Miami South Beach Travel Guide

This was my first time in Miami & I fell in love with this city! My fiance has been to Miami many times so he was my tour guide & knew all the spots we had to visit & the things to do.

We stayed in South Beach in January 2020. It was a last-minute trip we literally booked it 2 days before leaving because the prices were so cheap. I think we paid $500-$600 roundtrip for 2 people.

We have friends there that we visited & they took us to Key West for the day as well.

Miami South Beach is a vibe! I love hearing the sounds of Salsa & Reggaeton coming from the restaurants & stores as you're walking by. I love the Miami fashion! I could shop all day and the food & nightlife scene is amazing too.

The beach is so beautiful but when we were there it was so windy and one day the sand was blowing in your face so we couldn't stay at the beach but at the pool of the hotel it was fine.

The 5 days we were there it wasn't as hot as I expected. The weather was around 20-23 degrees and it never got warm enough to swim in the ocean or suntan so that was the only disappointing thing.

So if you're planning a trip to South Beach Miami, these are my recomendations.

WHERE TO STAY

Delano South Beach 

I would say this is my fave hotel. It's on Collins ave on the beach. There is a beautiful pool in the back, with gorgeous indoor decor, clean & trendy. All the beach hotels are not right on the beach. you have to walk out the back and cross the little bike and walking path and then you're on the beach.

They have DJs sometimes playing in the lobby & there is a nice lounge and the best Argentinian restaurant!

I've also gotten a lot of great referrals to SLS South Beach, Segamore Hotel South Beach & Loews Miami Beach.

Rent a Condo or AirBnB

Some of the older South Beach hotels especially the 3-star ones are not good at all. I would never recommend them. So unless you're staying at one of the new trendy 4 or 5-star hotels then you're better off renting a condo.

WHERE TO EAT

Leynia Restaurant

Of course, eating here is a must! It is a beautiful Argentinian restaurant located inside the Delano Hotel. They have a beautiful patio that overlooks the pool, the service is great & the food is phenomenal. 

Prices aren't cheap but it will be a beautiful date night for sure.

Pro Tip: If you love red wine as I do, you have to order a glass of the Malbec Terrazas De Los Andes ‘Las Compuertas’, Mendoza. You'll thank me after.

Jaguar Restaurant (Coconut Grove, Miami)

This restaurant is in Coconut Grove not South Beach but it's worth the uber ride. We met our friends there because they highly recommended it and it really was amazing. Order a bit of everything (including the ceviche) & share because you can't go wrong with anything on the menu.

The prices are reasonable and they make amazing cocktails. 

Pro Tip: Sit at the bar to take advantage of the Happy Hour menu!

Havana 1957 Cuban Cuisine

If you're looking for authentic Cuban food, then this is where you need to eat.

They have several locations in South Beach & Miami. The food is amazing & they had a nice outdoor patio. We ate at the one located in Lincoln Rd Mall.

You definitely have to try the Empanadas & Tostones! The best way to eat at a new restaurant is to order different dishes & share. 

THINGS TO DO

Shopping at Lincoln Rd Mall.

I really love the fashion in Miami! It's not cheap but you can buy some great clothes so if you want to do some serious shopping, you'll need at least $500-$700 USD. 

This mall is a beautiful outdoor mall full of restaurants & shops. Take your time because if you're anything like me you'll want to go into all the different stores.

Take a day trip to Key West! 

You'll want to rent a car for this. It's a beautiful drive but it is about 3.5 hours so you'll want to leave at like 5 or 6am so you can spend the full day there. Things to do in Key West is another blog post but I will say we rented scooters & drove around the whole island which was so much fun and we walked through the little town.

Walk down Collins Ave. This is the main street that runs from South Beach to Sunny Isles Beach. Enjoy this scenic walk while getting your steps in.

Everglades National Park. Unfortunately, 5 days wasn't enough time to do everything but next time we're going here. I can't write a Miami Guide without mentioning one of the coolest things to do.

Follow me on Instagram so you can see when we go back to Miami & go to the Everglades.

I hope you'll love Miami as much as I did!