Miami lives up to its nickname as the “Party City”— it’s the full, stereotypical Miami image— a sense that everyone’s either living their best life or trying very hard to look like they are? The neon, the music, the skin, the gym bags (with labubu dolls I spotted), the cars—yes, it's all real and can be seen everywhere
And then here’s the other side of Miami—the one they call the “Magic City” - a term which was used to signify how the city grew fast in the 1900s. This can still be seen today with the constant influx of new residents and tourists moving in and out of the city such that it always seems to have magic of the new?
The signs outside restaurants that cheekily say “Please dont ask us for Tacos!”—a reminder that Little Havana isn’t a Mexican neighborhood, but a Cuban one
And there is plenty of Cuban food to try like Cuban sandwiches, cheese and sweet guava pastries especially at the famous old Cuban place Versailles. The streets are full of what you may see as Cuban life: people smoking Cuban cigars outside old-school cigar factories, Latin music spilling out of windows, and colorful graffiti splashed with South American flags, tropical birds, and revolutionary figures
Not very far from the Cuban coast, and hosting the largest immigrant population of Cubans outside Cuba, Miami is a good peak into Cuban life
And then—there are the roosters
Painted on walls, made into statues, standing at street corners. At first, they feel a little out of place, until you learn they’re a symbol of Cuban culture—tracing back to cockfighting arenas, but now represent casual community gatherings. Think of them as unofficial mascots of Little Havana
Along with Cuban influence, you also see how up to 70% residents speak Spanish, gas stations serve Colombian Pan de Bonos & Argentinian Empanadas, and bars play Spanish music and offer Bachata classes - Miami is also Latin American City
How Miami Became a Great Latin American City will tell you how, when and what, and I can tell you that you might want to brush up on the basics of Spanish if you want to communicate with your uber driver, talk to servers in restaurants or simply blend in - the not speaking spanish is a very recogniseable tourist marker. Its like the wearing a berret in Paris - they know you are only visiting
Dominoes or Towers?
I grew up playing dominoes as a child, though back then it was less about the rules and more about stacking the domino bars into tall, wobbly towers—whoever’s structure stood the longest, won. It wasn’t until I visited Domino Park in Miami that I realized dominoes is actually played quite differently: not by building towers, but by placing pieces next to each other based on matching numbers and multiples
After learning the actual rules, I have to admit—my childhood version was perhaps more fun. That said, it was nice to watch the +55 Cuban domino club in action. Groups of locals gathered around tables, deeply immersed in the game, reminded me of my grandmother’s cards parties, ritual and chatter
Wynwood Walls is known as the largest open-air graffiti museum in the world
Before visiting, I honestly thought graffiti was just spray paint on subway trains or alley walls. But Wynwood opened up an entire universe of styles. I learned about freestyle tagging, where artists often sneak in their names and motifs, and pieces that carry hidden social and political messages—sometimes encrypted, sometimes loud and proud. It's art that speaks, if you know how to look? - like there is a hidden message on pride and inclusive love within the depiction of the modern last supper on one of the walls (Judas is depicted to represent the ‘Dont Say Gay’ order in Florida)
My absolute top selection was Simon Berger’s hammered glass portrait—yes, art made by smashing glass just right!
I enjoyed doing the guided tour—the staff are incredibly knowledgeable (turns out they have to pass internal tests on artists and history before leading tours, as my guide proudly told me). It gives you the backstory behind each artist and how Wynwood transformed from an overlooked warehouse district to a global arts hub
While strolling along the Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk I stumbled upon the Pet Walk
At first glance, it looks like part of the regular brick lined pathway but look closer and you’ll see it’s lined with engraved bricks—each carrying the name of a beloved pet, short messages, and tiny tributes left by owners. It's part of the Pet Walk Society, a sweet initiative that lets people memorialize their furry companions
Similar to other memorial brick programs—like those at parks or shelters—where people can purchase a brick, personalize it with up to three lines of text, and have it permanently installed in a public space
Fort Lauderdale, and much of Miami too, is very pet-friendly—with entire beaches and parks set aside just for dogs. Think off-leash zones, doggie fountains, and even pet-friendly cafés with puppuccinos on the menu
And while walking along the beach I stumbled upon a small, roped-off patch in the dunes marked with a wooden stake: “Sea Turtle Nest – Do Not Disturb.”
I later learned that during nesting season, sea turtles come ashore in the middle of the night, around 3 a.m., to lay their eggs in the sand at select spots
I didn’t catch the sight this time, but if you’re lucky and up at the right hour, you can quietly watch this beautiful, ancient ritual—turtles slowly crawling up, digging nests, and heading back to the sea. A few weeks later, the tiny hatchlings emerge and make their way to the ocean
Of course, you’ll find the usual suspects—Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, etc.—just like in Manhattan’s SoHo, Mayfair in London, or the OG fashion capitals of Paris and Milan. But what I also noticed was how many American-born or tech-forward brands were on display in Miami Design District
Take Reformation, for instance. Their store is interactive. You browse on a touchpad, pick your favorite pieces, and they “magically” appear in your dressing room via a double-door wardrobe system that gets restocked from behind. It feels like shopping in the future. Then there’s A.L.C., and a handful of emerging brands that blend high-end fashion with modern American sensibilities— cool without trying too hard
A weekend trip out to the Everglades is a great way to experience a very different side of Florida—far from beaches and high-rises
The airboat ride takes you through the “river of grass,” where you glide over shallow waters surrounded by sawgrass above the water and alligators just beneath the surface
I learnt at the alligator show that its not uncommon for alligators to end up in residential areas—wandering into backyards or apartment complexes through the canal system. When this happens, the state steps in to rescue and relocate them. But many of these gators are so territorial and instinct-driven, they find their way right back to where they started! Sigh! And so some of these are then kept in enclosures never to be able to return to the wild
I learnt of another related and more upclose way to see these reptiles— through the ‘shark alley’ a 15 mile stretch of land surrounded by the canals on the sides where one can bike or take the tram and watch the alligators and more wildlife in their natural habitat - I did not end up doing this but its on the top of the list for next time
Villa Casa Casurina Versace Mansion and American crime stories season-II
After binge-watching all of American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, I knew I wanted to see the Versace Mansion. I somehow didn’t end up visiting in person (one of those “so close, yet so far” moments for the South Beach), but thanks to the show which was shot within the house - I got a pretty detailed peek inside. With its mosaic-tiled pool, gold-accented walls, and Mediterranean architecture, it’s exactly as dramatic and over-the-top as you’d expect from Gianni Versace himself. There is a nice restaurant inside, and reddit tells me the signature drink called ‘Gianni’s’ is worth trying—though staying at the boutique hotel probably isn’t
Verdict. I have been to many beach cities from Goa in India, Zanzibar in Africa to several beach towns in Europe and they all have the same spirit of being a little slow and sleepy — breakfast is served until 1pm, people are walking around in flip flops in vacation mode, little rush and little noise. Miami is different - its full of life and buzzing at all hours along with the beach holiday spirit. Probably a testament to its larger size of 6Mn people, and also being a hub in the south for finance, trade, tourism. It can offer many things, but not a sleepy beach holiday. One could still get out a sleepy beach holiday if you really try, but you’ll miss out on all that is Miami