Since I moved part-time to Miami Beach a month and a half ago, I’ve gotten several questions about where to eat, what life is like in Miami and how it compares to New York City. So I thought I’d compile my most asked questions and answer them here essentially turning this blog post into a quick guide and reference. If you wanna know exactly why I chose to move to Miami and a bit about how Miami and New York differ in certain aspects definitely watch this video where I spill all the tea on that very subject. As for everything else read on for answers to my most asked questions about living in Miami Beach. Oh and if I didn’t answer your questions drop it in the comments and I’ll be sure to answer.
Which do you like better New York City or Miami Beach? There’s absolutely no place on earth like New York City. It has a feeling almost like the city is alive and it’s a wonderful place to pursue a career. The opportunities seem endless in New York City but I must admit that the quality of life is better in Miami Beach. Even though I love working and work most of the time, I feel like I have a much better work/life balance in Miami Beach than I had in New York. New York is not a place where you can relax. New Yorkers leave New York and go to places like the Hamptons, Miami or Tulum to actually unplug and relax. Here in Miami Beach, even though I work a lot, I also feel like I play a lot as well. The two places have 2 totally different feels and serve different purposes.
Do you miss New York City? No I don’t. I think it’s because I still live there and I haven’t been gone very long. I know that any time I want to visit I can just hop on a plane and go back to Harlem. I’m not sure how long I will live part-time in both places and for now figuring that out isn’t a priority for me.
Do you feel like your style has changed since moving to Miami Beach? Absolutely. I have become a maximalist. I like gaudy and grandiose when it comes to fashion. I really feel like I’ve honed in on my style and it’s definitely lots of color, a bit more trendy and definitely a lot sexier than when I’m in New York City. Miami is a colorful town and that’s one of the things that drew me to Miami Beach. It’s all about art and fun and having fun with fashion. Fashion can be a little too uptight and rigid sometimes and I think we forget that it’s just another way to express ourselves and that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to style. I’m definitely wearing a lot of brands that have that extraness about them like Versace. Versace has become one of my favorite brands and it wasn’t even on my radar when I lived in New York City.
What are some things you like about Miami Beach versus New York City? One of the main factors for me moving part-time to Miami is that I could actually do it because the cost of living here is much lower than in New York City. The rents are cheaper. You get way more space for your money. You pay less taxes and it’s hot and sunny most of the time. Not to mention the beach is essentially at your doorstep. It would have been a lot harder for me to get a second apartment in Los Angeles. I also see where the tax dollars in Miami Beach are going. This city is pristine clean. I have never lived in a place where aesthetics are so important. The gardeners are out at every complex at 8am trimming trees, cutting grass and sweeping the sidewalks. Lincoln Road Mall which is a main tourist road in Miami Beach is so clean you can practically eat off the ground. There’s hardly ever any trash…anywhere! Even the beaches are meticulously cared for. I love how clean it is here. Compared to New York City, it’s like night and day.
What are some of your favorite places to eat in Miami Beach? For a great overall meal head to Makoto at Bal Harbour Shops. Everything is absolutely delicious. Go for the Spicy Tuna Roll, Grilled Cauliflower, The Frosty Wagyu Fried Rice, The Skirt Steak and Lamb Chops. Then for dessert get the Yuzo Chocolate Cake. Trust me this will be the best meal you ever have surrounded by the ambience at Bal Harbour Shops. In addition to Makoto for a hearty southern meal head to Yardbird Southern Grill and Bar and get the Shrimp & Grits and a Black Berry Mimosa. For dessert go for the Bourbon Bacon Chocolate Cake! Yes it’s delicious. For the most succulent taco, Bodega Tacqueria is the spot with their perfectly seasoned chimichurri steak tacos and coconut shrimp tacos. Oh and they most definitely have the best damn lime and mango margaritas on the beach. For the best dessert and ambience head to Chotto Matte which is an instagram dream with cherry trees and palm trees inside this spacious restaurant. Their Branzino Bento Box is delectable but their desserts and drinks are worth flying to Miami for. Every dessert is amazing!
How is the dating situation in Miami Beach compared to New York City? Better. LOL. Mainly because the city is pretty much open when it comes to restaurants so there are actually places to go on a date. I find that I’m approached a lot more in Miami Beach than I am in New York City as well. Other than that, I’ve only been here a little over a month so I haven’t done much dating here. But anything is better than New York City. Trust and believe that.
What are some things people should know before visiting or moving to Miami Beach? The driving is horrible. People drive really really dangerously and recklessly in Miami. I probably won’t get a car anytime soon here for that exact reason. But the good thing is that Ubers & Lyfts are extremely affordable especially when compared to New York City. Luckily, I live within walking distance to nearly everything I need from grocery stores, to restaurants, to the beach. I rarely have to utilize car ride services so I’m definitely saving a lot of money on transportation. The market for rentals and even real estate is very small because everyone is moving to Miami. 1 out of 3 people you see walking around in Miami Beach just came from New York. Lol. Most of the people I’ve met are people who recently moved from New York. So although you’ll find people with similar interest and probably similar work ethics there is limited amounts of rental properties and real estate because they are all snatched up as soon as they hit the market. The only reason I got my apartment is because it never went to market. I got it before it was anywhere online and no I’m not telling you who I went through and where it is. That’s just weird so stop asking. Miami is a little crowded because of the influx of people moving here. It’s harder to get a reservation at a restaurant or get an Uber during a late night because the demand is higher than the supply. Lizards outnumber human beings and you will see at least 50 a day. Sometimes in your own kitchen.
Has your work as a full time content creator been effected by your move to Miami? I was a little worried that it would be effected but it hasn’t in the slightest. I can do my job from anywhere in the world. I’ve even managed to land a few collaborations specifically based in Miami Beach with notable brands. Being in a warm weather climate and in a location where tourism is a lifeline has done nothing but open up my collaboration market. I’m definitely dipping more into lifestyle & travel content as well as warm weather specific content while also still maintaining all the brand relationships I’ve had previously living in New York. March was my first full month of living in Miami Beach and it was also the best month I’ve ever had as a full time content creator. It was my first 6 figure month.
Will you be bringing your plants from Harlem to your new Miami Beach apartment? Currently I have no plans to move my plants. They are thriving and happy in their space in New York City. I want my Miami Beach apartment to be as low maintenance as possible so I won’t be getting house plants for this apartment. I quench my taste for greenery with weekly bouquets. When I’m in New York I don’t want to have to worry about someone taking care of plants in my Miami Beach apartment.
How difficult is it to live in 2 places? It’s not that difficult at all. Most of my payments for my bills are automated and it helps that I don’t have many bills. Things like Hulu & Netflix I can share between my two places so it’s still just one bill. I have someone who tends to my apartment in Harlem while I’m in Miami and vice versa. That person takes care of mail & packages, plants and anything else that should arise with either apartment should I not be there. I think it also helps that one of my apartments is very low maintenance (no plants etc). Having some kind of assistance whether that be hired assistance or a reliable friend is key. Without that there’s no way I could live in 2 places. I also have cameras set up in both of my apartments which makes it super easy to check in at any time. Once my housekeeper left the TV on in my Harlem apartment. I saw it on the camera while in Miami and used Alexa to turn off my TV. It definitely helps to have cameras that you can speak through.
Do you think you’ll end up moving full-time to Miami Beach? Honestly I don’t know. I like the option to live in both New York and Miami Beach and right now I’m blessed to be able to not have to choose. I can have the best of both worlds. I am single and I don’t have any children so I have nothing holding me down to one place. I’m really enjoying this life I’ve created for myself and seeing where life takes me. I’m way more focused on my career and also finding an investment property here in Miami Beach than figuring out if this will be my forever place. Only time will tell but for now I like having options and am probably going to start a portfolio of properties around the world.
Who shoots your photos in Miami? Maria aka @bellarosablog shoots me once a week in Miami Beach. I usually have 2-3 campaigns to shoot every week so instead of shooting every 2 weeks, I find that I need to shoot more often. When I’m in NYC Rose aka @dadouchic on Instagram shoots all my photos. Maria and Rose are cousins in real life. So I kept the business in the family.
Where did you get your couch, vase, chairs etc? I get so many questions about where I got my furniture for my Miami apartment that I created an entire Highlight on my instagram profile with swipe up links to everything. But in the meantime here is a link to the booty vase, here is a link to the boob vase, here is a link to my couch, here is a link to my mattress and my drawers are just an IKEA pax wardrobe for which I have 2 videos on YouTube with more details. Oh and I get my pampas grass here from Etsy the tallest height 55” and at least 20 stems.
