South beach miami gay beach

At the time of writing, the drag brunch is a fixed price, at $55 per person for the brunch menu and 2 hours of bottomless mimosas.

The drag brunch is such a popular activity in South Beach that Palace offers two seatings Friday through Sunday, at 11am and 2pm, and have even added an additional show on Mondays at 12pm.

I strongly recommend booking as far in advance as you can as this does book up – reserve your table here.

Address: 1052 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139

Walk Ocean Drive to South Pointe

This was something I did most mornings during my visit, as I found it the perfect way to start my day!

Given that the jetlag coming from the UK is just enough to cause me to wake a couple of hours earlier, I decided I may as well get up and make the most of it.

Thanks to the stunning beach and strong gay nightlife, it attracts a large number of straight and gay travelers year-round. I enjoyed it so much that I even went back a second time – I can’t recommend it highly enough!

Palace has been the number 1 drag bar in Miami for over 30 years and I can see why! The sauna is open daily, but operating hours vary depending on weekday and weekend, as well as entry hours varying depending on if you are a hotel guest or a visit so it’s best to check locally before arrival.

Address: 1409 Lincoln Rd F1, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Club Aqua, Coral Gables, Downtown Miami

Club Aqua is the other main sauna in Miami, located downtown, and is actually more of a ‘health-club’ with its wide range of amenities:

• Fully equipped gym
• Steam room
• Dry sauna
• Outdoor pool
• Sundeck
• Video lounge

Despite all the above offerings, Club Aqua is actually very reasonably priced, with a one-off visit costing just $12 on a weekday, and $15 on a weekend, (both plus tax).

But, for gay travellers looking for a good time, there are two gay bathhouses/saunas to choose from whilst in Miami.

The Sauna at Hotel Gaythering, Miami South Beach

As mentioned above, being such a gay hotel, it’s hardly a surprise that one of the amenities at Hotel Gaythering is a male only sauna.

Complimentary for hotel guests, visitors are welcome to visit the sauna with a day-pass fee of $25, or should you wish to visit more than once, a 30-day pass is just $100.

The sauna offers a dry sauna, a steam room, a jacuzzi, and a few private cabins.

Over 200,000 LGBT individuals live in the greater Miami metropolitan area, which is about 4.5% of the total population.

Close to Everglades National Park, the Magic City is renowned for sun, sand, and some of the most beautiful people in the world!

If you’ve been thinking about moving, Miami might be the place you’re looking for.

I love their motto – ‘’never a cover, always a groove’’ – and this has been the case every time we have visited!

Spread across two floors, with 7 bars and 3 dance floors to choose from, Twist will always have something on to suit everyone.

The locale is perfect for young professionals, students, and others who enjoy a more fast-paced life.

Little Havana

This region is located west of Miami’s financial district and encompasses a large area of the city. Grab a hotel room and immerse yourself in all that cinema has to offer!

During November, the city lights up with hundreds of biodegradable rice paper lanterns for the Lyte Sky Lantern Festival, which uses trackers and an enormous cleanup crew to ensure that the Magic City stays pristine for its inhabitants after the show is over.

Moving to Downtown Miami

More than 90,000 people call this area of Miami home.

The minimum requirements often include a 3% and 5% down payment. The many swanky hotels make this a perfect choice for those wanting a romantic escape close to all the hottest attractions, while escape rooms are awesome for those who love a safe and intellectual thrill.  

Must-Visit Places in Downtown Miami

There are dozens of restaurants and activities to choose from here, but these are what we recommend: 

Our Favorite Spot in Downtown Miami

If you love the restaurant’s atmosphere as much as the food, you should try one of our favorite spots, Sexy Fish.

It’s one of the best places to get authentic Cuban coffee and breakfast items.

Mark Your Calendar 

Every February, this area is the host of the Gay8 Festival. With several great, gay-friendly communities scattered throughout the city, there’s a Miami neighborhood for gay travelers looking for a safe and exciting place to live. 

Coconut Grove 

The southern region of metro Miami is dominated by this peaceful enclave right on Biscayne Bay.

This beautiful and relaxing neighborhood caters to various people’s tastes and interests.

What makes this neighborhood one of the best areas of town for gay men and lesbians is that it was Miami’s original gay enclave. The other gay beach, Halouver Park Beach, is clothes-optional, making it better suited for adults. 

People head to South Beach to take in the stunning Art Deco buildings, lounge on the beaches, and dance all night. 

Must-Visit Places in South Beach

Some of the must-see places in South Beach are: 

• Stroll along Ocean Drive while shopping and admiring the Art Deco buildings
• Drink and play games at Bar Gaythering
• Check out the famous Fontainebleau Hotel in South Beach, a gay-friendly hotel right on the waterfront

Our Favorite Spot in South Beach

Our favorite spot in South Beach is the Palace.

And when it comes to things to do for gay travellers, I could of course focus on ‘the usual’ – gay nightlife, the gay scene and relaxing at the gay beach…

But during my most recent visit to Miami, I had more time and wanted to delve a little deeper and experience more of what this destination had to offer – and I was kept busy!

Here are my personal recommendations for what gay travellers should do whilst in Miami.

Treetop Trekking Miami at Jungle Island

This is something that was right up my street!

Treetop Trekking Miami is located at Jungle Island eco-adventure park, on Watson Island (a man-made island connected to both mainland and South Beach by causeway) and is actually South Florida’s only aerial adventure park.

Strapped into a climbing harness (bit different to the harness I would wear the following week on Atlantis!), I explored the jungle canopy as I climbed, swung, navigated suspension bridges and zip-lined through the treetops.

There are a number of different treks you can do, to suit either age or experience, but naturally I had to go for the ‘’Thrill-Seeker’’ Trek – the most challenging option!

We love it because of its no-frills atmosphere, affordable drinks, and amazing crowd. 

Mark Your Calendar 

The Wynwood Pride Music Festival occurs every June at the RC Cola Plant. Some of the must-see places here are: 

• Admiring all the artwork at Wynwood Walls
• Enjoying brunch and a drag performance at R House
• Grabbing a craft beer at Cerveceria La Tropical

Our Favorite Spot in Wynwood

Our favorite spot in Wynwood is Willy’s Neighborhood Bar.

Although the neighborhood is very gay-friendly, it’s the first official gay bar in Wynwood. Although it's legal to be nude, sexual behaviour is strictly against the rules and could land you in a sticky situation.

There's parasol and sun-lounger rental sites on the beach, as well as some food and drink stalls to quench your thirst, and trust us you will be thirsty.

Fun fact: Haulover Park used to hold the Guinness World Record for most people skinny-dipping (pictured)!