Things to Do in Miami Next Week When You’re Not Partying Your Face Off

¡Bienvenido a Miami! You made the trek to the sunniest part of the Sunshine State, and you’re ready for your Will Smith music video life to begin. The last week of March brings Winter Music Conference (WMC), Miami Music Week (MMW) and Ultra Music Festival (UMF), when every hotel lobby, bar, lounge and parking lot is converted into a pool party, BBQ or label showcase. But really, there’s so much more to see and do outside of the cabanas. Don’t be that person who comes through and never leaves the party—they’re the worst. Now is the best time, too, because Miami is experiencing a bit of a cultural reawakening.

This Miami season, get out of the club and get into the city’s beautiful streets. Here’s your guide to Miami’s essentials and best-kept secrets.

South Beach

If you’re partaking in WMC/MMW festivities, South Beach (SoBe) is the main hang. It’s Miami’s designated tourist destination, world-renowned for its beautiful sand, surf and sun-kissed bodies. Washington and Collins Avenues are the main drags, where you’ll find all the Art Deco architecture, slow-driving cars and picturesque landscapes you’ve seen in films and on TV. During daylight hours, Lincoln Road’s outside mall is the perfect place to shop, eat and people-watch. If museums are an extracurricular fave, peruse the exciting, worldly collection and special exhibits at the Bass, or head to the Wolfsonian-FIU for an in-depth cultural history lesson. There’s even the World Erotic Art Museum if you’re feeling frisky.

Get an allover tan at Haulover Park’s nude beach, or do a more family-friendly hang at Lummus Park. When the sun goes down and you’re looking for something to soak up the great gulf of alcohol in your tummy, we highly recommend a late-night slice at the 24-hour Gino’s Pizza & Brew, some comfort food at Big Pink (open ‘til 5am on weekends), retro-themed drunk people fare at the 11th Street Diner, or any noodle your heart desires at Sriracha House. Don’t forget the French-style Miami staple La Sandwicherie. Their sauces must be experienced.

Downtown/Brickell

Take I-195, I-395, or the Venetian Causeway, and you’re in Miami proper. It may not have the same fame as SoBe, but mainland Miami is where the locals stay put. The Downtown and Brickell areas are high-traffic hangs full to the brim with cultural spectacles and gorgeous getaways. Biscayne Boulevard runs the length of downtown, along which you’ll find the Heat’s American Airlines Arena and adjacent Bayside marketplace. It’s also where you’ll find the city’s newest gem, the Perez Art Museum Miami, beautifully situated next to the bay view of Museum Park.

Catch a show at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, or save money and snap a pic in front of the Freedom Tower, which has a collegiate art museum inside. Move inland for some pre-party drinks or final nightcap from the Corner. Stumble across the street and try the all-night strip club E11EVEN on for size. There’s a club and restaurant on the top floor, so it’s fancy. But if you really want late-night food around these parts, you’ve got to have the absolutely incredible Super Perro—Colombian for “hot dog”—at La Moon.

Little Havana

Named after the big Havana because of its large, and once much larger, Cuban population, Little Havana is the spot for the Cuban-American experience. Calle Ocho, or 8th Street, is the main attraction, once a year becoming a massive street festival of food, music and dance. Pick up on a chess game and brush up on your Spanish in Domino Park, have a drink in ‘30s style down at Ball & Chain, or dance to authentic Afro-Cuban rhythms at Hoy Como Ayer. Whatever you do, don’t leave without stopping for a bite at Versailles. It’s all about the Cubanos and the light-up mirrors, and it’s open late—until 3:30 am on Saturdays.

Wynwood

This wasn’t exactly a tourist-friendly neighborhood five years ago, but these days, the Wynwood Art District is teeming with people day and night looking to snap selfies in front of the area’s world-class array of street art. Wynwood Walls is a great place to start, having featured more than 50 artists representing 16 countries in its 80,000 square feet. You’ll know it by the giant Shepard Fairey piece, clearly visible from Northwest 2 Avenue. Head down the block to Panther Coffee so you can sip while you enjoy the art all over the neighborhood’s walls and within the various galleries. If you’re looking for a cheap beer, hit up Wood Tavern or Gramps. On the late-night food tip, the prices are a bit high at Gigi’s, but the food is well worth it.

Off the Beaten Path

You’re most likely to stay close to the center of it all, but if you have an adventurous bug, we highly recommend checking out Virginia Key. Not technically part of the Florida Key islands, Virginia Key is the local’s choice for a day at the beach, and its iconic lighthouse is actually the oldest architectural feature in the entire city. In North Miami, art lovers can check out Miami’s Museum of Contemporary Art. Any and all music lovers (that means you!) should leave an hour or two for crate digging at Sweat Records in Little Haiti, located directly next to the punk rock paradise that is Churchill’s Pub. Be blown away by the visual beauty of the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens or the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Then erase all that tranquility with a trip to rap’s most famous strip club, King of Diamonds. It’s the Miami way!