Get the Perfect View For Miami’s Sunsets

From the Atlantic Ocean to Biscayne Bay, Miami’s liquid landscape is dotted with islands, crisscrossed by causeways and carved with meandering waterways. Add to that the glittering Downtown skyline and South Beach’s Art Deco buildings and Miami is one beautiful city to behold—especially at sunset. From Key Biscayne to Miami Beach, read on for the best places to marvel at the sunset in Miami.

Enjoy the sunset from Rusty Pelican's outside dining area

Rusty Pelican

Rusty Pelican is one of Miami’s most iconic restaurants. Known for its elegant waterfront setting and floor-to-ceiling windows with impeccable views of Biscayne Bay and Downtown Miami, this popular restaurant is perfect for sunset. Pair your views with an agave sunset margarita and soak up the views glittering across the bay.

The Lido Bayside Grill at The Standard Miami Beach

Bright yellow umbrellas, a beautiful crowd and sweeping views of Biscayne Bay make The Lido Bayside Grill at The Standard a stunning waterfront destination for sunset. The menu features a variety of small plates and entrees—some with a healthy bent, some with a Latin flair—and creative cocktails to match. Situated on the Venetian Causeway with prime views of Downtown Miami across the bay, sunset comes with the added bonus of happy hour pricing until 6 p.m.

South Pointe Park

South Pointe Park possesses one of the most picturesque vistas in all of Miami. As the name implies, the park juts out along South Beach’s southern point with a beautifully landscaped park that includes playgrounds, water features and public art. There’s also a scenic pier that runs parallel to the jetty. All of it offers panoramic views of the South Beach skyline, Government Cut channel, Fisher Island, PortMiami and the Downtown skyline. It’s stunning anytime of day and particularly thrilling when hulking cruise ships enter and exit the harbor. At sunset, it’s simply divine.

View of Stiltsville from Bill Baggs — Stiltsville at sunset from Bill Baggs

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, at the southern tip of Key Biscayne, is a treasure. With rugged sand dunes leading to a tranquil beach and unlimited ocean views as far as the eye can see, it's a piece of unspoiled old Florida. The water is typically tranquil here, thanks to a barrier reef located six miles offshore. You can visit the historic lighthouse built in the 1820s, and follow nature trails that wind through the park. For refreshments, Boater’s Grill and the Lighthouse Café offer authentic Cuban fare in rustic settings. There are also shaded picnic pavilions if you bring your own food. Come sunset, Bill Baggs is one of the only places in Miami where you can watch the sun sink directly into the ocean.

Sugar at East, Miami

An oasis crowning the 40th floor of East, Miami hotel, Sugar is a sophisticated urban retreat with Balinese flair, thanks in large part to its intricately hand-carved wooden bar, tiki-style lounges and lush landscaping. It’s also the highest rooftop bar in all of Miami, offering sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and the glittering Downtown skyline, which makes for unparalleled views at sunset. Pair that with the Lychee Blossom, made with vodka, Junmai Sake, and fresh lychee puree—it’s the perfect fruity, refreshing drink to complement the balmy atmosphere.

Enjoy the sunset from Matheson Hammock Park

Matheson Hammock Park

With a lovely manmade atoll beach, Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables makes for a great place to soak up the sun—and the sunset. The 630-acre urban park on Biscayne Bay boasts an onsite sailing school, marina and hiking trails through the preserved hardwood hammock. It’s also a popular spot for kiteboarding, kayaking and standup paddleboarding. A peninsula jutting into Biscayne Bay, it provides beautiful views of the sunset over the park’s treeline.

Sunset — Celebrate the sunset in South Beach

Mondrian South Beach

With a unique location on the west side of South Beach boasting sunset views overlooking Biscayne Bay, the Mondrian is a stylish boutique hotel with design inspiration drawn from Sleeping Beauty’s castle. Enjoy sunset cocktails or dinner at Mondrian Caffè overlooking the dreamy poolscape with cabanas set beneath an exaggeratedly tall arcade of hedges, and an equally oversized cabana with white gauzy curtains surrounding piles of red pillows and an Oriental rug. It’s one of the few poolside destinations in South Beach where you can take in the sunset.

The Wharf Miami

The Wharf Miami is a nautical-themed, open-air space on the Miami River that plays host to a wide variety of Miami’s best food trucks on a rotating basis. Complete with a central bar, wooden docks with lounge chairs and an AstroTurf lawn with Adirondack chairs and a Ping-Pong table, they host live music, DJs and special events. At sunset, the sky and river light up for gorgeous views.

Enjoy creative sushi rolls with Watr at the Rooftop's gorgeous views

Watr at the Rooftop at 1 Hotel South Beach

For the best oceanfront rooftop bar, head straight to 1 Hotel South Beach where you’ll find Watr at the Rooftop on the 17th floor. The views stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to South Beach’s Art Deco rooftops and Biscayne Bay are something to truly behold at sunset. Enjoy a fancy cocktail or a glass of rosè and nibble on creative sushi rolls, like the Truffle Scallop Roll made with fresh truffles, seared scallops, jalapenos, and volcanic rock salt.

Dine on Stiltsville Fish Bar's patio for a dazzling sunset

Sunset Harbour

A popular South Beach locals neighborhood, the aptly named Sunset Harbour is an ideal spot to take in the sunset. Situated on South Beach’s northwestern perimeter, overlooking Biscayne Bay with sailboats moored offshore and the Venetian Causeway framing the scene, the sunset paints the sky dazzling colors and reflects off the bay. It’s one of the most tranquil spots in Miami for sunset, whether you’re sitting on a bench at Maurice Gibb Memorial Park or enjoying dinner on the patio at Stiltsville Fish Bar across the street.