Miami is one of the best cities in the world. No matter what kind of traveler you are or what you’re in to, you can find it in Miami. (Except skiing. There’s no skiing here.)

Unfortunately, most of the tourists that come here stick to Ocean Drive (where locals never go). Before a cruise, you’ll find hordes of people strolling through the uninspiring Bayside Marketplace, eating mediocre food and overpriced drinks.

This is one side of Miami, but there are so many better ones. Here are my favorite neighborhoods in Miami.

Wynwood

Wynwood has been coming on the scene over the past few years when old warehouses were renovated and turned into art spaces and walls were covered with street art. Now, it’s known as the coolest neighborhood in the city.

Whenever people are visiting, we take them to see the Wynwood Walls and we grab brunch at one of the three classic spots: The Wynwood Diner, Morgan’s, or Beaker & Gray (which makes a great date night spot too).

Little Havana

You can’t come to Miami without visiting Little Havana, or La Pequena Habana as it’s known in Spanish. On Calle Ocho, the main thoroughfare in the city, you can duck into one of the many cigar shops, watch old men playing dominos in the park, or grab an ice-cream from Azucar. If you’re there at night, grab a drink at Cubaocho and check out the art-covered walls before walking next door to Ball and Chain to dance salsa. For dinner, my favorite restaurant in the neighborhood is Lung Yai Thai Tapas. The food is delicious and cheap and the service is comically absent. For a more traditional Cuban meal, check out Old’s Havana.

Brickell/Downtown

These are the neighborhoods we’ve lived in since we moved to Miami a couple of years ago. Here you’ll find towering skyscrapers, the city’s best rooftop bars, and a big chunk of the city’s millennial population. Brickell is downtown’s fancy cousin. It’s called the financial district because of the number of banks in the area. Brickell is home to some nice restaurants, cool bars and a variety of happy hours.

Downtown is still “up and coming”. There are some seedy parts, but the closer you are to Biscayne the safer it is. Still, if you’re willing to dig for the smaller neighborhood haunts, you won’t be disappointed. My favorite is Vero and all the restaurants that share the outdoor plaza. Downtown is also home to the Perez Art Museum (which offers the most scenic spot for a Thursday happy hour in the city), the new Frost Science Museum, and the American Airlines Arena where the Heat play. There’s a free metromover that connects Brickell and Downtown, or you can take the free trolley.

The Design District

I never spent much time in the Design District until recently with the opening of St. Roch Market. Why? Because unless you shop at Gucci, Fendi or Prada, this neighborhood is probably above your pay grade. With the new food hall, there’s a more affordable place for people to hang out, grab some food and window shop. It’s right up the street from Wynwood, making it an easy stop if you’re already in the neighborhood.

Coconut Grove

WIth its tree-lined streets and old-money vibe, Coconut Grove is the place to go for a slower and more relaxed way of life. Some of my favorite restaurants are Glass & Vine and The Spillover. There are tons of brunch spots here too. After you’re done walking around, you can check out Vizcaya, a beautiful villa and museum built in the early 1900s.

These are some of my favorite neighborhoods in Miami, ones that will get you out of tourist trap central.

Have you been to Miami? Where are your favorite places to go there?