Travel

Five Things to See in Miami When You’re Not Watching the World Cup

Old-world gardens, immersive art spaces, and more off-the-pitch diversions
aerial image of the Vizcaya Museum Gardens

Photo: Robin Hill

An aerial view of the Vizcaya gardens.

If there’s one city that knows how to put on a show, it’s Miami. And World Cup 2026 is just another excuse for this coastal metropolis to buzz with electricity away from the pitch, from late-night high notes to world-class museums to mojito-fueled dance floors. So when the final whistle blows, don’t head straight back to the hotel—the game is just beginning.

Bermuda shoreline
Get Due South
Our newsletter with Southern destinations and inspiration for your next trip

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Settle in at 400 Vinyl Room.

image of a dimly lit lounge
Photo: Lorenzo Franco
A peek into the 400 Vinyl Room lounge.

Miami takes its music seriously, and somehow the newly opened 400 Vinyl Room turns the notion up a notch. Inspired by Tokyo’s vinyl bar culture, this low-lit, fifty-seat listening lounge features a vinyl-only music program spanning funk, soul, disco, and ’80s Latin, plus live DJ sets. Pair those sounds with a cocktail and caviar service, and it is easily Miami’s most transportive new nightlife experience.


Cool down at Dasher and Crank ice cream shop.

There’s heat, and then there’s Miami heat. A favored way to combat a sweltering South Florida summer is with scoops from Dasher and Crank, a Wynwood neighborhood parlor with hyperlocal collaborations and exotic flavors like ube and guava (and yes, there are also classics like chocolate). Complement your selection with a cup of ice-cold matcha coffee from the creative menu of beverages, including strawberry and coconut lemonade.


Party Havana-style at Café La Trova.

image of a live band
Photo: 52CHEFS
Live music at Cafe La Trova.

Tucked off Miami’s famed Calle Ocho, a street that’s become a beacon for Cubanophiles, this restaurant-turned-dance-floor showcases the never-stop-swaying energy that defines Cuban culture, thanks to live percussionists who inject spirit into every downbeat. With retro Havana vibes and a talented cocktail team crafting incredible rum-based drinks, you simply pull up a stool and let the rhythm find you.


Lose yourself in Superblue Miami.

image of an immersive art exhibit
Photo: courtesy of Superblue Miami
Visitors walk through Massless Clouds Between Sculpture and Life, an immersive exhibit by teamLab.

Five years since opening, Superblue’s immersive art gallery hasn’t lost its steam—if anything, it’s gotten better. The newer exhibit Lightfall by Studio Lemercier plunges viewers into disorienting darkness, encouraging them to simply be present in the space and feel their senses heighten, while teamLab’s Massless Clouds Between Sculpture and Life encourages visitors to disappear into cloud-like structures to experience the blurred line between art and play.


Step into old-world glamour at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

Photo: Robin Hill
Inside the Vizcaya Museum.

For a change of pace from Miami’s modern-day glitz, head to Vizcaya, where a century-old vision of a grand Italian villa kissing the edge of Biscayne Bay is still alive and well. Within the ten-acre estate built by tycoon James Deering are several Instagram-worthy spots, including the Sutri Fountain, a multi-tiered design with undulating scalloped edges that sits at the center of the very romantic Rose Garden.


More City Guides: Five Things to See When You’re Not Watching the World Cup

Houston

Atlanta

Dallas


Nila Do Simon is a lifestyle and culture writer based in South Florida. All in the name of journalism, she has kicked soccer balls with players from the USMNT, attempted to sing along with Tony Award winners, tried cooking alongside James Beard Award recipients, and taught magazine writing at the University of Florida. The runt in her family, she’s developed an interest in highlighting the voices of often-overlooked, marginalized individuals and groups who, like her, required an extra-loud microphone to be heard over the crowd.