Best Arts and Culture Places in Three Lakes

"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."

"Once upon a time, Miami's place for modern art downtown was known as the Miami Art Museum. It was a well-sized museum adjacent to the Government Center and was a mish mash of contemporary and modern art from around the world. But in 2013, the former MAM outgrew its old home and was transported to a waterfront lot that, in conjunction with the soon-to-be-open Patricia and Phillip Frost Science Museum, would become Museum Park."

"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."

"2520 NW 2nd Ave, This is also a huge stop for Instagrammers!. This neighborhood showcases vibrant and colorful murals on the walls of many of the buildings. Get lost in the art and stay for the great restaurants and shopping."

"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..."

"These are just some of the artists whose work can be found in the impressive collection at the Institute of Contemporary Art–"a space committed to the advancement of 20th and 21st-century art in Miami and beyond. The ICA three-story building features numerous rotating exhibitions, complete with an outdoor sculpture garden. But what sets the ICA apart (aside from their free admission, which is huge for a Miami museum to offer) are their public programs–"which are also free to the community. From lectures to symposiums, panel discussions to film screenings, plus multiple educational youth programs, the ICA truly is a space where all artistic thought is welcomed and nurtured. Recommended for Free Things to Do because: Free museum tours are held on Sundays and are the perfect way to spend an afternoon learning about history and architecture."

"Art lovers won’t want to skip a visit to the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in Miami. This free museum is located in the Miami Design District and is focused on fostering the exchange of art and ideas through the Miami region and beyond. With exhibitions from local, emerging, and under-recognized artists, this is the place to visit if you want to support the arts."

"HistoryMiami doesn't sound like the name of a historical museum, which is exactly what organizers and board members had in mind. The less-bulky name signified a new direction for what was previously called the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. Today, the museum, which actually began as a historical association in 1940 (George Merrick and Marjory Stoneman Douglas were members) continues to offer the exhibits that were developed throughout the previous decades, along with new ones."

"Don’t let the museum’s rather plain Mediterranean-style building and courtyard fool you: Inside, HistoryMiami paints a colorful portrait of how the city transformed itself from a mosquito-filled swampland to one of the country’s most vibrant urban areas. Located in Miami’s downtown, the museum is not one you’ll likely stumble upon while wandering the city—which is a good thing if you prefer quieter spaces ($10/adult). Find out more: https://www.historymiami.org/"

"Wander through the Design District to find this odd-looking yet totally interesting art installation. Designed in 1965, this work of art was originally the blueprint of low-cost portable housing. Nowadays, it’s both a wonderful piece of modern art and an incredible photo-op that looks super cool no matter what angle you take a picture from."

"More of a cultural center than a museum, the space is both a comforting reminder for Haitian expats of their country’s art, history, music, movies, and literature and a fascinating look into a Caribbean nation that too few have been able to visit. Opened in 2004 to commemorate Haiti’s Bicentennial, the 60,000-square-foot museum is a one-of-a-kind experience just steps from Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood, a location that makes it even more immersive ($10/adult). Find out more: http://www.haitianheritagemuseum.org/"

"Under the moniker Gallery Diet, Nina Johnson exhibited a range of works, from sculptures by the world-renowned Betty Woodman to Miami artist Emmett Moore’s conceptual furnishings and design pieces. Moving her Wynwood gallery to Little Haiti in 2015, Johnson renamed it Nina Johnson – the name signifying this next, more personal iteration. In a four-building compound featuring a 1940s church-turned-storefront and two-story residential building, Johnson presents conceptual, design-led works by names such as Katie Stout, Nicolas Lobo and Jim Drain."

"Orange Blossom is a chic eatery spot located on 2000 Collins Ave that serves American cuisine made using local ingredients along with handcrafted cocktails in a rustic setting. The warm and inviting environment makes for a great place to enjoy delicious breakfast in South Beach that is prepared using fresh ingredients that are sourced locally from farmers and vendors. The farm to table menu includes American fares like Egg White Frittata, Steak & Eggs, Eggs Benedict, Nutella French Toast, Original Buttermilk Pancakes, and more."

"From Business: Orange Blossom pays homage to our Miami roots and celebrates the city's growth into the thriving, vibrant cultural destination it is today."

"Sometimes after a long night of vodka-sodas, you wake up seriously craving some diner food. And if you happen to live in Downtown or Brickell, that no longer means having to drag your hungover self through beach traffic to get it. This retro destination delivers a menu of over-the-top waffle flavors like bacon and cheddar and Oreo and Nutella alongside a waffle sandwich filled with ham, swiss, and fried eggs."

"Miami Diner, which already has a Downtown location, just opened in the old David’s Cafe space. They’ve got one of those very large diner menus, with burgers, breakfast, milkshakes, sandwiches, salads, pasta, and more."

"There are places open for Bubble Tea delivery as early as 8am. One of the early morning spots for Bubble Tea is Juice Whirl. Find out what’s open early near you by entering your delivery address."

"This Italian style eatery has an assortment of meat and cheese breakfast sandwiches in the morning and pizza for lunch and dinner. We came for breakfast and were enamored with the fresh baked bread here. I hear the pizza and especially the crust are even better and definitely worth coming here later in the day."

"One of my favourite places to eat in South Beach which was ultra affordable was Andrix Cafe. We ended up having lunch here a couple of times in the 4 days we stayed in South Beach. Andrix Cafe has super yummy pizza and drinks available as well as free Wifi."