Aventura Guide

Translated into Spanish, Aventura means “adventure,” and any trip to this city on the northern border of Miami-Dade County most certainly is one. Years ago, Aventura was little more than a sea of high-rises and a shopping mall. But today, it’s one of Greater Miami & Miami Beach’s hottest and most vibrant areas, a place where new restaurants pop up all the time and people from all over the world now call home. So, whether you’re visiting family or enjoying a few days of vacation, here’s the inside scoop on Aventura.

Spend Your Day Shopping At Florida’s Largest Mall

Before Aventura was a hot spot for dining and entertainment, it was a shopping destination. And despite all the city has added, Aventura Mall (the largest mall in Florida and fourth-largest in the U.S.) is still its biggest draw. You can peruse the racks at big-name department stores like Nordstrom and Macy’s or shop retail outlets from Fendi, 7 For All Mankind, Gucci and other top brands. The mall is home to over 300 retailers as well as top restaurants and even an IV therapy shop, The B-12 Store.

Stay, Splash & Play (And Get Access to Members-Only Tee Times)

For the ultimate vacation, make your Aventura home base at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa. This luxury resort has an adults-only pool and two 18-hole championship golf courses, and staying here gets you access to tee times usually reserved for members.

The resort is also home to Tidal Cove, a water park that’s pure fun for everyone. You can book a cabana and kick back with cocktails between trips down the waterslides. The park also offers a meandering lazy river that winds through a jungle and a FlowRider simulator if you want to try your hand at surfing. There’s also a Kids Cove with an emoji-themed, 4,000-square-foot swimming pool and a splash pad.

Hungry after all that play? The resort has best-in-class restaurants, and you can enjoy cocktails at Soff’s lounge in the lobby.

Non-Traditional Spa Treatments at âme

After a fun day of shopping, eating and playing, you’re going to need a little pampering. Enter âme Spa & Wellness Collective, the most comprehensive, holistic and innovative spa experience in Aventura. The three-story spa features nontraditional, inventive and specialized spa treatments, such as vibrational healing with a sound bowl, an infrared sauna and red-light therapy. Adding to the holistic experience, âme is host to an aroma and music therapy steam room as well as a Himalayan salt room. But what really makes âme a gem is that it boasts the world's only Gharieni showroom of ultra-luxe spa beds, where guests can lie back and enjoy spa wave color therapy, an Amherst quartz table and other treatments rarely seen elsewhere.

A World of Flavors At JOEY Aventura

JOEY Aventura, located in the Espanade at Aventura, is a Canadian import with two levels of dining. Guests can look down at the bustling bar while enjoying food from across the world. The eclectic menu is teeming with global cuisines. Begin your meal with Japanese gyoza and Mediterranean hummus, then move on to sushi, Baja fish tacos or chicken parmesan. JOEY also serves one of Aventura’s top steak menus, with prime filet and New York strip available to pair with fresh lobster.

Break Bread at Abbale Telavivian Kitchen

Abbale Telavivian Kitchen is a Mediterranean restaurant whose original location in South Beach is one of the toughest reservations in the area. Its larger space in Aventura offers the same spicy falafel, fluffy bread and creamy hummus but with room for more diners. For a special experience, book its Shabbat Under The Stars dinner event. Every Friday evening, Abbale Telavivian Kitchen celebrates the day of rest with an exclusive family-style Shabbat dinner, which includes house baked challah and a six-course menu paired with a bottle of Israeli wine.

Drink and Dine at Bourbon Steak

At the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort & Spa, Bourbon Steak serves prime cuts of beef from renowned chef Michael Mina alongside a collection of wine that’ll impress any connoisseur. The extensive meat menu is highlighted by a Certified Angus Beef eight-ounce rib cap and a 16-ounce Delmonico Rib Eye and continues with Wagyu from Australia and Japan. The wine list offers over 850 selections from Bourbon Steak’s award-winning cellar, which features rare French regions, like Savennières, and uncommon grapes, like Aligoté from Burgundy. You can even find wines from the Canary Islands and unusual specialties from Austria.

A Unique Way To Enjoy Sushi … And Get Prizes

For an interactive sushi experience, make a reservation at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar. This high-tech restaurant features a seemingly never-ending parade of sushi that rolls by on a belt, letting guests pick the dishes that look most enticing. The restaurant also has a mascot, Mutenmaru, who appears on a tablet screen and plays short animations for customers for every five empty plates inserted into a slot at the table. Once 15 plates have been deposited, the table wins a Bikkura Pon prize to take home.

Insider Tip

Looking for a fast and comfortable way to travel? The Brightline Aventura Station is conveniently located across the street from Aventura Mall, making it easily accessible for shopping and entertainment. With high-speed rail technology, spacious seating, Wi-Fi and food and beverage service, this rail system offers a convenient and enjoyable travel experience. You can get from Aventura to Downtown Miami in just 22 minutes.