Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Miami Shores

"DowntownMiami’s largest art museum is as much a showcase of architectural mastery as any other art form, where large rooms, rounded walls, and hanging gardens with more than 54,000 plants give it an aesthetic like no other art museum in the world. The view’s not bad either, where you’ll catch glimpses of Biscayne Bay in between showcases of contemporary art from throughout Latin America and the world. The museum is also home to Verde, which we’ll humbly call the best museum restaurant in America even without its breezy bayside terrace.Know before you go: PAMM is currently only open 2-9 pm on Thursday, and 11 am - 6 pm Friday through Sunday."

"One of Miami's most impressive spaces, designed by Swiss architects Herzog & De Meuron, integrates tropical foliage, glass, concrete and wood – a melding of tropical vitality and fresh modernism that fits... Top ChoiceState Park in Key Biscayne"

"In the midst of rusted warehouses and concrete blah, there's a pastel-and-graffiti explosion of urban art. Wynwood Walls is a collection of murals and paintings laid out over an open courtyard that invariably bowls people over with its sheer color profile and unexpected location. What’s on offer tends to change with the coming and going of major arts events such as Art Basel, but it's always interesting stuff."

"Teach kiddos about contemporary art and get outside at the same time by perusing the city’s colorful and creative murals."

"Miami’s ICA(pictured above) is housed in a sparkling 37,500-square-foot building in the city’s Design District. The opening of the ambitious venue, a striking design by the Spanish firm Aranguren & Gallegos Arquitectos, was delivered a year later than originally expected, which only added to the sense of anticipation. As well as housing a must-visit permanent collection with works by Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin, Dan Flavin and more, it now includes a sculpture garden."

"North MiamiSouth Florida’s original contemporary art museum has been around since 1981, but moved into its spacious new digs in 1996. The North Miami facility regularly plays host to free jazz concerts in its breezy MOCA plaza courtyard, and features provocative rotating exhibits from up-and-coming young artists. Though the concerts are virtual for the time being, the exhibits are still open and ready for visitors."

"This museum in Miami's Design District offers free admission and lots of art that the kids will love exploring. Large scale sculptures, a 15,000-square-foot garden and interesting works of art by local artists are particularly interesting for kids. 61 NE 41st StMiami, FLOnline: icamiami.org"

"Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, in large cities across the United States, children invented a new art form that began by writing their names on the walls of their neighborhoods. Fifty years later, the Graffiti Museum was formed to preserve the history of graffiti and celebrate its emergence in design, fashion, advertising, and galleries. The museum experience includes an indoor exhibition space, eleven outdoor murals, a fine art gallery, and a world-class gift store featuring limited edition merchandise and exclusive items from the world’s most talented graffiti artists."

"Standing at the confluence of graffiti culture in Miami, the Museum of Graffiti is a worthwhile experience of understanding the history of graffiti through decades. Established in the 1970s, this is the first Graffiti museum in the world encouraging the new art form which took shape in the local neighborhoods of the United States when children started to paint and put their names on the walls. Not only will you live the essence of a different art form but you see the interior and exterior exhibitions with exotic works, sculptures, and drawings of more than 5 decades."

"It was the talk of the town during Art Basel 2020, and not without reason. The Rubells' new museum in Allapattah is by far the best permanent collection of art in South Florida, showcasing the family's vast collection of contemporary art from the '60s onward. You'll find work by Jeff Koons, Sterling Ruby, and Kehinde Wiley and a shrine-like gallery for Keith Haring."

"The creation of Don and Mera Rubell led to the formation of the enchanting private art museum, the Rubell Museum. For more than half a decade, the Rubells team has collected more than 7,200 works by 1000 and more artists. The contemporary art displayed in the 56,000 square feet galleries is a mosaic of talent, aestheticism, and a warehouse of art and culture."

"Fans of edgy art will appreciate the Rubell Family Collection. Mera and Don Rubell have accumulated work by artists from the 1970s to…"

"The building opened in 1925 and became a US National Historic Landmark in 2008.* It’s an impressive landmark. It first started as headquarters for the newspaper Miami News. It now is a contemporary art museum."

"The Miami Selfie Museum, located in Wynwood has many colorful art installations for a variety of fun backdrops. It’s a super Instagrammable museum and one of the fun places to take pictures in Miami. From interactive rooms, donut walls, a bathtub with plastic bubbles, and much more it will make your Instagram feed super unique."

"We visited the MOCA Museum Miami. At the time, the exhibit was SYNERGISM: Ekaterina and Victor Khromin. A story of how death took the life of Victor and how his wife, Ekaterina, continues his work through the process known as “Synergism.”"

"Before donuts became hip and pastry chefs got their hands on them, they were the everyman’s breakfast pastry. Dandee Donuts is one of the few independent places where you can still grab an old-school, traditional donut. You can also sit down and have an omelet, a patty melt, or even a pizza here."

"Follow the "hot light" in North Miami to find melt-in-your-mouth, signature original glazed doughnuts from Krispy Kreme. At times you'll see locals lining the streets waiting for the first batch of doughnuts in the wee hours of the morning. Try the iconic brand's eight wonderful varieties of doughnuts, including jelly-filled, powdered, chocolate, cinnamon, coconut and even the peanut cake stick."

"The national brand is offering customers a free doughnut this Friday – in fact, all week!. No purchase necessary!. Check out the locations in Miami."

"The big difference is that the Donuts are warm and melts in your mouth. The coffee is also excellent quality."

"Restaurants Bakeries Design District. Miami’s late-night purveyor of gooey, made-to-order, donut-sized cookies is holding strong as one of the city’s best dessert delivery. It used to be that only FIU college students and people living nearby had access to these dank treats but thanks to a second store in the Miami Design District, nearly everyone can get their hands on these."

"If you want a cookie as big as a frisbee, check out the menu at Night Owl Cookies. They’ve got two locations in the Design District and near FIU. The menu includes a bunch of pretty crazy-looking cookies that would work wonderfully during a movie night or to fling across the room at your disrespectful roommate."

"It’s a flavorful explosion of guava, Maria cookies (crunchy tea biscuits), white chocolate chips and a cream cheese frosting—and when we say it’ll keep you full for hours, we mean it. 10534 SW Eighth St.; 786-360-5011 or nightowlcookieco.com. Courtesy of My Ceviche"

"Happy Wine Little Havana, a wine store turned Spanish tapas-inspired eatery, a place where you can stock up on your wine and also enjoy a reasonably priced bottle (or two) while dining. Easily one of my favorite hole-in-the-walls, Happy Wine has a warm, local atmosphere, quirky barrel tables, tasteful décor, and lovely service. That combined with the incredible food, a stellar wine list, an unpretentious vibe, make for a winning combo."

"Restaurants Spanish West Miami. The West Miami shop has built a reputation on selling a diversity of great, cheap Spanish wine, but its tapas menu doesn’t fall far behind in value. Case in point: its selection of nine panini sandwiches offered at just $8."

"When owner Anthony Bruno moved to Florida, he missed authentic New York-style pizza so much that he decided to make his own. Now, years later, the chain has spread across the Sunshine State and beyond. This spot is known for its cheesy pies, from the most traditional square margherita to modern takes like white pizza and meaty pies decked with pepperoni, sausage, and meatballs."