The Waterfront Escape: The PGM Guide to Miami's Islands, Sandbars & Boat-Up Culture
Miami is a water city. The real escapes — the sandbars, the bay islands, the boat-up restaurants, the spots you can only reach by water — are the ones that remind you why people have been coming here for a century.
Overview
Miami is a water city in a way that most American cities are not.
The Atlantic Ocean is on one side, Biscayne Bay is on the other, and the Intracoastal Waterway runs through the middle.
The city's relationship with water is not recreational — it is structural.
The water shapes the neighborhoods, the real estate, the culture, and the daily rhythms of life in a way that is easy to miss if you're spending all your time on land.
This guide is about getting on the water.
The sandbars, the bay islands, the boat-up restaurants, the spots that can only be reached by boat — these are the Miami experiences that residents guard most carefully and visitors almost never find.
We've been on this water since 2006.
Here's what we know.
The Sandbars
- Nixon Sandbar (Haulover Sandbar)
The most famous sandbar in Miami — a shallow stretch of Biscayne Bay near Haulover Inlet where boats anchor and people wade, swim, and socialize in water that rarely exceeds waist depth.
On weekends, particularly in summer, the sandbar becomes one of the most social spaces in Miami: hundreds of boats anchored side by side, music playing, people moving between vessels.
It is simultaneously a genuine natural experience and a very Miami social event.
Arrive by 10am on weekends to get a good spot.
The sandbar is accessible by boat only; rental boats are available at several marinas along the Intracoastal.
- Stiltsville
Seven wooden houses on stilts in the middle of Biscayne Bay, two miles south of Cape Florida.
The structures — the remnants of a community that once numbered 27 buildings — are now managed by the National Park Service and the Stiltsville Trust.
The houses are not open to the public for overnight stays, but the surrounding waters are some of the most beautiful in Biscayne Bay, and the view of the structures from the water is one of the most distinctive in Miami.
Accessible by boat; kayak tours from Virginia Key are available.
- The Pelican Harbor Sandbar
A less crowded alternative to Haulover, accessible from the Pelican Harbor Marina on the 79th Street Causeway.
The sandbar is smaller and the crowd is more local — fewer rental boats, more people who live on the water.
A good option for those who want the sandbar experience without the Haulover weekend intensity.
The Bay Islands
- Biscayne National Park
The national park — 95% water — encompasses the northernmost Florida Keys, the offshore coral reef, and the bay waters between the mainland and the keys.
The park is accessible by boat from the Dante Fascell Visitor Center in Homestead, and the snorkeling and diving on the offshore reef is among the best in Florida.
The Elliott Key campground is accessible by boat only and is one of the most peaceful overnight experiences available within an hour of downtown Miami.
📍9700 SW 328th St, Homestead — boat tours and rentals available
- Virginia Key
The island between Miami and Key Biscayne is one of the most underutilized spaces in Miami — a city-owned island with a historic beach, a mountain bike trail system, a marina, and the Miami Marine Stadium (currently under restoration).
The Virginia Key Beach Park is one of the most historically significant beaches in Miami — it was the designated "colored beach" during segregation and is now a public park with a museum documenting that history.
The kayak and paddleboard launch from Virginia Key is one of the best in the city.
- Key Biscayne
The barrier island connected to Miami by the Rickenbacker Causeway is one of the most pleasant places in the city — a small-town atmosphere, excellent beaches, and the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park at the southern tip.
The Cape Florida Lighthouse is the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County.
The beach at Bill Baggs is consistently ranked among the best in the country.
The kayak launch at the park is excellent for exploring the mangrove channels on the bay side of the island.
The Boat-Up Restaurants & Bars
- Monty's Raw Bar — Coconut Grove
The Coconut Grove institution has a dock that accommodates boats of all sizes, and the combination of fresh seafood, cold beer, and a waterfront setting makes it one of the most reliably good boat-up experiences in Miami.
The stone crabs (in season, October through May) are excellent.
The sunset from the dock is one of the better ones in the city.
📍2550 S Bayshore Dr, Coconut Grove
- Scotty's Landing — Coconut Grove
The casual waterfront restaurant next to the Coconut Grove Marina has a dock and a laid-back atmosphere that makes it one of the most popular boat-up destinations in the bay.
The food is straightforward — fish sandwiches, burgers, cold beer — and the setting is excellent.
A good option for a casual afternoon on the water.
📍3381 Pan American Dr, Coconut Grove
- Bayside Marketplace — Downtown Miami
The downtown waterfront marketplace has a marina that accommodates visiting boats, and the combination of restaurants, bars, and live music makes it a useful stop on a bay day.
Not the most authentic Miami experience, but convenient and accessible.
Getting on the Water: Rental Options
- Boat Rentals
- Boatsetter:
The peer-to-peer boat rental platform has a large inventory of Miami boats, from small center consoles to larger vessels. The platform includes insurance and the ability to hire a captain if you're not licensed. One of the most flexible options for getting on the water.
- GetMyBoat:
Similar to Boatsetter, with a large Miami inventory. Good for comparing options and prices.
- Haulover Marine Center:
The marina at Haulover Park rents boats by the hour and day, with easy access to the sandbar and the Intracoastal. A reliable option for those who want a straightforward rental experience.
- Guided Tours
- Island Queen Cruises:
The Miami River and Biscayne Bay tours are a good introduction to the waterway system for those who haven't been on the water before. The narration is informative and the views of the downtown skyline from the water are excellent.
- Biscayne National Park boat tours:
The park service runs snorkeling and glass-bottom boat tours from the Homestead visitor center. The offshore reef is extraordinary and the tours are well-run.
- Kayak tours from Virginia Key:
Several operators run guided kayak tours through the mangrove channels of Virginia Key and the surrounding bay. The tours are appropriate for beginners and the wildlife viewing — manatees, dolphins, sea turtles — is excellent.
The Sunset Spots
Miami's best sunsets are over the water, and the best places to watch them are from the water or from the causeways and waterfront parks that face west over the bay.
- Rickenbacker Causeway:
The causeway between Miami and Virginia Key offers unobstructed views of the downtown skyline and the bay. The fishing pier on the causeway is one of the best sunset-watching spots in the city.
- Bayfront Park:
The downtown waterfront park has direct views of the bay and the sunset. The amphitheater and the surrounding green space make it one of the more pleasant public spaces in downtown Miami.
- Coconut Grove waterfront:
The Peacock Park and the surrounding Coconut Grove waterfront face west over the bay, and the combination of the sailboats in the marina and the downtown skyline in the distance makes for one of the better sunset views in the city.
The PGM Rule on Miami Water
The best version of Miami is the one you see from the water.
The skyline, the bay, the islands, the light on the water in the late afternoon — none of it is fully visible from land.
Get on the water.
The city will look different, and it will look better.
The PGM Edit
Premier Guide Miami is an independent editorial voice covering the city we love — the restaurants, the culture, the neighborhoods, the nightlife, and the water. Do it for the love, not for the coin.