12 hours in Miami: Your perfect day, planned

Start your day in Downtown at All Day, a new-wave coffee shop serving up excellent caffeine-forward beverages in a sunny, minimalist space. Java junkies will love their extensive list of coffee options, featuring different origins and brewing methods, but the Runny & Everything breakfast sandwich tends to steal the show. If you’re in the mood for a boozy brunch, they’ve got inventive cocktails and natty wines here, too.

Once you’ve fueled up at ALL DAY, you’ll be all set to embark on a tour of Miami’s premier cultural institutions nearby at Museum Park. Contained within the sprawling Downtown greenspace are Pérez Art Museum Miami and Frost Science, where you can view works by world-renowned contemporary artists and experience a truly unique three-level aquarium, among other wonders. Plus, both PAMM and the park itself offer spectacular views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami Beach skyline.

Now that you’ve met your culture quota for this trip, it’s time to do as the Miamians do: relax. And since we’re not headed to the beach today (12 hours is really too short for that), Coconut Grove is your next best destination. This laid-back bohemian enclave on the bay was recently named one of the 30 coolest neighborhoods in the world for good reason.

An easy 15-minute drive from Downtown, Los Félix is the perfect place to enjoy a long lunch and a bottle of wine on the shady sidewalk of one of the Grove’s busiest intersections. If you can’t score a reservation at the newly Michelin-starred Mexican spot, the adjoining Krüs Kitchen from the same owners serves up a more casual menu with just as great views.

You’ll most likely want to walk off your lunch and you’re in the perfect neighborhood to do so. Not much of Miami could be considered “walkable,” especially anytime between the months of May and September. But with its verdant treeline, coastal breeze and abundance of quaint shops and restaurants, Coconut Grove most definitely is.

Pop in at Panther Coffee for a potent cold brew if you need the jolt, then leaf through the pages at Books & Books and pick out something for your next plane ride. The nine-acre Peacock Park has a playground and a small pier that overlooks Biscayne Bay. If you’re on a boozier trajectory or fancy a snack on the water, head to Monty’s, a quintessential dockside joint with strong rum cocktails and delicious fried seafood.

Around now is when some people might take a nap—but not you. Not when you’ve only got 12 precious hours in Miami. You may have been here before, but what can we say? The newly renovated Michael’s Genuine still has the city’s best bar for grabbing a chic-yet-casual drink paired with snacks that never fail, like thick-cut potato chips with pan-fried onion dip or Bahn mi-style shrimp toast.

Use this as your launching point to window shop (or actual shop) around Design District, where you’ll find just about every luxury fashion label plus tons of cool public art installations, boozy ice cream, funky Scandinavian design shops and some of the best people-watching anywhere. Design District is a hotbed for celebs, influencers and the mind-bogglingly wealthy, but you don't need to max out your credit card to have a good time here.

You didn’t think we’d leave out Wynwood, did you? It might be one of Miami’s most controversial neighborhoods, but Wynwood is still a worthy destination if you know how to avoid the tourist traps. Case in point: Doya, a Mediterranean kitchen run by chef Erhan Kostepen, formerly of Mandolin Aegean Bistro (yes, that Mandolin).

Tucked away from the chaos of Wynwood, find a menu of simply prepared meze dishes that serve to highlight a few well-sourced ingredients. Unlike many of the area’s clubs masquerading as restaurants, Doya strikes the perfect balance; from the music and atmosphere to the pacing of the meal, it’s upbeat without being too in your face. And of course, the food is delicious.

If you’re not dead on your feet by now, end your night at Café la Trova in Little Havana. It’s a quick jaunt back south, and it’s definitely worth the extra Uber ride, especially if you’re in the mood to dance. Considering it’s the only Miami bar to rank among the World’s 50 Best in 2022, you’ll want to order a cocktail from the bar pronto. The perfectly executed The Old Cuban is made with Bacardi 8 Rum, demerara syrup, lime juice, mint, bitters and sparkling wine. Now you’re ready to move your hips to the live salsa band that plays multiple sets nightly.