Bayside Miami: The Perfect Pre-Cruise Destination
What do you do if you’re staying in downtown Miami before you get on your cruise ship? Need some last-minute shoes or clothes? Starting your vacation early and looking for a little party time? Welcome to Bayside Miami!
Exploring Bayside Miami
If you find yourself in Miami before embarking on a cruise, Bayside Miami is the perfect place to spend your time. Situated near the Miami Cruise Port, Bayside offers shopping, dining, and entertainment right along the waterfront. In this blog, we’ll explore what Bayside Miami is, where it’s located, and what we did during our visit—including some great food, drinks, and unexpected surprises. Stick around to the end to hear about the giant Espresso Martini!
What is Bayside Miami?
Bayside Miami is a vibrant waterfront shopping mall adjacent to a marina. The area is packed with shops, restaurants, and bars, making it a fantastic place to relax before or after a cruise. As soon as you arrive, you’ll likely be greeted by vendors promoting yachting excursions, but since we were about to embark on a cruise, we decided to skip those.
Where is Bayside Miami?
Bayside Miami is located between Biscayne Boulevard and Miami’s bay, just south of 6th Street. If you're arriving by taxi or rideshare, 4th Street forms a loop in front of the mall for easy drop-off and pick-up.
Our Bayside Miami Experience
Dining at Bayside Miami
Dinner at La Canita
For our first dinner in Miami, we chose La Canita, a fantastic spot serving Cuban and Caribbean cuisine.
Kate's Pick: Lechon Asado – a delicious dish of shredded pork, pickled onions, and potatoes. She paired it with a classic mojito (the first of many on this trip).
Tim’s Pick: Churrasco Ropa Vieja – shredded beef with onions and peppers over rice. He also enjoyed a couple of Cuban-style pale lagers brewed in Miami: Hatuey and La Rubia.
Breakfast at Bacon Bitch
The next morning, we headed to Bacon Bitch—a brunch spot with a bold, party-like atmosphere.
Kate’s Breakfast: Breakfast tacos
Tim’s Breakfast: Loaded hash browns
Drinks: Tim tried a “Happy Dad” canned hard seltzer, and Kate sipped on a Piña Colada.
While the food was decent, the real attraction at Bacon Bitch is the fun and energetic vibe—perfect for brunch with your “bitches.”
Exploring Bayside Miami
After dinner at La Canita, we took a leisurely walk along the bayfront, checking out boats, shops, and bars. Some highlights of our exploration included:
Watching live performances at the bandstand
Passing by the Ferris wheel
Strolling by the southern end near Margaritaville, home to multiple restaurants
Seeing the location of the final scene from the iconic 1980s TV show Miami Vice
Spotting a Christopher Columbus statue (though it was too dark to read the plaque)
Attempting to see the Bayfront Fountain, which was unfortunately under repair and fenced off
Drinks at Lola Bar: The Unexpected Espresso Martini
After our walk, we decided to stop at Lola Bar for a nightcap and ordered espresso martinis. However, what arrived at our table was something entirely different—what can only be described as the world’s largest White Russian, topped with a mountain of whipped cream.
Size: Easily 24oz
Contents: Mostly distilled spirits and ice
At that moment, we knew it was time to call it a night. That much alcohol was more than enough to send us back to our hotel to rest up for the next day’s adventure.
Final Thoughts & Call to Action
Bayside Miami is a fantastic place to visit before a cruise. Whether you’re shopping, dining, or just soaking in the atmosphere, there’s plenty to do.
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