Corner Office Anywhere

On a recent trip to my hometown of Miami, I was pleasantly surprised to have a productive and relaxing working stay in nearby Miami Beach. It has changed so much since its grittier days, and has a ton to offer to a digital nomad even beyond the beach party life. Here are some tips from a (sort of) local on being a (sort of) local –

Where to Stay

I recommend staying in the South Beach area if you can afford to. If it is your first time in the area, this is an iconic location that is unlike anywhere else, even the rest of Miami. It is also one of the few truly walkable neighborhoods in the metro area. You’ll find everything you need for a longer-term stay within walking or biking distance, and won’t need a car unless you want to visit other areas of the city. 

When to Travel

If you can time a trip between the end of March (post Spring Break) and the end of May, that is the golden window. November through March are the high season in Miami. The weather is breathtakingly beautiful when everyone has holiday time off, and local prices are sky-high. June through October are hurricane season (though I swear this window gets larger every year) and there is at least an afternoon storm almost every day at its height. That being said, it is cheaper, and if you’re going to be in Miami Beach, you might as well get used to being wet a lot.

Coworking

Miami has made a concerted effort at drawing tech workers, the result of which is that there are plenty of coworking options on the beach now. Though I can’t vouch personally for any of them, there are both WeWork and Spaces locations that are surely representative of those chain experiences. I can’t recommend the nearby Selinas. They are both in truly weird locations that I wouldn’t walk around at night, and are pretty inaccessible unless you have a car or are willing to pay for pricey Ubers to get there and back from literally anywhere else.

Outdoor Activities

You are in the sunshine state. Get outside!

• Beach: Miami’s white sand beaches and warm, calm waters will ruin you for other beaches. Take a long walk along the beach to find your favorite amongst the famous colorful lifeguard stands.  Many vacation rentals and hotels will supply you with beach chairs and umbrellas, or you can rent them on the beach. Some hotels provide beachside bar service, though you will typically need to buy a resort day pass or book a cabana to access it. 
• Biking: By far the best way to get around South Beach is by bicycle, even if you are competing for the road with the insane local drivers. For a fun ride, the old boardwalk was extended into a wide paved trail for walkers and bikers that runs for miles along the whole length of the beach and down around South Point park. Rent a Citibike or if you want to fit in with the locals, bring your inline skates! 
• Yoga on the Sand: Sunrise and sunset options. BYOTowel. Donation suggested.
• Boating: Really, I can’t recommend enough getting out onto the water in a boat at some point. Your options for speed boating, fishing tours, sunset sails, paddle boarding, kayaking, and jet skiing will be endless. You can also take a very cheesy but fun boat tour of the local celebrity scene and absurdly luxurious private island houses, or a booze cruise on a small yacht. You’ll find the best availability for both of these options leaving from nearby Bayside Park (which is an outdoor mall you’ll need to cab to).

Eat

There are plenty of great eats in Miami Beach, though you’ll tend to pay more for a meal here than in the rest of Miami. Here are a few personal favorites:

• Casual: La Sandwicherie has reliably delicious and affordable sandwiches, smoothies, and salads.
• Cuban: The old-school Cuban diners on the beach have mostly disappeared as this area has been gentrified, but Las Olas is a miniature version of what a typical Cuban-American casual eatery feels like in Miami. There is no shortage of interesting, innovative, and otherwise trussed-up Cuban food on the beach, but you won’t find me there. You’ll find me at my mom’s.
• Bakery: My favorite bakery on the beach is De Lucia Bakery Buon Pane Italiano. Sadly, you’ll have to go further afield to find a great Cuban bakery.
• Seafood: You can find excellent seafood all over Miami in pretty much every eatery, but if you’re after a ‘seafood experience’ specifically, you really should check out Joe’s Stone Crab, the standard-bearer in the white-tablecloth seafood category in this town.
• Groceries: If you’re from anywhere in The South, you’ll understand why I implore you to go to Publix for your groceries. It will be a pleasure, wink wink.

Culture

Most visitors focus on relaxing on the sand and living it up at night, but Miami Beach has a number of unique subcultures that you should consider exploring. Here are a few options for doing so that I find to be perfect weekday breaks.

• Music: Soundscape Park and the Miami Beach Bandshell a little further north are outdoor performance venues. Check their schedules online as these both often have free events geared towards the local community and that feature local artists.
• Museums: Miami has a great modern art scene, and The Bass is a solid collection of contemporary art that can easily be seen in one short visit. I also adore exploring small, local culture museums, and have a real soft spot for The Jewish Museum, which focuses on this history of Jewish life in Florida.
• Landmarks: If you’re looking for some classic Miami photo ops, you’ll need to head to South Pointe Park at the tip of the island where Miami Beach is located. With the Atlantic shore on one side and Biscayne Bay on the other, you can get colorful sunset or sunrise photos over the water. You’ll get views of the city of Miami skyline across Biscayne Bay, and be able to watch the cruise ships speed past. Also be sure to check out the infamous Versace Mansion. It is now a hotel and bar, so you may even want to try to grab a drink.

Nightlife/Vibes

These days pretty much the whole South Beach area is fairly safe to walk around at night. Of course, there’s a famous dance club and pool party scene here that you should absolutely check out. People watching and popping into random places for a drink or bite as the mood strikes is my favorite thing to do, though. Your most fun strolls will be –

• Ocean Drive in the area that coincides with Lummus Park has lots of up- and down-scale bars and restaurants, and this is where all the candy-colored art deco buildings are lit up at night. 
• Espanola Way, an atmospheric stretch of three blocks or so entering from Washington Drive. It is mainly comprised of adorable restaurants and gets really packed on the weekends, so you may want to head there mid-week. You’ll find me at A La Folie Cafe where I can watch the passing crowds with a glass of champagne.
• Lincoln Road is functionally an outdoor mall and therefore has a more chill, family-friendly vibe. Nearly every restaurant has tables right on the pedestrian-only street, and the shops are open late. If you’ve overdone it in the sun, you can escape the heat at the movie theater here, or take it up a notch with a show at The Fillmore.

I hope you get to visit Miami Beach soon. If you’d like more advice about where to work and travel delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for the Corner Office Anywhere newsletter!