The Broken Shaker at everyone’s favorite high-end hostel, The Freehand, started as a pop-up cocktail bar before becoming something more permanent—and its success as a mainstay kicked off the Mid-Beach neighborhood’s renaissance. Inside, the tiny award-winning bar is like the love child of New Orleans and Paris, while the outdoor courtyard and poolside area feel very Eden: old-school fountain, mismatched and wildly patterned chairs, lush trees. The cocktail list changes often based on what’s fresh, and most ingredients are grown or made on the property. The drinks skew tropical, but the bartenders are fully equipped to serve anything you request. The brains behind the Shaker also oversee the food and beverage program at 27 Restaurant, the neighboring eatery located inside a quintessential Florida house from the 1930s. And soaking up the tropical vibes at the Broken Shaker is one of the best things to do in Miami.

For the tropi-cool vibes, you can only get hanging poolside at Miami’s OG cocktail bar. If you’re hanging in a group, try one of the epic punches—they’re seasonal and a boozy bang-for-your-buck. The rotating list of daily specials is great too if you’re not into sharing. The upstairs lounge above the adjacent 27 Restaurant is now its own nightlife enterprise called the Eagle Room. It’s hot, sweaty, and will keep you dancing till late.

Address: Freehand Miami, 2727 Indian Creek Dr, Miami

Contact: 305-531-2727

Website: www.thefreehand.com

Opening hours: Wed–Fri 4–10pm; Sat, Sun 2–10pm

Google rating: 4.4/5.0

A massive 50,000-square-foot art space dedicated to the production of experiential mediums. With so many so-called Instagrammable installations floating about, it’s hard to get excited about anything that bills itself as experiential or immersive—but that’s not Superblue Miami. Featuring brand new works by some of the art world’s most notable artists, the groundbreaking venture challenges perceptions, heightens the senses and generally wows with its thoughtfully curated exhibition. On view this season: works by Es Devlin, James Turrell, and TeamLab.

TeamLab’s Massless Clouds Between Sculpture and Life is an add-on to the regular price of admission, but there’s no question you’ll want to experience it. The art at Superblue Miami is space filled from floor to ceiling with giant floating clouds made out of foam and you’ll have a ball walking through it, playing in it and taking all the pictures. It’s Instagram gold.

Address: 1101 NW 23rd St, Miami

Contact: 1-786-697-3414

Website: www.superblue.com

Price: $32–$42

Opening hours: Sun–Wed 10am–7pm; Thu–Sat 10am–8pm

Google rating: 4.3/5.0

Miami’s number one attraction is a surreal Italian Renaissance-style villa in the middle of lush, laid-back Coconut Grove. Its meticulously landscaped gardens, sprawling bayfront terrace and, well, the house itself, make up a total of 43 acres. And strolling the magnificent Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is one of the best things to do in Miami.

Vizcaya makes for the most fetching photo backdrop in the city (just ask the quinceañeras and brides roaming about) and its inimitable collection of European antiques and decorative works from the 16th to 19th centuries is truly breathtaking. Need to up your social game? Vizcaya is home to some of Miami’s most Instagrammable floors and staircases. Strolling here on a quiet summer’s day can be magical (not surprisingly, it’s a popular spot for weddings). Another bonus is the café, which offers above-average lunches and, on Sundays, tea for two from 1pm to 4pm. Vizcaya’s event calendar is packed with free activities that are accessible year-round.

Address: 3251 S Miami Ave, Miami

Contact: 305-250-9133

Website: vizcaya.org

Price: Admission $18; $8 reductions; under 5 free

Opening hours: Thu–Mon 9:30am–4:30pm

Google rating: 4.0/5.0

Launched during Art Basel in 2009, what began as a few commissioned murals to beautify the area has morphed into the city’s only outdoor street art park, featuring more than 40 murals. Some of the world’s most acclaimed artists and muralists have contributed over the years, including Shepard Fairey, Ryan McGuinness, Kenny Scharf, How and Nosm, Faile, Retna, the Date Farmers and Liqen. The city’s first and only outdoor museum dedicated to street art.

The decade-old cultural institution is the famed epicenter of the Wynwood Arts District, legitimizing graffiti art with a roster of more than 50 murals painted by renowned artists around the world—from Shepard Fairey and Kenny Scharf to Kelsey Montague. Vibrant in color, deep in meaning and large in scope, the groundbreaking Walls are the undisputed selfie capital of Miami and chances are you’ll recognize some of the murals from the profile pics in your Insta feed. GGA Gallery at the Wynwood Walls recently debuted "Tunney Munney: The Exhibition," which surveys Peter Tunney's 20-year-old evolving art project about money, NFTs, and cryptocurrency, among other themes.

Address: 2520 NW 2nd Ave, Miami

Contact: 305-531-4411

Website: thewynwoodwalls.com

Price: $10+

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 10:30am–11:30pm; Fri–Sat 10:30am–midnight; Sun 10:30am–8pm

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

True to its mission, the new 250,000-square-foot museum connects people of all ages with science through a range of inspiring programming—some of which is even bilingual. The updated Frost Science (an upgrade from its previous Coconut Grove location) occupies four buildings—the Aquarium, the Frost Planetarium, and the North and West Wings—features year-round exhibits such as “Feathers to the Stars,” “Power of Science” and “MeLab,” an interactive exhibit that lets kids learn about health by using their own bodies to conduct experiments (think hands-on simulations). The “Aquarium” is a remarkable display across three levels, one of which includes the museum’s 500,000-gallon Gulf Stream aquarium that houses all sorts of sea creatures. While the planetarium is a 250-seat, air-conditioned respite with an 8K projection screen and state-of-the-art sound system, offering dazzling visual displays and virtual tours through outer space. And tapping into your inner nerd at Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is one of the best things to do in Miami.

Frost Science is as state-of-the-art as it gets, featuring interactive opportunities, a 500,000-gallon Gulf Stream aquarium that houses all sorts of sea creatures, and a planetarium dome that hosts monthly laser light shows. Laser evenings are back at Frost Science, featuring monthly laser light spectacles set to incredible soundtracks. The shows rotate often and include music by the likes of the Beatles, David Bowie, The Who, and more.

Address: Museum Park, 1101 Biscayne Blvd, Miami

Contact: 305-434-9600

Website: www.frostscience.org

Price: $29.95, children $21.95, under 2 free

Opening hours: Daily 10am–6pm

Google rating: 5.0/5.0

Miami Beach’s biggest—and most famous—nightclub is back in business at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. LIV has been leading the pack in Miami’s club scene since it debuted in 2008 as the crown jewel of the Fontainebleau Hotel’s unprecedented billion-dollar renovation. With top-tier talent (Skrillex and Bieber once performed in the same weekend) and insane six-figure bottle service (Mark Cuban allegedly dropped more than 100 grand on a single bottle of champagne in 2013), LIV quickly showed the nightlife world that Miami’s best days are not in the past.

Who needs Vegas when you’ve got LIV? Since reopening, the crown jewel of nightlife has pulled in more top-tier talent than ever before—not to mention the throngs of celebrities partying it up till dawn. It’s a tough door but well worth the effort. The latest name on LIV’s proverbial marquee. Whomever it is, it’s sure to be major.

Address: Fontainebleau, 4441 Collins Ave, Miami

Contact: 305-674-4680

Website: www.livnightclub.com

Opening hours: Wed–Sun 11pm–5am

Google rating: 4.0/5.0

After many delays, a budget overrun and a few name changes, this spectacular $500 million César Pelli creation opened in Downtown Miami in 2006. The striking postmodern architecture alone makes it worth a visit. But the fact that it’s home to the Florida Grand Opera and the Miami City Ballet, and occasionally hosts the New World Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra, doesn’t hurt either. Touring Broadway shows, musicals, world music and children’s shows also feature. And seeing a show at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts is one of the best things to do in Miami.

The striking postmodern architecture alone makes it worth a visit. But the fact that it’s home to the Florida Grand Opera and the Miami City Ballet, and occasionally hosts the New World Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra, doesn’t hurt either. Touring Broadway shows this season include Hairspray, Dear Evan Hansen, Jesus Christ Superstar and more. Icelandic avant-pop goddess Björk will also make her live Miami debut this winter with an acoustic performance backed by a 32-piece orchestra.

Address: 1300 N Biscayne Blvd, Downtown, Miami

Contact: 305–949–6722

Website: www.arshtcenter.org

Price: Ticket prices vary

Opening hours: Box office Mon–Fri 10am–6pm; Sat–Sun noon–curtain time

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

Designed by iconic architectural guru Morris Lapidus in the 1950s, Lincoln Road Mall was once dubbed the “Fifth Avenue of the South,” though it’s now commonly referred to as “Lincoln.” Endless sidewalk cafés, lounges, and cultural venues—such as the Colony Theatre—stretch along its length from Washington Avenue to Alton Road.

The Herzog & de Meuron–designed 1111 Lincoln Road is quite possibly the world’s most glamorous parking garage and houses upscale retail on the ground level. But there are more than several blocks of stores and boutiques to browse and shop for hours. Lincoln Road continues to expand its offerings with a growing list of pop-ups that stick around longer than expected—which is a good thing! Catch plant store Plant Daddy and Sol Sorbet among other not-so-temporary shops while you can.

Address: Between 16th and 17th Streets from Washington Avenue to Alton Road, Miami

Contact: no phone number

Website: lincolnroadmall.com

Price: NA

Opening hours: 24/7

Google rating: 4.0/5.0

Authentic cuisine, cocktails and culture—this charming Cuban restaurant in Little Havana packs the neighborhood’s hallmarks into one inviting spot. Café La Trova is the delicious byproduct of the most fruitful partnership: James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein, her chef/restaurateur husband David Martinez, and nationally acclaimed cantinero Julio Cabrera. The old-Cuba style fits right in with Little Havana’s nostalgia-tinged nightlife scene. And traveling to Cuba by way of Café La Trova is one of the best things to do in Miami.

It’s rare to find a place that ticks off all the boxes of a proper touristic experience and also captures the attention of locals. James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein is behind the stellar menu, featuring favorites like the irresistible jamón serrano croquettes, hand-cut steak empanadas and risotto-style arroz con pollo. While decorated cantinero Julio Cabrera mixes up all kinds of cocktails. The house band playing Trova-style music nightly. Let the sounds of Cuban son sweep you away!

Address: 971 SW 8th St, Miami

Contact: 786-615-4379

Website: cafelatrova.com

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 5–11pm; Fri, Sat 4pm–2am; Sun 4–10pm

Google rating: 5.0/5.0

It’s only fitting that in a year where most travel happened from the couch, we’d be introduced to a hotel without any actual rooms to speak of Meet Freehold, a Brooklyn-born hospitality concept that combines the cool lobby vibes and trendy eateries you might find in a hip hotel but there’s no place to stay. To think, all those years people loitered in the common areas of the Ace and the Standard properties without being guests, they could’ve just been hanging at the Freehold instead.

Play all day and go home to your very own bed at night. It’s the sweetest deal if you ask us. Freehold Miami has areas to get work done and take meetings, booths to meet friends for a cocktail when business turns to pleasure and a large outdoor area serving a full menu of drinks and bites from day to night. If hotel hangs at places like the Ace and the Standard are your nightlife vibe, you’ll have found a home at Freehold Miami. Everything is half-off at the bar during happy hour. Stop in on weekdays for $7 ’tinis and spring for a half-off pizza to nosh on while you sip.

Address: 2219 NW Second Ave, Miami

Contact: 305-280-0330

Website: www.freeholdmiami.com

Price: $7

Opening hour: 10:00 am–6:00 pm daily

Google rating: 4.7/5.0