In Miami, shopping isn’t just a pastime, it’s a sport. While some are in it for the hunt for great deals, others want the ultimate star treatment from high-end fashion brands. If you want to play in the big leagues, then these shopping districts are where you should start.
Bal Harbour Shops was designed to celebrate the balmy beauty of South Florida. Ideally situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay in the affluent village of Bal Harbour, the lushly landscaped, open-air mall doesn’t look or feel like any other shopping center in the United States. With luxury department stores Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue as the mall’s anchors, you won’t find any run-of-the-mill brands here, only high-end heavy hitters. The current store roster includes the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Tiffany & Co., Versace, and more. To accommodate the lengthy waiting list of luxury stores that want to bring their exclusive brands to this premier retail center, an additional 40 storefronts are anticipated, including a third anchor store that will be added in 2017.
The Miami Design District is a neighborhood dedicated to innovative fashion, design, architecture, and dining. This once-overlooked area of Miami has been transformed into a glamorous international luxury shopping destination in just a few short years; it is a place where residents and visitors alike can shop for their favorite brands while admiring the Miami Modern architecture that lines the halls and streets of this beautiful neighborhood-like mall. The Miami Design District has no plans of slowing down its development efforts, either. One hundred new stores are slated to open over the next two years, and there will ultimately be a 30-foot-wide pedestrian mall running north and south from 38th to 42nd street.
Ranked as one of the most-visited retail destinations in America, the Aventura Mall is anchored by Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and Macy’s and features luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Burberry, REDValentino, Philipp Plein, Sandro, Emilio Pucci, Tiffany & Co., and more. To further expand its retail offerings, Aventura Mall will undergo a significant expansion that will include a new three-level, 241,000-square-foot retail wing and parking garage.
The Shops at Merrick Park is a shopping mall located in the heart of Coral Gables. Anchored by Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, this luxury shopping destination opened in 2002 as an open-air shopping center featuring Mediterranean-inspired architecture, beautiful natural landscaping, and outdoor fountains in the center of the complex. It includes a mix of classic and high-end retailers, including Burberry, Diane von Furstenberg, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, and Kate Spade New York, to name a few.
Just a few blocks from the beach and world-famous Ocean Drive is Lincoln Road Mall, South Florida’s premier outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment destination. This mile-long, pedestrian-only promenade boasts a happening street scene with throngs of local and out-of-town visitors, who come here for the chance to experience luxury shopping in the heart of Miami. Those who have visited Lincoln Road will tell you that it really is a unique shopping venue. Visitors will find an exciting mix of national retailers and specialty stores, such as Zara, H&M, Gap, and Forever21, which have all recently opened Flagship stores on Lincoln Road.
