62 June 18–24, 2026 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES June 18–24, 2026 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES B EST º f M IA M I ® 2 02 6 Whether you’re a pro or just there for the social hour, the sport caught on like wildfire and ev- eryone wants to play. Here in SoFlo, padel courts and clubs are popping up in just about every neighborhood, so we know finding the right spot can be more competitive than the person on the other side of the net. The top- class spot offers professional padel tourna- ments that draw the biggest names in the sport, and that’s how you know they mean business. Reserve basically kicked off the padel craze here in the 305, and the club has multiple loca- tions across South Florida. We’re partial to the water and backdrop of the Seaplane location, although all their clubs are a hit. The Sole Mia location has a Pura Vida inside, and the Design District location has drawn big names from Jimmy Butler to Joe Joans. Next time you’re ready to gather the group for a game of padel, head to Reserve and win no matter what. BEST PLACE TO ROLLER SKATE Crandon Park Family Amusement Center 6747 Crandon Blvd. Key Biscayne 33149 305-361-5421 miamidade.gov A hidden gem in the heart of Crandon Park, the outdoor roller rink and a historic car- ousel were the centerpieces of the defunct Crandon Zoo until it closed in the late 1970s. Old school roller skaters swarm the green asphalt on weekends to show off their skills, but weekdays offer a less crowded scene for folks looking to prac- tice their form with- out fear of being knocked down by a savvy skater. Plus, you can cool off at the nearby beach once you’ve sweated around the rink. It’s open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. BEST POOL Shenandoah Park 1800 SW 21st Ave. Miami, 33145 305-533-3510 miami.gov With so many gleaming, azure pools across Miami, this category can feel more academic than praiseworthy. Still, Shenandoah Park stands out as a haven for everyone from ca- sual swimmers to Olympic hopefuls. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., the park features both long-course (50-yard) and short-course (25-yard) lanes with plenty of space to train, refine your butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke or freestyle, or simply get in a solid workout for $3. Each lane is clean and clearly marked on its floor without any debris to get in your way. For those looking for something more relaxed, morning sessions offer instructor- led workouts complete with pop music and Styrofoam weights that welcome older swim- mers or anyone easing into the water (or you can just hang out and soak in the rays). Bath- rooms include showers and lockers, making it easy to fit in a swim before the workday. No matter the hour, the water welcomes all and urges you to hop on in. BEST POOL HALL Lost Weekend 218 Española Way Miami Beach, 33139 305-672-1707 sub-culture.org/lw-miami/ In a neighborhood where velvet ropes and overpriced cocktails usually call the shots, Lost Weekend has spent nearly 30 years proving South Beach still knows how to keep things de- lightfully low stakes and high fun. Tucked along Española Way since 1996, this beloved dive bar is where locals, bartenders finishing shifts and wandering night owls all come to rack ’em up, talk a little trash and pre- tend they totally meant to bank that corner shot. With well- kept billiard tables, cheap drinks, retro arcade games, foosball, air hockey, skee- ball and vintage ’80s clas- sics blinking in the background, the place hums with the kind of unpretentious chaos Mi- ami desperately needs. Games cost about as much as a single sip elsewhere in South Beach, and the happy hour deals feel almost suspiciously generous. Somehow, the food slaps too. Philly cheesesteaks, honey garlic wings and crispy tater tots arrive exactly when the night starts needing a second wind. Open from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. every night, Lost Weekend is the rare Miami spot where nobody cares what la- bel you’re wearing — as long as you can call your shot. BEST ROCK CLIMBING ProjectRock 3580 N Andrews Ave. Oakland Park, 33309 954-766-4836 projectrock.com Looking to tap into your adventurous side? Live bould-er and head over to ProjectRock, the best rock climbing space in South Florida. Located in Oakland Park, ProjectRock’s sprawling facility offers more than 18,000 square feet of climbing, including sport and lead routes, bouldering, rappelling and more. The hand-sculpted, 40-to-60-foot walls boast more than 10,000 holds, and 125 possi- ble routes ensure climbers have a unique ex- perience every visit. Be sure to bring a belay partner or join in on the variety of climbing classes for the ultimate scaling experience. BEST SKATEPARK Lot 11 Skatepark 301-349 NW Second St. Miami, FL 33128 skatefree.org Best known as Miami’s first skatepark, Lot 11 has become a community hub for rollerbladers, skaters and ama- teurs alike. Renovated from an old Dade County municipal parking lot back in 2019, the skatepark offers numerous summer camps to foster the talents of skating’s next genera- tion. The 45,000-square-foot lot in- cludes a skate plaza, a bowl, street courses and an area for staging events. Lot 11’s signifi- cance to the community extends beyond its skating capabilities. The locale plays host to cultural events, including a rave with DJ Dom Dolla and vintage markets with dozens of vendors. Skill level aside, Lot 11 Skatepark is a home-away-from-home for many, solidifying its spot as Miami’s top skatepark. BEST SOCCER FIELD Stadio Soccer 571 NW 73rd St. Miami, 33150 305-809-8961 stadiosoccer.com Sometimes the urge to play a little footy can strike at the weirdest time. If you fancy your- self a nocturnal version of Lionel Messi, Sta- dio Soccer has got you covered. From Monday through Friday, this futbol operation is open from 8 a.m. until 3 a.m. On weekends, it runs on Cinderella time, so the final whistle rings at midnight. Nestled under an Interstate 95 overpass in Miami’s Little River, Stadio Soccer has five impeccable fields for groups looking to play seven-on-seven matches. Teams from across Miami-Dade County compete on a daily basis and welcome newcomers into the fold. Stadio Soccer is also a fun place to hold birthday parties and other social events, with party packages between $500 and $600 that include food and hours of field playtime. BEST TENNIS COURTS Flamingo Park Tennis Center 11th Street & Jefferson Avenue Miami Beach, 33139 305-673-7761 flamingotenniscenter.com At Flamingo Park Tennis Center, love means a lot more than the score. Tucked inside one of Miami Beach’s most active public parks, these pristine clay courts have become a gathering place for everyone from total be- ginners to players who treat Saturday matches like Wimbledon qualifiers. Now op- erated by Cañas Tennis and led by former professional players Guillermo Cañas, Martín García and Gustavo Oribe, the program serves serious instruction with plenty of Mi- ami personality. The clinics cover every level, Match Tuff Saturdays keep the competition lively, and private lessons — especially with Dominican coach Julio Avilas — have earned a devoted following. Meanwhile, BYOB (Bring Your Own Balls) run by Iryna Corri- gan turns the courts into a social scene of mini tournaments, mixers and playful rallies where strangers quickly become doubles partners. What truly keeps Flamingo Park in championship shape, though, are long- time caretakers Walter Simmons and Ron Stroia who have maintained the clay for over a decade through changing ownerships and evolving programs. Membership opens each October, but anyone can drop in and play. At Flamingo Park, every- body gets a shot at advantage. BEST TRAIL Chapel Trail Nature Preserve 19800 Sheridan St. Pembroke Pines, 33029 954-450-6895 ppines.com Miami has no shortage of scenic walking spots, but one of South Florida’s best trails is tucked away in a pretty unexpected place. Located on the edge of the Everglades in Pembroke Pines, Chapel Trail Nature Pre- serve is a hidden gem that feels worlds away from suburban South Florida. Small but sur- prisingly rich in wildlife, the quiet park fea- tures a 1,650-foot boardwalk winding through wetlands and pavilions with inter- pretive signs highlighting the species that call the preserve home (birds, rabbits, turtles, snakes, alligators and more). The preserve is typically uncrowded save for the occasional birdwatcher or photographer. Keep your eyes peeled. If you’re lucky, you might catch sight of the massive gator known to sunbathe near the entrance. BEST URBAN BIKE RIDE Miami Critical Mass facebook.com/miamicriticalmass In a city hijacked by the automobile, an urban bike ride can be a harrowing experience. It seems every other driver is testing how close they can get to the cyclist without knocking them over. There is safety in numbers, how- ever, which is why Miami Critical Mass is a Godsend. Every fourth Friday at 7:15 p.m., a critical mass of cyclists takes off from Gov- ernment Center and explores the Magic City by pedal. The routes vary each month but are advertised ahead of time on the Facebook page — good news for cyclists (and drivers who wish to avoid them). April was a 20-mile championship shape, though, are long- time caretakers Walter Simmons and Ron Stroia who have maintained the clay for over a decade through changing ownerships and evolving programs. Membership opens Spºrts & Recreatiºn shifts and wandering night owls all come to rack ’em up, talk a little trash and pre- tend they totally meant to bank that corner shot. With well- kept billiard tables, cheap drinks, retro arcade games, foosball, air hockey, skee- ball and vintage ’80s clas- background, the place
