The Ultimate Miami Beach Staycation

In Greater Miami and Miami Beach, we have a little humble-brag for anyone who doesn’t call this paradise home: “We live where you vacation.” But when locals get busy with life, sometimes we forget that we too can escape to one of the greatest beach destinations in the world – without even leaving the area code.

Just across the causeway in Miami Beach, locals can enjoy a South Florida staycation filled with Art Deco hotels, fantastic restaurants, beautiful beaches and tons of outdoor activities. Whether you’re looking to shop and dine or just lounge in your hotel room while wrapped in a plush robe, a Miami Beach staycation will recharge you. Here’s how to plan your perfect getaway.

Plan Your Staycation

The first thing you’ll need to plan for your Miami trip is a place to stay, and you can find hotels in Miami Beach for any budget. One of the best and most affordable Miami Beach places is the Freehand Miami, a modern hostel on Indian Creek Drive. In addition to its spacious and comfortable rooms, the Freehand Miami is home to the Broken Shaker, one of Miami Beach’s best cocktail bars.

If you’re looking for a true beach staycation, Ocean Drive is the place to stay. The Pelican Hotel is the most unique hotel on this historic street, with 33 meticulously themed guest rooms ranging from midcentury modern to aeronautical and jungle. The onsite restaurant, Pelican Cafe, is also one of the low-key best Italian restaurants in Miami Beach.

Further up Miami Beach, you can spend your whole staycation at the The Miami Beach EDITION, where you can easily slip from your room down to Basement, a subterranean night club complete with a bowling alley and ice skating rink. The EDITION is also home to Matador Bar, a swanky cocktail lounge perfect for winding down your day.

Head Outdoors

During your staycation in Miami Beach, you’re likely going to want some serious beach time. While you’d be hard-pressed to find a bad place to lay out, one of the better spots is South of Fifth, which tends to be a little quieter. The locals’ scene can be found around 8th Street, just east of Lummus Park, while the sands of North Beach around 71st Street are an ideal place for families to spread out and play. 

For time on the water, be sure to check out the Miami Beach Marina, where you can rent a boat (with or without a captain), or catch a deep-sea fishing charter. If you’d rather stay on land, grab a bicycle from CitiBike. Bike docking stations are set up throughout Miami Beach, allowing you to rent a bicycle and explore the area.

Tantalize Your Taste Buds

Miami Beach has some spectacular restaurants that you may not otherwise try if you live on the other side of Biscayne Bay. Start your day with a fresh breakfast by the beach at News Cafe or, for something lighter, head to Pura Vida in Sunset Harbour for fresh juice and smoothies. For rustic Italian fare, Macchialina is a standout, and even with its expanded space, reservations are still in high demand. You’ll find some of Miami’s best Greek food, and portions enough for 2, at Santorini by Georgios in South of Fifth. Abbalé Modern Mediterranean Kitchen's modern Israeli menu draws a steady crowd, and Toni’s Sushi on Washington Avenue is known for quality rolls and fresh fish at a great value.

For a staycation splurge, book a table at Los Fuegos By Francis Mallmann at the Faena Hotel Miami Beach. The Argentine celebrity chef has created a menu of South American specialties filled with savory, smoky steaks cooked over an open flame. Then there’s always landmark Joe’s Stone Crab, which has been serving delicious stone crab claws and other fresh seafood since 1913. You can also grab a fried chicken at Joe’s Take Away, meander over to South Pointe Park and enjoy a picnic with a sunset view of the water.

For drinks, it’s hard to beat the rooftop views at Watr at the 1 Rooftop, where you’ll see all the way from the Atlantic Ocean to Downtown Miami. Swizzle is Miami Beach’s top cocktail bar, an underground lair with rums from around the world. Divebar at the Hotel Continental is fun, with pour-your-own draft beers and cocktails, so you can sample a little bit of everything.

Treat Yourself to a Spa Treatment

Miami Beach is famous for fantastic hotel spas, where you can throw on a big, comfy robe and let skilled therapists massage your stress away. Lapis Spa at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach is among the largest, offering a massive fitness center and oceanfront views. Valmont for the Spa at The Setai is famous for its Asian-style wellness, about as close as you’re getting to a luxury Japanese onsen without crossing the Pacific. For a full spa-cation, check into the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, where a 2-story spa and abundant indoor-outdoor wellness programs make your entire trip feel like a spa day.

Experience Art and Culture in Miami Beach

Miami Beach’s vibrant art and unique culture set it apart from other beachside destinations and are well worth exploring during your staycation. The first stop should be The Bass, near 21st Street in Collins Park. This small-but-mighty art museum has gained a reputation as a stalwart showcase for intriguing modern art, and it offers a colorful collection of sculptures in the park outside.

Between October and May, the New World Symphony performs at the New World Center, with free monthly WALLCAST concerts where guests can watch the show on a 7,000-square-foot projection wall while enjoying a picnic on the front lawn. You can then take a stroll along Lincoln Road and admire the sculptures filling the pedestrian mall, some of which change by season.

Splurge on a Staycation Shopping Spree in Miami Beach

Of course, no Miami Beach staycation would be complete if you didn’t come home with a few full shopping bags, and Miami Beach has plenty of places to find irresistible items. Lincoln Road, one of Miami Beach’s best-known shopping districts, is a wide pedestrian mall where you can shop all day. 

For another outdoor shopping experience, Ocean Drive can’t be beat. Restaurants and boutiques line Española Way, where you’ll find an Old-World village atmosphere in the heart of Miami Beach.