NYC vs. MIA

About one month ago I returned to New York from a week long trip to Miami. This was not my first time in Miami, but it was the first time I truly experienced Miami and didn’t just spend every day by my resort’s pool. New York will always be my one true love, but Miami is a very close second. While visiting and exploring this city, I realized how different the culture truly is from New York even though it’s also a major city in the US and just a three-hour plane ride away.

First of all, Miami is spacious. There are so many different parts of Miami and everything is approximately 20-minutes away from each other. The restaurants, bars, clubs, and stores are so much bigger than ones in New York. When my friends and I hit the town in New York, I always end up covered in some sticky beverage because there’s physically no room for people to walk around establishments without bumping into other people. Also in Miami, I realized that the lines and wait times are much shorter and way more relaxed, while in New York it seems like every time there’s a wait time for something it’s super stressful for all parties involved. Second, Miami is expensive but cheaper than New York. Restaurants that would be extremely overpriced in New York are cheaper in Miami, hotels are cheaper in Miami, and most importantly Ubers are cheaper in Miami! A 20-minute Uber ride in Miami averaged $10 while in New York, a ride of the same distance costs about double or more. To be driven short distances in Miami, I paid about $3-$5 every time while in New York, it’s almost impossible to get an Uber ride for less than $8 even if you’re only going 10 blocks. 

Next, Miami fashion is extremely different from New York. In New York, black is in style year round and it’s, of course, not socially acceptable to walk around in a bathing suit. In Miami, the days are filled with people walking about in their wet bathing suits and the nights are filled with a rainbow of clothing. Everyone wears outfits that are fun. In addition, I was shocked to see girls in fancy establishments wearing denim shorts with heels. In New York, it would never be acceptable to wear such an outfit in fancy restaurant such as Zuma or STK, but at these chains in Miami it was totally not frowned upon! This really gives New Yorkers a taste of what a laid back city looks and feels like. 

As it is a big city like New York, there are definitely some tourist spots in Miami, but let’s be real, not many people vacation to Miami to visit buildings or museums. People want to be outside. If you ever find yourself in Miami, you MUST visit the Wynwood Walls. Basically it’s a strip of walls with beautiful, abstract, graffiti art on them and they’re extremely picturesque. The walls are so cool, fun, and necessary for your Instagram account! 

Finally, the best food in Miami is Latin food. A lot of the Miami residents are Peruvian, Cuban, and other Hispanic cultures from Latin America. Latin food is always a good idea, but it’s especially a good idea in Miami! My personal favorite restaurants are CVI.CHE 105, a trendy little Peruvian restaurant with amazing ceviche, and Yuca, an amazingly authentic Cuban place located on Lincoln Road. To sum up, if you ever find yourself in SoBe, don’t just sit by the pool all day even though it’s extremely tempting. Experience the culture in Miami especially if you’re a New Yorker like myself. Miami is such a fun and different experience and I really want to return ASAP!