Neighbourhood highlights
***Please check out our Local Guide Book that is getting updated daily***
If you plan to stay at the FontaineBleau Resort in Miami and need some top class retail therapy or want to discover the city and neighborhoods, a plethora of options are only a short drive away.
1. South Beach (15 minutes away)
The southern tip of Miami Beach puts the amor glamor. It glitters, shimmies, and shakes its groove thing with boutique and brand name stores, high-end restaurants, trendy nightclubs, lots of beautiful people, and stunning Art Deco architecture. What’s not to love? There’s plenty to do during the day too — you’re at the beach after all. There’s also Haulover Park for fishing, golf, and bicycle rides, Española Way filled with its charming Mediterranean architecture and consummate culture for design and art buffs at the Wolfsonian — FIU museum.
2. Ocean Drive (15 minutes away)
Often included as part of South Beach, Ocean drive has a vibe all of its own. Café style dining and upscale restaurants, classic beach views, world-famous art deco architecture, and a block away from Collins Ave with a slew of designer shops make it its own glammed-up ecosystem. If you’re in Miami for the nightlife, Ocean Drive is your spiritual home. Clubbing and bar hopping take on a whole new meaning as dancers literally dance on bars. The Art Deco District Welcome Center offers self-guided tours of the storied neighborhood and the LGBTQ+ Visitor Center in the Old City Hall can give you the low down about year-long events in the neighborhood for the LGBTQ community.
3. The Design District (20 minutes away)
Where the high rollers and jet setters come to play. As the name suggests, The Design District is noted for its luxury fashion stores, sleek contemporary architecture, celeb-chef restaurants, and designer jewelry boutiques. It’s more than a shopping haven though. Public art adorns the streets, there are multiple gyms and spas, The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is free to visit and the Haitian Heritage Museum gives an insight into Haitian arts, culture, and history.
4. Wynwood (20 minutes away)
A neighborhood to get your fill of vibrant Isntgaram shots. Wynwood is renowned for its street art, funky galleries (there are over 70), artisanal craft breweries in converted warehouses, chic clothing boutiques, bistros, bars, taquerias, and food halls, and more. A haven hipster haven that’s one of Miami's most happening neighborhoods.
5. Bal Harbor (20 minutes away)
Located at the northern tip of Miami Beach, Bal Harbor Village is a welcome respite after the frenetic pace of South Beach. Tranquil and laid back, the area enjoys white sandy beaches and a generous smattering of fine dining options. For many, the main attraction is Bal Harbor Shops, an upscale outdoor shopping mall in a garden setting filled with lush foliage, koi ponds, and limestone fountains. Amid the designer boutiques, there are several upscale restaurants in case you want to refuel before another round of retail therapy.
6. Aventura (30 minutes away)
There are worse places to live than Aventura — far worse. If you’re ok with sleek condos, lush golf courses, and celebrity restaurants, all nestled around the shimmering Intracoastal Waterway, Aventura could have your name written on it. There’s also a championship racetrack, and the peaceful protected Oleta River State Park — a river estuary — with its tidal mangroves and wading birds. Considered Florida’s largest urban park, it welcomes kayakers, canoers, bikers, and walkers along its rivers and trails.
7. Fort Lauderdale (40 minutes away)
With 24 miles of white beaches, unfurling in front of you in the Fort Lauderdale area there’s no shortage of sun, sand, and surf to enjoy here. Formerly known for the SpringBreak party scene, Fort Lauderdale has reinvented itself as a family-friendly destination with kid-centric activities such as the Funderdome Indoor Playground and Cafe, Buehler Planetarium and Broward College Observatory, Bluefoot Pirate Adventures, and more. There are also hipster hangouts such as LauderAle, Funky Buddha, and Stache Drinking Den + Coffee Bar and tons of streets, parks, and canals to explore.
8. Coconut Grove (30 minutes away)
One of Miami’s most historic and scenic neighborhoods lives up to its name with a tropical vibe . Banyan trees, palms, and oaks along with quiet residential trees and the odd wild peacock all point toward CG's Bahamian roots and bohemian atmosphere. Attractions include the multitude of sailboats on Biscayne Bay and two historic garden estates — a big draw for nature lovers — a tumult of quaint sidewalk cafes and The Barnacle State Park.
9. Brickell (25 minutes away)
Brickell’s glittery condos tower over the south side of the Miami River while on ground level the multitude of bars and restaurants are more Manhattan than parts of Manhattan. To prove it, they’ve even got traffic and public transportation. Fittingly the area also hosts tops law firms and banks meaning New York transplants will feel right at home.
10. Coral Gables (30 Minutes away)
Coral Gables wallows in old money and 1920s charm. From the tree-lined streets to ivy-covered mansions, there’s a lot to love about the place. However, it’s not all sepia-toned nostalgia. If it’s shopping and dining options you’re after, Miracle Mile has it all. For nature lovers there’s the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and the University of Miami is also in town.
Its central location puts it a short distance from Miami International Airport, the Port of Miami, and, of course, Miami Beach
