Florida: South Beach

Overview

South Beach doesn't seem like it could be part of the United States, with its distinct culture and colorful parade of internationals. The art deco buildings that have been lovingly restored are bright and fanciful like small spaceships that planted themselves along the coastline. But the really big difference between South Beach and the rest of the country is the ridiculously beautiful men and women walking along the sidewalk and sitting in the cafes. When you first arrive in town it seems like you may have stumbled across some fantasy world where all the pieces have come miraculously together to form a utopia. That feeling wears off pretty quick...

No matter what you think of the scene that is South Beach, you can't help enjoy the sun and gorgeous water and beaches. There are fabulous places to eat and hang out, and if you love to people watch like me you will be thoroughly engaged by the folks that populate this otherworldly town.

Quick Tips:

In South Beach, it is worth paying a little bit more money to stay near the beach. All the restaurants, shops and attractions are nearby too, and it's nice not having to trek back and forth too far to a hotel.

Best Way To Get Around:

Parking is a premium in this small congested town. To avoid paying the ridiculous towing fees or running back and forth to a parking meter I'd suggest paying for a parking garage near Lincoln Road mall. If you are flying in and staying only in South Beach, you'd be better off taking a cab or car service to town and then walking around the various sights of the community.

Cheer
Flag

Park Washington Resort

Hotel

Though our room was fairly spartan, we were quite happy with our stay at South Beach''s Park Washington Resort. Three older Art Deco buildings have been turned into a single palm lined compound, sharing a nice pool area and some pleasant shaded walkways.
The real attraction to this resort, however, is its central location. Just a few blocks away from the main beach, it is also on Washington Avenue, lined with shops and restaurants and the path to getting to the popular Lincoln Road mall.

Cheer
Flag

by kylebarber on December 9, 2000

Park Washington Resort
1020 Washington Avenue Miami, Florida 33139
(888) 424-1930

11th Street Diner

Restaurant

This old-fashioned diner is housed in a 1948 chrome Art Deco building that is truly fun to check out if you dig the period style. The real reasons to stop by the 11th Street Diner, however, are the fun crowds and the great food that they serve, which includes standard diner fare along with more adventurous offerings. Very busy at all hours of the day and night (it's open 24 hours), the folks here are animated and fun to listen to and watch. Make sure to indulge with a thick milkshake...

Cheer
Flag

by kylebarber on December 9, 2000

11th Street Diner
1065 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, Florida 33139
+1 305 534 6373

News Cafe South Beach

Restaurant | "News Cafe"

The food here is pretty good if not all that exciting in presentation, style or variety of choices. And the service teeters between adequate and awful. So why would you choose to eat the News Cafe? Well, location is everything. Situated right on the main thoroughfare along the beach, all the beautiful folks parade by in both directions making for an eyeful that will distract you any frustrations incurred by News Cafe waitresses. If the Adonis and waif parade ever slows down you can console yourself with the view of the ocean waves crashing on the shore. The models will be back shortly.

Cheer
Flag

by kylebarber on December 9, 2000

News Cafe South Beach
800 Ocean Dr Miami, Florida 33139
(305) 538-6397

El Rancho Grande

Restaurant

This pleasant Mexican eatery is located in the Lincoln Road mall, not too far from the popular bar Score. It's a great choice for couples who want a charming place to eat and talk without too much background noise, or for those who simply need a break from the dazzling eye candy that is prevalent in other gay-friendly South Beach joints. The burritos aren't particularly unique or revolutionary, but all of the food is well made and filling. Service is friendly and efficient, though we may have been fortunate to be one of the few couples in the place. The next night the place was teeming with customers.

Cheer
Flag

by kylebarber on December 9, 2000

El Rancho Grande
1626 Pennsylvania Ave. Miami, Florida 33139
(305) 673-0480

Twist

Attraction

The consensus seems to be that this is the preferred bar for meeting men in South Beach, though the traffic flow dips and rises throughout the night. Featuring a rather dark dance floor and bar downstairs, a game room with pool tables, two separate bars and two additional lounging area upstairs, and a garden out back with a gazebo-like bar, Twist certainly has lots of rooms for cruising other men (or for running away from the guy you should never have started talking with...).

I liked this bar more than others I visited in South Beach because it seemed to have the highest concentration of local boys and had a relaxed atmosphere without losing any of the sexual tension. This also seems to be the bar where people who aren't club denizens tend to hang out. There were a wide variety of types who came to Twist, but I found a number of cute younger men with whom I was happy to start up conversations.

Cheer
Flag

by kylebarber on December 9, 2000

Twist
1057 Washington Ave Miami Beach, Florida 33139
+1 305 538 9478

Treat Street

Attraction | "821"

This is probably the most consistently busy gay bar in South Beach, and a perfect introduction in how to deal with unusually high level of attitude that comes along with the "fabulous" aspect of this town. Many guys are quite friendly and happy to chat you up at this large two-level video bar located within the Lincoln Center mall. Just don't expect the crowd to be as outwardly friendly as you'd find in other towns. Many tourists and locals alike are stupidly prepping themselves to look and act sharp at the pricey dance clubs later that evening. They are not interested in getting to know new friends or flirting, just getting tanked with cheaper booze and seeing if their Raymond Dragon top is going to fly with the elite boys of Liquid or Salvation.

Cheer
Flag

by kylebarber on December 9, 2000

Treat Street
821 Lincoln Road Miami, Florida 33139
(305) 673-5536

12th Street Beach

Attraction

While the beach itself may not be much compared to other destinations in southern Florida, South Beach's 12th Street Beach is highly popular due to its central location and the handsome boys that come to sunbathe here. If all the people look like they just stepped out of a magazine, it's because they really did. Fashion models are littered generously among the beauties laid out on the sand, and everyone is so "fabulous" they that might all as well be models, too. They certainly all consider themselves to be celebrities…

I don't think that the swimming is so great at South Beach, but once again, this beach crowd is definitely here to get some sun and put on a show. While this is not why I like to visit the ocean, I have to admit that I enjoyed the performance nonetheless.

Cheer
Flag

by kylebarber on December 9, 2000

12th Street Beach
12th Street Miami, Florida

Kafka's Cybernet Kafe

Attraction | "Kafka's Used Book Store"

This excellent used book store has lots of options for those who forgot to pack beach reading. Two floors of hardback and paperback fiction and non-fiction, it's hard not to find something worth checking out. I ended up bring seven or eight purchases home with me to New York, which is certainly not short of used book stores.

A small cafe is located in the downstairs of the bookstore, making for a nice place to wile away some time with a new friend. There's also reasonably priced Internet service if you want to catch up with the outside world.

Cheer
Flag

by kylebarber on March 21, 2002

Kafka's Cybernet Kafe
1464 Washington Ave Miami Beach, Florida 33139
+1 305 673 9669

IgoUgo

Miami

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Florida: South Beach