South Miami Heights, Miami, FL
Things to do near Miami
19 places we send our own guests to, from the Miami house in South Miami Heights. Every drive time below is measured from the front door, and every entry says the thing you want to know before you set out, which is usually that it takes no reservations or that it is shut on Mondays.
Where to eat
La Feria Rincón Cubano7 min drive
Family run Cuban kitchen under mango trees, with a playground and pony rides for the kids.
Closes at 6pm on weekdays. Weekends run to 9pm.
Directions · Website14410 SW 200th St, Miami, FL 33177
Golden Rule Seafood12 min drive
Fish market and restaurant on US-1 with a koi pond, a tiki hut and a back bar.
Closes at 7pm on Monday, later the rest of the week.
Directions · Website17505 S Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL 33157
Shiver's BBQ20 min drive
Old roadside pit with communal tables, smoked meats and homemade key lime pie.
No reservations, and the sides are the reason people come back.
Directions · Website28001 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead, FL 33033
Fuegos del Sur17 min drive
Argentine grill built around shared parrillada platters, with live music some nights.
Dinner only from 6:30pm. Book ahead for six or more.
Directions · Website8202 Mills Dr, Kendall, FL 33183
Cafe Bea20 min drive
Small neighborhood cafe doing eggs benedict, croquetas and proper cafe con leche.
Breakfast and lunch. Do not count on it in the evening.
Directions · Website8739 SW 136th St, Miami, FL 33176
Ariete32 min drive
A Michelin starred room doing Cuban American cooking with French technique.
Worth the drive north, but book weeks ahead. Allow 45 minutes on a weekend.
Directions · Website3540 Main Hwy, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Where to drink
Black Point Ocean Grill18 min drive
Multi level bar on the water at a county marina, with a walking trail alongside.
No reservations. Happy hour weekdays 3pm to 6pm.
Directions · Website24775 SW 87th Ave, Homestead, FL 33032
Bougainvillea's Old Florida Tavern22 min drive
Small old Florida tavern with live bands most weekends, a terrace, and no cover.
Closed Monday. It is tight inside, so aim for the terrace.
Directions · Website7221 SW 58th Ave, South Miami, FL 33143
Cafe La Trova36 min drive
Cantinero style Cuban bar where the bartenders work in the old Havana tradition.
Come for the bar rather than dinner. Allow 50 minutes on a weekend night.
Directions · Website971 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33130
Ball & Chain34 min drive
Ninety year old Calle Ocho bar with a back patio and live bands every night.
Three blocks from Cafe La Trova, so a group can do both on one rideshare. Free salsa lesson Wednesdays at 9pm.
Directions · Website1513 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135
Things to do
Zoo Miami13 min drive
The largest zoo in Florida, four miles of walkways and over two thousand animals.
Go at opening. Animals start heading in around 4:30pm and the middle of the day is hot.
Directions · Website12400 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33177
Biscayne National Park30 min drive
A national park that is almost all water, reached by boat tours, snorkel trips and kayaks.
Book boat trips ahead, and keep a spare day. They cancel for weather.
Directions · Website9700 SW 328th St, Homestead, FL 33033
Deering Estate20 min drive
Waterfront historic house and nature preserve on Biscayne Bay, with kayaks at its own dock.
Guided house tour daily at 11:30am, included. The Stone House is closed for restoration.
Directions · Website16701 SW 72nd Ave, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
Robert Is Here25 min drive
Roadside tropical fruit stand with milkshakes, a small petting zoo and live music some days.
Get a shake. Call the same day in late summer, it sometimes closes for the season.
Directions · Website19200 SW 344th St, Homestead, FL 33034
Schnebly Redland's Winery31 min drive
Tropical fruit winery and brewery with waterfalls, tiki huts and live music at weekends.
Friday and Saturday are the nights. Midweek it closes at 5pm.
Directions · Website30205 SW 217th Ave, Homestead, FL 33030
Frost Museum of Science33 min drive
Aquarium, planetarium and hands-on exhibits, all indoors and all under one roof.
The one true rainproof day out, but it is a real drive. Buy tickets ahead.
Directions · Website1101 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
Beaches and swimming
Matheson Hammock Atoll Pool31 min drive
A tidal saltwater pool with a sand rim, calm water, no waves and no current.
Old Cutler Road is scenic and slow, and there is no faster way. Lifeguards at weekends only.
Directions · Website9610 Old Cutler Rd, Coral Gables, FL 33156
Homestead Bayfront Atoll Pool29 min drive
The quieter, cheaper county atoll pool, with a marina alongside and parking that never fills.
No floats of any kind are allowed in the water. Pairs well with a morning at Biscayne.
Directions · Website9698 SW 328th St, Homestead, FL 33033
Crandon Park Beach45 min drive
Two miles of Atlantic sand with shallow calm water, grills and picnic areas under the sea grapes.
The closest real ocean beach, and it is a drive. Allow an hour on a weekend. No glass, no pets, no floats.
Directions · Website6747 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
Staying nearby
These are the recommendations we hand our own guests. The house itself is a five bedroom wellness retreat in South Miami Heights, sleeping 16, with a saltwater pool, a private sauna, a cold plunge and a six seater hot tub.