The 16 best things to do in Brickell - part 1
Follow us to rooftop bars, public parks and more of the best things to do in Brickell, Miami's financial district.
Written by Falyn WoodContri
As Brickell continues to grow up (literally, into the clouds), so too do its offerings, drawing more and more new residents and visitors itching to see what it’s like to live and play in a tropical urban paradise on the edge of the Atlantic. From dining and shopping to waterfront parks and even pre-historic archaeological sites, the densely packed financial center known as Brickell has it all. Some of Miami’s best restaurants are located in Brickell, including the newly Michelin-starred Elcielo Miami By Juan Manuel Barrientos, along with a handful of the best rooftop bars in the city.
With easy access to the Metromover, it’s fairly easy to get around Brickell and Downtown on Miami public transportation-a good thing, since parking in Brickell doesn’t come easy or cheap. Whether you’re staying in the neighborhood or just exploring for the day, there’s no shortage of delicious cocktails, fantastic shopping and interesting things to do in Brickell.
RECOMMENDED: Guide to Brickell, Miami
Best things to do in Brickell
Photograph: Unsplash.com/Ussama Azam
1. Brickell City Centre
- Shopping
- Shopping centers
- Brickell
This futuristic outdoor retail makes it easy to spend a day shopping and eating your way into bankruptcy. Architecturally, the complex is impressive and deserving of a stroll whether or not you want to buy anything. The crown jewel of Brickell, Brickell City Centre is home to not only top-notch shopping but some great food as well. Check out Pubbelly for inventive sushi, Tacology for Mexican, Ch’i for Asian Fusion, or the deliciously carb-y Casa Tua Cucina, among other spots.
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Photograph: Courtesy EAST
2. Sugar
- Bars
- Cocktail bars
- Brickell
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price 3 of 4
Brickell is home to Miami’s tallest skyscrapers, making it likewise home to the city’s best rooftop bars with the best views. Sugar is a lush watering hole where (fair warning) nothing is cheap. But the view (it’s on the 40th floor) is very worth it. If, perhaps, Sugar has a big line outside (not a rare occurrence), try Wet Deck Lounge at the W. Its floor-to-ceiling windows will still give you a great shot of the city.
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Photograph: Courtesy La Mar
3. La Mar
- Restaurants
- Peruvian
- Brickell Key
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price 4 of 4
Lar Mar is, in our humble opinion, one of Miami’s best restaurants. Famed chef Gastón Acurio serves up creative Peruvian that combines imagination with local and seasonal ingredients. In addition to the delicious food and waterfront view, La Mar gives you a chance to check out Brickell Key, a tiny island just a short bridge away from the edge of Brickell. And we’ll take any excuse to go to an island, no matter how small.
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Photograph: Vanessa Rogers
4. Mary Brickell Village
A collection of shops, restaurants and-most importantly-bars, Mary Brickell Village ain’t no Brickell City Centre, but it is home to some popular spots. During the day, Mary Brickell is good for a quick lunch (Shake Shack, anyone?). But night sees the area's biggest crowds thanks to reliable mainstays like Balan’s. The forthcoming Hampton Social and its signature Rosé All Day lounge will likely inject some New York-inspired energy into the block, too.
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Photograph: Courtesy the Underline
5. The Underline
Explore Brickell Backyard, the first half-mile completed phase of the planned 10-mile Underline. Similar to New York’s High Line or Chicago’s 606 Trail except on the ground, Miami’s Underline Park utilizes the path carved by its legacy public transportation lines to create an innovative urban park and trail. Opening in phases through 2025, visitors can already enjoy amenities like a free weekend yoga series, a dog run and separated biking and walking paths along the Miami River.
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Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/ Simon
6. Simpson Park Hammock
- Things to do
- Cultural centers
- Brickell
Is that…could it be…a park? In Brickell? Yes! It is, admittedly, a very small park (7.8 acres) but a park nonetheless. A stroll through Simpson Park Hammock offers a quiet, cool and lush respite from the bustle of the city. Plus, this park and nature preserve is basically the only remaining proof of what Brickell used to look like before all these buildings and people arrived and many native plant species are protected here.
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Photograph: Courtesy CMX
7. CMX Cinemas
- Things to do
- Film events
- Brickell
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price 2 of 4
The plush leather seats at this luxury dine-in movie theater are so comfy you just might not make it to the third act. Better order a craft cocktail and a cappuccino (both available for purchase from the comfort of your recliner) to ensure you see the final scene. Is a $20 movie ticket worth it? When you consider the menu of not-half-bad food and drinks and full service during the show, it all makes for a pretty sweet night out at the movies.
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Photograph: Shutterstock
8. Miami Circle National Historic Landmark
In a neighborhood defined by its constant construction and towering luxury condos, you wouldn’t exactly expect to find an archaeological site, let alone the oldest known permanent settlement on the U.S. East Coast. Yet here it is, a perfect, 38-foot circle of 24 holes cut into the limestone bedrock on coastal Brickell Point. Believed to have been the location of a structure built by the Tequesta Indians, the Miami Circle is estimated to be somewhere between 1,700 and 2,000 years old.
Photograph: Courtesy Marion
9. Marion
- Restaurants
- Mediterranean
- Brickell
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price 2 of 4
Marion is a French fusion restaurant adjacent to El Tucán where the food, although tasty, is not necessarily the main event. We can safely bet you have never had a dinner like Marion’s Thursday Soirée: After the plates have been cleared, the lights dim and suddenly the dignified diners (dress code is upscale elegant here) morph into table-dancing maniacs feasting on sparkling dessert platters. Or, maybe you have. If so, congrats on living your best damn life.
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