Day 3: Wynwood and Little Havana

Tips:

• Expect plenty of hipsters strolling around Wynwood, a neighbourhood that’s very easy to explore on foot. The vibes are seriously cool and casual.
• Allow half a day to explore Wynwood because as well as there being over 200 murals there are nice independent shops to enjoy and places to grab a bite to eat.
• Street parking is generally easy to find, but it is expensive. The hop-on, hop-off bus tour explores Wynwood on the Red Loop and stops right outside the walls.
• Walking tours are a thing in Wynwood – if this is something you’d like to do I recommend doing a bit of research in advance to make sure you can book a slot.
• The best time to explore the murals is either earlier in the morning or in the afternoon, to avoid the sun as it’s very exposed with limited shaded areas.

Miami’s trendiest neighbourhood, Wyndwood, is an exploding scene which has gone through a recent transformation from sketchy warehouse district to ‘up-and-coming’ hotspot. Expect vibrant street art, breweries, independent clothing stores, and an edgy street food hall. It’s now one of the largest creative communities in the United States.

Its trajectory began when entrepreneur Tony Goldman saw an opportunity to transform the area’s drab warehouses into a giant street art hub, where some of the world’s best graffiti and street artists could visit to create murals – forming the Wynwood Walls.

Before the Walls open (at 10.30am) grab a morning pick-me-up from Panther Coffee, an amazing roaster and flagship shop that’s become a pulse point in Wynwood for producing its distinct blends and exceptional iced cold brews.

The baristas take pride in every cup, and there’s real transparency inside where you can learn information about the growers and bean’s journey from plant to cup. The shop also hosts free Wi-Fi and a nice terrace area, which is the perfect spot for people watching.

The Wynwood Walls is essentially a free “open-air” art gallery that’s a street art haven. Established in 2009, as part of a renewal of the Miami Warehouse District, the massive warehouse walls (with no windows and few doors) have been transformed into extra large murals and artwork canvases, attracting visitors from all over the world.

Historically, street art is not a well-respected art form. However, of late, this seems to be changing with more people around the world becoming interested in the art scene. Since the Wynwood Walls opened, over 50 different worldwide artists have been involved.

As well as providing the unique “selfie” and ‘gram opportunities, each wall has its own distinct story, which leaves you with a huge appreciation for the art form.

Opening times: 10.30am – 11.30pm (Monday-Thursday) and until midnight (Friday and Saturday). 10.30am – 8pm on Sunday. Official tours can be booked twice daily for a fee.

The Wynwood Walls spans across the whole neighborhood, so after exploring the walls be sure to check out the other masterpieces littered across the district, including this original ‘Movie Gangsta Wall’ at the intersection of NW 21st Avenue and NW 1st Place.

Whilst on the hunt for murals, it’s worth stopping by at the ever-popular flagship, The Salty Donut, for a sweet treat. This gourmet doughnut shop sells imaginative flavours such as Blueberry Cake, Maple bacon (for those who prefer a sweet and savoury), Oreo Cookies & Cream, Hazelnut Chocolate, as well as Gluten-free and Vegan options.

I would advise going before 3-4pm, usually a post-school run rush and quite often they will sell-out of stock by the early afternoon. The artisan doughnuts are worth a wait!

Opening times: Closed on Mondays, Tues-Fri: 7:30am-6:00pm (or sold out), Sat-Sun: 8:00am-6:00pm (or sold out)

For a place to chill post-gallery hopping, head to 1-800-LUCKY in the early afternoon to enjoy a laid-back courtyard and mellow soundtrack. It’s a 10,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor Asian food hall that draws in a hip crowd and is definitely the place to spend a lazy afternoon. From sushi to dim sum, there’s lots on offer in the open dining room.

Not-to-be-missed is the matcha ice cream served inside a fish-shaped cake cone topped with unicorn ears and horn from Taiyaki NYC—an unmissable Instagram opportunity.

Far from the glamour of South Beach and the edginess of Wynwood is Little Havana. Home to Miami’s thriving Latino community, it’s a place Cubans have been calling home since the 1950s. In some parts (even still today) Spanish is the predominant language.

There’s no shortage of things to do in Little Havana, especially along its main street Calle Ocho which is particularly vibrant with cigar shops, Latin record stores, and lively bars.

Domino Park is a central hub for local residents (often the older Cuban community) playing games of dominos, which can get rather heated.

A popular place for live music and a killer happy hour is Ball & Chain, easily identifiable for its green and white neon sign, which has been hanging since it opened in 1935. Back then, it was a popular jazz bar favoured by the likes of jazz-legend Billie Holiday.

Nowadays the cocktails are created by Miami’s top mixologists, serving up much-loved Cuban favourites such as the Mojito Criollo, the Canita and the Pastelito Daiquiri.  Happy hour (4 pm-7 pm) is a great time to visit, and often isn’t too crowded, as this place often gets popular in the evening when it’s host live jazz and salsa nights often around 8-9pm.