Things To Do In Aventura

A destination for shopping, golf and fine dining, Aventura hugs the Intracoastal Waterway making for a picturesque destination. You’ll find restaurants by celebrity chefs, two golf courses and a wellness spa at JW Marriott Turnberry. And if you’re looking to shop ‘til you drop, there’s no place like Aventura Mall, the second largest in the country. For a leisurely, yet chic experience in Miami, Aventura is the place for you.

Anchored by Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, JCPenney and Macy’s, Aventura Mall is the largest in Florida and the second largest in the entire country. With more than 300 stores, shop for everything from luxury to bargains. You’ll find stores specializing in toys, electronics, home furnishings, jewelry, men’s wear, sporting goods, shoes and, of course, women’s wear. Get your fill of Gucci, Cartier, Abercrombie & Fitch, Apple Store, Lululemon, Gap and Adidas. Aventura Mall is also home to an AMC movie theater, Equinox Fitness Club and a hair salon and day spa. When it comes to refueling with a bite to eat, stop by the new Treats Food Hall with tantalizing fast-casual eateries like Shake Shack and Chipotle Mexican Grill Luke’s Lobster, as well as local favorites like Zuuk Mediterranean Kitchen, GoGo Fresh salads, Ciabella Bakery and Poke 305. For a more formal dining experience, grab a table at Pubbelly Sushi or Serafina Miami.

Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak is one of Miami’s finest steakhouses and a must-visit on any outing to Aventura. Located inside the chic JW Marriott Turnberry resort, the design is sumptuous, yet playful with buttery tufted leather banquettes, cowhide accent walls, a glass wine cellar and exposed bulb lighting. Famed for their butter-poached steaks and duck fat fries, other tantalizing menu options include Maine lobster pot pie, glazed beef short rib and A5 Japanese wagyu beef. With an excellent wine list paired with their mouth-watering cuisine, Bourbon Steak is always a memorable dining experience.

Corsair Kitchen & Bar is another signature restaurant at JW Marriott Turnberry, serving up modern American fare and light comfort food. The whitewashed, wood-paneled dining room with an open kitchen has a subtle Mediterranean nautical theme with a marble bar, plush navy banquettes and hexagonal tiled floors. With a menu that changes seasonally, enjoy flatbreads, salads, lump crab cakes and a burger topped with pancetta and fresh mozzarella. It’s a popular spot for lunch and brunch in a casual, breezy, yet sophisticated setting.

Spanning three floors and 25,000 square feet, Âme Spa & Wellness Collective at JW Marriott Turnberry takes a holistic approach to wellness with 65 unique spa treatments, ranging from massage to exfoliation and facials. It makes for the perfect destination spa retreat when you want to get away from it all. Meaning “soul” in French, Âme’s ample facilities allow for a full wellness circuit before your treatment, including a Himalayan salt room, Swiss shower and steam rooms with aroma, chroma and music therapy. You can focus on total wellness during your visit with a fitness class, nutritional consultations, functional medicine or cosmetic medical treatments.

If it’s an afternoon on the links you’re looking for, head to JW Marriott Turnberry, home to two 18-hole golf courses. The Soffer and Miller courses were originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and have been reimagined by Raymond Floyd to include contoured fairways, clever doglegs, challenging bunkers and strategically-placed water features. Named a Best Resort Course by Golfweek, schedule a tee time, take a lesson or clinic and enjoy the beauty of golfing in paradise.

And when it comes to fun for the whole family, JW Marriott Turnberry will soon open the Tidal Cove waterpark, complete with twisty-turny slides, a lazy river and Flowrider surf simulator.

Set on a lovely plot of land overlooking Biscayne Bay inside beautiful modern facilities, the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is a wonderful community hub for the performing and cultural arts. Check out its calendar of performances and snag tickets to see standup comedy, ballet, concerts, theater and family programming. They also play host to a wide variety of free community events, making it a true gathering place for the Aventura community.

Novecento is an elegant Argentinean bistro with European sensibilities. Start your meal with classic beef empanadas, ceviche and crispy fried tostones. Then move onto main courses, which include a variety of steaks and pastas. Meat lovers will enjoy the traditional picada criolla tasting platter designed for sharing, which includes skirt steak, chicken, sausages and the option to add sweetbreads, all served with their homemade chimichurri sauce. They also boast an excellent menu of fresh, homemade pastas, like filet mignon risotto and spaghetti pomodoro. Add to that a bottle of Argentinian wine and you’ve got yourself the perfect meal at Novecento.

For a hidden gem pizzeria, find your way to Steve’s Pizza in Aventura, widely considered one of the best in Miami. The no frills dining room offers a welcoming atmosphere where you can order a pizza pie or by the slice. You can’t go wrong with classic pepperoni here, or opt for something more creative like the Hawaiian, veggie or supreme pizza—or build your own. You’ll definitely want an order of garlic knots and a chef’s salad to start. They also boast a wide selection of locally brewed beer on draft and by the can.

Gulfstream Park is one of the most exciting entertainment venues in Miami. Prized for its thoroughbred horse racetrack with year round championship racing, a day at Gulfstream is always an action-packed good time. The beauty of Gulfstream is that there are plenty of other fun diversions, like stellar shopping, dining and entertainment, including a casino, bowling alley and live music. At The Village at Gulfstream Park, you’ll find fashion, children’s stores, home furnishing and art galleries and there are over 20 dining venues to choose from, including restaurants overlooking the racetrack, steakhouses and martini bars.