The unofficial capital of Florida, Miami has a personality all its own. This coastal metropolis of almost 6.5 million people is like no other big city in the Sunshine State, due to its international flair and the largest concentration of Latinos in the United States. Historically known for its strong Cuban influence, the city’s languages, flavors and art have cemented it as a perennial cultural hotspot.

Where to Stay

Dunns Josephine Hotel is an ode to both Miami and the Harlem Renaissance, with loads of glitz and old-world glamour. Each of its 15 rooms is dedicated to Black legends like Josephine Baker, Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday. In Little Havana, settle in at Life House, a charming and culture-centric boutique hotel with Art Deco and Mission Revival styles. Staying there is like stepping into 1950s Cuba. Arlo Wynwood, meanwhile, offers a swanky stay, featuring 250 permanent works of art, including vivid exterior murals. A rooftop pool comes with views of the Miami skyline.

When to Go

Miami isn’t known for its downtime and annual festivals come in all flavors, from Art Basel Miami Beach in December to Ultra Music Festival during spring break, Art Deco Weekend in January and the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in February. It is, however, the tropics, so you may want to avoid hurricane season: June through November.

What to Do

Overtown, Miami’s historically Black community, was settled by the workers who built Miami’s railroads and hotels. During segregation, entertainers like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong stayed there after performing for white audiences in Miami Beach. Visit neighboring Allapattah for the Rubell Museum, where you’ll find 40 galleries filled with works by 100 artists. In Little Havana, the heart of Miami’s immigrant Latino community, stroll Calle Ocho, where you’ll find restaurants, bakeries, fruit stands, cigar shops, rum bars, art galleries and music venues. Then head over to Wynwood with a fully charged phone, so you can flood your Instagram with pics from the endless spread of public art at Wynwood Walls. Nearby galleries abound, like the Museum of Graffiti, which paints a vivid picture of street art past and present.

Where to Eat

Stop by Red Rooster Overtown, a Michelin-star restaurant run by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson. There, you can enjoy the “whole damn bird” family style, or sample red velvet French toast during a weekend brunch. Doce Provisions, meanwhile, offers unpretentious, Miami-Latin foods with must-haves like a Cuban sandwich, maduros and ropa vieja. Head over to Azucar Ice Cream Company afterward for unforgettable Miami-Cuba themed flavors like “Burn in Hell Fidel.” For scratch-made artisan kosher bakery fare, try Zak the Baker, which was named a 2023 James Beard Award finalist. Or turn up the swank factor by visiting Hiden, a Japanese fine dining spot with a Michelin star.

Bienvenidos a Miami

A Book to Pack: Anything by Carl Hiaasen, but also check out Birds of Paradise by Diana Abu-Jaber. It’s about a family that comes apart at the seams and finds its way together again against the backdrop of contemporary Miami.
  
A Record to Put On: It’s nearly impossible not to sing the “welcome to Miami” chorus Will Smith brought to us with his huge hit named after the city. Mid-party, turn the volume up on the non-kid-friendly “I’m in Miami Bitch” by LMFAO.

A Movie to Watch: The 1980 classic Caddyshack delivers LOLs on a Miami golf course. But for the more discerning viewer, opt for Moonlight, which shows the grittier side of the city. It’s also the first LGBTQ-themed film to win an Oscar for Best Picture.

Must Have Souvenir: Miami Flamingo scented candle. Exactly what do Flamingos smell like?