Skyline Shadow Analyzer
Miami's towers are beautiful. They also block the sun by 2 PM. Find out which outdoor spots are in sun or shade before you commit to a patio, pool deck, or park bench.
Brickell, Edgewater, and the Design District are building faster than any neighborhood in the country. Every new tower reshapes the shadow map. This tool uses static shadow data to tell you which outdoor spots get direct sun, partial shade, or full tower shadow at the time of day you're planning.
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Brickell
Miami's densest high-rise corridor. Tower shadows are significant and shift dramatically through the day. East-facing spots lose sun by early afternoon.
Brickell Key Park
parkIsland park on Biscayne Bay. Open exposure — no tower shadows until late afternoon when Brickell Key towers cast east-facing shade.
Best window: 7 AM – 3 PM. After 3 PM the Brickell Key residential towers cast significant shadow from the west.
Full-day shadow map
Mary Brickell Village Patio
patioStreet-level outdoor dining corridor between towers. Surrounded by mid-rise buildings that create shade earlier than expected.
The surrounding towers create a canyon effect. Best sun window is 11 AM – 1 PM. Shaded by 2 PM most of the year.
Full-day shadow map
Brickell City Centre Terrace
patioElevated outdoor terrace with partial climate shading from the CLIMATE RIBBON structure. Designed to manage sun exposure.
The CLIMATE RIBBON canopy provides consistent partial shade throughout the day — intentional design. Never full sun, never full shade.
Full-day shadow map
Simpson Park
parkHammock preserve in the middle of Brickell. Tree canopy provides natural shade independent of tower shadows.
Natural hammock canopy provides consistent shade regardless of tower position. The best midday option in Brickell for avoiding both sun and tower shadows.
Full-day shadow map
Edgewater
Rapidly developing bayfront neighborhood. Newer towers are taller and cast longer shadows. Bayfront spots retain sun longer due to open water exposure.
Margaret Pace Park
parkBayfront park with open Biscayne Bay exposure. One of Miami's best sun windows — bay position delays tower shadows significantly.
The bay exposure keeps this park in full sun until late afternoon. Tower shadows from the west don't reach the waterfront until after 5 PM most of the year.
Full-day shadow map
Wynwood Walls Courtyard
patioOpen-air courtyard surrounded by low warehouse buildings. Minimal tower shadow impact — the low surrounding structures don't block sun.
Low surrounding warehouse buildings mean minimal shadow impact. Afternoon shade comes from the buildings themselves, not towers. Good all-day option.
Full-day shadow map
Paraiso Park
parkSmall bayfront park adjacent to the Paraiso development. Open bay exposure but increasingly surrounded by new towers.
New Paraiso towers cast significant afternoon shadow from the west. Best window: morning through early afternoon. The bay view remains excellent throughout.
Full-day shadow map
Design District
Low-to-mid-rise luxury retail district. Tower shadow impact is lower than Brickell or Edgewater, but the dense block structure creates street-level shade corridors.
Palm Court
patioOpen-air luxury retail courtyard. The palm trees provide natural shade; surrounding buildings are mid-rise and don't create deep shadow corridors.
Palm tree canopy provides consistent dappled shade. Mid-rise surrounding buildings create partial afternoon shade but no deep tower shadows. One of the most comfortable outdoor spaces in the district.
Full-day shadow map
NE 2nd Ave Dining Corridor
patioStreet-level restaurant patios along the main Design District dining street. East-west orientation means morning sun from the east, afternoon shade from the west.
The east-west street orientation creates a natural shade corridor by afternoon. Best for morning coffee or brunch. Avoid for afternoon sun-seeking.
Full-day shadow map
ICA Miami Plaza
parkOpen plaza in front of the Institute of Contemporary Art. Low surrounding buildings, good sun exposure through most of the day.
One of the best full-sun options in the Design District. Low surrounding buildings and open plaza design keep it in sun through most of the day.
Full-day shadow map
Coconut Grove
Miami's oldest neighborhood and its most canopied. Mature hardwood trees — live oaks, gumbo limbos, ficus — create natural shade that no tower can replicate. Low-rise, walkable, and genuinely cool by Miami standards.
Peacock Park
parkBayfront park at the heart of the Grove with mature tree canopy and open bay views. The combination of tree shade and bay breeze makes it one of Miami's most comfortable outdoor spots.
Tree canopy keeps this park comfortable all day. No significant tower shadows — the low-rise Grove skyline barely registers. Golden hour opens up as the sun drops toward the bay.
Full-day shadow map
The Kampong Garden Path
parkNational Tropical Botanical Garden outpost on the bay. Dense tropical canopy of palms, mangoes, and flowering trees creates near-constant shade along the garden paths.
One of the shadiest spots in Miami. The mature tropical canopy blocks direct sun at almost every hour. Ideal for midday escapes — bring water, it's humid under the canopy.
Full-day shadow map
CocoWalk Courtyard
patioRedesigned open-air retail courtyard with mature ficus trees and overhead shade structures. The tree canopy was preserved through the renovation — a rare Miami win.
Consistent partial shade all day from the preserved ficus canopy. The surrounding two-story buildings add afternoon shade from the west. One of the most reliably comfortable patios in Miami.
Full-day shadow map
Dinner Key Waterfront
parkOpen bayfront promenade near the marina. No tree canopy here — full sun exposure — but the bay breeze is consistent and strong, making it feel cooler than it reads.
No shade to speak of — bring a hat. The payoff is the bay breeze, which runs 10–15 mph most afternoons. Best visited in the morning or at golden hour when the light is worth the exposure.
Full-day shadow map
Wynwood
Low-rise warehouse district with wide streets and open sky. Tower shadow impact is minimal — the tallest buildings are 4–6 stories. Shade comes from murals walls, covered patios, and the occasional mature tree. Expect full sun in the plazas.
Wynwood Walls Main Courtyard
patioThe central outdoor gallery space surrounded by mural-covered warehouse walls. Low surrounding structures mean full sun through most of the day — the murals don't provide shade.
Plan for full sun until mid-afternoon. The west-facing warehouse walls begin casting shade around 3 PM. Mornings are the most comfortable visit window.
Full-day shadow map
Lagniappe Wine Bar Garden
patioSprawling outdoor wine bar with a canopy of mature trees and string lights. One of Wynwood's best-shaded outdoor spaces — the tree cover is genuine and dense.
Consistent tree canopy shade throughout the day. The surrounding low buildings don't add much, but the trees do the work. Comfortable from open to close.
Full-day shadow map
NW 2nd Ave Covered Patios
patioThe stretch of covered restaurant patios along NW 2nd Ave between 24th and 26th Streets. Most venues here have shade structures, pergolas, or umbrellas — the street has evolved to address the sun problem.
Shade structures at most venues provide reliable cover. The west-facing building walls add deep afternoon shade. Best stretch in Wynwood for a comfortable afternoon sit.
Full-day shadow map
Wynwood Yard / Open Plazas
parkThe open food hall and plaza spaces scattered through the district. Minimal shade infrastructure — these are sun-exposed gathering spaces that rely on umbrellas and temporary structures.
Shade depends entirely on umbrella placement and temporary structures, which vary by venue and season. Arrive early or after 3 PM for the most comfortable experience.
Full-day shadow map
South Beach / Mid-Beach
Ocean Drive and the barrier island. No towers to the east — the Atlantic keeps the eastern horizon open. Shade comes from Art Deco building overhangs, palm canopies, and the beach's own shade structures. Ocean breeze is the real variable.
Lummus Park Beach
parkThe wide strip of park between Ocean Drive and the beach. Open sky, full Atlantic exposure, and consistent ocean breeze. No tower shadows — the Art Deco buildings to the west are too low and too far.
Full sun all day — this is a beach, not a shade destination. The ocean breeze (typically 12–18 mph) is the only relief. Shade structures and umbrellas are available for rent. Art Deco buildings begin casting long shadows after 5 PM.
Full-day shadow map
Española Way
patioNarrow pedestrian street with Spanish Revival architecture and covered restaurant patios. The tight street width and two-story buildings create a natural shade corridor by midday.
The narrow east-west street orientation creates deep afternoon shade. Best for lunch and dinner — the shade arrives right when you want it. Morning sun is direct and warm.
Full-day shadow map
South Pointe Park
parkTip-of-the-island park with open ocean and bay views. Minimal shade infrastructure but maximum breeze — the park sits at the convergence of the Atlantic and Government Cut.
No meaningful shade — the park is intentionally open. The wind is the feature here, not the shade. Bring sun protection. Best visited at sunrise or golden hour when the light is spectacular.
Full-day shadow map
Lincoln Road Mall
patioPedestrian mall with mature banyan trees, restaurant canopies, and shade structures. The banyans are the real asset — their canopy is wide, dense, and independent of any building.
Banyan tree canopy provides consistent shade along most of the mall. Restaurant umbrellas fill the gaps. One of South Beach's most comfortable all-day outdoor options — the trees make it work.
Full-day shadow map
Coral Gables
George Merrick's planned city is Miami's most canopied municipality. Banyan-lined boulevards, Mediterranean Revival architecture with deep overhangs, and strict height limits mean shade is structural here — not accidental.
Miracle Mile
patioThe main commercial boulevard with mature street trees and restaurant patios. The tree canopy along the median and sidewalks provides consistent dappled shade — the city has maintained these trees for decades.
Street tree canopy keeps Miracle Mile comfortable throughout the day. The two-to-four-story Mediterranean Revival buildings add afternoon shade from the west. One of Miami's most walkable shade corridors.
Full-day shadow map
Venetian Pool
parkHistoric quarry-turned-pool with coral rock grottos, waterfalls, and mature palms. The rock formations and surrounding trees create natural shade pockets throughout the grounds.
The coral rock grottos provide deep shade at any hour — seek them out at midday. The open pool area is full sun from 10 AM to 2 PM. Surrounding palms and the rock walls shade the perimeter by mid-afternoon.
Full-day shadow map
Biltmore Hotel Grounds
parkThe historic hotel's expansive grounds include mature banyan trees, covered loggias, and deep Mediterranean Revival arcades. The architecture was designed for shade before air conditioning existed.
The deep loggia arcades and mature banyans provide shade at every hour. The pool area is more exposed at midday. The covered walkways around the building are the most reliable shade option.
Full-day shadow map
Village of Merrick Park
patioOpen-air luxury mall with mature trees, covered walkways, and a central fountain plaza. The landscaping was designed with Miami's sun in mind — more shade infrastructure than most outdoor malls.
Covered walkways and tree canopy provide reliable partial shade. The central plaza is more exposed at midday. Surrounding two-story buildings cast deep shade by late afternoon.
Full-day shadow map
Little Havana
Low-rise, dense, and culturally rich. Shade comes from covered market awnings, deep building overhangs, and the occasional mature royal poinciana. Calle Ocho's commercial strip has more shade infrastructure than it gets credit for.
Calle Ocho Walk of Fame
patioThe main commercial strip with covered storefronts, awnings, and outdoor café seating. Building overhangs along the south side of the street create a natural shade corridor in the afternoon.
The south-facing storefronts cast deep afternoon shade across the sidewalk. Best for afternoon strolling — the shade arrives by 2 PM and stays. Morning is full sun on the north sidewalk.
Full-day shadow map
Máximo Gómez Park (Domino Park)
parkThe legendary domino park with a permanent shade structure covering the playing tables. One of Miami's most reliably shaded outdoor gathering spots — the canopy was built for the players.
Permanent shade structure covers the entire park. Full shade at every hour — this is the most consistently shaded outdoor public space in Little Havana. The surrounding buildings add redundant shade.
Full-day shadow map
Tower Theater Plaza
patioThe small plaza in front of the historic Tower Theater at the heart of Calle Ocho. The theater's marquee and surrounding buildings create a partial shade pocket in the afternoon.
Morning and midday are exposed. The theater building and surrounding structures cast shade from the west by mid-afternoon. Best as an afternoon meeting point or evening gathering spot.
Full-day shadow map
Cuban Memorial Boulevard
parkThe tree-lined median park along SW 13th Ave with monuments and mature royal poinciana trees. When the poincianas are in bloom (May–July), the canopy is spectacular. Year-round, the mature trees provide meaningful shade.
Mature royal poinciana and other hardwood trees provide consistent canopy shade. The median park is narrow but well-shaded. One of Little Havana's most pleasant walking routes at any hour.
Full-day shadow map
Data source
Shadow data is based on static analysis of tower positions, heights, and Miami's sun angle at each time of day. Updated as major new towers open.
Seasonal variation
Sun angle varies by season. Summer sun is higher and more overhead; winter sun is lower and creates longer shadows. Data reflects average conditions.
What changes this
New construction changes the shadow map. Brickell and Edgewater are adding towers faster than any neighborhood in the country. Check back as we update.
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