Street art. Boutiques. Bars with sunny backyards. Slices of life synonymous with Wynwood. As of fall 2022, you can add Arlo to that list. When it opens in November, Arlo Wynwood will debut as the first hotel in Miami’s thriving arts district, a symbol of the continued evolution of an ever-changing neighborhood.
While South Beach may attract sun-worshippers from around the world, Wynwood has become one of Miami’s hottest art and nightlife destinations, for locals and visitors alike. With easy access to the city’s downtown, Midtown, Design District and Miami International Airport, Wynwood is also the perfect place for a Miami business trip, getaway, or a casual hang, day or night.
The History of Wynwood
Before the art galleries, restaurants and blocks of murals arrived, Wynwood was a mixed business and residential neighborhood, and the home for many of Miami’s Caribbean immigrants. The area’s warehouses that would later become adorned with street-art masterpieces were once the working factories of Miami’s Garment District. Wynwood’s transformation began in the early 2000s, when developers and property owners started restoring neglected buildings and envisioning a new future for the area.
With Wynwood Walls, the Second Saturday Art Walk and Art Basel crowds as a springboard, Wynwood continued to grow and attract artists and art-lovers from around the world. Today, it’s also a hub of fashion, dining, wellness and nightlife; the creative pulse of the Magic City.
Wynwood Highlights
The beauty of a constantly-evolving neighborhood like Wynwood is hitting the streets and discovering it for yourself. If you’re new to Miami or just passing through, the team at Arlo Wynwood will happily point you in the direction of the latest and greatest. As a sneak peek, here are just some of the landmarks and local faves you’ll want to add to your list.
Street Art
Wynwood’s calling card. Take a stroll and you might just find artists at work. This guide will help you find your way around the murals. If you’re not sure where to start, head to Wynwood Walls, the epicenter of street art. This outdoor museum was founded in 2009 by the late developer Tony Goldman (who also helped develop NYC’s SoHo) and continues to showcase the world’s best known and up-and-coming graffiti artists. Wynwood Art Walk tours are also available if you’d like to learn more about the neighborhood and artists as you explore.
For even more graffiti art excellence, check out the Museum of Graffiti. (Two tickets are included for guests in Arlo Wynwood’s urban fee.) The world’s first museum devoted to the art of graffiti opened in 2019 and the space includes both indoor and outdoor exhibitions and murals and what may be the coolest gift shop on the planet.
Wynwood Bites
Miami locals know they can count on good eats and drinks in Wynwood. From cute cafés and restaurants featuring the city’s best chefs to nightclubs and bars with laidback backyards, you can find a spot for whatever vibe and cuisine you’re into.
Some of the Arlo Wynwood team’s favorites include: The Salty Donut, home of artisanal donuts and coffee: Coyo Taco, where everything is fresh and a speakeasy at the back is open until two or three a.m.; and Novela Cafe Social, a specialty kitchen and coffee shop open for breakfast and lunch at Oasis Wynwood.
Arlo Wynwood will also feature exciting venues for eating and drinking, including MaryGold’s, the hotel’s new restaurant helmed by Chef Brad Kilgore and Bar Lab. Opening this fall, the modern American brasserie will showcase cuisine from Miami, and also reflect the melting pot of cultures both locally and nationally. Prep those taste buds for locally caught seafood, house-made pastas, and bold dishes featuring big flavors. (And stay tuned for more hints at the menu in the weeks to come.) Chef Kilgore is one of Miami’s most celebrated chefs, with plenty of food-world cred and a devoted following from his Miami restaurants Alter, Kaido and Ember.
Likewise, MaryGold’s Bar Lab collaboration brings the city’s top mixology talents into the fold. Under the direction of Bar Lab’s Global Beverage Director, Christine Wiseman, the cocktail program at MaryGold’s promises to be as exciting as Bar Lab’s pioneering work at Broken Shaker, a three-time “Top 50 Bars in the World” award-winner.
We’ll have much more to come on the food and beverage front, but rest assured that Arlo Wynwood will have multiple outlets you’ll want to add to your must-see list, from a lush, foliage-framed courtyard bar to the hotel’s rooftop bar and café overlooking the city.
Wynwood Wellness
With its own shaded yoga deck (with sunset views!), Arlo Wynwood will be partnering with some of the neighborhood’s top fitness trainers to offer classes. The team at YO BK, for example, will host yoga classes at the hotel three times a week. Their own hot yoga and Pilates studio (complete with disco ball) is located nearby, right next to Novela Cafe Social. Another local partner is VXN Workout, whose first dance studio was in Wynwood. That space closed during the pandemic, but Arlo Wynwood is proud to be bringing the VXN team back for their signature adrenalin-boosting pop-up classes this fall.
The wellness offerings also extend to guest rooms, where three pre-recorded FlexIt sessions (yoga, meditation, and a sculpt class) are available on TVs. Guests also have the opportunity to sign up for one free virtual, live personal training session at their convenience.
Getting to Wynwood
Just north of Miami’s downtown, between Edgewater (along Biscayne Boulevard) and Allapattah (which has begun attracting art lovers as Wynwood did), Wynwood is one of the most convenient places to reach from anywhere in Miami. It’s just a thirteen-minute drive or rideshare from Miami International Airport, and about 20 minutes from Miami Beach. If you’re staying at Arlo Wynwood, you’ll be able to grab a free bike to explore the neighborhood, which (bonus) is easy to navigate on two wheels, with not a hill in sight.
Arlo Wynwood opens November, 2022. Reservations now available at arlohotels.com/wynwood. Until November 30, 2022, use the promo code HELLO to get $100 off your stay, terms & conditions apply.
Thank you to our friends at the Wynwood Business Improvement District for their support of the hotel and our mission.
