10 Miami Date Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank

1

Perez Art Museum

Since reopening its new location on Biscayne Boulevard in 2013 , Perez Art Museum (PAMM) has become a hotspot for all things hip and cool in Miami. Along with showcasing incredible contemporary art (and many Latin American artists), PAMM itself is a gorgeous building that allows for a lot of exploring with a date through its many verandas and plazas. The museum also hosts many visiting artists and live music in the form of Poplife Social, every third Thursday, if dancing and socializing is more your style. If you love the ambience and aren’t ready to leave just yet, stop by PAMM’s own restaurant, Verde, where you can dine with the beautiful backdrop of the Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami city lights.

1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132

2

Wynwood Walls

We could just suggest Wynwood, the neighborhood, as a whole, but there are enough interesting places within the neighborhood that deserve their own mentions. The Wynwood Walls is specifically where visitors can walk through a contained area of buildings and walls where some of the biggest international street artists have their work up. Take your date on a mural tour where you can spot unique pieces by Os Gemeos, Fafi, Shepard Fairey, RETNA and many more. Wynwood Kitchen and Bar sits right on the premises, and you can grab some Latin fusion bites by Chef Miguel Aguilar before you keep wandering into Miami’s art center.

2520 N.W. 2nd Ave., Miami, FL 33139

3

Freehand Miami's The Broken Shaker

Freehand Miami is a tiny Bohemian paradise that will challenge what you think when you hear the word “hostel.” Nestled in Miami Beach, Freehand is one of the hip spots to be seen at and its bar, Broken Shaker, is an oasis that feels like you’ve been transported to another place and time. Surrounded by Miami’s lush vegetation and intimate lighting, Broken Shaker is a great spot to bring a date who is the world-traveling, eclectic type, or just looking for something new. Grab a seat by the pool and order some coconut shrimp ceviche with a Pais Perdido (Vodka, País-Pineapple Rind Reduction, St. Germain, Basil, and Citrus) and let the warm Miami night lead the way.

2727 Indian Creek Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33140

4

Basement Bowl at Edition Hotel

Want to feel like every musician and cool kid on Instagram? Bring your date to the Edition Hotel in South Beach, and find a throwback sport that’s upgraded just a bit. Downstairs from the hotel at Basement Miami, step into a disco dream at the Basement Bowl, with luminescent bowling balls, flashing lights and pretty sweet bowling shoes. The bowling alley is private, but you can always reserve a lane if you really want to impress your date and make it a unique night to remember. Listen, Drake and Demi Lovato were just partying here, so if nothing else, you can just look really cute and take incredibly well-lit selfies.

2901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33140

5

Wynwood Brewing and Concrete Beach

Wynwood is quickly becoming one of Miami’s cultural centers, with some pretty great new breweries popping up and making a place for themselves in the movement. Wynwood Brewing Company is Miami’s first craft production brewery, and it is a great spot to bring a date to hang out in the tap room and try out some local brews. Just a few blocks away, Concrete Beach Brewery also offers plenty of unique beers to try in a fun ambience. With J. Wakefield Brewing just two more blocks away from Concrete, you have the perfect opportunity for a full blown pub crawl with your date, with plenty of delicious grub spots in between.

Wynwood Brewing: 565 N.W. 24th St., Miami, FL 33127

Concrete Beach Brewery: 325 N.W. 24th St., Miami, FL 33127

6

Frost Museum

While it’s fun and great to mingle with the cool kids at theaters and bars and hotels, sometimes it’s even better to let your dorky side out with your date. Just last year, The Frost Science Museum got an image re-haul and moved to downtown Miami, where its striking building is full of awesome exhibits that will keep you and your date entertained for hours. One of the biggest draws (and the most fun date moment) is the Frost laser show on Fridays. Now that the museum is back open, the Laser show is back in the new Planetarium every first and third Friday, where you can dance to Pink Floyd and Daft Punk under the laser lights. Or you can re-enact any Rihanna or J-Lo video that you please.

1101 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132

7

Micro Theatre Miami

Micro Theatre Miami aims to change the theatre experience by making it accessible to all, and in turn, also making it a very fun experience for you and a date. The theatre mostly puts on plays in Spanish (but also English), and they only run for 15 minutes – short and sweet. The coolest part is that each play takes place inside a vividly designed shipping container that only holds a maximum of 15 people, so it will be very intimate. You can buy tickets to hop around to multiple plays, and in the meantime, mingle in the patio with a sangria and food truck bites. All in all, this will make for a date that your boo will definitely be telling someone about the next day and that’s always a plus.

1490 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132

8

Española Way

Lately, mentioning South Beach as a date idea sounds like a total joke and/or nightmare, but there are still some pockets that hold a genuine and welcoming vibe, away from traffic of confused tourists on Collins Avenue. Española Way is a staple spot in Miami Beach, known for its tree-lined streets, twinkling lights, and European vibe. Back in 1925, it was designed as a historic Spanish village, and the feeling is still alive. There is a nice choice of European cuisine, from Italian (Pane & Vino, Piccola Cucina,) to Spanish (Tapas y Tintos,) to French (A La Folie.) Is there anything classier than strolling the streets after finishing off a glass of red wine with a cafecito and pastelito? I think not!

419 A Española Way, Miami Beach, FL 33139

9

Mac & Chess

Yes, Miami is a big city, so If you live a bit west of the trendier Miami Beach and Wynwood, it could be difficult to find any unique date spots. That’s where Miami’s first board games cafe comes in – Mac & Chess. Two Miami natives and friends, Michael Acosta and Michael Noa, opened up this cafe in a strip mall in West Miami, and it’s anything but ordinary. This spot is perfect for couples looking for an alternative to a bar or club, where you can play board games with friends all night, eat mac and cheese, drink beer and NOT have to clean up yourself. Mac & Chess has more than 200 games to choose from, so you can even make this a little tradition and play something new every time.

12486 S.W. 8th St., Miami, FL 33184

10

Panther Coffee

Honestly, who doesn’t love a cute coffee date? Ordering foam art lattes and small talking with an espresso machine gurgling in the background is pretty much a date rite of passage. Panther Coffee is a trendy spot right in the heart of the Wynwood neighborhood, so it can always serve as a kickoff or the end of your night, depending on how and when you like to drink your cafe. Panther has a menu full of fresh beans from South America and a cozy outdoor atmosphere perfect for some good conversation and people watching. On Sundays, you can bring your bike and join other riders for a free 90-minute mural tour leaving from Panther.

2390 N.W. 2nd Ave., Miami, FL 33127