Experience Miami’s Most-Iconic Views

A well-rounded visit to Greater Miami & Miami Beach includes glistening beaches, the booming culinary scene, a perusal of local art and a taste of lively nightlife. However, the most beautiful places in Miami are almost always accompanied by iconic views.

Whether it's watching the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean, sipping cocktails from a rooftop bar with a memorable panorama or taking in the striking Downtown Miami skyline anchored by Biscayne Bay, there’s no shortage of ambient moments to capture. 

As you plan your next Miami trip, make sure to bookmark these attractions complemented by a variety of vibrant vistas.

Brickell’s Best Rooftop Views

In addition to its role as an upscale financial district, Brickell is dotted with skyscrapers and bay scenery, making it a top neighborhood to bookmark.

Hotel and rooftop bars and restaurants are aplenty in Brickell, because top-tier food and drinks pair perfectly with photo-friendly views all around.

A couple of Brickell hotel rooftop spots to jot down include chic lounge Rosa Sky Rooftop, which sits on the 22nd floor of the AC Hotel Miami Brickell & Element Miami Brickell, and Sugar, with a more laid-back vibe and towering vantage points on the 40th floor of the EAST, Miami Hotel.

Additionally, poolside bars offer more relaxed vibes, like the Philipp Strack-designed Altitude Pool & Lounge at SLS Lux Brickell, which sports endless views of Downtown Miami, along with Vista Bar and Lounge at Novotel Miami Brickell, with Latin American influences, lounge-style tapas and drinks and views of both Biscayne Bay and the Brickell skyline.

Plus, while it’s not located in a hotel, the rooftop Italian-American restaurant and longtime Brickell staple on South Miami Avenue, Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita, offers stretched skyline views decorated with lights and skyscraper silhouettes, and it’s great for date nights, happy hours and special occasions.

Classic Views Of Downtown Miami And Biscayne Bay

The heart of the destination is undoubtedly situated in Downtown Miami, which is known for its distinct Miami skyline view, along with its collection of museums, parks and the famed Biscayne Bay.

Along Biscayne Bay and the neighboring Bayside area, you can take in views of the high-rises to the west and the lively boat traffic to the east.

Head over to Maurice A. Ferré Park (formerly Museum Park) and Bayfront Park, both great spaces for photo opportunities. Afterward, check out the fourth-floor Vista deck and rooftop terrace at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science.

If you find yourself at Kaseya Center for a Miami Heat game, a concert or another performance, you’ll discover fantastic views of both the skyline and the Bay – especially after dark, since it lives on the waterfront.

A few of the best restaurants in the Downtown Miami area where you can relish all the views include the second floor of Klaw Miami, a high-end, surf-and-turf outpost, and the terrace at Verde at the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM).

Don’t skip on Area 31 on the 16th floor at Kimpton EPIC Hotel for elevated views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami River, the wrap-around terrace at Il Gabbiano, an Italian staple on the Miami River and Giselle Miami, a sultry sky-high escape with Asian, Mediterranean and French fusion fare.

Make sure to check out the eateries along the Miami River, just a short jaunt from Downtown Miami, where the yachting scene is active night and day at a diverse lineup of restaurants like Kiki on the River, Seaspice and Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market.

Marvelous Miami Beach

With two-and-a-half miles of stunning coastline, South Beach is the convergence of sand and sea, Art Deco charm and modern hospitality.

Ocean Drive (between 5th Street and 15th Street) is home to plenty of energetic restaurants and bars where you’ll have access to direct Atlantic Ocean views, like Clevelander Beach Club, Mango's Tropical Cafe and Havana 1957.

And you can’t miss the bright-yellow 1995 Oldsmobile Super 88 convertible that’s parked outside upscale seafood restaurant A Fish Called Avalon, bathed in green lights bouncing off the building.

The historic Art Deco hotels themselves are iconic sights to see. The Colony Hotel was one of the first Art Deco hotels, and still stands today, while the Boulevard Hotel's famed red neon lights are as iconic as the parallel turquoise sea.

The Betsy South Beach is constructed in a Florida-Georgian architectural style with Old Havana vibes, and the lobby’s Piano Bar is perfect for live jazz and ice-cold martinis.

Plus, the area is alive with beachgoers coming to and from the action on Lummus Park during the day and night owls looking for bright lights each evening; it’s animated at all times.

South Pointe Park, which sits on the southern tip of Miami Beach, is a scenic outdoor spot for open-air walks, paved bike rides, cruise ship watching and fishermen sightings along the wharf – it’s also one of the iconic places in Miami to visit for art enthusiasts because it’s where “Obstinate Lighthouse” by Tobias Rehberger lives.

And don’t forget to pay attention to your surroundings along all three causeways that take you to and from Downtown Miami to Miami Beach.

The MacArthur Causeway (I-395) passes along PortMiami, the Venetian Causeway is a slower route along the Venetian Islands, brought to life with joggers and bikers.

The Julia Tuttle Causeway (I-195) has incredible all-around views, including beachside high-rises eastbound, and the jaw-dropping westbound Downtown Miami skyline.

The Beauty Of Key Biscayne

Another notable route is the Rickenbacker Causeway, which leads you to picturesque Key Biscayne, with unmatched 360-degree panoramas, including exceptional waterside skyline snapshots.

When it comes to beautiful spots in Miami, 53-year-old Rusty Pelican is Key Biscayne’s crown jewel.

It’s known not only as an iconic place in Miami for sunset happy hour, high-spirited weekend brunches and special occasion meals with views of Biscayne Bay and Downtown Miami, but also as a renowned event space for weddings, galas and graduation celebrations galore.

Outdoor adventurists can also appreciate the natural landscape from atop 200-year-old Cape Florida Lighthouse at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, on a standup paddleboard or while windsurfing in Hobie Beach or during a tennis match or round of golf at Crandon Park Beach.

Bayfront Icons In Coconut Grove

The scene in Coconut Grove is energetic thanks to its Bahamian roots, which date back to the 1870s, its well-known art scene and its boating and sailing culture, which has inspired outposts that give you endless bayfront views to explore.

There’s quite a variety of restaurants and bars with magnificent Biscayne Bay views to visit, and they range from fine dining to divey.

Bayshore Club is a spacious venue with indoor-outdoor options and gorgeous marina sunsets, while the elegant Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove hotel boasts upscale Bellini with Italian-inspired eats and a view from the renowned Cipriani brothers.

Posh Level 6 has sweeping views at golden hour, along with Spanish-inspired tapas and worldly cocktails under the stars after dark.

To dial it down a notch, stop by 56-year-old Monty’s Raw Bar by car or boat.

Known for its outdoor tiki hut (there’s indoor A/C seating too), island flair and TV and movie shoots (think: “Miami Vice,” “Burn Notice” and “Marley & Me”), you can kick back and take in the bay air.

Looking to hear live music? Talented musicians set the scene as you dive into fresh and fried seafood delicacies coupled with refreshing frozen cocktails.

Enchanting Everglades

Once you’ve had your fill of city sights and beach days, unplug and immerse yourself in one of Florida’s best-known natural wonders, Everglades National Park.

Access points from Miami include Shark Valley, a 15-mile loop trail with active wildlife (beware of gators), sawgrass prairies and an observation tower. Check out the Ten Thousand Islands mangrove maze, which is ideal for photography buffs at sunrise or sunset.

Finally, head over to Anhinga Trail from Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center to go birding and see the reflective wetlands, as well as Flamingo Adventures with its Florida Bay overlooks and marina-bound manatees – both reachable from Homestead.