The Super Bowl in Miami will be the biggest event so far this year. The game itself is one of the most watched sporting contests in the world and there are plenty of football-related events in the week leading up to kick-off. Of course, South Florida is currently at the peak of tourist season, making a combined Super Bowl/Gold Coast vacation an attractive proposition.

The Super Bowl will be taking place on February 7th, while the Pro Bowl will kick-off a week of celebrations on the evening of January 31st. Concerts and fireworks displays will join the usual list of Gold Coast attractions vying for a space on visitors’ itineraries.

Miami’s Nightlife

• Miami is known for its nightlife. South Beach is the epicenter of the after-dark scene. It features every form of entertainment from nightclubs catering to the city’s scene-makers to hip lounges and restaurants that turn into salsa hotspots after the kitchen closes.
• Mansion is a dance club that is popular with well-heeled tourists as well as locals. Top-notch international DJs are likely to be onstage during the weekend dance parties. This is one of those hard-to-get-into, velvet-rope venues, though South Beach hotels are sometimes able to provide guests with preferred access. Check at the front desk or with the concierge.
• La Covacha is a Miami institution known for its high energy dance floor and great Latin music. The crowds are bound to include celebrities during Super Bowl week celebrations, but the atmosphere will remain less pretentious than you might expect.
• Fort Lauderdale’s Beach Place is a reasonable alternative to Miami’s nighttime hotspots. There is a strip of popular restaurants and bars across from the beach in the city’s center. The nightly proceedings are not as over-the-top as what you might find in Miami, but that could be seen as a good thing, especially if you are in search of a more low-key (but still fun) night on the town.
• Also, the Wyndwood Arts District is a good place to find some after-hours fun. The neighborhood is known for its all-night parties, sometimes held in warehouses or local clubs. Not all of these events are styled after counter-culture “raves.” A recent night of music and dancing, for example, was hosted by rap luminary Dr. Dre.

Restaurants

• Cuban food is prevalent in the Gold Coast area. Miami’s Little Havana district has restaurants that offer authentic fare for reasonable prices. However, you may need to know a bit of Spanish to get good service because many of these cafés are “locals-only.” Bongo Cuban Café, partially owned by former pop star Gloria Estefan, offers an accessible and fun Cuban cuisine experience. A major plus: there is Latin dancing after dinner. If you don’t want to bar crawl, this a good place to spend an entire evening.
• Fort Lauderdale’s Canyon Southwestern Café is a well-reviewed restaurant with an impressive Southwestern/international fusion cuisine. Of course, the menu is often overshadowed in guests’ eyes by the wide variety of tequilas and numerous margarita concoctions.
• The Palm Beach area is destination number one for seafood lovers. Oysters are virtually everywhere, with City Oyster and Spoto’s Oyster Bar dishing out the best half-shells. Captain Charlie’s Reef Grill is one of the most popular seafood restaurants in the city. Dishes are reasonable, but a lengthy wait for a table is part of the price you have to pay.

More Special Events

• Hip hop act Black Eyed Peas will be performing at American Airlines Arena on Super Bowl Eve, February 6th. The arena will be hosting a different sort of completion on February 4th, when an MMA Battle of the Americas takes place.
• The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida is hosting a full slate of Super Bowl related events, including concerts by the likes of BB King (February 2nd), appearances by athletes and celebrities, and nightly parties at the on-site Passion Nightclub.

The Game

The Super Bowl itself is Miami’s main event. Of the millions who watch the big game around the world, only a few tens of thousands actually get to witness it live. However, even if you can’t get through the gate at Sun Life Stadium, it is possible to get a taste of the festivities from the many events taking place during the week of pre-game celebrations. With the numerous attractions already drawing visitors to Miami, the Bowl is just one more reason to hop on the plane and embark on a South Florida getaway.

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Little Havana Image: David BoyleMojito at Deco Drive Cigars: Miamism