Spending the day in Miami’s Wynwood: Where to go and what to see while there

Posted December 5, 2014

By MEGAN MCCRINK

Let’s be real: after countless nights clubbing on South Beach to wandering around Calle Oche, Miami can get boring.

Dubbed as Miami’s “Venice Beach” by Ocean Drive and one of the most “hipster” neighborhoods in the United States, Wynwood offers a fresh twist to the typical. Take a day out of your Miami trip to explore Miami’s newest cultural hub and let us be your guide.

10 A.M. PANTHER COFFEE

Miami’s next art hub is Wynwood and Panther Coffee is the fuel that keeps the engine roaring. Coined as the catalyst to Miami’s ‘indie’ coffee shop movement, Panther Coffee calls an industrial-block building in the heart of Wynwood off Northwest second ave. and 23 st. its home. With wood walls, warm lighting and an in-house roaster from the 1920s, Panther Coffee serves cappuccinos and lattes with a twist; creating decorative art atop each one. Not a fan of the hot stuff? Opt for its award-winning iced coffee instead. Sit back with Kerouac’s “On the Road,” soak in the morning hours and take in the spirit of Wynwood before venturing to the Wynwood walls. Then, ask the barista to grind and package your favorite beans to take home.

11 A.M. WYNWOOD WALLS

Developed by the late Tony Goldman, the Wynwood Walls assisted in the kick-start of the neighborhood, which used to be known as the mechanics district of Greater Miami. According to the Wynwood Walls website, the ultimate vision for the Wynwood Walls was to gain respect for the graffiti and street art community as well as showcase art accessible to everyone. Though the buildings remain the same, artists visit on a rotating basis and the walls change continuously throughout the year, encouraging visitors to come back often. Artists featured include Ryan McGinness, Retina and Obey Giant’s Shephard Fairey, who also created artwork for the adjacent Wynwood Kitchen + Bar, like their wallpaper inside. The Wynwood Walls also double as a backdrop for an impromptu photo shoot.

1 P.M. STYLE MAFIA

Style Mafia, located off of NW Fifth Avenue and NW 23rd Street, brings fashion and art together into a spacious showroom. Developed and opened by Simonett Pereira in 2013, Style Mafia showcases the latest fashion, but gives style gurus or the everyday fashionista room to incorporate their own style. The look of Style Mafia mirrors the spirit of Wynwood: industrial and structured, yet unique with a spark of color. Though each piece looks like a work of art, this style costs significantly less than the art dealer price tag, starting as low as $50.

3 P.M. BUTCHER SHOP

Atypical from German-themed restaurants, which are usually donned with cuckoo clocks and lederhosen, the Butcher Shop instead modernizes the concept with a beer garden showcasing street art and hanging lights. Take a walk inside and you’ll run into hanging meats and a set-up that looks like a real butcher shop, showing you the source of what you’re about to taste. Bratwurst, Polish sausage and burgers are mainstays on the menu, but diners can also choose from cheese and meat charcuterie boards as well as desserts like the Butcher Shop Sundae, made with Belgian waffle, bacon ice cream and candied pecans. Also known for its beer selection, the Butcher Shop showcases breweries like Wynwood’s own Wynwood Brewery. Want more out of your beer experience? Take a walk to the source, just a few streets down.

5 P.M. WYNWOOD BREWERY

Opened in 2011, Wynwood Brewery is Miami’s first craft production brewery. Offering three permanent brews, La Rubia, Pop’s Porter and Wynwood IPA as well as seasonal brews like Magic City Pale Ale, Wynwood Brewery also showcases a taproom in-house for visitors to sample each brew. The taproom is illustrated with murals that showcase Miami and visitors can get a peek into the brewing process through a wide, open window.

7 P.M. TO WHENEVER: EXPLORE

Though your day of exploration in Wynwood is technically over, there’s still more in Wynwood to see. Wander over to our list of restaurants, bars and clubs to fully immerse yourself in Wynwood’s growing culture. Delve more into Wynwood’s Culture by exploring Wynwood Art Walk, which takes place every second Saturday of the month from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Galleries showcase their artwork, street performers entertain and patrons walk with the movement of the crowd.

If You Go

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