How To Spend 48 Hours In Miami

If you’re going to visit Miami, you’re going to have to do it right. That means taking advantage of the great food, culture, art, and music that the city has to offer, with time, of course, to fit in some partying and relaxing on the beach.

Day One

Morning

Have breakfast at Morgans Restaurant

Restaurant, American

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Pull up a chair at Morgans Restaurant for a sweet beginning to your day. This joint has some amazing breakfast choices, and unlike some restaurants that only break out the breakfast goods for Sunday brunch, Morgans serves up breakfast daily. Menu options include house-made sticky buns, yogurt with fresh berries and granola, French toast stuffed with mascarpone and raspberries, and a house-cured salmon plate.

Stuffed French Toast | © Elsie Hui / Flickr

Check out the colorful murals at Wynwood Walls

After you fill up on delicious stuffed French toast, make your way to the Wynwood Walls, just a couple of minutes away by driving from Morgans. Here you can see some great art –from the strange and bizarre to the absolutely beautiful – plastered all over the walls. Featured artists have included Aiko, How&Nosm, The Date Farmers, Futura, Lady Pink, and Maya Hayuk. Stop by and admire, and be sure to snap some selfies!

After visiting the walls, be sure to hit the other galleries in the area; they are only open during the day (and close at about 5 pm).

Afternoon

Head to the PAMM

Museum, Shop

The Pérez Art Museum Miami is hands down one of the best spots for art in the city. The state-of-the-art museum hosts a ton of crazy cool exhibitions, and its minimal design is breathtaking. It is a popular spot for photos as well, and the museum allows you to take them so long as you don’t use a flash. From photo exhibitions to interactive videos to 3D design and multi-dimension projects, this space has it all. When you’re done walking through all of it, pick up some quirky gifts from the gift shop, and a cup of coffee or light bite from Verde, the on-site café, and sit out by the water for a stunning view.

Walk around Bayside Marketplace

After you’ve walked through the PAMM, visit the Bayside Marketplace to have a mojito, watch the boats, and pick up small trinkets. There is always live music, bars, restaurants, and shops open, and on a day with great weather, it can make for a lovely walk. You can even buy tickets to take a boat tour on the bay, but if you’d rather stay on land, you can dance salsa while a Latin band plays on the main stage, hit Fat Tuesday for an alcoholic slushy, or have a yummy seafood lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Continue walking down Bayfront Park for a spectacular view of the bay and downtown Miami.

Evening

Visit Española Way

When night rolls around, you’re going to want to get out and enjoy Miami’s nightlife. If you’re looking for a taste of Miami’s Latin culture, but also want to see what Miami Beach is all about, head to Española Way where you get the best of both worlds. The area is filled with Spanish Colonial architecture and has a plethora of delicious restaurants to choose from for dinner, including Havana 1957, Tapas y Tintos, and A La Folie Cafe, a French favorite.

Enjoy music and drinks at Ball and Chain

If you’re looking for the real deal when it comes to diving into Miami’s Latin culture, there is no better place than Little Havana and, more specifically, Ball and Chain. The lounge has a rich history spanning back to the 1930s, and back in the day, it hosted musicians including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Louie Armstrong. On Friday, a DJ and live band take center stage to bring the best Latin music to its guests, along with confetti, dancers who twirl sparklers, and some of the best Cuban cocktails around.

Day Two

Morning

Hit the beach

After all that partying the night before, you’re going to want to recoup before you go out again tonight. The beach offers the perfect relaxing atmosphere to have a few drinks (because the only way to beat a hangover is with a little hair of the dog), get a nice tan, and gossip (or read a book – that’s fine too). Chances are you’ll spend your entire morning here, that is, after you wake up from sleeping in late.

Miami offers many beaches. Head to Crandon Park if you’re staying near Coral Gables or Coconut Grove or if you want a more relaxed, family-friendly environment. All others, see your way to South Beach, which is much livelier.

Afternoon

Head to Big Pink for lunch

Diner

Once you and your group of friends have worked up an appetite, head to Big Pink, the best diner in town. It’s retro-themed and has some of the most delicious dishes around (both healthy options and comfort foods). Also, everything here is big – even the menus are huge. Fan favorites here include the Southwestern chicken salad, Argentinean steak salad, sun-dried tomato fusilli, portobello bow tie pasta, and the salmon teriyaki wrap.

Walk around Lincoln Road

Bar

For some of the best shopping, head to Lincoln Road, which has a ton of stores all lined up for you: Victoria’s Secret, H&M, Forever 21, Zara, Urban Outfitters, and many others. What’s great about this shopping center is that it’s outdoors, which means it can also double as a place to walk and get some fresh air, and it also houses both designer labels and more affordable brands. Be sure to stop into Paul for coffee, Ladurée for macarons, or Dylan’s Candy Bar if you’re a fan of sweets.

Evening

Visit Clevelander

Hotel

After visiting the beach, having some lunch, and shopping, you might want to take a little nap before getting ready for the second round of Miami Beach fun. First off, head to Clevelander on Ocean Drive for some drinks to start the night (or continue from this morning?). The hotel’s POOL+PATIO area is an excellent place to have food and drinks, as well as enjoy nightly live entertainment. The hotel also hosts a Saturday Pool Party. If you’re hungry, you’ll want to try the loaded potato skins, the Clevelander burger, the coconut shrimp, or the spicy garlic calamari.

Head to Basement for some fun

Nightclub

Top off your second day with a visit to Basement, a club that also has some other fun activities – besides dancing. Have a few drinks and dance, and once you get tired of that, go bowling or take to the ice on some skates. The club is a great option for those seeking the best of both worlds: the flashiness of a typical Miami nightclub (live dancers included) with the fun of an arcade, bowling alley, and ice rink.