Miami's reputation as a cocktail-in-hand city is well earned, but locals know the place has a lot more to offer than rooftop bars and beach mojitos. Paola Mendez of Coral Gables Love put that to the test in her ongoing Instagram series, asking real residents where they spend their best days off the drinking circuit. For episode two, she visited Sebastian, the owner of Turn Back the Clock Shop — a beloved vintage store on Bird Road — and he delivered a three-stop itinerary that makes a genuinely full, alcohol-free Miami day.
The morning starts in Coconut Grove, Miami's most walkable, tree-canopied neighborhood. Sebastian's move is a green juice or matcha at Basquet, a wellness cafe and neighborhood market at 2829 Bird Avenue, followed by a leisurely browse through Books & Books at 3409 Main Highway — two floors of novels, memoirs, and Florida-focused titles sitting just steps from Panther Coffee. It's the kind of slow, shaded afternoon that feels nothing like the Miami on the postcards.
From the Grove, the route heads to Coral Gables for pool time at the Biltmore Hotel, the 1926 National Historic Landmark at 1200 Anastasia Avenue. Its pool ranks among the largest hotel pools in the continental United States, and Sebastian calls it some of the best people-watching in the city. Non-guests can access the pool by booking a poolside cabana, which start around $240 for up to four people — split among friends, it's a manageable splurge.
The day closes on Key Biscayne, where The Cleat sits right on the water at No Name Harbor inside Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Boats pull up to the seawall, live music plays on Saturdays, and the smoked fish dip is mandatory. Park entry runs $8 per vehicle, and the golden hour drive down Crandon Boulevard across the Rickenbacker Causeway is considered part of the experience. No velvet ropes, no cover charge — just Biscayne Bay turning orange and pink while the sun drops.
The full itinerary and additional local recommendations, including a self-guided Little Havana walking tour, can be found at Coral Gables Love.
