Downtown Miami has many boutiques, fashion shops, art galleries and some of America's best department stores. There are also a number of excellent shopping centers, familiar brands and malls spread around the city.Shopping is so often an integral part of any trip to Miami. Notable malls include the Bal Harbor, which is the most successful in the whole of America. More money is made per square foot here than in any other shopping mall in the country. With many top designer stores and fashion boutiques, including Dior, Dolce and Gabbana, Cartier, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Saks Fifth, some shops here sell items ranging from inexpensive tops to handmade crystal ball gowns costing a staggering USD 200,000. There is even a shop selling clothes for dogs at Bal Harbor.
Miami has a relatively low rents an sales tax on retail prices and so shopping tends to be cheaper than in many of America's largest cities, such as New York. In downtown Miami, South Beach, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, many of the shops are within easy walking distance of each other, with these retail outlets being particularly diverse and interesting.
Shopping malls in Miami are usually enormous and air-conditioned, and boast large department stores such as Burdine's, Macy's and JC Penny, together with many of America's most popular chain stores, such as Banana Republic, Gap and others. City malls often include multi-screen cinemas and entertainment venues, as well as large food halls.
The current trend for shopping in Miami is geared toward open-air malls, which are usually filled with designer names, such as Bulgari, Gucci and Prada. Shopping in the Key West area is generally more expensive, particularly when buying clothes. Many of the Key West shops are worth exploring as they often offer more unusual goods, such as handmade swimsuits, cigars, home ware and skin-care products. There are also a number of shops here selling paintings, sculptures and ceramics.
Indoor Shopping Malls
Bal Harbor Shopping Mall
Address: 9700 Collins Avenue, Bal Harbor, Miami, Florida, USA
Tel: +1 305 866 0311
Bal Harbor is an exclusive mall, which specializes in designer shops, including Bulgari, Chanel, Cartier, Gucci, Hermes, Prada and Tiffany, to name but a few. This large mall is also home to Saks Fifth Avenue and Florida's largest Nieman Marcus store.
Miami International Shopping Mall
Address: 1455 North-West 107th Avenue, Miami, Florida, USA
Tel: +1 305 593 1775
The International Shopping Mall features five large department stores and many popular chain-stores, as well as a number of smaller and interesting shops. This mall is situated close to Miami International Airport (MIA).
Omni International Shopping Mall
Address: 1601 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida, USA
Tel: +1 305 374 6664
With a number of specialty shops, a large food hall and a ten-screen AMC cinema theater, Omni International is a popular place for shopping. Of note, this mall is closed on Sundays.
Outdoor Shopping Malls
Bayside Marketplace
Address: 401 North Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida, USA
Tel: +1 305 577 3344
The Bayside Marketplace is a large and busy outdoor mall, situated on the waterfront. Highlights include street performers, boat tours, numerous shops, cafés and many restaurants with excellent views.
Coco Walk Shopping Mall
Address: 3015 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida, USA
Tel: +1 305 444 0777
The Coco Walk is a sizeable, multistory semi-outdoor shopping mall, filled with shops, cafés with terrace seating and a large, 16-screen cinema theater.
Downtown Miami Shopping District
Address: Biscayne Boulevard to 3rd Avenue and South-East 1st Street to North-East 3rd Street, Miami, Florida, USA
Tel: +1 305 379 7070
This district features over 1,000 shops and is understandably one of the most popular areas for retail therapy in the city. Highlights include the second largest jewelry district in America and literally hundreds of electronics, sporting goods, shoe and clothes shops.
Prime Outlets at Florida City
Address: 250 East Palm Drive, Florida City, Miami, Florida, USA
Tel: +1 305 305 248 4727
Prime Outlets at Florida City is just 30 minutes drive south of central Miami and is situated in a lush tropical village setting. This village has over 60 factory outlet stores, with many bargains from top brands and labels, including OshKosh, Levi's jeans and Nike sportswear.
Streets of Mayfair
Address: 2911 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida, USA
Tel: +1 305 448 1700
This large town square is located in the heart of Coconut Grove and has a number of excellent outdoor cafés, restaurants, shops, movie theaters and lively nightclubs.
