Miami has been known for decades as the home for the best Cuban food in the U.S. In recent years, however, the food scene has evolved, and the city has gained much-needed respect as a destination for foodies. You can find some of the best cuisine, including Jamaican, Peruvian, Haitian, seafood and global-fusion restaurants. Miami's dining scene now has the chops to rival other major food cities.

With James Beard award-winning chefs including Michael Schwartz from the über-trendy Michael's Genuine of Miami's Design District leading the way of restaurant expansions—he recently opened his second outpost of Harry's Pizzeria in Coconut Grove, to Stephen Starr's fourth South Florida restaurant, Le Zoo at Bal Harbour Shops, and Jamie DeRosa's latest South Beach hot spot, Izzy’s Fish & Oysters on South Beach, Miami’s food scene is on fire.

In late 2015, Miami welcomed its first culinary incubator, The Wynwood Yard, in the city's Wynwood Art District. Spearheaded by culinary entrepreneurs, The Wynwood Yard plays host to a roundup of food trucks, a creative hub and culinary program under the mentorship of top chefs, experimenting with ingredients and flavors in an outdoor test kitchen. A perfect place for foodies!

From Miami Beach and Downtown Miami to Wynwood Miami and the Design District, let your taste buds do the traveling and add these foodie-approved restaurants to your next itinerary. 

There has been an ongoing dispute about the name and extent of one of Miami’s fastest growing neighborhood—Little Haiti, or is it Lemon City?

Historic Lemon City, named after the prevalence of lemon trees that grew in the area, was one of the earliest settlements in Miami. Now known as Little Haiti it loosely spans NE 2nd Avenue between 52nd and 71st Streets and Interstate 95 and Biscayne Boulevard. Regardless of the name and geography, one thing is clear, the Little Haiti district has emerged as an influential part of Miami, brimming with Caribbean culture.

From the street murals and signs of Haitian-born artist Serge Toussaint to traditional wares found at the newly opened Caribbean Marketplace and monthly celebrations like Big Night in Little Haiti, many consider Little Haiti the next hot spot to explore. Here is an itinerary for how to spend a day in this vibrant, colorful place.

Morning

Begin your day at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. This cultural hub, part gallery, part community space, offers first-rate shows of contemporary art by Caribbean artists from around the world. It has exhibited the works of noted Haitian artist Edouard Duval-Carrié and photos from Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Carl Juste.

Spend time wandering the two buildings that make up the complex. One houses the art exhibits, educational classrooms and black box theater while the other is where the administrative offices and the fabulous Magic Piano—painted by rock star artist David LeBatard (a.k.a. Lebo)—can be found. Between the two buildings is a colorful mural that depicts daily life in Port-au-Prince. The area is an art lovers paradise, home to the Yeleen Gallery, Daleus Museum and Art Gallery and the Laundromat Art Space to name a few.

After a morning of culture, head to the Caribbean Marketplace next door, for a bit of shopping. Open Thursday through Sunday, the market is designed as a replica of the Iron Market in Port-au-Price, the architecture and vibrant color is a visual marker that you are in the heart of Little Haiti. Shop for handmade goods, fine art, jewelry, collectibles and fashion apparel here.

Afternoon

If you are a history lover or book enthusiast, there's Librerie Mapou Bookstore. With a fine selection of French, Creole and English titles on Haiti and the Caribbean, this quaint shop has over 7,000 books to peruse and also sells Haitian art. 

It’s time to throw it back to the years of vinyl records at Miami’s hippest, indie music store and vegan-friendly café, Sweat Records. Located four blocks south of the Little Haiti Cultural Center on 55th Street, it is a favorite hangout for creatives, entrepreneurs and music fans.

A large-scale mural of musical heroes on the façade welcomes you as you enter. Here you’ll find a wide variety of new and used LPs and CDs, a curated selection of magazines, books, gifts, local music, books and t-shirts, as well as a full range of delicious coffee and tea, vegan snacks and free Wi-Fi. The store boasts a long list of celebrities have visited including Iggy Pop, Matt+Kim, Fred Schneider from the B-52s and many more. 

Evening

Get a taste of the Caribbean at some of Little Haiti’s top eateries. Clive’s Café is the best hole-in-the-wall for Jamaican food. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner the specialties include curry goat, oxtail and jerk chicken. Leela’s Restaurant has been a staple in the community for over 30 years, it offers Afro-Caribbean and French inspired dishes. Order the griot (fried pork chunks) with rice and peas, fried green plantains and veggies from this family-owned local favorite. 

If you are lucky enough to visit Little Haiti during the third Friday of the month for the Big Night in Little Haiti festival, organized by the Rhythm Foundation, you are in for a treat. This community celebration draws hundreds of curious revelers looking for a night of art, food, “kompa” music and dance performances. On any other night you can always head to the legendary Churchill's Pub on 55th Street to catch a concert, dance, play a game of pool, eat, drink and make new friends or hangout with old ones. You'll quickly see why the Little Haiti district is such a happening place.

Expecting a much longer layover at Miami International Airport than first anticipated? Missed a flight or have one canceled? No matter the reason, at one time or another we've all wished we knew where to go to pass the time. Solo traveling, on business or with kids; here are some fun and cool things to do near Miami’s major airport you won’t find in any travel guide.

Play the Odds

Located on the east side of the airport, south of the rental car companies about a five-minute drive, Miami’s Magic City Casino offers 800 Las Vegas-style slot machines, a smoking-hot poker room with 18 tables, dog racing, restaurants, bars and cocktail lounges—Big Mouth Café, Casino Bar and Sky 7-37—in addition to live entertainment in the amphitheater.

On the third Saturday of the month from 5-10 pm the casino hosts the Wheelin’ Dealin’ Food Truck Festival, organized by Burger Beast. It offers some of the best food trucks around. There are great giveaways and parking is free.

Beat the Heat

Surprisingly—for an area surrounded by oceans, bays and rivers—there's only one city water park and this is it. With four adventure-themed pools, two slide pools and a lazy river, Grapeland Water Park is a great family destination. 

Conveniently located off State Road 836 (Dolphin Expressway) and half a mile from the Tri-Rail station on Douglas Road (SW 37th Avenue), the park is open March through October. From 10 am to 4:45 pm, on weekends during the spring and fall, and seven days a week in the summertime. 

Kids five and under can play in the shallow waters of Shipwreck Island as they get a bucket of water dumped on their heads. Take the stairs to the top of the towers and ride the fast slides for a spin over at Pirate's Plunge.

Over at Captain’s Lagoon families can take it down a notch and hang out in the large recreation pool, no slides here just the perfect place to dip into the water. Next to the Captain’s Lagoon is the Buccaneer River Ride, a lazy river that lets the water do the work for you. Hop onto the brightly colored inflatable tubes and let the water take you for a ride. 

Hit the Links

For the traveler looking for some tee time, next door to the Grapeland Water Park you'll find the oldest golf course in Miami—International Links/Melreese Country Club. 

Since 1923, the 18-hole, semi-private course has hosted many celebrities and athletes including Miami Heat basketball stars Alonzo Mourning, Dan Majerle and Keith Askins and famed Cuban pitchers Livan Hernandez and Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez. 

Tiger Woods even made his first professional appearance in South Florida here, hosting more than 3,500 fans while conducting a clinic.

The 135-acre golf course features five lakes, nine waste bunkers, 97 bunkers of pure white sand and a cypress wetland plus, rolling northern-style fairways, elevation changes and more. And it is the only practice facility with nighttime access, open until 9 pm. 

Southern Comfort

There's no shortage of seafood and Latin eateries throughout Miami but Southern food is a different story but we found it in a lesser-known city on the northside of the airport called Miami Springs. Nestled in this small-town residential neighborhood is a taste of down-home cooking where everything is deep fried, battered and slathered in gravy. 

Named for Florida cowboys who used a whip to “crack” cattle from swamps and scrub, Crackers Casual Dining pays homage to Old Florida. Heaping portions of black-eyed peas, pulled pork, fried chicken, sweet potato mash and a bevy of other tasty dishes are on the menu. It is no tourist trap despite being featured on The Cooking Channel's "Road Trip with G. Garvin."

The restaurant integrates mason jars of seashells, driftwood flamingos, mounted sailfish into its décor to complete the homey vibe. Its large outdoor Chickee hut patio and garden with picnic tables is sure to take you to the South with a touch of Floridian flair.

Chic design permeates South Florida from Miami to Palm Beach. Visitors seeking fun in the sun and curated furnishings and unexpected treasures can—and do—have it all. 

What makes the design scene so thrilling is that it isn’t limited to one era or style. Depending on your taste—whether it’s mid-century modern, 17th- to 20th-century antiques or retro Palm Beach or more—you are sure to find high-caliber interior and outdoor furnishings, stunning wallpaper, lighting or something you never knew you needed by visiting these three premier design hubs.

Miami Design District

If you’re in town and want a combination design-shopping fix, head to Miami’s Design District. Engulfed in what appears as never-ending construction by Interstate 195, the historic Miami Design District, located less than 3 miles from Downtown Miami and a few blocks north from the hipster Wynwood Art District, has been undergoing a $1.4 billion transformation of its four-block-plus radius, bringing with it the glitterati and haute couture into the mix of what was once a sea of über-upscale design and furniture showrooms. 

Craig Robins, the president and CEO of Miami’s Dacra and the district’s developer, is forging an urban renaissance of even more fashion, luxury, art and architecture to the district in the coming year. True to its design-focused origins, an array of elite furnishings and accessory showrooms still claim a stake luring design devotees.

Among the showrooms you can visit is Luminaire Lab, which has been in the Miami Design District since 2002. It occupies an impressive 15,000-square-foot exhibition space inspiring research and experimentation. It showcases new and exclusive pieces from top manufacturers. “It’s a playground that encourages visitors to think outside the box,” says Fabiola Velez of Luminaire, which offers Davide Groppi lighting. “Groppi exemplifies a minimalist design philosophy,” says Velez. 

In the Design District for 11 years, Luxury Living USA has opened a second location showcasing Fendi Casa Ambiente Cucina—the first collection dedicated to the kitchen—along with Fendi Outdoor and Bentley Home. In early 2017, the flagship location at 90 NE 39th St. will move to a new 25,000-square-foot showroom within the area.

This vibrant destination is also home to other standout designers including Adriana Hoyos, Design Within Reach, Jonathan Adler and The Rug Company. Besides design, this must-visit spot also boasts world-class restaurants, designer boutiques and art galleries. 

Antique Row West Palm Beach

For an insider’s hot spot in West Palm Beach, visit Antique Row, a charming district on South Dixie Highway between Belvedere Road and Southern Boulevard. Stroll along the row to find 50 shops filled with 17th- through 20th-century antiques, fine and decorative arts, period deco, vintage and moderne furnishings, as well as lighting and accessories. The wide array of items available appeal to interior designers, style-makers and collectors alike.

Noted as one of the East Coast’s premier antique shopping districts by Architectural Digest, Art & Antiques and House Beautiful, Antique Row is considered the “antique design center of Florida.” Whether you’re treasure hunting for the perfect antique or looking for design inspiration, you can get lost for hours in the six-city blocks of the row—a one-of-a-kind shopper’s paradise.

“You can see period pieces, modern art and gorgeous jewelry. Antique Row truly has something for everyone,” said Faustina Pace, the president of the Antique Row Association.

Design Center of the Americas

Near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Dania Beach, you can head to the Design Center of the Americas.  For 30 years DCOTA, part of the Cohen Design Center brand with design centers in New York City, Houston, Texas and West Hollywood, California, has been a design destination.

With 75 upscale interior and design showrooms under one roof that represent more than 2,000 luxury product lines spread across nearly 800,000 square feet; it’s a who’s who of the design elite, including Duralee, Donghia, Kravet Inc., Baker, Ammon Hickson and more.

Ned Hickson, owner of Ammon Hickson, feels passionate about inspiring others. His 7,500-square-foot showroom offers textiles, wall coverings, furniture and fine art. “You have to see product in order to get excited about it,” says Hickson.

The center open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., welcomes the public, but not all showrooms sell to visitors. Instead they work directly with designers. Anyone interested in shopping should ask about the DCOTA Design Consulting and Buying Program to facilitate purchases.

Admission to DCOTA is $2 and valet parking is $3. It also houses a full-service, fine dining restaurant, The Cay, on the first floor, offering contemporary American cuisine.

The world comes to Miami, so it only makes sense the international vacation destination is known for pouring some of the world’s best wine.

With everything from dark and luxurious like a rich cabernet to bright and lively like prosecco, Miami’s wine bars are much like the beverages they decant, numerous and varied by taste, style and budget. Many make sure you don’t drink on an empty stomach, pairing pours with everything from shareable small plates to juicy cuts grilled to perfection. 

From Coral Gables to South Beach, Downtown to the Design District, wander into one of these sommelier-approved wine bars, grab a glass or even a bottle and savor Miami’s gift of grapes.

Lekoke 

Conveniently located blocks away from the Brickell area, LeKoKe offers more than 300 wines from the best wine growing regions on the planet. The family owned wine boutique presents a cozy and casual ambience perfect for sampling its selection of wines from the Old World and the New. Pair your preferred pour with a bite from a simple yet eclectic tapas menu. 1225 S.W. 8th St., 305.848.5656.

Lagniappe

Recognized as one of the Top Wine Bars in America by Wine Enthusiast magazine, this cozy wine bar features boutique, small production wines priced at near retail along with a menu of grilled basics with an assortment of cheeses and charcuterie. There’s also a four-bedroom apartment for rent upstairs in case you have a little too much. Live music scheduled nightly. 3425 N.E. 2nd Ave., 305.576.0108.

El Carajo International Tapas & Wines

Once a humble gas station, this family-owned and operated wine shop, bar and restaurant has been offering wide selection of global wines since 1989. Serving up Spanish tapas along with paella, steak, seafood and more, El Carajo is considered one of Miami’s best-kept secrets, especially since its wine store is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week. 2465 S.W. 17th Ave., 305.856.2424.

Uvaggio Wine Bar

Fusing old-world European charm with modern-day urban energy, this chic wine bar in Coral Gables perfectly pairs hand selected boutique wines with tasty bites in an intimate ambiance. With the entire front of house staff trained sommeliers, ready to guide guests through unique wine tasting experiences, it’s only natural that Uvaggio’s menu is designed around its wine. Live music Monday through Thursday. 70 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, 305.448.2400.

WD555

Right in the heart of South Beach, Wine Depot features a robust shop carrying more than 180 domestic and international wines, an in-house Sommelier and a restaurant serving French and Mediterranean fare. The warehouse-inspired wine bar sports a stainless steel bar, glass-enclosed private room and modern patio and hosts weekly tasting events. 555 Jefferson Ave., Miami Beach, 305.672.6161.

NIU Kitchen

This eclectic and eccentric Catalan-style kitchen in downtown Miami serves freshly prepared tapas and shareables in a rustic and minimal speakeasy environment. 134 N.E. 2nd Ave., 786.542.5070.

Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar

Celebrity chef and author Adrianne Calvo’s Napa Valley inspired restaurant dishes up wide selection of her one of a kind “Maximum Flavor” infused dishes along with a wide selection of fine and boutique wines. One of Yelp’s “Top 50 Places to Eat in Miami,” this hidden gem is renowned for “Dark Dining”, which gives the diners an unique opportunity to experience food without using their sense of sight. 11510 S.W. 147 Ave., 305.408.8386.

Winewood

This Wynwood wine bar serves farm-to-table fare family style in a funky little house and outdoor terrace decorated with art comprised of 100-percent recycled materials. Regularly scheduled live music and barbecue served on weekends. 7251 Biscayne Blvd., 305.754.8282.

Happy Wine

This mom and pop wine shop with locations on Calle Ocho and in Coconut Grove is a happy home for novice wine-enthusiasts and expert connoisseurs alike. Offering an extensive selection of premium wines, spanning more than 1,000 labels from around the world, Happy Wine also serves authentic tapas in its rustic shop. Voted “Best Wine Store” by Miami New Times. 5792 S.W. 8th St.; 2833 Bird Ave., Miami, 305.262.2465.

Bunbury

Located in a former tire shop, the Wynwood wine bar—run by Argentinian sommeliers—fuses Argentinian and American cuisine paired with a wine collection ranging from Californian to Argentinian wines. Wine and empanadas delivered within a one-mile radius. 2200 N.E. 2nd Ave., 305.333.6929.

The 10 Best Wine Bars in Miami