Miami Cool Block: Ocean Drive

By Lauren Tjaden

Stretched along the shimmering sands of legendary Miami’s South Beach, so close to the Atlantic you can smell the salt in the air, Ocean Drive dazzles the senses with neon colors, art deco buildings and a vibrance that infuses everything and everybody.

It feels rich, glamorous, indulgent and decadent. It’s the kind of place where you might see impossibly beautiful people nibbling breakfast outside at the Front Porch Café (is that who it looks like?); celebrate epic nightlife at the Clevelander, famed for the pool that marks the center of the its patio; and explore the Art Deco Historic District, encompassing the United States’ largest concentration of buildings constructed in this notable architectural style.

Here are some don’t-miss experiences for your trip to this coolest of cool blocks.

Eat, Drink, Celebrate and Stay

Enjoying life and its pleasures is a hallmark of Ocean Drive, and lush food, abundant drink and glamorous parties and hotels are an integral part of that. Here are some favorite places to enjoy.

Eat it up

Indulging your palate is part of Ocean Drive’s magic, and eclectic, spoil-you-like-crazy restaurants are in plentiful supply, offering A-list people-watching in addition to stellar cuisine. What did you expect? It’s Miami Beach, where nothing is average.

Check out these delectable choices.

While ‘affordable’ and ‘Miami Beach’ don’t often go hand-in-hand, The Front Porch Café is the yummy exception to the rule, featuring an all-day breakfast menu, generous portions and classics like fish tacos; eggs in any style accompanied by toast, fruit, sausage, bacon and ham; and all-American burgers. The daily 4-to-7-p.m. happy hour delivers smiles with $3 beers and half-price drinks.

You can’t go wrong at The Local House, a charming hideaway in the Sense Beach House Hotel that garners rave reviews for its weekend brunch, delivering mouth-watering fare like buttery lobster benedict, banana pancakes, and key lime French toast.

Looking for a date-night destination? Laurent Tourondel’s LT Steak & Seafood, housed in The Betsy Hotel, is a much-lauded steak and seafood restaurant that’s made for romance; and not to be outdone, A Fish Called Avalon concocts a winning recipe combining fresh seafood with five-star service.

For an ultimate splurge, you can’t do better than Prime 112, known for its fabulous cuts of meat, legendary service, celebrity clientele—and a one-week reservation requirement. Its menu includes sinful offerings like truffled lobster mac and cheese; fried chicken and waffles; and a massive 48-ounce porterhouse for two.

But these stops are just the tip of the refueling iceberg. Here are more options.

Dance Clubs! Cocktail lounges! Dive bars!

Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive doesn’t go to bed early. If you want to join in the after-dark fun, check out these offerings.

Billed as the ‘sexiest nightclub in Miami Beach,’ Mango’s Tropical Café invites you to lose yourself in a Latin celebration complete with DJs, dancers attired in leopard hot pants, and live music. Expect to share the dance floor with celebrities and models at this boisterous hotspot.

The Clevelander declares ‘let’s play!’ on its website, and declares itself the best party in South Beach. It lives up to the hype with top DJs, an outdoor pool that begs you to jump into it, and expansive views of the Miami skyline as scenery for their rooftop parties.

Voodoo Rooftop & Hookah Lounge’s party ignites after sunset, fueled with tropical drinks, margaritas, a DJ and dancefloor; while Wet Willie’s celebrates the night with tasty nibbles and daquiris with names like ‘Call a Cab,’ “Attitude Adjustment,’ and ‘Shock Treatment.’

For a more subdued vibe and a daytime celebration, check out trendy Nikki Beach, beloved by the rich and famous. Nosh on gourmet fare paired with creative cocktails under its swaying palms, or kick back on a daybed while you groove to happy tunes played by their resident DJs. The dress code is casual and beach chic attire.

Places to stay

It becomes evident early on that while a day’s journey to Ocean Drive is a worthwhile venture, to more fully experience the area you should spend the night—or several.

The only difficulty is deciding at which iconic resort you should stay.

Starting at Ocean Drive’s southernmost boundary, the Marriott Stanton South Beach is a luxe beachfront hotel that boasts an outdoor infinity pool, an extravagant spa and mind-blowing views, as well as eateries that include Lolo’s Surf Cantina for Mexican food aficionados and its Michelin-starred Azabu Miami Beach, boasting modernized Japanese dishes and craft cocktails.

The Villa Casa Casuarina, once the Gianni Versace mansion, delivers over the top service; massive Italian marble bathrooms; and the Thousand Mosaic Pool; as well as a lavish rooftop lounge and private watering holes. Further north, the Clevelander Hotel and the Hotel Breakwater South Beach vow to keep the party going through the wee hours; while The Betsy Hotel, honored by Travel + Leisure as one of the best hotels in the world, lures guests with attentive amenities, exceptional service, and a celebrated chef at the helm of the kitchens.

Shopping

The Collins Avenue/Ocean Drive Shopping District sets the trends that move the nation with more than 30 designer brands. Jog over to Collins Avenue to wonder at Lincoln Road, an outdoor shopping mall that stretches across 10 walkable blocks packed with great shopping and dining at the core of South Beach.

Let’s go Art Deco

Architecture can be more than function; at its best it’s art as well, a visual feast that can amuse, fascinate and satisfy.

Popular in the 1920’s and 1930’s, Art Deco is proof of that, with signature design elements that employ pastel hues, chrome accents, symmetry, glass block, neon lighting, curved edges, porthole windows and terrazzo floors- similar in appearance to polished marble or granite—in addition to copious fountains.

You can’t find a better place to see buildings created in this eye-grabbing style than Miami Beach’s Art Deco Historic District, encompassing approximately 800 historic buildings in Miami Beach between 5th Street and 23rd Street along Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue.

You can appreciate these structures as an amazing backdrop for your Ocean Drive escapades or take one of the daily walking tours offered by the Miami Design Preservation League to enjoy them more fully.  The League also runs the Art Deco Museum and Welcome Center.

Keep your eyes peeled for iconic Ocean Drive hotels born in the Art Deco period, including the Beacon South Beach; the Colony Hotel, the Clevelander South Beach, and the fabulous Villa Casa Casuarina, formerly the Versace Mansion, but now a grand hotel offering 10 guest suites.

When you go…

Park Yourself here

Here’s information about the city of Miami Beach’s parking facilities, rates and electric vehicle charging stations, including South Beach – 23 Street to South Pointe; Middle Beach – 23 Street to 63 Street; and North Beach – 63 Street to 87 Street. Check out the city’s  interactive locator map.

You’ll also find an abundance of independently owned parking lots as far south as South Pointe Park and as far west as Alton Road. Here’s parking centered around Miami Beach from Google Maps.

Metered street parking is available in some areas as well.

To make sure you don’t have to circle the block, download the free Miami Beach Parking app, Miami Beach – ParkMe, on your device.  It shows you what’s available for parking and rates for lots and garages, including real-time occupancy info for certain facilities.

Accessible parking on street meters, surface lots and garages is free.

Rest up

Public restrooms are located in Lummus Park at 14th Street and Ocean Drive, and at 5th Street and Ocean Drive.

And there’s more

Check out welcome centers and visitors services in Miami, including the Art Deco Welcome Center and the LGBTQ Visitor Center.