10 Famous Film Locations in Miami

Fontainebleau Miami Beach is a luxurious resort on Ocean Drive that featured in the iconic film Scarface (1983). Located on the oceanfront east of downtown, Fontainebleau Miami provides a beautiful backdrop for film scenes and captures the energy and culture of the city.

The famous chainsaw scene in Scarface took place in the prestigious hotel, and the main character, Tony Montana, visits the pool area with a friend. The resort’s Grand Ballroom also stars as a location in the 1992 movie, The Bodyguard, when Whitney Houston belts out I Will Always Love You. To experience this luxury resort for yourself, consider purchasing a day pass to their glamorous Arkadia Day Club.

A National Historic Landmark, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is the stunning European-style estate used as Tapia’s house in Bad Boys II (2003). The mansion was blown up in the film, but don’t worry, because in reality, the filmmakers blew up a different mansion in the area. All other house scenes used the real-life Vizcaya estate, alongside several other Miami Beach landmarks such as Downtown Miami, MacArthur Causeway and the Mandarin Oriental.

The opulent villa and estate are in the Coconut Grove neighbourhood, east of downtown, and feature Italian-renaissance gardens, woodland areas and historic outbuildings. View the film settings and appreciate the beauty of the 20th-century estate, and don’t forget to book a guided your while you’re here.

The open-air Lincoln Road Mall is featured in a lovely scene with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in The Birdcage (1996). While the entire film showcases the city’s unique energy and sights, particularly the nightlife, the softer mall scene features a romantic walk between the 2 characters.

Located in Miami Beach, east of downtown, the pedestrianized Lincoln Road Mall is an iconic city attraction that features shops, restaurants and galleries on the waterfront. You’ll also find historic performing arts venues, the Colony Theatre and several nearby art galleries and studios. If you'd like a romantic date idea like Lane and Williams' characters, why not try one of the mall's free yoga sessions or relax together in the Chime Garden?

Versailles Restaurant is a Cuban restaurant hot spot in Little Havana used as a filming location for Chef (2014). In the film, Jon Favreau’s character has a late-night Cuban sandwich at the restaurant that inspires him to move to Miami and start a food truck.

Located about 10 minutes from downtown, Versailles Restaurant is a local hub for the city’s Cuban population and a popular dining destination. With its strong local culture, the restaurant also serves as a political platform for anti-Castro Cuban exiles. You can't leave without sampling one of the inspirational sandwiches. There are 20 mouthwatering options to choose from, but we recommend the Versailles Special, loaded with ham, pork, Spanish sausage and plenty of Swiss cheese.

The glitzy streets of Miami along with their palm trees and sunshine were used in several scenes in the car-race film 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003). Part of the thrilling Fast & Furious franchise, it featured 2 drivers who go undercover to clean their criminal record.

Much of the film includes driving and racing scenes on the streets of Miami, including Miami Beach and the Rickenbacker Causeway. The drawbridge featured in the dramatic race is the South Miami Avenue Bridge, which is a wonderful spot for photographs. Instead of zooming down these streets in your own race car though, we recommend a more leisurely route on the Metromover or the trolley.

Matheson Hammock Park is a scenic park with a recreational pond and spectacular views of the bay that was used in There’s Something About Mary (1998). In the film, it's the setting for the famous scene in which Mary, played by Cameron Diaz, hands out hamburgers from her bag and the scene where she dines with friends at a local restaurant.

Located near Coral Gables, east of downtown, Matheson Hammock Park boasts 630 acres with an artificial atoll pool, historic coral stone buildings, nature trails and picnic pavilions. You’ll also find boat launches, fishing shops and other practical features for outdoor recreation.

Home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, the multi-purpose Hard Rock Stadium appeared in Marley & Me (2008), a family-friendly comedy about a beloved pet dog. The fictional family’s visit  showcases the stadium’s modern features and impressive architecture. Several other Miami locations were used in the film as well, such as a dog-training scene at Jose Marti Park.

Located north of the downtown, the Hard Rock Stadium is used for several other teams, including the Miami Hurricanes football team and the MLB’s Florida Marlins, as well as hugely popular music concerts. If you visit, be sure to check out the various murals and street art on show around the venue.

A narrow bridge that stretches to the Florida Keys, the Seven Mile Bridge features in the spy thriller True Lies. Starring action star Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis, the film featured a daring bridge escape that led to it being spectacularly destroyed.

Fortunately, the real bridge is still standing and can be accessed south of downtown to get to the Florida Keys. The bridge’s gorgeous views make it a lovely drive on its own, but you can consider taking a day trip to sightsee and lounge on the beach at one of the Keys.

Bayside Marketplace is a 2-storey open-air mall that featured in several episodes of the crime drama television series, Miami Vice (1984). The shopping centre is located in downtown Miami, close to the marina, and is one of the most-visited attractions in the city.

You could also catch live music events on the picturesque waterfront or search for souvenirs amongst the boutiques and specialty shops. Many of the bars and restaurants will not only provide great food, but also provide stunning views. Take a picture of a well-known Miami Vice filming location, and then explore this iconic Miami attraction.

Ocean Drive is a picturesque street with palm trees and vibrant Art Deco buildings that was used in scenes in breakdance film Step Up Revolution (2012), when dance sequences stopped traffic and created a disturbance for the residents with the loud music. Meanwhile, in the first season of crime drama Dexter (2006), panoramic shots of the photogenic street are used throughout.

Located east of downtown, Ocean Drive is a popular tourist destination to see historic architecture and take in the views of the coast from café terraces. Among the biggest draws for travellers, and filmmakers, are the pastel-hued, neon Art Deco buildings so be sure to wander and take awesome photos.