The Ultimate Miami Shopping Guide: From Boutiques to Shopping Streets

Prepare to drop a few thousand when heading to the illustrious Design District in central Miami. The luxury open-air mall is home to major brand names from Gucci to Louis Vuitton, as well as art galleries, and cafés to quench both your artistic thirst and your appetite. Throughout the Design District, everything from parking lots to boutique galleries is illustrated with installations and Instagrammable wall art. “Netscape,” a 24-seat web of hanging chairs created by designer Konstanin Grcic is only matched by murals like “One Day At A Time.”

The hallmark of South Beach, akin to Los Angeles’ Third Street Promenade or New York’s Broadway in SoHo, Lincoln Road Mall is a shopping staple. Stretching a lengthy 10 blocks, there’s plenty of ground to cover and options range from high- to low-end shopping. The pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare is dotted with a seemingly endless selection of stores including Zara, H&M, CB2 and Apple and, on weekends, street markets engulf Lincoln Road with the smell of coconut slabs and fresh arepas, providing a tried-and-true Miami shopping experience. Ideal for a daytime or evening stroll, you can even catch a show at the mall’s historic Colony Theatre dating back to 1935.

If you’re visiting the suburbs of Coral Gables, don’t miss strolling along the charming Miracle Mile. Located along Coral Way, the shopping pathway features wedding dress boutiques, art galleries, quaint cafés, a bookstore and several antique shops. It’s also quite a popular spot during happy hour, when local business professionals hang out at the local bars along the strip.

In an alternate vibe but still central to Coral Gables is Merrick Park – an upscale outdoor mall catering to a more high-end crowd. Decorated with lush palm trees and water fountains, Merrick evokes a tropical oasis atmosphere, making a shopping spree here all the more enjoyable. The three-story open-air space boasts clothing designers such as Hugo Boss and Diane von Furstenberg, as well as a swanky gym and a few gourmet restaurants.

In contrast to the plush South Beach lifestyle, the art hub of Wynwood offers a more eclectic take on shopping, where boutique stores and endless street art provide the ideal setting for that unique-piece search. The arts district, famous for its graffiti murals, is a popular spot to shop for artworks and exotic goods, too. For a collection of rare objects and clothing made from recycled materials, browse the socially conscious store, Nomad Tribe. If contemporary art is on your mind, don’t forget to check out Wynwood 28.

The stereotype of Miami Beach’s rich, expansive, over-the-top luxury is alive and well at Bal Harbour. While the streets are lined with six-figure convertibles and designer dogs to boot, the Bal Harbour Shops are home to stores like Chloé, Tiffany, and Prada. Lovingly thought of as the Rodeo Drive of Miami, Bal Harbour lives up to its reputation as the heartland of luxury retail therapy – and it doesn’t stop at the clothes: the cuisine is just as illustrious, with artisanal chocolate at Vasalissa Chocolatier and uni and quail eggs at Makoto amongst your options.

Shopping for a luxurious bed or a unique side table? Drive over to the busy Biscayne Boulevard, where you’ll find an extensive selection of furniture stores. From moderately priced contemporary pieces by Italian brand Modani, to high-end designer furniture from French brand Roche Bobois, the boulevard is dotted with options for every budget and style. Start your browsing from Biscayne Boulevard and 29th street, and continue north.