The Neighborhood of Downtown Miami

Community Info

Downtown Miami is the beating heart of Miami. The neighborhood is bounded by the Miami River to the south and Midtown to the north, Biscayne Bay to the east, Civic Center and Overtown to the west. It is one of the most populous downtown areas in the US, surpassed only by New York City and Chicago – and growing. The business, cultural and historical center of Miami, the Downtown Miami lifestyle is whatever you’d like to make it – eclectic, quiet, family-centered, romantic, business hustle – you decide. It’s a liberating place to live.

Here are just a few things that make the Downtown Miami neighborhood stand out:

City living: Downtown Miami is growing into a subtropical Manhattan. Towering condominiums and office buildings, a multitude of restaurants and bars, shopping, parks…it’s hard to keep up. You’ll have fun trying though.

No car needed: A central location and effective public transportation make Downtown Miami one of Miami’s car-less oases. Spend those expenses elsewhere – like season tickets to the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center or home Heat games. We know. Those are tough decisions. We feel for you.

It’s Miami’s cultural center: We mentioned it before, but it’s worth getting into the details.The PAMM, the Frost Science Museum, the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center, the AT&T Arena (home of the Miami Heat), and so much more – all a short walk away. If you’re a culture junkie, then welcome to the only neighborhood in Miami that has committed to cater to you. Go and expose yourself to the wonders of art and sports.

A short history of the Downtown Miami neighborhood:

  • Juan Ponce de León was the first European man to visit the Miami area when he sailed into Biscayne Bay in 1513.
  • Miami is named after a Native American tribe called the Mayaimi. They lived around Lake Okeechobee until the 18th century.
  • Miami was incorporated as a city on July 28, 1896. There were just over 300 people living there at the time.
  • In 1891 Julia Tuttle bought 640 acres on the north bank of the Miami River and moved to South Florida. This land would become present-day downtown Miami.
  • The construction of the Florida East Coast Railway down to Miami (thanks to a very persuasive Julia Tuttle) in the 1890’s by Henry Flagler jump started the urban development of Miami.

Restaurants & Attractions

Some of our favorite places to dine around Downtown Miami:

Fooq’s: For those who enjoy culinary surprises, Fooq’s delivers. Not a traditional restaurant, it fuses Persian, French and Ameirca fare into never-before-tasted glory. A cozy little spot that is a perfect way to spend an evening with friends.

Arson: If you love grilled food, we have your new favorite spot. Arson’s open secret? Their Josper grill – which is a combination grill/oven loved by steak connoisseurs. Here, everything hits the grill – from thick cuts of meat to your veggies. Coupled with an amazing selection of wine, and you have yourself an evening of grilled bliss.

Zuma: Inside the Epic Hotel, this Japanese establishment has created a reputation for contemporary twists to traditional Japanese cuisine. Wagyu gyoza, black cod marinated in miso, pork belly robata – you get the picture. Delicious. We hear the sushi is even better.

Favorite things to do in and around Downtown Miami:

Olympia Theater: We mention it here because it’s so damned beautiful. When it was built in 1926, it was a silent movie palace. Jump forward nearly 100 years, and this meticulously restored venue is home to all types of live performances, films, community events and social soires. Moorish architecture, perfect acoustics, golden balconies and simulated twinkling night sky make this a sight to behold, and a one-of-kind spectator experience.

Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts: Take your penchant for drama to new heights. The Arsht Center produces over 400 shows a year – music, dance, theater, and much more. Housing three venues in a two-building arts cathedral designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli, you can get your ballet, opera and theater fix in one day. Afterwards, get an espresso at the bookshop or browse, or if you time it right, browse the booths at their weekly farmers market.

Bayfront Park: This 32-acre urban park is much more than green spaces, outdoor theaters and seaside retreat. It’s where downtown denizens get together to take yoga, watch a concert, learn how to dance salsa, burn out with bootcamp workouts, and take trapeze lessons – and much more. The park is home to several festivals and events, including their popular New Years Eve ball drop (NYC – take note – the mantle will be taken).

Museums: Miami’s dynamism is contagious – it even infiltrates the sacred halls of our museums. HistoryMiami documents and tells the story of Miami, its people, as well as the Paleolithic cultures that first made it home. Take a trip through time and discover what makes Miami one of the world’s most unique cultures. Not into history? The Frost Science Museum might be your thing. The revolving experiences designed by these geeks are educating people about the transformative science that is making life better and sending our humble human selves into the vastness of space. And it has a great laser light show. Lastly, we have the Perez Art Museum (the PAMM), Miami’s world-renowned contemporary art museum on the bay. Spend a day contemplating the work of todays most celebrated artists, then head down to the onsite beach to take in some sun. Literally the only place on earth where you can do that.

Downtown Miami Demographics

  • There are 65,696 people living in Downtown Miami.
  • The median age for men is 34.5 years old, 35.8 years old for women.
  • The average family size had 2.1 members.
  • Median household income is $40,180.00

Distance to popular areas
South Beach: 6.8 miles
Design District: 4.1 miles
Midtown: 4.2 mile
Wynwood: 2.5 miles
Downtown Miami: 0 miles
Brickell City Center: .6 miles
Miami International Airport: 8.3 miles
Aventura Mall: 16.9 miles

Neighborhood Schools

Public schools

Elementary schools
Southside Elementary School, for Brickell children
Riverside Elementary School, for CBD children
Frederick Douglass Elementary School, for CBD children
Phillis Wheatley Elementary School, for Arts & Entertainment District and Edgewater children
Downtown Miami Charter School
Southside Elementary School
Miami Children’s Museum School
Bridgepoint Academy of Greater Miami (Charter)

Middle schools
Shenandoah Middle School, for Brickell children
José de Diego Middle School, for CBD, Arts & Entertainment District and Edgewater children
High schools (open to all Downtown residents):
Young Women’s Preparatory School, all-girls
Young Men’s Preparatory School, all-boys

High schools
Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial High School, magnet school
New World School of the Arts, arts magnet school
Booker T. Washington High School

Colleges and Universities
Miami Dade College (Wolfson Campus)
Florida International University (Downtown Center)
Miami International University of Art & Design
Miami Culinary Institute

Are you in love with Downtown Miami?

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.