When most people think about moving to Miami, two of the most popular neighborhoods mentioned are Edgewater and Brickell. So, how can you know which one is right for you?

Both neighborhoods have grown considerably in recent years, and both are home to high-rise and mid-rise residential towers, which provide plenty of variety in housing options. The key is knowing their differing lifestyles and benefits, and which may fit you best! Here, we’ll compare Brickell vs Edgewater, Miami so you can find out what’s best for you!

— Lifestyle: Brickell vs Edgewater

Edgewater, Miami is primarily a quiet, residential neighborhood nestled on the shores of Biscayne Bay and the 8-acre Margaret Pace Park. As a neighborhood that is off-the-beaten path and generally overlooked by tourists, it provides a nature-rich yet urban lifestyle in a walkable environment, very centrally located within Miami. It has easy access to the Downtown Arts District, the Julia Tuttle Causeway, the Wynwood Arts District, the Design District, Brickell, and South Beach.

Edgewater

Although there are many existing bayfront condos and luxury residences in Edgewater, Miami, it is still growing, with more restaurants, grocery stores, and luxury condos on the way. The area is popular amongst young families and young professionals looking for luxury residences on Biscayne Bay, away from the real estate east at the beach. All of this makes it one of Miami's most well-kept secrets if you favor a serene, residential lifestyle that still provides access to all of the eclectic offerings that make Miami exciting, plus excellent centrality.

Brickell, in comparison, is Miami's financial district and home to many international corporate headquarters. It’s bigger and more densely populated than Edgewater, roughly bound to a busy area that has been playfully nicknamed the “Manhattan of the South,” and more recently, “The Wall Street of the South.” 

However, Brickell is not to be mistaken for Downtown Miami as these two are different neighborhoods.

Brickell

It’s filled with commercial and luxury residential skyscrapers, with several supertalls on the way, and is ideal for ride-or-die urban types, executives, and those who wish to live and work in the same distinct neighborhood. Nonetheless, Brickell is also home to families and international business people who come to Miami for extended periods. The area is known for its bevy of world-class restaurants, vibrant but mature nightlife, celebrity residents, as well as its plethora of versatile shopping options

— Business: Brickell vs Edgewater

Edgewater, Miami is essentially a more laid-back, residential district where neighbors will recognize one another while walking their dogs, pushing strollers, or bicycling. There are only a handful of shared workspaces, offices, and commercial buildings, many within condo buildings, so if you prefer to leave the work at the office and decompress when you get home, Edgewater offers just that.

Edgewater

Brickell, on the other hand, is Miami’s central business district, and the second-largest international banking hub and financial center in the country after New York. Flanked by the Miami River and Biscayne Bay, it offers a unique Miami-style, urban experience that includes plenty of open-air restaurant options, high-rises with spectacular water views, and an active but casual corporate environment. Several international banks are here, like Santander and BNP Paribas, along with newly transplanted venture capital and money management firms opening offices. If you like to get deals done over dinner and then walk home, then Brickell is good for you.

Brickell

— Walkability and Transportation: Brickell vs Edgewater

Both neighborhoods are quite walkable. While Edgewater is more tucked away, its super central location makes it close enough to walk, bicycle or take the Metromover to many of Miami's most desirable locations, such as the Pérez Art Museum (PAMM) and the Frost Science Museum, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, the Wynwood Arts District, the Design District, and Downtown, as well as the Miami-Dade College Wolfson Campus.

Edgewater

Edgewater also has its own Metromover stop, and its proximity to Downtown and Midtown Miami means you can take advantage of the Metrorail and super convenient Brightline trains, which can take you just about anywhere in South Florida from the nearby Miami Worldcenter station. If you own a car, Edgewater has the Venetian Causeway and the Julia Tuttle Causeway providing quick access to Miami Beach.

Brickell

In Brickell, the free Metromover can take you to Wynwood, Coconut Grove, and Downtown Miami, where you can connect to the Brightline trains leading all the way up to Orlando. There is also a free Brickell trolley to drive around the neighborhood and getting to the airport is easy and inexpensive with the Metrorail Orange Line or an Uber. If you own a car, traffic around Brickell can be very heavy at certain times of the day, and you’ll likely use it on the weekends.

— Parks and Greenspace: Brickell vs Edgewater

Access to greenspace is Edgewater's claim to fame and part of what makes it so desirable. In this category, we think it is a winner over Brickell. The entire distinct neighborhood is anchored by the expansive and multifaceted Margaret Pace Park, with its winding pathways, mangrove forests, a dog park, sports activities, including basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, and waterfront access for water sports such as kayaking or paddle boarding. 

Edgewater

The park also provides an array of outdoor options for nature-themed recreation ideal for young families with children, fitness enthusiasts, and work-from-home types. There are other nearby green areas where dogs and their human companions can get plenty of exercise.

Brickell

In contrast, Brickell is a more dense commercial neighborhood although it also has some parks. You can have fun in the sun or good dog walking areas at locations such as Brickell Park, the waterfront walk around Brickell Key Park, Alice C. Wainwright Park, and Miami Circle Park. In these, you can enjoy shady walking trails and areas for dogs to run and play, as well as some breezy water views that make you forget momentarily you're in the middle of one of the country's busiest urban hubs.

— Arts and Culture: Brickell vs Edgewater

Edgewater's proximity to the Downtown Arts District makes it incomparable as far as access to the arts goes. From almost all Edgewater properties you can easily walk or bicycle to some of the city's most renowned cultural venues, such as the Adrienne Arsht Center, Ziff Opera House, Pérez and Frost Museums, Kaseya Center, and many smaller art galleries, venues, performing arts centers, and artists' studios.

Edgewater

Edgewater is also within a short bike or Uber ride to the famous street art that has made Wynwood a household name, along with its galleries and the yearly art fairs that draw millions of international tourists during Miami Art Week, with Art Miami setting up shop essentially in Edgewater. It's also a stone's throw from the Design District, and the area's most prestigious art exhibition spaces and collections, such as the Moore Building, the de la Cruz Collection, and the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA).

Brickell

While Brickell is better known for its restaurants, chic roof-top bars, and entertainment venues than for cultural venues, its easy transportation options provide quick access to the Downtown Arts District and many of the same attractions that are closer to Edgewater.

— Eating and Shopping: Brickell vs Edgewater

As far as eating and shopping options go, Edgewater's residential bayfront community can't compete with Brickell's abundance of casual eateries and fine dining options. Some of these include The Capital Grille, an upscale steak house perfect for impressing corporate clients, and La Mar by Gaston Acurio at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, where Peruvian fusion cuisine is served in a chic waterfront setting. There is also a wide variety of high-end shopping within walking distance in Brickell, including those at Mary Brickell Village, Brickell City Centre, and all along Brickell Avenue. 

Edgewater

Among one of the area's newest eateries is The Henry at Brickell City Centre, which brings about the best of American cuisine by eleven-time James Beard nominee, the restauranteur Sam Fox. You can also find an excellent affordable waterfront lunch option at Crazy About You, where you’ll enjoy Mediterranean flavors in an understated bistro setting on the bay. There are also two food halls at Brickell City Centre, where you'll find a wide assortment of eateries and specialty shops serving up all types of food. Don’t forget to try the Italian at Casa Tua Cucina!

By comparison, Edgewater has fewer options but they’re among Miami's most popular restaurants. For fine dining, Amara at Paraiso is a waterfront favorite, while Paolo Fontanot's Italian bakery and cafe is a can't-miss, being the only U.S. location outside of Italy. There’s also talk-of-the-town places like Klaw and Casadonna in the historic Woman’s Club with expansive views of Biscayne Bay, and its proximity to Downtown Miami and Wynwood means even more options.

Brickell

For shopping, Edgewater’s just a short drive away from The Shops at Midtown Miami, the unique boutiques at Wynwood or the luxury shops and five star restaurants at the nearby Design District, everything from Fendi, Hermes and Dior for shopping to Contessa, Swan and Cote for restaurants. 

— Architecture and Housing Options: Brickell vs Edgewater

Up until recently, Edgewater used to be populated by working-class families living in smallish mid-20th-century bungalows and a few low-rise existing bayfront condos. Now, modern brand-new developments have brought in luxury condos such as those at Paramount Bay, Elysee, or Missoni Baia. These chic new residences offer condos with balconies with exquisite bay views, direct access to the water, and modern family-friendly resort-style amenities.

Edgewater

Meanwhile, Brickell is a larger area that is divided into three sections: Old or South Brickell, the Financial District, and Brickell Key. The area south of SW 15th Road is known as South Brickell, and along its grand, tree-lined street, there are older low- and mid-rise condo buildings on the water, as well as small firms, international banks, and other professional service offices, along with a few ritzy mansions dating back to the Mary Brickell era.

Brickell

The area north of SW 15th Road, and particularly around Brickell Avenue, is known as the Financial District and here you'll see business and luxury residential high-rise skyscrapers. While many of the area's older high-rise condos provide waterfront access to Biscayne Bay, most brand-new constructions, like the anticipated Dolce & Gabanna Residences, are inland due to the limited availability of space in this increasingly dense area. Finally, Brickell Key is a more isolated, private enclave with older, high-end, waterfront residential condos, and home to the new Residences at Mandarin Oriental.

— Cost of Living: Brickell vs Edgewater, Miami

Edgewater, Miami is a family-friendly area, with very few single-family homes. Edgewater’s condo prices averaging around $360 per sq. ft. and average residential units listing at around $502,929, as of December 2023, however condo units can up to $2,000 per square foot. The average household income for most residents in Edgewater, Miami is around the $95,000 - $130,000 mark.

Generally, Miami can get expensive but it’s important to take all factors into consideration when discussing the Miami cost of living and make an informed decision.

Edgewater

Brickell, on the other hand, has a wider array of real estate options and attracts a variety of international investors, with options ranging from mid-rise residential towers and older high-rise exclusive penthouses to more affordable condos. The average price in Brickell is roughly bound to about $403 per square foot or $554,584 for an average residential unit; however, listings may run as high as $133,750,000 or about $3,949 per square foot. There are pockets here of larger, single-family homes in the southern part of Brickell, and these homes will start at about $2 million and up. 

Brickell

— Which Neighborhood Is Better? Brickell or Edgewater?

If you're in the market for a quieter, family-friendly environment with less noise and traffic, access to nature, Biscayne Bay waterfront living, mid-rise to high-rise residential towers, and very little tourism, you'll love Edgewater. Here you’ll have Miami’s most happening neighborhoods a stone’s throw away, with many shopping, culture and entertainment options.

Edgewater

If you prefer urban living to the max and want to experience immersing yourself in the Manhattan of the South, with access to all things big city, you'll feel right at home in Brickell.

Brickell

And if you’re curious to explore some more neighborhoods and see how they measure to each other, check out these comparisons:

• Edgewater vs South Beach
• South Beach vs Miami Beach 
• Edgewater vs Downtown Miami
• The Miami Beaches: South vs Mid-Beach vs North Beach
• Brickell vs South Beach
• Brickell vs Brickell Key
• Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach

That way you’ll be able to make an educated decision as to which Florida spot is ideal for you. Whether you’re torn between Brickell or Edgewater, or you would like to know more about any other neighborhood, give us a call or e-mail, and we'll be happy to go through the many available real estate listings in all of these places!