By Shayne Benowitz
Bayside Marketplace has been a shopping, dining and entertainment mecca for the last three decades.
Situated in the heart of Downtown Miami at the foot of Miamarina on Biscayne Bay, Bayside Marketplace has been a shopping, dining and entertainment mecca for the last three decades. Home to more than 150 shops and a dozen restaurants, it’s also the embarkation point for a handful of boat tours, including the Thriller speedboats and the Island Queen cruises.
In September 2016, plans were unveiled for the multi-million dollar redesign and renovation of the al fresco shopping center and today 70 percent of the first phase is complete. The renovations in the north building include updated storefronts, LED lighting, a new color scheme and a neutral pier design. There’s no better time than now to make a visit to Bayside Marketplace to see what’s new.
Shopping
Bayside is a waterfront home to both independent boutiques and familiar big box brands. Shop small boutiques like Bonita’s by Lya, Effusion Gallery, D’Nature Hair & Nail Salon, Gifts from the Sea, Revival Boutique and Splash Perfumes. Blockbuster brands include Gap, Brookstone, Claires, the Disney Store, Express, Foot Locker, Sunglass Hut and Victoria’s Secret.
Meander through a variety of Bayside-branded shops, like Bayside Cigars, Bayside Market & News and Bayside Logo Shop where you can purchase Bayside apparel. With so much to choose from, you’ll definitely find what you’re looking for during a day of shopping at Bayside.
Dining & Entertainment
There’s nothing like a waterfront meal in Miami and you’ve got a wide variety of options to indulge in at Bayside. Grab a table at the Hard Rock Café, Bubba Gump Shrimp Factory or Chili’s for a comfortable and relaxed meal, or explore their food court, which highlights international cuisine. You can also enjoy frozen cocktails at Fat Tuesdays or a delicious German beer at the Bavaria Haus Beer Hall. If you need a little pick-me-up, you’ll find a Starbucks and 4D Gelateria.
Best of all you can enjoy live music and entertainment in the evenings and on the weekends. There’s even a Miami Walk of Fame at Bayside with stars like Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Jada Pinkett Smith and Channing Tatum represented.
Boating & Attractions
With its location at Miamarina, Bayside is also a prime destination for Miami’s best bout tours. Here, you’ll find boat rentals, fishing charters, jet ski tours and rentals. It’s also the site of the famed Island Queen cruises and sightseeing tours where you can see Millionaire’s Row and Star Island where many famous and beloved celebrities live. And if you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of someone famous hanging out in their yard. You can also see the offshore wonder of Stiltsville. For a high-octane experience, Thriller Miami takes passengers into the bay aboard 42-foot speedboats that can fly as fast as 50 miles per hour.
No matter what you’re looking for Bayside Marketplace is a prime destination in the heart of Miami offering a little bit of everything and a great way to soak in Miami’s beautiful scenery.