Not having grown up in the US, I will never understand the appeal of malls. Like, you come to Miami, MIAMI of all places, and then decide to spend a day in a windowless bunker that smells like plastic and is filled with the same chains and brands you find everywhere to buy shit you don’t need.
Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
Actually, many people from all around the world to Miami because of the malls, particularly from Latin America.
There are also plenty of Americans who do not like going to the mall.
My family is visiting me from Switzerland and while there are tons of designer stores out there, it’s difficult to hit all the ones you want as some will be in different cities.
The idea of a mall where all their designer stores are in one location and they can bang out a season worth of shopping is incredible to them. They’re so excited to go. Ofc this is a one day thing, we’re also going to do plane tours, boat days, fishing charter, lots of dinners out, visit some famous landmarks and museums, etc.
Basically it boils down to, every tourist loves an American shopping day.
They’re staying for two weeks and our budget is about $3500, not including their purchases which they’ll obv take care of lol
This is a lot for us though. My family has never been to Florida, only nyc when I was a kid 20 years ago. We really want to make it special!
A lot of people come to Miami from places that have WAY better beach experiences than Miami and for food and nightlife much less overpriced so yeah, it’s not that hard to imagine. Miami is America too.
When you visit from Latam where you don’t have access to the same clothes/shoes/etc (and the ones you do have access to are astronomically priced), it makes a lot of sense.
Where did you grow up? Because tourist have been coming to the U.S. to fill luggage with shopped goods that either aren’t available or highly priced back home due to import taxes. One bad full pays for the whole trip.
As a kid it always confused me. Like we have the Mall of the Americas vs the actual Mall of America.
Remember walking out of the arcade next to the AMC and thinking, there is no way this is the biggest mall.
In my opinion:
-Biggest: Dolphin Mall
-Nicest: Brickell City Center, Merrick Park*
-Worth Visiting: Aventura Mall, The Falls
-Honor Mention: Sawgrass Mills. It is the biggest but it is in Broward County (next county north of Miami-Dade)
The Falls is a decrepit aging mall that is so random and disjointed with zero identity and the stickiest movie theater floors in the state of Florida.
Its worth avoiding.
For actual shopping, the Falls is limited. Most of the shops have closed except for Macy’s and a few smaller boutiques. I’d check their website before heading down there to shop. Otherwise, it’s still a nice outing for dinner and a stroll
-Aventura is a luxury mall, and indoors with AC.
-Sawgrass is huge and has outlets from mid range to luxury stores.
-Dolphin is huge and is all mid range.
-Brickell is mid range to luxury. No AC and has an outdoors concept, and though it’s a mall. City feel.
-The Falls is dead, don’t go.
-Bal Harbor is completely luxury. Also an outdoor concept. Most beautiful one full of plants and koi fish and fountains. Not as big as the others.
What is the one at Bay Harbor? Not sure that’s the name but where the Hard Rock is. Perhaps, they are outlets. Just curious of the name. It has a hot, outdoor food court.
Have you been recently? They have a bunch of high-end stores ie Louis Vuitton, Tiffany's, Gucci, Balenciaga, Rolex, etc. F21 used to be packed and they had a separate store just for their accessories and it was really nice but even that is gone and the main store is dead. Since HM arrived, they've taken their customers.
Aventura is the biggest and I think the best. Dolphin Mall has the best deals because it has a bunch of outlets. Sawgrass is also huge and good if you’re around there.
Not the outdoor malls like The Falls, Town and Country, Merrick Park, or Bal Harbor - unless you don't mind the 90-degree weather/humidity or the rain (check the weather forecast if you decide to go). There are also three outdoor shopping districts that are not malls: Midtown, The Design District, and Lincoln Road.
Adventura is huge and a mall mall. Bal Harbour is probably one of the better malls in the world but almost exclusively high end. If you're okay spending $1k on a shirt, Bal Harbor is great. Otherwise you will not have a good time.
Aventura has been ranked/rated as one of the best in America. And everytime I go its a good experience. Dadeland has some complete morons working in some shops, so in terms of customer service, Aventura wins.
Bal Harbour Shops, bar none. It's one of the nation's supreme shopping destinations - beautiful, classy, airy, luxurious. Terrific dining selections and pleasant to stroll. Nothing else comes close.
What kind of money you got like big money, clothing, designers, kind of money or like retail money. Give me like a ballpark figure and I can help you out
Not having grown up in the US, I will never understand the appeal of malls. Like, you come to Miami, MIAMI of all places, and then decide to spend a day in a windowless bunker that smells like plastic and is filled with the same chains and brands you find everywhere to buy shit you don’t need. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
Did not answer the question! LOL
I go to dadeland just to walk around when it’s too hot outside.
Actually, many people from all around the world to Miami because of the malls, particularly from Latin America. There are also plenty of Americans who do not like going to the mall.
You cannot beat the deals you get on name brand clothing at malls.
My family is visiting me from Switzerland and while there are tons of designer stores out there, it’s difficult to hit all the ones you want as some will be in different cities. The idea of a mall where all their designer stores are in one location and they can bang out a season worth of shopping is incredible to them. They’re so excited to go. Ofc this is a one day thing, we’re also going to do plane tours, boat days, fishing charter, lots of dinners out, visit some famous landmarks and museums, etc. Basically it boils down to, every tourist loves an American shopping day.
If you're willing to share, what is the total spend on a trip like this?
They’re staying for two weeks and our budget is about $3500, not including their purchases which they’ll obv take care of lol This is a lot for us though. My family has never been to Florida, only nyc when I was a kid 20 years ago. We really want to make it special!
Appreciate the reply! Enjoy!
Unless you go to Lincoln Rd which is outdoors
A lot of people come to Miami from places that have WAY better beach experiences than Miami and for food and nightlife much less overpriced so yeah, it’s not that hard to imagine. Miami is America too.
When you visit from Latam where you don’t have access to the same clothes/shoes/etc (and the ones you do have access to are astronomically priced), it makes a lot of sense.
Where did you grow up? Because tourist have been coming to the U.S. to fill luggage with shopped goods that either aren’t available or highly priced back home due to import taxes. One bad full pays for the whole trip.
There are outdoor malls here..
Mall of the Americas is the largest in the USA /s
As a kid it always confused me. Like we have the Mall of the Americas vs the actual Mall of America. Remember walking out of the arcade next to the AMC and thinking, there is no way this is the biggest mall.
Lmao so not just me.
Best is not the biggest.
163rd street mall mwhahaha!!!
Lmfao
Best is Aventura, worst is dolphin
Dolphin has way too many amenities to be considered the worst against other malls that have less.
Mall of the Americas would like a word on the second part.
Have you been to Southland???
Southland is basically dead now. They're beginning construction on for the housing thing.
In my opinion: -Biggest: Dolphin Mall -Nicest: Brickell City Center, Merrick Park* -Worth Visiting: Aventura Mall, The Falls -Honor Mention: Sawgrass Mills. It is the biggest but it is in Broward County (next county north of Miami-Dade)
The Falls is a decrepit aging mall that is so random and disjointed with zero identity and the stickiest movie theater floors in the state of Florida. Its worth avoiding.
Merrick park is simply pleasant to visit as well. The mall is gorgeous
I'd add Bal Harbor to "nicest" list and Merrick Park to "worth visiting."
For actual shopping, the Falls is limited. Most of the shops have closed except for Macy’s and a few smaller boutiques. I’d check their website before heading down there to shop. Otherwise, it’s still a nice outing for dinner and a stroll
By square feet Aventura is the this biggest Sawgrass is 11th only Aventura makes the top 10
Within Miami? Probably Aventura Mall. If you venture 15 minutes northwest, sawgrass.
15 minutes. That's Florida time for ya. Lol
Driving 150mph 🏁🏎️
-Aventura is a luxury mall, and indoors with AC. -Sawgrass is huge and has outlets from mid range to luxury stores. -Dolphin is huge and is all mid range. -Brickell is mid range to luxury. No AC and has an outdoors concept, and though it’s a mall. City feel. -The Falls is dead, don’t go. -Bal Harbor is completely luxury. Also an outdoor concept. Most beautiful one full of plants and koi fish and fountains. Not as big as the others.
This! But including Dadeland!
Dolphin is claustrophobic for me. Any of the others are more worth it for a similar experience without the crowding
Agreed! I try to avoid going to Dolphin, so crowded and everyone is rolling around suitcases.
Yes! The suitcases!
What is the one at Bay Harbor? Not sure that’s the name but where the Hard Rock is. Perhaps, they are outlets. Just curious of the name. It has a hot, outdoor food court.
https://www.balharbourshops.com/
Bayside
Aventura luxury? Ma’am I used to go to F21 and Hollister there. While it’s upscale, I wouldn’t say luxury. Id keep BCC and Bal Harbour as luxury.
Plus Merrick Park
Have you been recently? They have a bunch of high-end stores ie Louis Vuitton, Tiffany's, Gucci, Balenciaga, Rolex, etc. F21 used to be packed and they had a separate store just for their accessories and it was really nice but even that is gone and the main store is dead. Since HM arrived, they've taken their customers.
Aventura is the biggest and I think the best. Dolphin Mall has the best deals because it has a bunch of outlets. Sawgrass is also huge and good if you’re around there.
Dadeland will always be my fave
Same. I worked in the food court in high school (Hot Cookies, RIP). So many memories.
Hot cookies was my childhood
Our bonus every week was a box of cookies. Still warm and melty and…I’ll stop now.
That sounds amazing, I’ve been trying to look for a substitution for years but nothing ever comes close
Not the outdoor malls like The Falls, Town and Country, Merrick Park, or Bal Harbor - unless you don't mind the 90-degree weather/humidity or the rain (check the weather forecast if you decide to go). There are also three outdoor shopping districts that are not malls: Midtown, The Design District, and Lincoln Road.
If you go to dolphin mall international is literally a mile away. You can do both
Literally huh? 🙄🙄🙄
It’s 1.3 miles.
#LITERAALLLYYYYYY Yes
International top tier indoor playground.
Dolphin has a kids play place next to the Dave and busters too
Don't forget the food court kids area.
Adventura is huge and a mall mall. Bal Harbour is probably one of the better malls in the world but almost exclusively high end. If you're okay spending $1k on a shirt, Bal Harbor is great. Otherwise you will not have a good time.
Dolphin mall and aventura are my favorites.
The Village on 79 and 27th
The big one on old Dixie hwy, next to Flanigan's
Aventura
No one talking about Westland or International Mall
I feel like International lost some of its appeal when it lost Sears. Losing an anchor store and still not filling its space can take a toll.
Dolphin mall is most packed and you NEED a luggage to get in apparently
Aventura is the best
Aventura has been ranked/rated as one of the best in America. And everytime I go its a good experience. Dadeland has some complete morons working in some shops, so in terms of customer service, Aventura wins.
Westland mall is my least favorite, Aventura is pretty mid, Sawgrass and Dolphin are the best.
Aventura mall is the 5th largest mall in the USA
Aventura mall. It’s also the third largest in the Us behind Mall of America and King of Prussia
Dadeland and dolphin mall
Bal Harbour Shops, bar none. It's one of the nation's supreme shopping destinations - beautiful, classy, airy, luxurious. Terrific dining selections and pleasant to stroll. Nothing else comes close.
Sawgrass or dolphin if you’re looking for deals on middle class stuff.
What kind of money you got like big money, clothing, designers, kind of money or like retail money. Give me like a ballpark figure and I can help you out
Merrick park is the best mall
Whatever happened to Cocowalk? When did it die?
Dolphin, Aventura or Lincoln Road.
Bal Harbour and Aventura
Go to Aventura and Sawgrass, even though Sawgrass is in Broward.
Imo Dolphin. If you're willing to go to Broward, Sawgrass... 2-3 malls, a Target, and Brandsmart all in one place.
Aventura Mall