Continuing our spotlight on some of the world’s most creative districts, we visit Little River in Miami, where a cluster of community-led enterprises are championing the diversity of this historic neighbourhood.
A world away from the neon-fronted Art Deco of South Beach, upscale high-rises of Brickell and glossy flagship stores of the nearby Design District, Little River offers a laid-back, low-slung vision of Miami that’s easy to fall for. Sandwiched between the namesake river to the north that empties into Biscayne Bay and Wynwood and Little Haiti to the south, this pocket-sized district with an industrial legacy and diverse heritage has become a beacon of community and creativity.
In a city known for ostentation and glamour, Little River’s indie spirit stands out, with a series of locally owned businesses carving a charismatic niche among the neighbourhood’s wide streets, warehouses and single-storey strip malls. Here’s everything you need to know.
Why Now
To really understand the dynamics of a city, follow where the artists go. Right now, they’re in Little River: its creative scene is witnessing an influx as costs in nearby ‘arts district’ Wynwood soar. A hatful of contemporary art spaces have sprung up in recent years while the not-for-profit Oolite Arts (named after the coral bedrock that sits beneath the city) opens a major new campus in the near future.
Come Art Basel and Design Week, some of the best satellite events (including UnKommon Art Week) can be found among Little River’s former industrial spaces, while a growing collection of the city’s best boutiques, bars and restaurants provide plenty of reason to stay.
What The Locals Say
One of Miami’s hottest tables is at Sunny’s – a steakhouse and bar that started life as a post-pandemic pop-up. Now – hidden behind an understated facade – this courtyard oasis ranks among Miami’s vibiest spots, serving up over-charcoal cuts butchered in house, grown-up cocktails and East Coast oysters from its raw bar. “When I first came to Miami it was all about South Beach, but as the soul of neighbourhoods like Little River become discovered you see more homegrown restaurants and talent popping up,” says chef Aaron Brooks, describing Sunny’s as “the party you want to be at every night of the week”. “There are a lot of fantastic restaurants from restaurant groups from outside the city but we’re proud that Sunny’s was born in Miami and nods to the city.”
In a warehouse a block away, Reserved MIA is piled high with artfully curated vinyls and vintage from the 1950s to now, with owners Igor and Frank Mesh describing Little River as a microcosm of Miami. “It’s a blend of old and new and it’s in the middle of a lot of change, like Miami always is,” they say, namechecking nearby Bar Bucce and La Natural as top spots for post-work pizza. “It’s changed a lot but in many ways the foundation of the community remains the same. There may be a line for a new bagel place on a Sunday, but there is a bigger crowd letting out at the church that has stood for decades.”
For Isaac Perelman Mizhrahi, co-founder at Dot Fiftyone gallery, which spotlights Latin American art, the area’s identity lies in its independent spirit. “What we like about Little River is there is no clear separation between art and daily life,” he says, having witnessed new artists, designers and architects arrive in the 10 years since opening. “What has been particularly interesting is that this growth has happened through thoughtful, innovative and high-quality projects, without the overtly showy atmosphere found in some other areas of Miami.”
How To Do It
Sat between the I-95 and Biscayne Bay, Little River is an easy Uber from the neighbouring Wynwood and the Design District. Grab an acai bowl and nitro-brew coffee at Imperial Moto, a cafe, roastery and biker hangout where, beyond the idling Harleys, motorcycle apparel shares shelf space with bags of house-roasted coffee. From here, browse vintage and vinyl at Reserved MIA, handmade jewellery at Eliou and playful, bright-hued pieces at LA transplant Simon Miller before swinging past the mosaic domes of St Mary’s Cathedral en route to community-focused contemporary art space Primary.
Pick up roti and jerk chicken at low-key West Indian bodega B&M Market and dive back into Little River’s art scene at Dot Fiftyone and Locust Projects – Miami’s longest-running alternative art space. Head to Magie’s sunkissed garden for natural wines at golden hour before weighing up dinner options. Beyond the brilliant Sunny’s, other hotspots are the walnut panelled, 10-seater sushi bar Ogawa and Fooqs – a cool, cavernous space offering wood-fired Mediterranean cooking. Continue the night down the road in neighbouring Little Haiti at ZeyZey, an open-air cultural space spinning Afrobeat, Latin jazz, cumbia and disco, exemplifying the area’s community spirit that – Miami realtors take note – money can’t buy.
