10 Cool Things To See & Do in Omni, Miami

Pérez Art Museum Miami

International art museum

A contemporary art museum, the Pérez Art Museum houses over 2,000 unique works of art, spanning across various mediums. Some include paintings, photographs, sculptures, tapestries, and more. The featured pieces are from the 20th and 21st centuries, and represent a multitude of countries from all around the globe, with a small focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. Though the museum, also known as PAMM, acquires pieces from far and wide, you may stumble upon works created by local Miami artists! After exploring the exhibitions, dine at Verde; the museum’s chic restaurant serves New American eats and offers a lovely view of Biscayne Bay from the terrace. The setting is so magnificent, in fact, that PAMM is a popular venue for weddings and other special events. Be sure to look out for special educational programs for children and adults, as well as occasional lecture series and performances.

Price: Mid-Range

Opening Hours: 10:00am-6:00pm Tuesday & Wednesday then Friday-Sunday, 10:00am-9:00pm Thursday

Watch out for: free admission days

Address and Telephone: 1103 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL, USA, +1 305 375 3000
Performance at the Adrienne Arsht Center | ©Florida Grand Opera/Flickr

Performing Arts house

Located in the heart of Miami’s downtown, the Adrienne Arsht Center is the largest performing arts hall in all of Florida. The facility was originally constructed as a Sears department store in 1929, but was renovated in 2001. The center is home to a number of performing arts companies, including the Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra Miami, Florida Grand Opera, and more. Regardless of your interest, the center has something for everyone. Attend a Broadway show, listen to classical music or jazz, enjoy the opera, or watch an incredible dance performance. So, break away from your television at home and discover something new! Ask the Arsht Center about becoming a member for exclusive services and deals on tickets.

Price: Mid-Range

Opening Hours: 10:00am-6:00pm Monday-Friday

Watch out for: different hours for performances

Gallery restaurant

Verde is the museum restaurant located within the Pérez Art Museum Miami — however, as opposed to paintings and sculpture, Verde’s art is its delicious cuisine. Pop in for brunch, lunch, dinner, or a casual cocktail. Some of the New American dishes include ceviche, squash blossom pizza, saffron spaghetti, steak, mussels, and more. Whether you’re craving a light bite or a hearty entrée, Verde has just the thing for you. Dine indoors for a vibrant, modern atmosphere or opt for the outdoor terrace to enjoy breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay. Verde is open, even when the museum is not, so you can stop by without feeling obligated to peruse the museum. Yet, PAMM is available at the ready whenever you feel like exploring cultural, international art. Be sure to try the sangria! You won’t regret it.

Price: Mid-Range

Opening Hours: 11:00am-5:00pm Tuesday & Wednesday then Friday-Sunday, 11:00am-9:00pm Thursday

Watch out for: coffee bar

Educational arts space

Established to foster cultural appreciation within the community, the CCE celebrates Miami’s Spanish and Latin American societies. The center features a microtheatre, which hosts many performances throughout the year. The plays are only about 15 minutes, allowing for multiple shows each night. Be sure to note that there are performances in both English and Spanish, so make sure you purchase the right ticket! There’s even a quaint café to enjoy a tasty bite to eat or refreshing cocktail before the show starts. In addition to the plays, CCE offers lectures and discussions, exhibitions, and other platforms for education and research. Check their website for the most current events, or subscribe to the CCE newsletter so you never fall behind on what’s happening.

Price: Budget

Opening Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday, 11:00am-2:00pm Saturday

Watch out for: special closing days

Multi-facility urban park

Bayfront Park is one of Miami’s largest outdoor spaces, coming in at a whopping 32 acres. Located on the shores of Biscayne Bay, this downtown park is not only a large open-air area, but it is the home to numerous facilities, including a flying trapeze school, amphitheatre, pavilion, and more. So, you can do everything from see a concert with 10,000 Miami locals, to let your kids run around on the unique playground, which is complete with beautiful aquatic sculptures. Look into attending a community yoga class or taking a boat ride around the bay, or, instead of engaging in an activity, take a pleasant stroll around the park, have a family picnic, or read quietly on one of the many comfortable benches scattered about the park. Get some fresh air and visit Bayfront Park.

Price: Budget

Opening Hours: 5:00am-Midnight Monday-Sunday

Watch out for: varying hours for each facility

History museum

Formerly known as the Historical museum of Southern Florida, History Miami Museum has been open to the public for 75 years. Explore numerous exhibitions and collections on a variety of themes, including maritime, aviation, technology, furnishings, archaeology, and more. In addition historical artifacts, the museum features a few pieces of art, such as paintings and photographs. Take a guided tour of History Miami, or look into their hosted off-site tours, which take place across the city. Travel by boat, bus, bike, or foot to get an up close and personal look at historical aspects of the city of Miami. In addition to the in-depth tours, History Miami offers learning programs for students and families, and also hosts events at their research center, education center, folk life center, and photography center. Brush up on Miami life, past and present, when you visit History Miami.

Price: Budget

Opening Hours: 10:00am-5:00pm Monday-Saturday, Noon-5:00pm Sunday

Watch out for: rotating exhibits

Beautiful botanical garden

This public Japanese garden allows visitors to explore beautiful botany in a peaceful, Zen environment. The garden acts as a neighborhood park, and people are free to wander about the green space, observe at the flowers, look at the pond, walk along the paths, and more. Ichimura Miami Japanese Garden frequently hosts community gatherings, such as classes, lectures, festivals, and holiday events. Most of these events celebrate Japanese culture, including the art of flower arrangement, Japanese cooking, saori weaving, martial arts demonstrations, origami and calligraphy, and more. Located in the backyard of Miami, Florida, take a trip to the Japanese Garden for a pleasant Asian oasis.

Opening Hours: 9:00am-6:00pm Monday-Sunday

Watch out for: seasonal closures

Foundation art museum

A contemporary gallery, The Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation houses two distinct collections, in addition to exhibits that change throughout the course of a year. The EFC collection is named after the founder of the gallery museum and focuses on Latin American works, which a particular interest in geometric abstraction, contemporary international and Latin American art, contemporary video, and modern and contemporary photography. The CIFO collection is reserved for up and coming artists with extraordinary talent; a variety of mediums are highlighted. Visit today to see unique, thoughtful pieces in both collections, as well as what is currently on exhibit. Contact Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation and learn how you can support the museum and its artists!

Price: Budget

Opening Hours: Noon-6:00pm Thursday & Friday, 10:00am-4:00pm Saturday & Sunday

Watch out for: special events

College museum

Miami Dade College’s Museum of Art and Design is located at Freedom Tower, one of the nation’s historic landmarks. Being associated with the college, the museum hosts lectures, symposiums, discussions, and events throughout the year, which serve to bring the community together and educate them on art and culture. The collection features nearly 2,000 beautiful works of art, including sculptures, sketches, paintings, photographs, and multi-media. While those pieces rest in the permanent collection, MDC MOA+D houses rotating exhibitions all year long, showcasing modern, post-modern, and contemporary works from emerging, as well as established, artists. Take a tour and explore the facility, as well as the famous Freedom Tower, a beautiful architectural structure, originally built in 1925 as a home for the local newspaper. The Museum of Art and Design offers a number of engaging programs and events to the public, but also some exclusive ones to students and members of the museum. Check the online schedule to find out what’s going on!

Price: Budget

Opening Hours: Noon-5:00pm Wednesday-Sunday

Watch out for: special Saturday openings once a month

Lovely public park

Get active at Omni’s Margaret Pace Park! With over eight acres, this waterfront park has something for everyone. If you’re into sports, grab some friends and take advantage of the volleyball court, soccer field, tennis courts, and football field. There’s nothing like a little competition on a warm, sunny day! If you prefer to work out in solitude, the park offers free fitness equipment, similar to what you’d find in any state of the art gym. It’s just made so that you can enjoy your workout outdoors in the fresh open air. Finally, you can opt out of using the facilities and just walk along the paths instead. There is a ton of open green space to enjoy a pleasant stroll, spontaneous game of Frisbee, or family picnic. Since the park is located right next to the water, be on the lookout for fun water activities!

Price: Budget

Opening Hours: 5:00am-Midnight Monday-Sunday

Watch out for: outdoor exercise equipment gets hot!