Miami’s other waterfront – the working river - now more vibrant, dynamic, cleaner and greener

Life around Miami River

Living alongside the calm waters of the river, you are in one of the oldest residential neighborhoods of Miami. This is where the Tequesta Indians first settled, followed by some of the most influential names in Miami’s history – Julia Tuttle and Henry M. Flagler. The Miami River isn’t just historically significant ground; this is also a working river – an important lifeline for trade and commerce in South Florida.

Living in this riverside neighborhood, you could begin your day with a refreshing ‘Riverwalk’ along one of the many scenic, pedestrian-friendly greenways. Pull out or rent a yacht from a marina close by and conclude an exciting day at sea by parking at a riverside restaurant. Eateries here pride themselves at serving the freshest catch brought in directly from the river. Unwind with a fun picnic with the family at Lummus Park with fresh air and fabulous views. Weekends are fun too, as most Downtown and city attractions are easily accessible from the neighborhood.

The Miami River’s landscape is changing shape, and quickly too. What was first a mix of more historical, single-family homes, marinas, riverside businesses and a few condo buildings is now changing dynamics. More refined restaurants and eating options are being brought into the mix. Expect more luxury condo spaces to come up. And, the Miami River Commission is driving money and efforts into creating more incidental short term docking facilities, making the river much more accessible, attractive and navigable.

Neighborhood Favorites

Basic shopping, fresh-caught seafood and plenty of happy hours give residents, traders and visitors a wholesome experience.

Shop – Shopping options along Miami River cover the basics. For more variety, residents head to the nearby Brickell and Downtown Miami options.

Eat – Though restaurant options along the river are a bit sparse, lots of new developments and eateries are eyeing the area to set up shop soon. Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market is one of the oldest and most popular establishments on the river. In operation since 1966, it is “the” place to dock and grab fresh seafood, relish the catch of the day and enjoy waterfront dining. The Casablanca Seafood Bar & Grill is its more upscale neighbor, serving signature crab-stuffed lobsters and an impressive collection of tiraditos and ceviches.

For top-of-the-line sushi, Zuma at EPIC is a hotspot. Simply dock up your yacht at this internationally acclaimed Japanese restaurant for high-end Asian fare served with a side of stunning river views. Seaspice is another upscale restaurant with waterfront dining. It has seen the likes of Beyonce to David Beckham wine and dine to enjoy a lavish menu of lobsters, stone crabs, fresh truffles and champagne.

The Miami River Café serves mouthwatering Mexican food. For a tapas and wine bar done right, head to the Jamon Iberico Pata Negra Restaurant. And, the CRUST is where you’d satiate those pizza cravings.

Drink – There’s happy hours aplenty along Miami River. Down the freshest oysters with chilled sundowners at the River Seafood & Oyster Bar. Area 31 at the EPIC Hotel is for awesome water views, fresh-caught seafood and fun happy hours. Look no further than the Lilt Lounge for a swanky cocktail bar with a live band and happy hours. American Social is a waterfront gastropub done right, while the Batting Cage Sports Bar and Lounge makes a great hangout spot.

Play – Just like the Miami River is the “other” waterfront, you’ll find the “other” Lummus Park here as well. Not to be confused with Miami Beach’s Lummus Park, find jogging paths, green recreation spots and historical architecture within this 5.9 acre park. This historic park truly comes alive on the annual Miami Riverday, when free boat rides, live music, learning something new with food and drink rule the roost.

There are plenty of walkways to enjoy the scenic beauty and sweet breeze of the river. The Miami Riverwalk already extends along the north side of the river, all the way down to Bayfront Park. With the Miami River Greenway project underway, both banks of the river will feature plenty of pedestrian-friendly, green spaces to stroll or bike through. The greenway project aims to connect the mouth of the river in Downtown to the Dolphin Expressway at the Civic Center and eventually go all the way up to the Miami International Airport.

Boundaries

Miami River neighborhood is bound by the Dolphin Expressway and South Miami Avenue. Its neighbors are Brickell, Downtown Miami, East Little Havana and Overtown.

Getting Around

• HistoryMiami Museum – 5 minutes by car
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• Marlins Ballpark – 10 minutes by car
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• James L. Knight Center - 10 minutes by car
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• Bayfront Park/Bayside Marketplace – 15 minutes by car
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• AmericanAirlines Arena – 15 minutes by car
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• Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau - 15 minutes by car
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• Brickell - 15 minutes by car/40 minutes by public transit
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• South Beach (Lincoln Road Mall) – 25 minutes by car
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• Select Specialty Hospital – 10 minutes away by car
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• University of Miami Hospital – 20 minutes away by car
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• Miami International Airport - 25-minute car drive
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• I-95 Expressway – Easy Access
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• Dolphin Expressway – 10 minutes away
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• Public Transit Options – The neighborhood comes peppered with plenty of Metrobus and Metromover stations. There are also several MetroRail stations in the vicinity for better connectivity into the city.

A Brief History of Miami River and Where It’s Headed

Long before the appeal of a beachy playground, party destination and sunny second home, Miami was your quintessential riverside settlement. The first inhabitants along Miami River’s banks were Tequesta Indians. Along with establishing trading posts, these Native American settlers also ended up giving magic city its exotic name (though there are various claims as to what the name actually means). Some say the name comes from an Indian word “Miami” meaning “sweet water”, others claim it to be “Mayami” meaning “big water”, and yet others say it was simply named after the “Mayaimi” tribe.

Post the discovery of Biscayne Bay in 1513 by Juan Ponce de Leon, for the next three centuries Miami River would become home to Spanish missions, Englishmen, Bahamians, slave plantations and army forts. Though none of them lasted long enough, there were some that not only settled along the River, but also thrived and left their mark. This list includes the likes of Julia Tuttle with her substantial estate as well as Henry M. Flagler with his Royal Palm Hotel and extended railroad.

Once the Florida East Coast Railway came to Miami in 1896, this modest river community transformed into a truly connected city, and was christened the ‘City of Miami’ that same year. As the city grew, the river turned into a working river (which continues till date). Winter vegetables would come in from the Bay and be shipped north, while boat builders and marine repair enterprises would set up shop along its banks.

Once the Miami Canal was built in 1909*, the rapids stopped, making the river safer and more navigable. Through 1909 to 1933*, the river was lengthened and widened. By World War II, the river was used for industrial, heavy marine work and construction of PT boats. Sewage and pollution turned out to be major concerns for the river, until the construction of the Virginia Key sanitary sewage system as a solution – though not for long.

Through the 1960s and 70s, state and local civic authorities plus political leaders took up the cause of restoring a neglected river contaminated by saltwater intrusion, chemical seepage, oil spills and unwanted trash disposal. By the 1980s*, the Miami River Coordinating Committee was put into place. However, deemed a bit slow, in January 1998* the Miami River Study Commission issued a “call-to-action” to step up on cleaning the river. Soon after, the Miami River Commission of today came into existence that works to restore the river, promote it as an important lifeline for trade and commerce, as well as revive it as an attraction and public destination.

Today, the Miami River is one of the major economic arteries of our city. Being the fifth largest seaport in Florida, our working river accommodates boatyards, marinas, shipping terminals, tugboats, houseboats, pleasure craft, loading docks, shippers, restaurants and public parks.

The early 2000s also brought about the Miami Riverwalk and Miami River Greenway projects that have aimed to connect the length of the river with picturesque and eco-friendly walkways. Many condo developers also take pride in accommodating these walkways into their riverside projects, giving residents the complete riverfront experience. With more sophisticated condo projects lined up, including One River Point, addition of restaurants and increasing awareness, the Miami River is turning into a quickly changing, exciting center of activity ready to welcome residents to its scenic shores.

*All historical facts and dates sourced from http://www.miamirivercommission.org/river3.htm