Description:
South Beach's Glitz and Glamour
South Beach is thick with five-star lodgings, glittering clubs, world-class shops and top-notch eateries. The problem is, with so many places to lounge in luxury, hobnob with the beautiful people, and shop and eat well, narrowing down your to-do list can be real challenge. Thankfully, no matter what you decide to indulge it's hard to go wrong here.
View Iternary mapDay Note:
Check into the new W Hotel or The Setai (you can't go wrong with either) then go to the must-visit News Cafe for brunch before hitting the beach at Lummus Park. After a couple of hours of fun in the sun, grab lunch at Joe's Stone Crab and then head back to your hotel for some R&R before ending your day by partying the night away at SET.
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W Hotel South Beach
Contact:
- 305/938-3000
- visit website
Location:
- 2201 Collins Avenue
- Miami,FL33139
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Map
Description:
With confidence evidenced by the bravado to open its doors during the throws of the Great Recession, the W Hotel South Beach doesn't fail to deliver on its promise of providing luxury and comfort. This swanky VIP hot spot has the requisite beautiful decor and excellent service and each of its 408 rooms, suites and penthouses offers an ocean view, sumptuous bed linens, flat-screen TVs with satellite service, a Bose sound system and a marble-clad bathroom. There's also a full-service spa (of course), a heated outdoor swimming pool, fitness facilities, a business center (though you're likely to be thinking more about pleasure) and it also happens to be the home of WALL, one of Miami Beach's hottest nightclubs-in the likelihood that you spot an A-list celeb here, don't gawk. It just comes with the territory.
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The Setai
Contact:
- 305/520-6000
- visit website
Location:
- 2001 Collins Ave
- Miami,FL33139
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Map
- user rating
Description:
Anything but cheap but supremely lavish (in a Zen-like contemporary minimalist Asian sort of way), the Setai offers two entirely different lodging experiences: sleek, modestly-sized rooms with all the creature comforts and spacious one- and two-bedroom suites (some are actually full-size condos) boasting with floor-to-ceiling windows, full kitchens and huge Jacuzzi tubs made for extended soaks. And if you happen to be musically-inclined and are in the mood to really splurge, there's a four-bedroom penthouse suite with access to the Lenny Kravitz-designed rooftop recording studio (one night there will set you back the price of nice new car or SUV).
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News Cafe
Contact:
- 305/538-6397
- visit website
Location:
- 800 Ocean Dr
- Miami,FL33139
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Map
- user rating
Description:
Since opening its doors in 1988, this South Beach landmark has been serving up meals, drinks and international publications 24/7, having counted the late fashion designer Versace among its regulars. A combination sidewalk cafe, bar and newsstand, it's popular with tourists and locals, featuring a round-the-clock menu of morning favorites like bagels, pancakes, pastries and omelets, as well as a selection of salads, sandwiches, pasta, burgers and Middle Eastern platters. Although known for its indifferent servers, what it lacks in service with a smile, it more than makes up for in cachet and European style. The perfect place for people-watching, why not grab a house signature espresso and a newspaper and soak up some sunshine here?
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Lummus Park
Contact:
- visit website
Location:
- 10th Street and Ocean Drive
- Behind Setai Hotel
- Miami,FL33139
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Map
- user rating
Description:
Mention the beach in South Beach and locals immediately think of the long, wide stretch of sand at Lummus Park (which they never refer to by its name) Yes, it's everything you'd expect it to be: warm, crystal-blue waters and fine white sand usually packed with hordes of bronzed, pale and sunburned souls soaking up ultraviolet rays. Volleyball is a popular sport here, as is watching the beautiful people who come from throughout the country and around the world to see and be seen. Most of South Beach's dining and nightlife is only steps away. Looking for peace and quiet? Look elsewhere. This sandy spit is crowded both day and night. And know in advance that finding parking is a pain.
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Joe's Stone Crab
Contact:
- +1 305 673 0365
- visit website
Location:
- 11 Washington Avenue
- Miami,FL33139
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Map
- user rating
Description:
So committed are they to their mission of serving the some of the best and freshest stone crab anywhere, this restaurant doesn't even bother to open its doors until fishing season (from October through May) for its namesake crustacean. But when it is open to the public, this establishment swarms with crowds lining up for seats and a chance to indulge what many feel are some of the finest crab anywhere. Dining here requires more than a little patience and a few dollars, but there are few who complain about the crab, or any of the other seafood offerings, for that matter. It's not hard to understand why this place has been around since 1913.
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SET
Contact:
- 305/531-2800
- visit website
Location:
- 320 Lincoln Rd
- South Beach
- Miami,FL33119
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Map
Description:
If you're looking to hobnob with the likes of starlet Lindsay Lohan or New Moon actor Kellan Lutz, head straight to ultra-luxe SET, a see-and-be-seen club steps away from world-class boutiques, restaurants and lodgings. It burst onto Miami Beach's nightlife scene in February 2007 and has been an "it" place to be ever since. Recalling the glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age, it has a heady mix of cut crystal, Pucci-spun fabrics and honest-to-goodness Tinseltown artifacts (adding an air of authenticity). From Thursday through Sunday, A-list celebrities, the international jet-set and mere mortals flock here to sip champagne and mixed drinks, party hard and people watch. The door policy is very strict so ask your hotel concierge for help with reservations to make sure you have no trouble getting past the velvet ropes. And, bring your American Express Card...you'll need it.
Day Note:
Kick off your day ordering room service and lounging around after breakfast at the pool. Put on your finest duds are head out for stroll down the see-and-be-seen stretch of Ocean Drive (and pick up a few things at area boutiques). Do dinner at Emeril's and cap off your Miami Beach visit with some live entertainment at Club Tropigala before returning to your hotel for a nightcap and whatever follows.
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Ocean Drive
Contact:
- +1 305 539 3000
Location:
- Ocean Drive
- Miami,FL33139
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Map
Description:
Known as SoBe to the locals, Ocean Drive is quintessential Miami at its finest. Besides being the most picturesque part of the city, this famous stretch of road is the cultural hub of Miami. Trendy hotels, upscale eateries, and beautiful people fill the sidewalks amidst the mass of tourists. Art galleries and clothing boutiques thrive here, offering visitors an insight into one of the worlds foremost fashion and art centers. Ocean Drive is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with over 800 preserved and protected Art Deco Buildings which have put South Beach on the map the world over.
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Emeril's Miami Beach
Contact:
- 305/695-4550
- visit website
Location:
- 1601 Collins Ave
- In the Loews Hotel
- Miami,FL33139
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Map
reserve with OpenTable- user rating
Description:
This is the real deal. In a city where restaurants pride themselves on celebrity sightings and snooty service, Emeril's is a spicy breath of fresh air. If you've never dined at Emeril's original restaurant(s) in New Orleans and you're craving gourmet Creole cuisine, dine here ASAP. Elaborately designed by David Rockwell, the 8,000-square-foot restaurant is reminiscent of a bustling and cavernous New York City hot spot with chandeliers, massive wine cellars, and a very inviting open kitchen in which Emeril himself sometimes stars. Call the restaurant ahead to find out when he's in town, and book your reservations immediately. Portions are massive and signature dishes include New Orleans barbecue shrimp with a petite rosemary biscuit; Niman Ranch double-cut pork chop with tamarind glaze, caramelized sweet potatoes and green chili mole sauce; and banana cream pie with banana crust, caramel sauce, and chocolate shavings. Service is stellar and should serve as an example to other area restaurants. A 3-hour Sunday Jazz Brunch is worth breaking the diet for, too.
- Destination(s): Miami
- Type: Best of...,Cool and Hip
- 2 DAYS
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