How to spend your cruise stopover in Miami

Hugging the coast of Southeast Florida, Miami is famous for its pristine beaches and Cuban influence. Its glamorous neighbourhoods have been the backdrop for many Hollywood blockbusters and TV series, with sprawling Art Deco buildings lining the seafront.

“With year-round good weather, top-ranked beaches and the sparkling waters of Biscayne Bay edging a cosmopolitan metropolis right by the cruise port, Miami is an enticing stopover, with family-friendly cultural and historical attractions aplenty,” Suzie from Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau told us.

“Within minutes of disembarking their ship, visitors can explore the beating urban heart of downtown. The hip area of Brickell offers excellent bars and restaurants, visitors can find great shopping and atmosphere at Bayside Marketplace or Brickell City Centre or explore the recently developed Museum of Science and the Perez Art Museum Miami, both providing amazing panoramic views of Biscayne Bay.

“A quick taxi or bus ride and guests can explore Little Havana, the Wynwood Arts District, the newly opened Design District or even drive over the scenic MacArthur Causeway to South Beach in just 15 minutes. Here, visitors can marvel at the Art Deco buildings, check out the lifeguard huts or take a dip in the turquoise ocean.”

With Suzie’s top tips in mind, we’ve put together a guide on how to spend your cruise stopover in Miami, so you won’t miss the city’s highlights:

Showcasing huge, colourful murals by artists from around the globe, the Wynwood Walls have become one of Miami’s most popular attractions. Situated in the Wynwood neighbourhood near downtown Miami, the iconic murals have transformed the area, which was once a collection of ageing warehouses. We chatted to Jessica Goldman from Goldman Properties which owns the Wynwood Walls, she told us: “In 2006, my late father Tony Goldman began purchasing different properties in Wynwood’s warehouse district which at the time was riddled with poverty and crime.

“Fast forward three years later and he had the idea to create an open-air gallery of murals called the Wynwood Walls. His vision was to make the entire Wynwood neighbourhood a canvas for urban street art and he was the first to begin its dramatic revival. Goldman Properties has continued my father’s legacy and his mission for revitalising Wynwood through art, culture and community. Since its inception, the Wynwood Walls continues to be a major art statement, having seen over 50 artists from 16 different countries, including the renowned Shepard Fairey and bringing the world’s best street and graffiti to Miami.”

We asked Jessica why you should visit Wynwood Walls during your cruise stopover, “The Wynwood Walls are one of the most Instagrammable spots in the country. It truly is like walking through a street art safari. There’s something different around every corner. People can immerse themselves in vibrant and colourful larger than life murals painted by renowned and upcoming artists from around the world and even have an opportunity to purchase their own pieces from the Goldman Global Arts Gallery.

“As a city, Miami is continuing to grow culturally into an international, all-encompassing hot spot. We’re seeing it with the Wynwood Walls, Art Wynwood, Art Basel and other events/attractions. There is new art, new design and new perspective around every corner - everyone is contributing to the city’s artistic growth. It’s something that I love most about this city.”

Versailles Restaurant, an old-school Cuban diner in Little Havana, has been serving delicious Cuban cuisine to South Floridians for decades. Since opening its doors in 1971, the restaurant has become a Miami institution, so it’s highly recommended that you visit during your cruise. Expect dishes such as ceviche (fresh fish cured in lime), boliche (Cuban-style pot roast) and, of course, a mouth-watering selection of authentic Cuban sandwiches.

For one of the most popular Cuban dishes, the frita, pay a visit to El Rey de las Fritas. Ground beef patties are topped with spices, sauteed onions and shoestring fries and served with an authentic Cuban bread roll. You can expect to pay just $4 for one of these delicious sandwiches and while there are a few stores located around Miami, it’s a novelty to visit the local chain’s first-ever restaurant in Little Havana.

If you’re eager to try some classic Cuban food but aren’t sure where to start, why not join a food tour? Miami Culinary Tours offers a food and cultural tour of Little Havana, giving you the chance to taste authentic Cuban cuisine and learn the stories behind the cooking. The two and a half hour tour also includes a few stops at the neighbourhood’s cultural sights.

As well as its plethora of old and new Cuban restaurants, Miami is a hub for international cuisine. Whether you’re looking for cheap eats or fine dining by the sea, the city has it all.

Fusing bold Latin American flavours with South Florida’s bounty of coastal ingredients, Amara at Paraiso is one of the most exciting restaurants in Miami today. Its beautiful, open plan seating area faces the sea, welcoming a fresh ocean breeze. Expect contemporary twists on classics such as ceviche and oysters and embrace its unique fusion dishes such as banana leaf-wrapped cobia with ashed yucca and coconut pesto and crispy flounder Milanesa with lime, lemon and cucumber salad. This sleek restaurant isn’t for budget travellers, so reserve Amara at Paraiso for special occasions or an extravagant holiday treat. You can find it in the Beverley Terrace area, north of downtown Miami.

Mexican food can be found in abundance in the United States, however, restaurants as delicious as Taquiza are few and far between. Taquiza is a traditional Mexican taqueria serving authentic tacos and street food. Choose from fillings such as pork, orange and cinnamon, steak, citrus and chile de Arbol and shrimp with red mole and slaw. Taquiza comes highly recommended by locals and is regularly featured on round-ups of the best eats in Miami.

When it comes to seafood, two restaurants really stand out. Serving Miami’s best shrimp, La Camaronera is the place to go for exquisite seafood sandwiches. The restaurant itself, situated in Little Havana, is fairly laidback and the prices are very reasonable. A breaded shrimp sandwich will only set you back around $8. Over in South Beach, locals will recommend Joe’s Stone Crab. The family-owned restaurant is a Miami institution, serving a huge range of tasty seafood dishes. Of course, the stone crab claws come highly recommended. If you’ve got room for dessert, try a slice of one of Florida’s most iconic desserts, the key lime pie.

South Beach is famous for its white sand and glamorous restaurants. Its unique combination of independent boutiques, high-end fashion stores and well-preserved Art Deco architecture make this area of Miami a must-see during your cruise stopover. It’s easy to get to from the cruise terminal too - simply hop in a cab!

If you only have a day to spend in the city, you won’t regret spending a few hours at South Beach. This sunny city is a paradise with turquoise water, white sand and plenty of places to get a great coffee or refreshing cocktail.

Ball & Chain is arguably Miami’s most iconic nightclub. The club enjoyed its original heyday between the 1930s and 1950s and has since remerged as a live-music venue, showcasing the best live salsa and serving authentic Cuban cuisine. Fortunately, many of Ball & Chain’s live salsa events take place in the afternoon, so you’ll get the chance to experience Miami’s true Latin American vibe.

During the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, many Cubans emigrated to Miami. Situated west of the city’s downtown, the neighbourhood quickly became known as Little Havana. It is renowned as the cultural and political capital of Cuban Americans and is a culturally fascinating and vibrant area to visit on your cruise stopover.

The buzz of Little Havana is something you’ll feel the moment you arrive in the neighbourhood. Cafes, bars and restaurants are filled with chatty locals and the streets are very much alive. For people-watching opportunities, head to Maximo Gomez Park. Here, older Cubans meet to play dominoes and catch up with friends. This tradition has been taking place for more than 35 years and there are even benches set up for people to watch.

Just around the corner from Maximo Gomez Park is one of the area’s main attractions, the Calle Ocho Walk of Fame. As you wander SW 8th Street, you’ll see pink marble stars lining the pavement, much like the iconic Hollywood attraction. This was created to recognise Cuban celebrities and now honours famous people all over Latin America.

With so much to see and do in the city, we asked Suzie about Miami’s hidden gems. She recommended:

“Tucked away at the Pérez Art Museum Miami is Verde, a waterfront restaurant and bar offering sweeping views of the bay and serving up delicious locally-inspired dishes, all of which are prepared fresh with seasonal ingredients.”

“Just 15 minutes away by car lies the peaceful historic Virginia Key Biscayne Park. Offering soft, white-sand beaches, hammocks, water sports and a nature boardwalk, where visitors can revel in stunning views of the Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.”

“Just back on the mainland is Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a national historic landmark built in the early 20th century. An extravagant European-style estate set in the beautiful Coconut Grove neighbourhood, Vizcaya is a key cultural hub in Miami where visitors can learn about its interesting history, as well as the tropical native vegetation in its spectacular gardens.”