Where to eat in Wynwood and the Miami Design District

Wynwood and the Miami Design District are next-door neighborhoods just north of downtown Miami, and together they make one of the easiest food days in the city. Wynwood is blocks of huge street murals, galleries, bars and casual places to eat at every budget. The Design District, a short ride north, is palm-lined streets of luxury shops, public art and some of Miami's most ambitious restaurants.

Where are Wynwood and the Design District?

Wynwood sits just north of downtown Miami. Midtown lies just north of it, and the Design District is north of Midtown, only minutes away. The Miami Trolley's Wynwood route runs from the Omni Metrorail station into the heart of Wynwood and on to the Design District, which makes it easy to do both without a car. Parking in Wynwood fills up fast in the evenings and on weekends.

What is Wynwood known for?

Wynwood is known for its murals. Almost every wall is painted, and the Wynwood Walls, an outdoor street art park, has large works by artists from around the world across several buildings. The neighborhood is also full of galleries, breweries, cocktail bars and restaurants. On the second Saturday of each month, the Wynwood Art Walk brings galleries and crowds out into the streets in the evening. Check the date before you go if you want the crowds, or avoid it if you do not.

What should you eat in Wynwood?

Wynwood is mostly casual, and the range is wide:

• Pizza by the slice, sold to people walking between murals.
• Tacos and Latin American street food, from counters and food trucks.
• Food halls, where you can mix Asian dishes, poke and cocktails in one stop.
• Breweries and taprooms, many with food on site or a truck parked outside.
• Coffee shops and bakeries, good for a break from the heat.
• Sit-down dinners, from omakase sushi to Mediterranean and Turkish cooking, for a longer evening.

Places open and close quickly here, which is part of the appeal, so check that a spot is still running before you make a special trip. If you are with a group that cannot agree, a food hall or a brewery with a food truck outside is the easy answer, since everyone can order something different and sit together.

Is Smorgasburg Miami worth visiting?

Smorgasburg Miami is a weekend outdoor food market in Wynwood with around 60 vendors, selling everything from oysters to tacos and doughnuts. It is a good way to taste a lot of small local businesses in one visit, and it suits a group where everyone wants something different. Go early, before the midday heat and the biggest crowds, bring water, and check the season and opening days before you go, since outdoor markets in Miami adjust to the weather.

What is the Miami Design District?

The Design District is a neighborhood of about 18 palm-lined blocks given over to luxury fashion, jewelry and design stores, galleries, public art and architecture. At its center is Palm Court, a gathering space with a geometric canopy, water features and a blue glass building by the Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. It is cleaner and quieter than Wynwood, and it has become one of Miami's main destinations for fine dining, with chefs of national reputation alongside restaurants that have built cult followings.

Where should you eat in the Design District?

The Design District is the place for a special meal: tasting menus, chef-driven restaurants and elegant dining rooms, along with cafes and a few casual spots for lunch between shops. Many of the top restaurants book up, especially on weekends, so reserve well ahead for dinner. For something simpler, lunch at a cafe in the courtyards or a coffee in Palm Court lets you enjoy the architecture and art without a long meal. The district is also full of public art and design installations that are free to look at, so a slow walk between meals is part of the experience. Dress codes are relaxed in most places, but the top dining rooms expect smart casual, so check before you go if you are coming straight from the beach.

How do you plan a day in both?

A good pattern is to start in the Design District in the late morning, when it is calm, for coffee, the public art and window shopping. Head south to Wynwood after lunch, walk the murals in the late afternoon as the sun gets lower, then stay for dinner, drinks or a brewery in the evening when Wynwood comes alive. In the hottest months, do most of your walking early or late and save the middle of the day for air-conditioned places.

What should you know before going?

Wynwood gets very busy on weekend nights and on Art Walk evenings, so expect lines at the most popular bars and restaurants. Check the check for an automatic service charge before you add a tip, which is common in Miami. Many sidewalks have little shade, so wear sunscreen and carry water. Mosey is a good place to keep a list of the spots you want to try in both neighborhoods, and to rate the ones you liked with a photo of what you ordered.

More guides to read next:

• Little Havana food guide: Cuban food and how to order a cafecito
• Brunch in Miami and how to eat outdoors in the heat
• The Miami Cuban sandwich: what goes in it and where it came from

More in the US food guides and the ranked lists of places.