Aventura - Sunny Isles

This Miami area mall was just voted best in the country. Here’s why it’s No. 1

An aerial view of Carsten Höller’s 93-foot glass-and-steel slide and Robert Indiana’s ‘Love’ sculpture are among the art installations welcoming visitors to Aventura Mall on Sept. 25, 2024, in Aventura, Fla.
An aerial view of Carsten Höller’s 93-foot glass-and-steel slide and Robert Indiana’s ‘Love’ sculpture are among the art installations welcoming visitors to Aventura Mall on Sept. 25, 2024, in Aventura, Fla. mocner@miamiherald.com

Aventura Mall fans already know it’s the best mall in the United States. Now the sprawling shopping center has national recognition, too.

The Northeast Miami-Dade mall, a city unto itself with plenty of offerings and surrounding traffic jams, plays big. There’s a big slide, an Apple Store, an Italian food hall and market.

@howard.cohen2024 Writing the obit on Don Stoffer, the founder of #AventuraMall, for the @Miami Herald today reminded me how much fun I had reporting a story on the @Aventura Mall in September 2024 and given a ride on the #CarstenHoller #AventuraSlideTower ♬ original sound - HOWARD COHEN

Now it also has a big ranking: Best Mall in America, as voted in the new USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

“Being named the best mall in the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards reflects our continued commitment to curating exceptional experiences,” said Jackie Soffer, chairman and CEO of Turnberry, the majority owner of Aventura Mall.

“From welcoming Florida’s first Eataly to bringing the most coveted fashion and lifestyle brands, and supporting culture through our museum-quality art collection, we’re proud to offer a premier destination that continues to evolve. We thank our loyal guests for their continued support and for making this achievement possible,” Soffer said in a statement to the Miami Herald.

The exterior of Eataly at the Aventura Mall on Monday.
The exterior of Eataly at the Aventura Mall on Monday. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com

Eataly isn’t the only first-in-Florida to open at sprawling Aventura Mall. Other brands trying Florida firsts in the last year include recent arrivals like Massimo Dutti wardrobe store, the fashion boutique Cinq à Sept, Dolce Vita footwear and Kim Kardashian’s Skims store.

MORE: How ‘Florida firsts’ are defining Aventura Mall. Here are some of the newcomers

Twenty malls across the country were nominated for consideration by a panel of “USA Today experts” in the fields of travel and lifestyle, according to the publication. The public was then given a chance to vote among the nominees. The only other Florida mall to contend was the Mall at Millenia in Orlando but it fell short of the Top 10.

Sorry Dadeland, Aventura’s also ever-growing Kendall-area rival that recently opened the first Dick’s House of Sport in South Florida.

MORE: Why is Aventura Mall both loved and loathed? It comes down to more than shopping

Top 10 best U.S. malls

So why is Aventura ranked above the others. “As the largest mall in the state of Florida, Aventura Mall has more than 300 retail shops, experiences, and dining options, and boasts a museum-worthy art collection,” opines the USA Today 10 Best editors.

People stand next to ‘Eye Benches,’ a sculpture by Louise Bourgeois, on Sept. 25, 2024. The late artist’s work is one of the recent art installations available for visitors to see at Aventura Mall.
People stand next to ‘Eye Benches,’ a sculpture by Louise Bourgeois, on Sept. 25, 2024. The late artist’s work is one of the recent art installations available for visitors to see at Aventura Mall. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com

Here are the 10 best malls in the nation, according to USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

1. Aventura Mall, Florida.

2. Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota.

3. Galleria Dallas, Texas.

4. The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, New York City.

5. King of Prussia Mall, Pennsylvania.

6. Scottsdale Fashion Square, Arizona.

7. American Dream, East Rutherford, New Jersey.

8. Grapevine Mills, Texas.

9. Tysons Corner Center, Virginia.

10. Brookfield Place, New York City.

The market area and a few of the counters inside Eataly at Aventura Mall.
The market area and a few of the counters inside Eataly at Aventura Mall. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com

This story was originally published June 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM.

Howard Cohen
Miami Herald
Miami Herald consumer trends reporter Howard Cohen, a 2017 Media Excellence Awards winner, has covered pop music, theater, health and fitness, obituaries, municipal government, breaking news and general assignment. He started his career in the Features department at the Miami Herald in 1991. Cohen is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Communication. Support my work with a digital subscription
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