this was indeed not a bathroom, we followed in to find the hidden bar (and cool wall sign).

American Social Brickell

Sip on your cocktail underneath the palm trees! American Social, a sports bar located in downtown Miami’s Brickell neighborhood, offers food, drinks, and classic waterfront scenery.

Havana 1957

Enjoy traditional Cuban food with the backdrop of Ocean Drive at Havana 1957. 10 flavors of mojitos to choose from + Ropa Vieja had me in heaven. The Cuban Combo appetizer plate was perfect to split, which I highly recommend to get a quick taste of different dishes – ham croquettes, bite size pork, plantain chips, fried yuca, potato balls stuffed with pork and tamal seasoned pork. Needless to say, we left in a food coma.

Gramps Wynwood

The place is just as fun as the name. Gramps, a tropical bar in Wynwood, features fun cocktails, colorful seating and a stage for live entertainment. We came upon the joint after checking out the Wynwood Walls (Gramps is a very close walk from this) and were luckily able to take advantage of their weekday Happy Hour deal. 50% off all drinks? Yes, please! We didn’t have time to stay for the stage entertainment, however Gramps has everything from live music to Bingo!

Ball & Chain

Welcome to Little Havana! Ball & Chain, an iconic bar featuring delicious Cuban food and live Latin music, is a must-stop place to go at night. While waiting for our tapas, we partook in a free salsa dancing class hosted right in front of our booth! As for the food, come with a empty stomach. The plates may be small, but there are multiple dishes to choose from to share with the table. My favorite was the Churrasco sliders paired with my Pina Basil Margarita!

Morgan’s Restaurant

Southern charm meets tropical chic at Morgan’s Restaurant. Located in Wynwood (can you tell I really liked the Wynwood area?), the dining establishment was by far one of the cuter brunch spots in Miami due to it’s lush greenery. The drinks come in mason jars! The food was delicious and the plates were large enough to split. I recommend the Eggs Benedict Traditional with their famous hashed spuds!

Need-To-Know Tips for Visiting Miami

• You NEED either a promoter’s hook-up or a table bought to get into any pool party – the pool parties are very exclusive (and expensive)
• Utilize promoters to gain free – yes completely free – VIP access to clubs. Promoters will often come up and talk to you while laying out at the beach or will post a comment on your Insta pic to DM them about deals. Warning: Many promoters are salesy, but it’s worth having a contact for the express entry and complimentary drinks!
• Some bars have a $20-$30 cover charge. Bring cash!
• Spanish is spoken just as much as English.
• Not all of the hot-spots are along the beach (or Ocean Drive). Miami is spread out through a variety of neighborhoods, all offering their own unique flare worth checking out.