Miami Beach and South Beach are where 20th Century American cool meets 21st Century American hot. Make your Florida vacation a Miami Beach vacation and you’ll enjoy unparalleled Miami beaches and nightlife.
South Beach
The tip of Miami Beach south of Dade Avenue, SoBe is known for runway models and exclusive nightclubs. Don’t be overly surprised if the last time you saw the couple at the next table was on the cover of a magazine. If you think you’ve got what it takes to get in on the A-list scene, fill up the wallet, dress to impress, bring along a sexy entourage, have your concierge get you on the guest list, and beat the midnight rush to the velvet ropes.
The club scene is off the hook. Two techno-retrofitted Art Deco theaters top the dance club scene. The world’s best house and hip hop DJs rule at Crobar, featuring three state-of-the-art dance floors. And the strobe-lit colonnades of Mansion> are home to some of hottest Miami nightlife events, like Winter Music Conference DJ marathons and glamorous White Party benefits.
At Mynt, the ultra hip comes to chill against a backdrop of sleek space age décor and cool-hued lighting. You’ll reach nightclub nirvana at the exotic Opium Garden, with multi-level dance floors featuring lush Asian themes, and the exclusive Prive lounge. Three theme rooms make up the poolside party scene at Skybar: the sheer Casbah curtains of Rumbar; the barefoot-on-the-beach ambiance of Sandbar; and the lacquered antique glow of Redroom. At the beautiful beachfront Nikki Beach Club, supermodels slip out of teepee cabanas wearing only the bare necessities, and head upstairs to superstar-gaze in the retro orange glow of Pearl.
Miami Beach Delights
Back in the 1950s, Miami Beach was considered America’s Riviera, home to the cool Rat Pack scene. The mid-century Modernist style is preserved in the sleek architectural lines of restored Miami Beach hotels like the Fontainbleu and Eden Roc on Collins Avenue.
Stroll along a self-guided tour of the Art Deco District starting on Ocean Drive. The Miami Design Preservation League leads 90-minute day or night walking tours of the city's historic Art Deco District. The league led the fight to designate this area a National Historic District. The Miami Beach Bicycle Center offers monthly 2-hour bike tours of the district as well.
Take in the diverse collection of paintings, sculpture, and photography at the Bass Museum of Art. This striking modern building houses a collection including 16th-century Flemish tapestries, paintings by Botticelli and Rubens, and contemporary photographs. Recent exhibitions have included works by the husband-and-wife team of Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
Supermodels and celebrities who visit Florida sunbathe at Lummus Park Beach, a swath of star-studded white sands from the city’s 5th to 15th Street. The 12th Street stretch is a very popular gay friendly and muscle beach area. To get an all-over tan, head further north to the clothing-optional Haulover Beach.
You don’t have to go all gliteratti to thoroughly enjoy South Beach. Sip an iced tea at the News Café and watch the world’s beautiful people stroll by. Or dig into some serious seafood at Joe’s Stone Crab on Washington Avenue.
