Since the 1920s, Miami Beach has been synonymous with glamor, glitz, and non-stop sun. The epicenter of the beach is really on the barrier island’s south end, which is why South Beach is really what people mean when they refer to Miami Beach. At 17 blocks long and 12 blocks wide, South Beach is a perfect place for a walk.
This article provides a detailed walking tour of South Beach, packed with insights into the unique architecture, culture, and hotspots. With boutiques, restaurants, bars, clubs, museums, and, of course, sandy beaches, you’ll never be bored. The following is a perfect walking tour for an afternoon or can be split up over a day or two.
Introduction
We will begin our tour at Lummus Park, at Ocean Drive and Seventh Street. (This is also a great place to start because there is a parking garage on Seventh, between Washington and Collins). This park stretches from Fifth to Fifteenth Streets and hugs a beautiful, sugar-sand beach, featuring a winding path perfect for strolling.
While in the park, walk a few steps east, over a dune, and you’re on the beach. Look to your west, and you will see the stunning Art Deco architecture Miami Beach is famous for. If you need a cold drink or a scrumptious seafood dinner, cross Ocean Drive and select a sidewalk restaurant.
The view of Ocean Drive from Lummus Park is especially beautiful at night when the Art Deco hotels light up with their antique neon signs. You can stroll in the park during early evening hours as it is heavily patrolled. Another nighttime bonus: there are often groups of musically inclined folks playing bongos and singing.
This park is also home to the SoBe Wine and Food Festival every February.
Art Deco History
Walk along the park on Ocean Drive three blocks north, toward Tenth Street. On your left will be the Art Deco Welcome Center, which is home to the Miami Design Preservation League, the group that formed in 1976 to preserve and restore the beach’s historical, Art Deco buildings.
In those days, the beach experienced a rough patch. It had been a popular playground for the rich in the 1920s (hence the Art Deco architecture) and was a Mafia hangout in the 50s. By 1979, the area had transformed into a Mecca for the elderly and the poor, with many of the once-swanky hotels becoming retirement homes. Longtime residents recall octogenarians in rocking chairs as a common sight on Ocean Drive.
The Beach Preservation League was concerned that many historical hotels were being razed by developers. They brought together architects, businessmen, politicians, and residents to help revitalize the area, garnering headlines in 1980 when artist Andy Warhol requested a guided tour. In 1984, the entire world was introduced to Miami Beach when the hit TV show “Miami Vice” used many of the neighborhood’s buildings as a backdrop.
The Art Deco Welcome Center offers brochures and tours of South Beach to learn more about the area’s history. In January, it serves as the epicenter for the Art Deco Weekend, a festival devoted to unique architecture. Additionally, there is an extensive gift shop at the center, located at 1001 Ocean Drive.
Versace Mansion
From the Art Deco Welcome Center, cross Ocean Drive and walk north one block to 1116 Ocean. Stop at a large, white mansion where many tourists gather to snap photos of the ornate iron gate and tall hedges.
This is Ocean Drive’s most infamous residence. In 1992, as Art Deco preservationists worked to clean up the beach area, Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace visited South Beach, fell in love with this home, and lovingly restored it. He garnered international attention, hosting numerous celebrities. However, Versace’s parties ended in July 1997 when he was tragically shot on the steps of the mansion.
The home was purchased in 2000 by a telecommunications mogul and has since been transformed into a private, members-only party mansion. This may be why some tourists linger near the front gate to catch a glimpse of celebrities, while others capture a photo of this infamous location.
The mansion, built in 1930 by architect and philanthropist Alden Freeman, features design elements inspired by the oldest house in the Western Hemisphere. Known as Casa Casuarina, the Spanish-style structure has an inner courtyard. Only a fortunate few can view the interior, where it is rumored that Versace’s pool of 10,000 mosaics remains untouched, but visitors can still admire the mansion from the sidewalk.
Wolfsonian Museum
From the Versace mansion, walk west on 11th Street two blocks, then take a left on Washington Avenue. At the corner of Washington and 10th Street, you will find the Wolfsonian Museum.
The Wolfsonian was founded in 1986 to document, preserve, and display the collection of Mitchell Wolfson Jr., which includes an impressive array of furniture, paintings, and industrial art. Wolfson generously donated his collection and the museum to Florida International University in 1997.
The museum’s collection features objects from North America and Europe dating from 1885 to 1945, emphasizing design history. Included are items from the British Arts and Crafts movement, Political Propaganda, and Italian Art Nouveau. Recent exhibitions have included “The Art of the Political Poster” and “Art and Design in the Modern Age.”
For hours and admission information, refer to the Wolfsonian Art Museum Visitors Guide.
Espanola Way
Stroll north along Washington Avenue and immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of South Beach. If your energy begins to wane, stop at any small Cuban market to grab a café con leche or cortadito to recharge. When you reach Espanola Way (just after 14th Street), cross Washington and enter a charming four-block, pedestrian-only street.
After being surrounded by Art Deco buildings, you will feel transported to a village in Spain; the architecture here is decidedly Mediterranean, complete with barrel-backed tiles and pink stucco. Be sure to admire the large peach-colored building on the corner of Washington and Espanola, known as the Clay Hotel. Originally built in 1925 as a haven for artists and bohemians, the building has since become part youth hostel and part hotel, with a Mexican restaurant on the ground floor. This location may ring a bell for TV fans; it was featured in the first and last episodes of “Miami Vice.”
As you stroll down Espanola Way, you’ll find art galleries, clothing boutiques, and other unique stores interspersed with restaurants. At least two yoga studios are also nestled in this vibrant area. On weekends, a farmer’s market and shopping bazaar enhance the foreign feel.
The perfect place to conclude your walking tour is at the end of the street, at the Spanish restaurant Tapas y Tintos, located at 448 Espanola Way. This cozy tapas bar offers authentic Spanish fare (the owner hails from Spain), including delightful small plates of fish, olives, and Spanish tortillas. Relax at one of the outdoor sidewalk tables under a stucco archway and enjoy a glass (or a pitcher) of Sangria. You are likely to be serenaded by some lively Latin jazz from inside. Savor the essence of South Beach and relish your experience.
