Love Where You Live: Why I Love Living in the Upper East Side

Searching for the perfect combination of city life and tropical paradise? Look no further than Miami’s Upper East Side. I grew up in the 305 and have always loved what Miami has to offer. My family and I have lived in between MiMo and Little Haiti for the last 6 years (and we don’t plan on leaving anytime soon!). Here are some of the things I love most about this area:

MiMo

Miami’s Modern District (or MiMo for short) is a strip of vintage boutique motels along Biscayne Boulevard between NE 50th and NE 77th streets. The charming neon signs and renovated motels are a callback to Miami’s Art Deco glamour days. Quaint aesthetic aside, MiMo is home to some of the yummiest local joints. Some of our favorites are Panther Coffee, Blue Collar, Dogma, Ms. Cheezious, Phuc Yea, OMG Brigadeiros, and Mr. Mandolin. Being able to walk to all our favorite food spots is one of the things I love most about our neighborhood. 

Biscayne Bay is Bae

If I could describe one thing that reminds me of home, it’s the smell of the breeze coming off Biscayne Bay. The early residents of the area (called Lemon City back then) were drawn to the bay, and it’s what I love most about the Upper East Side. Last summer we bought an inflatable kayak and started paddling out to the nearby mangrove hammocks via the boat ramp at the end of our block. Legion Park is our favorite spot to feel the breeze and catch a glimpse of some diving pelicans. The park has a farmer’s market every Saturday with free yoga and so much fresh, local produce!

Close to Everything

Few areas in Miami are as central as the Upper East Side. In about 15 minutes I can get to the beach, Downtown, Miami International Airport, or Wynwood Art District. With the Little Haiti Cultural Center and Miami Design District just a five-minute drive away, our neighborhood is rich with its own culture and art scene. MUCE Miami in Little Haiti is an exciting spot to check out local artists and cultural programs. I love that I seldom have to jump on the highway to get where I need to go. With several residential neighborhoods in the area, the Upper East Side is also very family-friendly. When my oldest starts Pre-K this August, we’ll be walking a whole two blocks to and from his school, where many of the PTA parents are our neighbors. 

To me, the Upper East Side captures all the things I love most about Miami. I feel so lucky to be able to call it home!

This post is part of our Love Where You Live series. Be sure to check out the other posts in the series here!