The 19 best things to do in Brickell, from shopping to nightlife

This futuristic outdoor retail complex makes it easy to spend a day shopping and eating your way into bankruptcy. Architecturally, Brickell City Centre is impressive and deserving of a stroll whether or not you want to buy anything. The crown jewel of Brickell, the mall is home to not only top-notch shopping but some great food as well. Check out Pubbelly for inventive sushi, Tacology for Mexican, The Henry for classic American fare, or the deliciously carb-y Casa Tua Cucina, among other spots.

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.

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.

Similar to New York’s High Line or Chicago’s 606 Trail except on the ground, Miami’s Underline 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 completed sections in Brickell like The Urban Gym, The Promenade and The Oolite Room, plus amenities like a free weekend yoga series, a dog run and separated biking and walking paths along the Miami River.

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.

The first thing you should know about the new Okeydokey food hall is that it's not, technically, a food hall. It’s a large, sprawling, three-story Brickell entertainment venue with multiple vendors and bars selling very different lineups of food—which, we admit, sounds a lot like a food hall. Three bars and vendor kitchens dot the downstairs space, while the second floor features a dining room and lounge full of cushy leather couches. On the third floor, find an adults-only lounge where DJs spin on weekends. 

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. Newer additions to the development include Italian restaurant North Italia and Mister 01, one of our favorite local Miami pizza chains.

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.

The SLS Brickell is tough to miss. With its massive and colorful drip mural along its side, the trendy hotel stands out even among the skyscrapers of Brickell. And there's some impressive stuff inside too—like the wood-fired Italian concept, Fi'lia. Upstairs is the Altitude Pool, which offers day passes to non-guests and hosts lively rooftop parties on weekends. 

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.

This small manicured park on Brickell Key’s southern tip features waterfront walking paths with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and Downtown Miami. Palm trees, shade structures, benches, statues and sculptures line the park’s brick walkways. Whether it’s day or night, Brickell Key Park is an excellent spot to take in the iconic skyline and watch the boat traffic idle by.

Located at the rooftop of the dual-brand AC and Element Hotel Miami Downtown, pink-themed Rosa Sky delivers moody lounge vibes with a sleek, modern design, low-slung seating and loads of LED lighting choreographed to the DJ tunes. Enjoy the glittering Downtown and Brickell views with your naked eye, or place your peepers into the set of real-deal binoculars for an up-close look at all the action—just be beware what, or who, you might stumble across!

Marion is an Asian 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.

Blackbird has been satiating Brickell and Downtown’s thirsty masses for longer than most Miami bars. Here, the dancefloor is inviting, the cocktails are strong and the nightly DJs play a mix of bangers that draw eclectic crowds late into the night. Open from 3pm until 5am seven days a week, Blackbird Ordinary toes the line between a rowdy neighborhood dive and a full-on nightclub. Whichever journey you’re on, rest assured the dress code is relaxed, the music is on point and the prices are definitely on the friendlier side for the area.

Haven’t you heard? Miami has soccer fever. So you should probably brush up on your skills since Beckham and company are bringing the sport to the city. Open from 4pm on weekdays and 9am on weekends until midnight, Soccer Rooftop is a lively pair of turf soccer fields on the roof of a Brickell building. Gather some friends and play six-on-six or stop by for weekly pick-up games. You can also rent them out for private parties, and there’s room to just sit and watch in case you’re more of a spectator.

La Sandwicherie is a Miami institution, helmed by founders Franz and Elise since 1988. Though the French sandwich shop and its addictive vinaigrette have expanded to throughout Miami, its original location remains on Miami Beach, as well as its second-oldest location in Brickell. Just across the street from Brickell City Centre, La Sandwicherie is open daily from 9am to 5am. The crusty French bread, pillowy croissants and piles of fresh ingredients like ham, brie and crunchy cornichons are just as effective in drawing corporate lunch crowds as they are post-club crowds.

El Tucán is Brickell’s only proper nightclub (though they serve dinner here, too). Bottle service, DJs, high heels, the occasional Rick Ross cameo—you know the deal. It used to be home to a pretty neat Latin cabaret but has since ended live shows and pivoted to the untz-untz music complemented by jungle-themed decor. Come here because you want to go to a nightclub, and this is really the only place in Brickell to find that.

For a bit of Miami history, stop by Dade Heritage Trust, Miami-Dade’s largest preservation organization located in the original 1905 office of Dr. James Jackson, Miami’s first physician. With a mission to preserve the county’s architectural, environmental and cultural heritage through education and advocacy efforts, Dade Heritage Trust hosts popular bike and walking tours throughout the city as well as a sweet Baking in Historic Places series. The building itself is surrounded by beautiful native landscaping curated by Fairchild Tropical Garden.

American Social is a popular bar and restaurant that sits on some prime real estate along the Miami River. Young and feeling slightly reckless? This is your weekend spot, especially if you’re looking for a bottomless brunch. The Miami River cuts through Brickell, which makes it a great place to grab a drink or bite along the waterfront. At American Social, you can do both with satisfying quality. Friday happy hour sees ferocious packs of thirsty professionals.