The Design District Neighborhood

Community Info

The Design District is a sub-neighborhood of Buena Vista in Miami. Established in the twenties, this eclectic community is bordered by NE 43st street to the north, NW 1st avenue to the west, 36th street to the south and Biscayne Boulevard to the east. The Design District is both a residential neighborhood and a luxury shopping destination. A unique member among the Miami set, it has the feel of chic neighborhood on the fringe of a ultra-hip business district. Architecture of homes range from classic Mediterranean to Modern, with the typically cool diversity of styles of most of Miami’s old neighborhoods.

Here are just a few things that make the Design District neighborhood stand out:

Walkable: If you dream of walking from the door of your home to the doors of Miami’s best shops and restaurants, then look no further. The Design District puts you within a few minutes walk from delicious meals, exclusive fashion and inimitable art. Think Madison Avenue Manhattan, without the skyscrapers.

Nightlife: A little restaurant-hopping, bar-hopping, wine-tasting – the Design District is open late into the night. On top of the culinary temptations, events and intimate night clubs will top off your entertainment adventures.

Cultural: There are over two dozen art galleries, showrooms and art installations in the Design District – if art balances your chi we suggest you hang out here. The Miami Symphony Orchestra performs regularly in the open air and the whole district is filled with exquisite sounds and visuals. It’s hard not to become a little snobby.

Central location: It’s so good to be near so many things. A short rideshare will put you at the center of Miami’s most exciting areas – Wynwood, Midtown and Downtown Miami are literally down the street.

A short history of the Design District neighborhood

  • During the early 1900’s, the area we call the Design District was home to a pineapple farm.
  • When the neighborhood fell into disrepair in the 1980’s and 90’s, developer Craig Robins bought over a dozen buildings and jump-started his vision for the area as a luxury shopping, dining and art destination.

Restaurants & Attractions

Some of our favorite places to dine around Design District:

Ella: This inspired pop-up cafe by restaurant entrepreneur and chef Michael Schwartz is open early to serve you a melt-in-your-mouth breakfast. Named after his eldest daughter, this affectionate homage has become a cool meeting spot for an espresso or just to get something quick and good to eat. A nice place to enjoy a snack and a conversation.

Mandolin Aegean Bistro: Serving Turkish/Greek fare, this restaurant takes on the challenge of creating an airy Greek ambiance in the midst of high fashion. From spicy kebabs to grilled octopus, every dish will remind you of the Aegean Sea and the tiny islands and wonderful culture floating in it. Using seasonal herbs and spices grown in their backyard of their Florida bungalow, it is a rich culinary experience you will not forget. You have to try it.

Ghee Indian Kitchen: Farm to Table dining combined with traditional Indian cuisine and what you have is an experiment that changes the way you think about food. An evolving menu that changes with the seasons makes a night at Ghee a little adventure – we recommend you order the tasting menu, then order a lot of the items you like.

Estefan Kitchen: As you can imagine, Miami is very picky about their Cuban food. But this does not stop the Estefan Kitchen from improvising off their family recipes. Jackfruit Ropa Vieja and Cuban Risoto are just some of the mutations you can expect to try out. Oh, and it’s owned by Miami icon Gloria Estafan.

Ember by Brad Kilgore: Few restaurants come with a resume like Kilgore’s. This award winning chef has been part of some of Miami’s most acclaimed restaurants. Dining at any of his joints is an experience. With Ember he applies his art to the America Bistro. It’s a wood-fired menu of meats, pasta and veggies with a bounty to share around the table. If you’re in the mood for grilled – this is your spot.

Favorite things to do in and around Design District:

Art Tours in the Design District: Run by the Miami Design District and Arts Encounters, you can take a free guided tour of the neighborhood’s world-famous public art. Local art critic Margery Gordon leads two of these tours a month – check the MIami Design District calendar for the next tour.

Window Shopping: As mentioned before – the Miami Design District is home to some of fashion’s most prestigious brands; Cartier, Dior, Fendi, Tom Ford…and the list goes on. A leisurely walk about town imagining yourself in these beautifully designed clothes and accessories can be fun – but it’s even more fun if you take something home.

Haitian Heritage Museum: It’s hard to believe how people from half of a small island in the Caribbean can create such a distinctive trove of art, music and literature. The Hatian community in Miami is a big part of the Miami culture, and this museum was created to preserve, document and promote the culture and keep the diaspora connected to their heritage. A must-visit.

De la Cruz Collection: Listed in ArtNews as one of the world’s top 200 collectors since 1998, Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz took the bold (and rather generous step) of sharing their collection – for free. The 30,000SF museum houses artists Isa Genzken, Christopher Wool, Felix Gonzalez-Torres and many more.

The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Miami: Experimentation is art’s greatest muse, and the ICA is here to make sure that it’s encouraged and supported. A museum and a learning community, this free museum nurtures up-and-coming local artists and teaches new generations of visual experimenters.

Location, location, location. You are in the Design District – so Miami is your oyster. From here you can see a musical in Downtown Miami, go clubbing in South Beach or do some serious people watching in Wynwood. There is too much to do – so you’ll need to rein in your imagination.

Design District Demographics

  • There are 3,573 people living in Design District – with a median age of about 35 years old.
  • Percentage of family households is 32.9%.
  • 26% of Design District households are families with children
  • Median Household Income is $43,958

Distance to popular areas
Midtown: .4 mile
Wynwood: 1.1 miles
Downtown Miami: 4.1 miles
Brickell Center: 4.5 miles
Miami Beach (South Beach): 7.8 miles
Miami International Airport: 5.8 miles
Aventura Mall: 14.4 miles

Neighborhood Schools

Private:

  • Morningside Montessori School (Toddler to Kindergarten)
  • The Cushman School (K-12)

Public:

  • Morningside K-8 Academy
  • Phyllis R. Miller Elementary School
  • Horace Mann Middle School
  • Miami Arts Charter – MAC (6-12)
  • Design and Architecture Senior High – DASH (9-12)

Are you in love with Design District?

Email or call me (305.318.8557) to learn more, talk about what’s available and hopefully visit a few of these amazing homes. I can’t wait to show you around.