What's New in Miami This Winter
MIAMI – December 24, 2024 - (Winter: December-February) – Greater Miami & Miami Beach is a coveted destination during the winter. With mild, near-perfect weather, we’re the envy of the country. This winter also brings a bevy of fresh hotel and highly anticipated restaurant openings as well as new attractions and festivities catering to every personality and interest. Discover the best of Miami during these very special months.
Arts, Culture & Heritage Months
December through January is a prime time to be immersed in the destination’s burgeoning art and culture scene with Miami Arts, Culture & Heritage Months. Explore culturally-rich neighborhoods and take advantage of exclusive deals and experiences. Come for the international art extravaganza Art Basel Miami Beach and Miami Art Week in early December, but stay to enjoy discounted admission to gems like the Coral Gables Museum and the Black Police Precinct & Courthouse Museum in Historic Overtown and enjoy discounted tickets at the open-air Miami Beach Bandshell.
The Destination’s Newest Hotels
Check-in for a dreamy stay at one of Miami’s many new hotels. At the top of the list is The Sunny, formerly known as the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort, located next to the historic Newport Fishing Pier in posh Sunny Isles Beach. This beachfront hotel will have a fun ambiance with an expansive pool deck, six dining spots and a spa.
Another exciting new place to stay is The Palm Tree Club, a vibey hotel from Kygo’s Palm Tree Crew (known for its live music experiences) that has taken over the former Shuckers Waterfront Bar & Grill location in North Bay Village. It flaunts a waterfront restaurant, marina and tech-heavy guest rooms.
The art-rich neighborhood of Wynwood now boasts a new hotel, Moxy Miami Wynwood, where guests are welcomed with a free cocktail and can mingle in co-working and communal spaces.
Must-Try New Restaurants
There’s always something new and delicious to try in Miami, and winter brings a bevy of new restaurant openings. Locals will tell you they can’t wait for the comeback of Fooq’s Miami in its new Little River location. When it opens in early 2025, diners will be treated to an international menu (with old favorites) and sprawling dining spaces.
In January, NFL legend Randy Moss will open the first Miami location of his fast-food chicken joint Crisppi’s in Wynwood, where diners can dig into crunchy fried chicken. Not too far away on Biscayne Boulevard, Ensenada, the award-winning Williamsburg, New York restaurant, will open a branch at The Vagabond Hotel with a menu featuring coastal Mexican cuisine and mezcal and agave-tinged cocktails. Elevate your night on Lincoln Road in South Beach at the new rooftop restaurant Oro and its sister nightclub and lounge Elixir.
Two more rooftop hot spots are taking over the skyline in Wynwood, including Mia Steakhouse & Lounge, from MICHELIN-starred chef Akira Back, and La Ferneteria, a stunner from Argentina that serves Italian cuisine. Satisfy your homemade pasta cravings at newcomer MIKA, a Riviera-inspired restaurant in The Plaza, a burgeoning dining and shopping destination in Coral Gables. The health food café Pura Vida continues to grow and will open its largest location in Coconut Grove in December.
Explore New Miami Attractions
Don’t let the warm weather fool you: There’s plenty of winter magic and holiday things to do in Miami. Those seeking family-friendly festivities should head to the Downtown Miami Holiday Village on historic Flagler Street in Downtown Miami. Every weekend through December 29, take a whirl around the ice-skating rink, shop vendors selling holiday gifts and handicrafts, and even mingle with Santa.
More holiday enchantment can be found through January 3 at Downtown Doral in The World of Nutcracker, an immersive adventure that transports guests into the famous holiday story through stage performances and projections. For a twist on the Santa Claus legend that explores race and the jolly star of the holidays, spend an afternoon or evening at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in Downtown Miami enjoying the play “Black Santa,” running from Dec. 5-22. Or catch Murray & Peter's long-running, rowdy A Drag Queen Christmas at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater on December 29, featuring alumni from “RuPaul's Drag Race.”
Nova Exhibition Miami, a somber exhibit in remembrance of the massacre at the Nova Music Festival in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, opens December 18 at Greenwich Studios in North Miami.
Through December 25, get transported back in time when dinosaurs roamed the earth at the Roar & Explore with Dinosaurs exhibition at the Miami Children’s Museum on Watson Island.
Sports and fine art? The two worlds beautifully collide at the new “Sport = Art” exhibit at the OG4ever gallery in Wynwood. The exhibition, which is free to the public, ranges from sculptures to canvases that celebrate athletic excellence and runs through March.
Miami’s Newest Spas
Give yourself a me-break from holiday stress at a new Miami spa dedicated to self-care and pampering. Newcomer Toska Spa & Facial Bar in Coral Gables offers an array of skin treatments by celeb-loved facialist Toska Husted, from glow-inducing mini treatments at the facial bar to more-advanced anti-aging treatments that harness hi-tech therapies like ion therapy and radio frequency. You can also book waxing, brow tinting services and body sculpting treatments.
If you’re searching for clean, natural beauty products, head to the third-floor of Faena Hotel Miami Beach, where newly opened Big Bang Beauty Bar is tucked away in the Big Bang boutique. This is the place to find a curated collection of luxe skincare brands free of unhealthy ingredients, including niche brands like Tammy Fender, KYIR, Lomi, Nannette De Gaspé and more.
Getting Around & Getting Here Just Got Easier
Miami is on track to make ground public transportation easier and go further this winter. The Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works’ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) South Dade TransitWay project, which will reduce travel times along a 20-mile stretch from Homestead to the Dadeland South Metrorail station, is nearing completion.
If you’re coming from Chicago, Amtrak has temporarily launched the Floridian, a direct roundtrip train between Miami and Chicago via Washington, D.C. Those who want to ride in style can upgrade to a first-class room and watch the scenery roll by from private accommodations.
Aeromexico, Mexico’s flagship airline, is adding daily non-stop service between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Cancun starting December 19. Flight time is under two hours, with morning departures from Miami and late morning departures from Cancun.
A New Statue Of Basketball Great Dwyane Wade
The Miami HEAT of the NBA bring the heat all winter long with several home games at the Kaseya Center in Downtown Miami. The next time you attend a game, look for the new statue that pays homage to basketball great Dwyane Wade. The eight-foot bronze statue of the Hall of Famer was unveiled in October and can be viewed on the west plaza of the Kaseya Center. It’s the perfect place for a selfie with the three-time NBA champion.
Miami’s Newest Event Venue
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach's swanky new Coastal Convention Center officially opened its doors on Dec 11, offering sprawling spaces for conferences, meetings and grand celebrations. The new space offers two ballrooms coupled with outdoor elements, including private terraces, perfect for weddings or celebrating a momentous occasion. When it comes to meetings, the center offers 15 meeting rooms and 9,000 square feet of outdoor function space. The center provides easy access to the hotel's luxe guest rooms and amenities, such as the pools, beach, Lapis, the Spa at Fontainebleau and 12 eateries.
Nostalgia and an only-in-Miami atmosphere. That’s what you’ll find at La Sala, a newly opened event space in Westchester that hosts everything from open mic nights, crafting and book readings to corporate events and private parties. It’s designed to feel like a living room at your abuela’s home and celebrates Cuban culture.
Miami’s Exciting New Cruise Options
Looking to take a cruise? The luxury cruise line Explora Journeys’ newest ship, Explora II, recently began sailing from PortMiami, to the Caribbean and Mexico with nine restaurants, 12 bars and lounges, four heated pools and a spa.
The adults-only cruise line Virgin Voyages also has a new ship sailing from Port Miami: Resilient Lady, offering 6-10-night cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. The 2,762-passenger ship has a spa, a casino, several bars and restaurants and the standout entertainment Virgin is known for.
Making Air Travel Easier At MIA
At Miami International Airport, a trio of technological advancements is making travel easier, particularly for travelers with accessibility challenges. For the hearing impaired, Signapse utilizes artificial intelligence software to translate text and airport announcements into sign language video. Navigating the airport is also easier thanks to RouteMe, which provides step-by-step navigation assistance through audio, text and touch; those who are visually or hearing impaired can simply set their phones on vibrate for directions. Anxious travelers can also preview their experience at MIA before their flights. Another helpful navigation tool, Mapsted offers digital mapping with turn-by-turn directions, featuring tools for the visually and hearing impaired.
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About The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is an accredited not-for-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami and Miami Beach for leisure, business, meetings, and conventions. For a vacation guide, visit our website at www.MiamiandMiamiBeach.com or call 1.888.76. MIAMI (US/Canada only) or 305.447.7777. To reach the GMCVB offices, dial 305.539.3000. Meeting planners may call 1.800.933.8448 (US/Canada only) or 305.539.3071 or visit www.MiamiMeetings.com. To get further engaged with Miami, join the conversation by following us on our social media channels at Facebook.com/visitmiami, Twitter.com/visitmiami, Instagram.com/visitmiami.