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Pool parties, beaches, nightclubs and tall skyscrapers – for many people, that’s it miami,
But the city is much more. Here, we get under its skin of the sunshine state Stepping beyond the party scene into the vibrant patchwork of its neighborhoods, the most famous metropolis. Each has an interesting story to tell, and each highlights an aspect of the city that may surprise you.
There’s an art deco wonderland, a soulful Cuba Enclave, and a mesmerizing district where homes borrow architectural styles from around the world.
Look closer and you’ll find one of the world’s largest open-air art galleries, a leafy neighborhood so overgrown it feels like a jungle village, and island mansions of the rich, famous and infamous.
1. Art Deco Historic District – dazzling architectural glamor
In Miami Beach’s Art Deco Historic District, nearly 800 preserved Art Deco buildings are packed into a walkable, eye-opening square mile.
Is there anywhere else in the world with so much architectural charm in one place? Walking through this area feels like walking into an open-air Art Deco museum, showcasing the efforts of more than 100 architects – among them Henry Hohauser, L. Visionaries such as Murray Dixon and Albert Annis are also included.
The style flourished between the 1920s and 40s – although the term “Art Deco” was not actually coined until the 1960s – and its charming signature features are abundant in the heart of the district, which includes Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue, and Washington Avenue.
Stroll through these pathways and you’ll be enveloped in a whimsical dreamscape of pastel colours, chrome accents, shimmering terrazzo floors and. Egyptian Motifs (when King Tut’s tomb was unveiled in 1922, Egyptomania erupted in design circles).
Many buildings also have classic Art Deco face-like features, with “eyebrows” forming a “mouth” protruding over windows and entrances.
You will also notice the absence of skyscrapers. Many buildings were built in the Depression era, and taller structures were obviously more expensive. The city also had a rule that any structure over three stories required an elevator, so height was limited to save money.
Top Art Deco landmarks include the Fillmore Miami Beach at the US Post Office (1937) and the Jackie Gleason Theater (1940) on Washington Avenue; Miami Beach City Hall (1927) on Convention Center Drive; and The Lincoln Theater (1936) on Lincoln Road. popping in swish Andaz Miami Beach Also highly significant on Collins Avenue. It is housed in a 1930s Art Deco building, whose interior reflects its character.
For an in-depth look, visit the Art Deco Museum on Ocean Drive, the starting point for the walking tour Miami Design Preservation League,
2. Coral Gables and its quirky themed ‘village’
The garden suburb of Coral Gables, southwest of downtown Miami, is a world apart from the throbbing city.
In this hidden oasis, oak, banyan, palm trees and mahogany form tunnels of trees along residential boulevards, with fountains and plazas adding to the tranquil atmosphere.
It’s an incredibly relaxing place to spend time, just as its creator, visionary developer George E. Merrick intended.
He envisioned the neighborhood in the early 1920s, and planned to transform his family’s 3,000-acre citrus plantation into a “City Beautiful”.
Greenery was the main theme of Merrick’s vision, while his passion for architecture inspired many unique “villages” in other parts of the world.
The houses on Santa Maria Street, with their tall white columns and two-story porticoes, form a Greek-style “Pioneer Village”, while a “French Normandie Village” can be found on the 400 block of Lejeune Road and Vizcaya Avenue. Here, the properties have a wooden exterior that transports you to 15th century France.
There is also an Italian village on Monserrat, Palmarito and Altara avenues; A Dutch South African village at Lejeune Road, Riviera Drive and Maya Street; And even a bright red sugar village on Riviera Drive and Menendez, Castania, Maggiore and Sansovino avenues.
Exploring further will reveal a stunning outdoor Venice Pool set in a rock quarry (it’s one of the few pools on the National Register of Historic Places), the luxurious Biltmore Hotel and, on the pedestrian-only Giralda Plaza promenade, a charming array of boutiques and restaurants.
Read more: Forget Route 66: Five Under-the-Radar Road Trips That Reach the Heart of America
3. Little Havana – A piece of Cuba in the middle of the city
Visit Little Havana and you can experience a piece of Cuba.
This vibrant neighborhood is a living portrait of Cuban heritage – and there’s plenty to explore.
Your first port of call? On the main thoroughfare, Calle Ocho, stop for a powerful shot of sweet Cuban coffee at the Havana-style street-side window (or) of the Versailles restaurant.Small windowThen watch elderly Cubans play dominoes at Máximo Gómez Park, known locally as Domino Park – a spot you may recognize from the 1980s hit spot. Miami Vice TV series, where it appeared in several established scenes.
A few yards to the west, drop into Cuban Tobacco Cigar Company, where you can watch a master roller at work and pick up quality cigars (for the experienced: the darker the wrapper, the stronger the smoke).
When hungry, head back to Versailles for time-honored Cuban cuisine, from black beans and rice to hearty beef, chicken and pork sandwiches. For more nostalgia, Old Havana serves classic dishes amid a vintage 1950s decor – and serves one of the best mojitos in the city.
Feel like making a night of it? The Ball & Chain is a famous Little Havana bar that has been a hub for cocktails, live music, and dancing since 1935 – it even has its own merchandise line.
Read more: A Euro trip without leaving the US: seven US cities that look exactly like places in Europe
4. waynwood – A huge open-air art gallery
The walls of Wynwood’s many warehouses have long attracted graffiti artists, but their work was illegal before the early 2000s.
However, developer Tony Goldman saw the potential of the area and began making deals between building owners and artists, allowing them to legally paint to their heart’s desire.
outcome? A huge outdoor art gallery and a centerpiece, vinewood wallsWhich attracts some of the best muralists in the world.
Street art is applied liberally throughout the area and can be enjoyed for free, but the ticketed focal point is Wynwood Walls, which features a rotating collection of murals and sculptures by over 120 artists from over 25 countries.
Top returning artists include “Mantra”, originally from France; couple Jessie Unterhalter and Katie Truhan; And Miami’s own Ernesto Maranje, a former member of the U.S. Coast Guard who discovered a gift for painting wildlife scenes.
Nowhere else will you find exceptional food (try Classy) in this pedestrian-friendly, cultural oasis. Minister for Mexican flavors that are popular) and top-tier bars (try Gramps for its powerful Mezcal Penicillin cocktail made with Scotch, ginger, honey and lemon).
Read more: The best and worst US cities for pedestrians and cyclists, named
5. Coconut Grove – Forest by the Sea
It took some effort to establish Coconut Grove, Miami’s oldest neighborhood on the shores of Biscayne Bay.
When settlers arrived in the 1870s, the vegetation was so dense that they had to cut it with machetes.
A shipwreck washed thousands of coconuts ashore, after which they planted palm trees, giving the area its name.
Those first residents will probably still recognize their home, which is dreamily overgrown, more akin to a tropical island village in the jungle than an urban neighborhood.
Tangled banyan trees, tangled fig trees, oak trees and the same coconut trees weave so densely around the buildings that it is actually a few degrees cooler here than in the city.
You’ll also see exotic creatures patrolling the semi-wild area, including parrots and giant iguanas.
Top sights include The Barnacle Historic State Park, home of The Barnacle, the 1891 residence of sailor and naturalist Ralph Middleton Munroe, one of the area’s founding figures. There are also myriad shopping and dining options, including two Michelin-starred restaurants – Los Félix and Ariete – while Cocowalk is a spectacular open-air hub of boutiques and eateries that is a destination in itself.
Coconut Grove is also home to Miami City Hall, housed in the former Pan American Airways seaplane terminal – reminiscent of the glamorous flying boat era of the 1930s.
6. Celebrity Island
Most of Miami’s attractive neighborhoods are walkable and easily accessible by car or public transportation.
But the only way to properly see one of the most exclusive areas – the gated island retreats of the rich and famous in Biscayne Bay – is to get on the water.
climb on a Thriller Miami Speedboat Adventure And you’ll get a glimpse of their gorgeous beach retreat in exciting style. Boarding a huge powerboat, you will sail past Star, Hibiscus, Palm and Fisher islands associated with famous names past and present.
Star Island, where Gloria Estefan, Shaquille O’Neal and Sean “Diddy” Combs are rumored to have mansions, is the most famous, while Hibiscus Island was once home to the glitzy Latin Quarter nightclub, frequented by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.
The boat passes Al Capone’s renovated 1920s mansion on Palm Island and crosses the turquoise waters next to the most exclusive island of them all – Fisher, accessible only by private boat or yacht reserved for residents and their guests. Former residents include Oprah Winfrey and Boris Becker.
Whether you’re attracted to celebrity pairings or not, it’s an exciting way to see Miami at its most decadent.
Ted visited Miami as a guest of British Airways Holidays.
British Airways Holidays offers three nights at Andaz Miami Beach by Hyatt from £1,299pp + $95pp resort fee (payable locally), including travel on selected dates between May 1 and May 31, 2026. visit britishhairways.com,
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