The cities of Miami and Miami Beach have a very well-defined place in the global imagination. Exuberant, hedonistic body-beautiful beach culture, sparkly water everywhere, strong Latin American and Caribbean influences including the music and the culinary flavours. The vibe can be anything from glitzy Miami Vice to bitchy Golden Girls—hell, even in the glum serial killer series Dexter, Miami still looks spectacularly tropical. In Miami, unlike some other American cities, nobody is hiding how much fun they’re having behind a veneer of cool, which makes it an ideal place for people watching.
When the French drag comedy La Cage Aux Folle was remade into The Birdcage (1996) with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, only South Beach fit as the perfect backdrop for all that camp. In the 1990s, the Miami Beach neighbourhood became a haven for gay men with a penchant for transforming neglected Art Deco buildings into something magically glamorous. These days the strip of hotels and restaurants along Ocean Drive is a well-preserved paradise for lovers of Art Deco, beachside life—and drag.
South Beach has been a mecca for LGBTQ2S+ people going back to the 1950s and ’60s. In those early decades, police regularly raided gay beaches and clubs; in 1954, police arrested sunbathers at Ocean Drive for wearing beach attire considered “indecent” as part of broader campaigns to police gay social spaces.
Gradually, the city gayed itself up. The HIV/AIDS crisis hit Miami particularly hard, prompting more and more local activism pushing for authorities to recognize the community. The White Party Miami, founded in 1985 as a fundraiser for the HIV/AIDS crisis, set the standard for what a gay circuit party should be. Though the White Party ended in 2019, successors like the Winter Party Festival (February 26 to March 2, 2026), organized by the National LGBTQ Task Force and attracting more than 10,000 visitors, URGE Miami (usually Thanksgiving weekend) and Dreamland (New Year’s Eve) keep the spirit alive and the beats beating.
Beachfront Lummus Park is where Miami Beach Pride (April 11 and 12, 2026), one of America’s most thrilling Pride events, takes place. Note that when someone tells you that they had a great time at “Miami Pride,” they’re usually talking about Miami Beach’s festival, which attracts a couple of hundred thousand attendees annually. On the mainland, the Miami district of Wynwood hosts a monthful of more community-minded events every June.
The late great fashion designer Gianni Versace moved to Miami in 1992, turning the 1930 Casa Casuarina mansion on Ocean Drive, right across from Lummus Park, into his own personal party palace. It’s now a gorgeous and pricey hotel with a restaurant named Gianni’s, to honour a South Beach champion who died tragically in 1997. The stretch of South Beach between 11th and 12th streets remains a gay stomping ground, though for dedicated queer venues, visitors will want to head farther west.
Even LGBTQ2S+ travellers who inexplicably fail to put Miami atop their bucket lists will find themselves in the cruise capital of the world for a few days before and/or after boarding one of thousands of cruises that leave from the Port of Miami—each year more than 8.5 million passengers sail out of the city. It’s worth spending at least a couple of nights seeing the city before hopping on that Atlantis or Virgin cruise.
Now, about the country and state where Miami and Miami Beach are located. Since early 2025, the United States government under President Donald Trump has enacted several policies discriminating against trans people, immigrants and international allies like Canada and Europe. And the state of Florida has, over the last couple of years, placed restrictions on public school instruction and discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity, banned gender-affirming medical care for trans minors, imposed restrictions on such care for adults, banned trans people from using public restrooms that align with their gender identity and allowed healthcare providers to deny care based on moral or religious beliefs, including homophobic and transphobic beliefs. In spring 2025, a state directive to ban colourful street art forced the removal of Miami Beach’s rainbow crosswalk across Ocean Drive. It is understandable that many are concerned about crossing the U.S. border at this time, or spending time and money in Florida.
For many others, however, including queer Americans, the Miami area provides a progressive refuge and playground. It’s one of Florida’s—and America’s—most gay-friendly destinations. In 2025, both Miami and Miami Beach scored 100 points out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, a benchmark of how inclusive city laws and services are for LGBTQ2S+ people. Travellers who are nervous about what they may encounter in other parts of the state and country will feel seen and welcome in Miami and Miami Beach.
And there’s so much to do and see! Here’s our insider’s guide to LGBTQ2S+ Miami and Miami Beach.
Pride and other events
Miami Beach Pride (April 11 and 12, 2026). What makes this Pride special? The free outdoor festival, which attracts a couple of hundred thousand attendees annually, is mostly right on the beach, though the full weekend itinerary of Pride will take visitors to other spots in the city. Typically, on both Saturday and Sunday, there’s one stage with well-known and local talent, then another that’s more DJ focused, separated by booths featuring vendors and local community organizations. Of course, there are ticketed parties, mostly for party boys, happening at the same time.
Wynwood Pride (every June). Though the city of Miami lets the city of Miami Beach be the international star when it comes to Pride festivities, Miami’s Wynwood Arts District hosts a monthful of community-minded and drag-filled events every June.
Art Basel Miami Beach (December 4 to 6, 2026; mostly at 1901 Convention Center Dr., South Beach, Miami Beach). Not just an art fair, it is the single most important week on Miami’s cultural calendar and one of the world’s defining contemporary art events. The fair brings together leading international galleries, blue chip collectors, curators, artists and cultural power players from across the globe. The event overflows to satellite fairs, museum openings, pop-ups, private parties and brand activations, creating a city-wide festival of creativity, fashion, nightlife and spectacle.
What to see & do
12th Street Beach (12th St & Ocean Dr., South Beach, Miami Beach). Miami’s de facto gay beach is still the most organic place to tap into the city’s LGBTQ2S+ scene during daylight hours. The stretch between 11th and 12th streets draws a mixed crowd of locals, tourists, gym-toned regulars and visiting couples, with peak energy from late morning through sunset. The rainbow-painted lifeguard tower tells you you’re in the right place. Bring a chair or towel, slather on some sunscreen and soak up Miami at its best. For a clothing-optional gay-friendly outing, head farther north to Haulover Beach Park.
Pérez Art Museum Miami (1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami). One of the city’s premier cultural institutions for modern and contemporary art, the collection focuses on 20th- and 21st-century works from the Americas, Africa and Europe. Housed in a striking waterfront building with hanging gardens and sweeping views of Biscayne Bay, PAMM feels both cosmopolitan and approachable. The permanent collection contains many works by LGBTQ2S+ artists, and the curators aren’t shy about including queer themes in their special exhibitions.
Miami Beach Architectural District (Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and the surrounding area, Miami Beach). Commonly known as the Art Deco Historic District, this neighbourhood contains more than 800 preserved buildings from the 1920s and 1930s with pastel façades, geometric motifs and neon signs that define Miami’s signature aesthetic. When the style fell out of fashion, and many of the buildings fell into disrepair, it was gay men who moved in during the 1990s and started jeujing things up. Even for those who don’t care about architectural beauty, the area is full of boutiques, restaurants and cafés.
Museum of Sex (2200 NW 24th Ave., Miami). Opened in 2024, the Museum of Sex is one of a new generation of museums that mixes education and entertainment in a selfie-friendly space. The artifacts, displays and interactive activities explore and celebrate human sexuality, sometimes in a graphic way, with lots of attention given to queerness. Guests can use tokens to play risqué games that include riding a mechanical bull or grabbing onto mechanical penises that thrust themselves randomly through gloryholes in public toilet–like booths. Intellectually invigorating, but also deeply silly. Great for a date, especially during one of their events.
Museum of Ice Cream (851 NE 1st Ave., Miami). The same playful, photogenic and interactive approach to museuming as the Museum of Sex—but focused on a very different and more kid-friendly human appetite. Visitors get ice cream samples as they pass through the whimsical themed rooms learning (a little) about the delightful frosty treat.
Wynwood Walls & Arts District (2520 NW 2nd Ave., Wynwood, Miami). Wynwood is not an LGBTQ district per se, but the art scene, fashion crowd, drag brunch culture and nightlife create a space where queer visitors blend in naturally. Wynwood Walls refers to the large-scale murals by international artists on buildings all over the district, but the real appeal is wandering side streets, galleries, cafés and pop-ups.
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens (3251 S. Miami Ave., Coconut Grove, Miami). The lavish Italian-style villa, manicured gardens and dramatic waterfront setting attract visitors who appreciate aesthetics, history and a bit of old-world fantasy. Romantic, theatrical and unapologetically ornamental, it’s a popular spot for same-gender wedding photography and engagement shoots. Go early to avoid crowds and heat.
Treetop Trekking Miami (1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami). This adventure playground in the trees mixes outdoor adrenaline with real Floridian wilderness. Set within a forested area near Zoo Miami, the park features zip lines, suspended bridges, Tarzan jumps and aerial obstacles designed for a range of skill levels. Fun with a group of friends or as a couple.
Proximity to water, whether it’s Biscayne Bay or the Atlantic Ocean, is key to Miami’s appeal. Visitors can get out on the waves in a few ways. Most relaxing is a kayak excursion with Miami EcoAdventures (3401 SW 72nd Ave., Miami). The outings, often launching from Crandon Park Marina on Key Biscayne, take you paddling around Pelican Island and through mangrove fringes of the bay. For something more exhilarating, there’s Thriller Miami Speedboat Adventures (401 Biscayne Blvd., Miami). Pull a blazer over a pastel T-shirt and make like Don Johnson (that would be Dakota Johnson’s dad) making a drug bust on Miami Vice for the high-speed boat ride and tour of the Biscayne Bay, the Port of Miami and the many waterfront mansions of the bay’s islands. Who is that barbecuing out on the deck? Shakira? Jennifer Lopez? Ricky Martin? Rosie O’Donnell? Victoria Beckham? You never know.
Where to stay
Hôtel Gaythering (1409 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach). This boutique, adults-only hotel (well, motel really) doubles as a social basecamp for gay locals and visitors. Right in Miami Beach’s gaybourhood, it’s got stylish rooms and communal spaces where guests can mix and mingle. The in-house bar, one of the most popular in the area, hosts weekly trivia, karaoke and socials. The on-site sauna (more on that in the Where Gay and bi guys can have fun section below) is free to guests and gives the whole place a frisky energy.
Hyatt Centric Brickell Miami (1102 Brickell Bay Dr., Brickell, Miami). This polished urban retreat places visitors in the heart of Miami’s sleek Brickell district, where skyline views, nightlife and world-class dining are all within walking distance. The hotel’s 208 stylish rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and downtown. On-site Caña Restaurant and Lounge serves Cuban-inspired fare that’s perfect for an easy breakfast or dinner before heading out to explore.
CitizenM Miami South Beach (1200 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach). This concept hotel combines hip design, communal spaces, a strong tech focus (guests check themselves in on screens and make their own digital room keys) and compact, well-thought-out rooms. Located right on Lincoln Road, Miami Beach’s pedestrianized shopping and dining district, guests are steps from shopping, cafés and nightlife without needing a car. A rooftop pool seals the deal.
Circa 39 Hotel (39th St. & Collins Ave., Miami Beach) A boutique hotel with Travel Proud credentials in a quieter part of South Beach, Circa 39 offers a classic Florida beach experience minutes from LGBTQ nightlife. Thoughtful design, a pool deck with lounge chairs and easy beach access make this a balanced choice for travellers who want sun, sand, and queer culture within walking distance.
Moxy Miami Wynwood (255 NW 25th St., Wynwood, Miami). Part of Marriott’s Moxy brand, this playful venue blends beautifully with the neighborhood’s artsy vibe. The lobby and bar areas are designed for mingling, and the rooftop is ideal for sunset drinks before an evening out in Wynwood or nearby Midtown. The rooms are modern and practical, and the overall vibe leans youthful yet refined.
Avalon Hotel Miami (700 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach). A quintessential South Beach stay with historic Art Deco character, an oceanfront location and retro-glamour. Right on Ocean Drive, it puts you steps from the beach, bars and nightlife, with a pool deck and tropical landscaping that balance the urban bustle. Its brunch is very popular.
Where to eat
Tâm Tâm (99 NW 1st St., Miami). This highly regarded Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood is beloved for its authentic flavors, fresh ingredients and thoughtful presentation. Menu standouts include delicate pho, grilled meats, and bánh mì that balance taste with refined technique—perfect for a date night or pre-nightlife dinner with friends. The décor is streetfood-served-out-of-a-shop, but with a purposeful, knowing wink.
A Fish Called Avalon (700 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach). This South Beach culinary institution, located in the above-mentioned Avalon hotel, serves fresh seafood and globally influenced cuisine with elegant yet relaxed service. It’s one of Miami’s most scenic dinner spots, making it ideal for special occasions, romantic meals or a stylish dining stop between beach time and nightlife.
BAKALÒ (959 West Ave #3, Miami Beach). This gay-friendly bistro brings the sun-soaked flavours and Mediterranean joie de vivre of Mykonos, Greece, to South Beach. Greek and Aegean cuisine get contemporary presentation and fresh, high-quality ingredients. Standouts include sea bass carpaccio, lobster giouvetsi and moussaka. Pick a cozy indoor table or something al fresco.
MIA Market Hall (140 NE 39th St. second floor, Design District, Miami). This food hall is a chef-driven culinary destination at the heart of the Miami Design District, a place to refresh body and credit card between visits to nearby Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Cartier, Hermès, Celine, Acne Studios and Jil Sander. About a dozen vendors serve global flavours, from Peruvian to Japanese to vegan, under one stylish roof.
1-800-LUCKY (143 NW 23rd St., Wynwood, Miami). Opened in 2017 as one of the city’s first major food halls, this 10,000-square-foot Asian food marketplace houses multiple independent vendors offering a wide range of pan-Asian cuisine, from ramen and dumplings to sushi, Vietnamese sandwiches, and Filipino treats. Though it’s a nice place to grab lunch, at night it morphs into an entertainment hub with indoor and outdoor bars, a karaoke lounge and live DJs.
La Rosa Fine Cuban Cuisine (4041 NW 7th St., Miami). A longtime Miami favorite that elevates classic Cuban dishes with refined presentation and hospitality, this Little Havana restaurant has a welcoming home-style atmosphere. The Tamal en Cazuela—creamy Cuban-style tamal cooked with tender pork bites and Abuelita’s secret sofrito—has been a house recipe since 1968.
Where to eat brunch & watch drag
Palace Bar & Restaurant (1052 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach). Though drag brunches are everywhere these days, there are two that Miami locals rave about. The Palace brunches are a Miami Beach institution (get yourself a reservation)—their high-energy drag performances can be seen by pedestrians wandering down Ocean Drive. But it pays to have a front-row seat, if only for the bottomless cocktails and the high-spirited vibes from your fellow diners. A little touristy, but you’ll stagger out of there gagged (not on the food—in the drag sense of “gagged”). They have supper shows, too. Excuse me, waiter, is that a kitten heel in my soup?
R House Wynwood (2727 NW 2nd Ave., Miami). Chef Rocco Carulli and husband Owen Bale met in Miami in 2011 while Bale, a lawyer, was on vacation from London. Carulli convinced Bale to move to Miami and together they opened R House in 2014. The restaurant became famous for its drag brunch, which started organically and grew from a monthly event to multiple sold-out weekend shows. Setting the outrageous shows aside, R House has become a fixture of Miami’s queer food scene with its cut-above Latin-inspired menu items. They’ve got evening dinner and shows Monday through Friday, then off-the-hook weekends. Get a reservation.
Where to party
Twist (1057 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL) Founded in 1993, this two-storey, seven-bar, three-dancefloor club is a Miami institution, a must for any visitor who wants to check in on the scene. It famously has no cover, though you might occasionally encounter a line. Different nights of the week have different things, including, of course, Latin Thursdays. Open from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily, so drop by pretty much any time.
Bar Gaythering (First floor, 1409 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach). Though Miami oozes glamour, this Lincoln Road bar feels down to earth and downright friendly. Expect laid-back cocktails, bar games and a mingling crowd of queer locals and visitors. A place to go before hitting bigger parties—or stay for last call.
Foxhole Bar (1218 14th Ct., Miami Beach). This queer-party dive bar is a great mix of drag, artsiness, sexiness and tomfoolery. It attracts a young, queer crowd who want to see creativity—and show off their own.
Azúcar NightClub (2301 SW 32nd Ave., Miami). If your perfect Miami is glam, glam, glam, Latin, Latin, Latin, shows, shows, shows, dance, dance, dance, then this is the gay club for you. Its popular Super Sábados attracts both local queer party-goers and visitors looking for an inclusive, flamboyant night out beyond the South Beach strip.
Blackbird Ordinary (729 SW 1st Ave., Brickell, Miami). This cool bar/danceclub in fashionable Brickell attracts a mixed, young crowd on most nights. But on Tuesday’s ladies nights it gets very WLW, very openly so.
Avami Miami (various locations). This wife-and-wife-owned events company hosts parties for queer women at various venues around the city. They do their own take on the White Party.
Pandora Events (various locations). The three women behind Pandora are known for hosting Sapphic parties like Girls In Wonderland in Orlando, the Women’s White Party and the official women’s events of Miami Beach Pride, as well as regular themed parties from Miami to Central Florida.
Kill Your Idol (222 Española Way, Miami Beach). For those who embrace their punk side, this dive bar has been dishing out cheap drinks and live music since 2012. For those who don’t like thrashing, they also host drag karaoke, house music nights and occasional queer parties.
LPN at El Palenque Night Club (1115 NW 22nd Ave., Miami). “La Puta Nota,” which roughly translates as “the fucking note,” hosts shirts-off late-night circuit-styled parties that skew Latino and POC. When we say “late night” we mean doors at 5:30 a.m. They regularly happen at El Palenque, but larger parties can happen in other venues.
Score SoBe (various locations). The producers of the famed Urge Party (usually held on the Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Miami Beach Pride weekends) don’t merely produce the decadent and massive Urge Party. They also do Guapo, Raw/RawXL, Swet and other blowouts you’ll want to wear a harness to—if you care to wear that much. Score, the Washington Avenue nightclub, is permanently closed.
Where gay & bi guys can have fun
Club Aqua Miami (2991 Coral Way, Miami). This downtown gay sauna has private rooms, steam rooms, social spaces and, um, very social spaces, as well as an outdoor pool and a gym.
Gaythering Sauna (1409 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach). Hotel guests have free access to the jacuzzi, cedar sauna, private cubicles and “low-light relaxation spaces.” Non-guests will need to buy a membership. Only for those who identify as male.
Where to shop
Lincoln Rd Shopping District (Lincoln Road between Washington Avenue and Alton Road, Miami Beach). This pedestrian shopping street is a must-visit for boutiques, queer-friendly brands and people-watching. You’ll find everything from local designer shops to mainstream fashion stores, all within walking distance of gay bars and cafés. The kissing rainbow rubber-duck artwork of Miami artist Facundo Yebne lets visitors know just how LGBTQ2S+-friendly the area is. Alvin’s Island (216 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach). For some souvenir Miami Beach clothing and drag fashion shopping, this colourful boutique has some bold statement pieces.
Collins Avenue/Ocean Drive Shopping District (Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive between 5th and 10th streets, Miami Beach). Stretching north from South Beach, this avenue hosts fashion boutiques, swimwear stores and designer outlets that mix high fashion with vacation gear.
Creative Male (3227 NE 2nd Ave., Miami). Find yourself unexpectedly needing a harness, jockstrap or pair of socks emblazoned with the face of film star/drag queen Divine? Get yourself to this gay-owned boutique, stocked with brands like Nasty Pig, Addicted, Cellblock 13 and Pump! You know the drill—or do we have to teach you?
Miami Design District (from roughly NE 38th to NE 42nd streets, between North Miami Avenue and NE 2nd Avenue). Pull out your best credit card. Maybe a couple. It’s time to hit this upscale, brand-saturated shopping area that’s known for being chic…and bling. For those on more limited budgets, window-shopping and people-watching are free.
The writer was a guest of Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau; the host of the trip did not direct or review coverage. The views expressed are the writer’s own.
