Welcome to Miami!

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Miles

  • Miami is a popular vacation destination.

  • There's a lot of Cuban influence in this city.

  • Miami's architecture is stunning with a huge collection of Art Deco designed buildings.

  • The climate is tropical and warm nearly all year around but I would advise bringing an umbrella.

  • Getting around Miami is relatively easy. Uber is a great means of transportation but there is also buses as well as biking.

  • There's a lot to see and a lot to do in Miami.

  • This city has hands-down one of the best nightlife scenes I have experienced.

    Fun Fact: It's the only US city that was founded by a woman.

Aloft Hotel

The Aloft hotel in South Beach has a modern design and eclectic feel that I loved. The concierge staff is very friendly and helpful. At one point, I had a discrepancy that they handled impressively well. The hotel has plenty of amenities such as a pool, hot tub, complementary bikes, library, computers, pool table, dining, and much more. The Aloft Hotel is located in a prime area making it easy to get to and from different parts of the city. The overall cleanliness of the hotel is four out of five stars. The pricing is fair especially for a weekend get away. I would totally recommend this hotel.

Meals

Doraku

This Japanese restaurant is a great place for lunch or dinner. The ambience is very calm and inviting.

The chicken teriyaki with steamed vegetables and Jasmine rice which was delicious!

Tropical Beach Café

I heard great things about this café which is why it was very disappointing when I found that they had extremely poor customer service.It seemed as though they were understaffed for the volume of customers they had. I was told that there is usually better service but it was the time that I was there that made the difference. And to top it off, the food was mediocre. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this place unless it was the last resort or you're not there during peak hours.

I had a super simple ham and cheese on Cuban bread and french fries with a mango juice on the side.

The Cortadito (Cuban coffee) was tasty!

Pizza Rustica

So this pizza doesn't compare to New York pizza but it gets the job done.

Orange Blossom

Orange Blossom is a very cute brunch spot.

The berries and waffles #nomnom

Havana 1975

This restaurant is very cute and it gives all the vibes of what you would imagine Cuba to be like. Service is good and staff is friendly. Something really cool about this restaurant is that they have a skinny Cuban menu which is a selection of portion controlled items under 500 calories.

The Tostones Rellenos with chicken, beef, and pork. The Tostones (mashed green plantains molded into the shape of a cup) was tough but the meats tasted really good.

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Maxine's Bistro and Bar

All I have to say is if I would've found this spot the first day, I guarantee you I would've had breakfast there every day. They have $5 mimosas! Who can beat $5 mimosas?! Not only that but the food is yummy and the service is really good. You can’t go wrong with Belgium waffles, eggs, and bacon.

Puerto Sagua

Puerto Sagua is an authentic Cuban restaurant. As you can see I took my food to go. I wanted to experience eating by the pier (you should definitely try it!). The pepper steak with white rice and black beans were on point.

Memories

Bike Riding

Many of the hotels in South Beach offer complementary bikes to utilize during your stay. At the Aloft, the bikes are on a first come first serve basis. This is a great way to get around the city as well as go sightseeing in addition to getting a work out in.

Nightlife

Clubbing in Miami is a must! The vibes and the clubs offer such a unique experience. The two clubs I went to, and thoroughly enjoyed, were Story and Liv. Story has open format (which means the Dj is open to any and all formats of music) on Fridays. Liv has open format on Saturdays and a hip-hop night on Sunday. Partying in Miami can get a pricey but it is well worth the experience. A good way to try and cut the cost is to find promoters.

Wynwood Walls

Now this is a spot that every art lover has to check out! This art district has nearly 10 blocks of street art. From the likes of Shepard Fairey to Swoon, it's truly a sight to see.

Fat Tuesdays

Looking for a good slushy to cool down? Fat Tuesdays is your spot. Here you can choose from a variety of slushies, including your standard margarita or strawberry daiquiri. The crowd and the music is very urban so it's a great spot for the turn up. A small slushy will run you $8 but for $5 more you can get a souvenir cup to keep. One thing to note is that you are not allowed to leave the premises with alcohol. So whether you buy a cup or not, all alcohol must be finished inside the bar.