How to Spend a Day in South Beach, From an Architecture-Filled Afternoon to a Night of Club-Hopping

Nothing lets your body know you’re on vacation quite like a poolside piña colada sipped in the shadow of a colorful, seriously ornate building. That’s why this itinerary focuses on the enduring allure of Miami Beach. Think Art Deco, neon lights, frozen drinks and endless ways to have a big night out.

You’ll start this route with a morning stroll down Ocean Drive, an admittedly touristy street that also feels like a delightful time capsule (and is a lot more tolerable in the morning), working up to a happy hour with a healthy dose of throwbacks. After that, you can have an excellent meal at a restaurant that proves there is great food in South Beach, or go all out at a club—or hit a clubstaurant and opt for both. And why not? Bedtime isn’t really a thing around these parts.

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Ogle the Architecture Along the Main Drag

Yes, you should walk down Ocean Drive, but there’s a strategy here. Walk on the side of the street that’s closer to the beach (where you’ll also get the best building views), and come early to avoid rowdy nighttime crowds.

Las Olas Café

Whether you need a jolt of Cuban coffee or a glass of fresh juice, this old-school ventanita just five minutes west of Ocean Drive has you covered.

Colony Hotel

Designed in 1935, this was one of the first Art Deco buildings on Ocean Drive—and thanks to its symmetrical facade and blocky letters, it’s still one of its most iconic. And see that CVS to its left? If it looks familiar, that’s because it was the backdrop to that famous Scarface chainsaw scene.

Palace

Traverse this route in the early afternoon, Friday through Monday, and you can pause in front of Palace to witness its iconic outdoor drag brunch. (The show starts at noon on Mondays; every other day, it’s at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.) Wigs are tossed, splits are executed and performers occasionally climb onto passing bus tours to give unsuspecting out-of-towners a show they’ll never forget.

Villa Casa Casuarina (Versace Mansion)

Admire the late Gianni Versace’s commitment to maximalism with a poolside martini at the designer’s elaborate former mansion, officially known as Villa Casa Casuarina.

If you have more than a passing interest in ’90s fashion (or true crime stories), you should stop at the former digs of designer Gianni Versace, whose life was dramatically taken here in 1997. It’s now a hotel with a restaurant inside that’s fun for a drink.

Hop in a Happy Hour Time Machine

These South Beach bars offer excellent after-work deals, but that’s not their only draw. They also give off vibes that can fool you into thinking it’s still the ’80s (one of them was actually around during that era) and that shoulder pads are a good idea.

Brother’s Keeper

Yes, the purple neon lighting, abundant mirrors and fish tank behind the bar are kind of a lot. But despite its divey, slightly kitschy appearance, you can expect a well-dressed and relatively well-behaved South Beach crowd sipping martinis (or taking shots—we said “relatively”) at this retro spot.

Monterrey Bar

Swanky, retro-feeling Monterrey Bar is the ideal spot for a pre-dinner drink. (Photo by Ivana Cajina)

This dim cocktail bar inside The Standard Spa, Miami Beach, has the intimacy of a 1970s conversation pit (and the loud carpet to match). But it’s so much more glamorous than your great-aunt’s home bar, and perfect for dressing up and sipping a couple of fancy cocktails before dinner. It even offers miniature drinks at happy hour.

Mac’s Club Deuce

You don’t have to be a dive-bar connoisseur to truly appreciate Mac’s, which has been a South Beach staple for 60 years and still allows smoking inside. One reason for all the love? Happy hour is actually a happy day, running from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Best (and Most Reliable) South Beach Dinner Spots

There are probably more tourist-trap restaurants per square mile in South Beach than anywhere else in Miami. Avoid them by sticking to the places below, a few of which have remained local favorites for decades—real unicorns in a city that loves shiny new things. All, however, are consistently great.

Macchialina

You’ll rub elbows with longtime locals while savoring housemade pastas at Macchialina.

This is Miami’s best Italian restaurant, and a rare South Beach spot where Miamians tend to outnumber out-of-towners. You’ll need a reservation—and you should make one on the outdoor terrace if the weather allows. The $70 tasting menu is a great deal, but if you’re going à la carte, get the polenta, cavatelli and all the desserts.

Joe's Stone Crab

For over 100 years, Joe’s has been the place to crack open a big pile of stone-crab claws. That’s why you’re going, but the fried chicken and grilled tomatoes should be on the table, too. In case it’s been a while since your last visit, know that Joe’s now accepts reservations.

Abbalé Telavivian Kitchen

Family recipes abound at Abbalé Telavivian Kitchen, a romantic Israeli spot with a beautiful patio. (Photo by Ivana Cajina)

The Israeli food here will really hit the spot if you’re craving flavor-packed dips, juicy steak or simply grilled yellowfin tuna. But another big draw at Abbalé is the prospect of sitting outside on the pretty front patio, so save it for a nice night.

Prime 112

There’s an above-average chance of running into a professional athlete at this steak house, which has been a see-and-be-seen staple for over two decades now. Expect slabs of rib eye, potatoes in a dozen forms and sky-scraping cakes that will make you actually want to sing happy birthday to the stranger across the room. Also, there’s complimentary bacon at the bar.

Paint the Town Red in Miami Beach

Generally speaking, this city just makes more sense after dark, when everyone’s searching for the perfect vibe—but this neighborhood takes it to another level. If you want an evening full of caviar, Champagne and dancing till sunrise, then Miami Beach is where you’ll find it.

Queen Miami Beach

Miami loves a clubstaurant, but none of them impresses quite like this one. Housed in a historic, now-defunct Art Deco theater, it’s full of people who look red carpet–ready (there’s a strict dress code, so make sure to read up). Between the solid Japanese food and the aerial dancers swinging overhead, this is dinner and a show at its finest.

Faena Theater

Faena Miami Beach is the most over-the-top hotel in town; just ask the woolly-mammoth skeleton encased in glass near the pool. At the equally lavish Faena Theater, you can pair dinner and drinks with a concert or show, depending on which night you visit. Original productions happen Thursday through Saturday, and you can check the events calendar to see who else is coming to town. Either way, be sure to buy tickets in advance.

Medium Cool Cocktail Lounge

Medium Cool Cocktail Lounge strikes the perfect balance: a club where you can talk, a bar where you can dance. (Photo by Ivana Cajina)

If you want a little taste of a South Beach club—not a 64-ounce gulp of the whole thing—then come here. As the name implies, this place finds its happy medium with good music (live jazz at 7 p.m. and rotating DJs after 10 p.m.), strong cocktails and a crowd that’s here to dance and have fun.

Basement Bowl & Skate

You can do two things at this lounge beneath The Miami Beach EDITION that you might not associate with clubbing (or Miami Beach): ice-skating and bowling. But it’ll make more sense once you see that the lanes are rainbow-colored, the ice is fake and there’s a DJ booth instead of a soda-stained jukebox. This isn’t technically a club, but expect to see patrons dressed for one; think of it as the head-bumping appetizer to a dance floor–pounding main course.

And Tomorrow, Recover With a Pool (or Spa) Day

A long night out calls for a lazy next day—one preferably spent by the pool. Of course, the best place to relax may be the one steps from where you’re staying. But if that’s not an option, or you’re simply looking to explore off campus, here are some ideas on where to get that R&R.

The Standard Spa, Miami Beach

There’s no better way to recover your equilibrium than with a customized massage and a splash in the pool at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach. (Photo by Ivana Cajina)

We get if you want to be by the ocean, but The Standard, located on the western edge of South Beach, makes a strong case for Biscayne Bay. Check out the list of spa treatments, too, most of which come with all-day pool access. Any service over $125 gets you in Monday through Thursday, and $250, Friday through Sunday. Then spend your day alternating between the pool and the cold plunge.

The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami

If you want something a little more peaceful than South Beach, head north. The hotel is a baseball toss from the beach, and offers day passes with access to its on-site Exhale spa. There’s plenty to pick up at the nearby Bal Harbour Shops, too.

Eden Roc Miami Beach

The vibe here calls back to a ’50s Miami Beach vacation, with nary a note of pulsing house music to distract from Morris Lapidus’ famous Miami Modern architecture. There’s easy beach access, with day passes available for purchase, and the hotel’s outdoor restaurant, Ocean Social, is one of the few around with a clear view of the water.

Skincare By Amy Peterson

Miamians know a thing or two about keeping up appearances—which is why, when you want to buff up yours, you head to the so-called Skin Savant of South Beach. Classified as a medi-spa, but more like a spa-spa with its tufted white couches and sparkling chandeliers, its Magic Hour Facial is the cherry atop your night-on-the-town look.

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