Filed under: architecture, Art, art deco, featuredarticle1, Miami Beach, top-feature, tour
Art Deco Stylings in Miami Beach
Famous for celebrity sightings, all-night parties and beach-front fashion shoots, Miami Beach is often referred to as America’s Riviera. It’s been the tropical playground of the rich and fabulous for decades. If you’ve spent any amount of time in Miami then you know it’s a multicultural city that offers up a unique mix of Cuban, Caribbean and Latin American cultures. In fact, I have yet to find anywhere else quite like it. And despite its hard-partying reputation, South Beach has something to offer every type of traveler. Lounge on the beach, relax by the pool, shop at the boutiques, indulge in world-class international cuisine and tour the famed Miami Beach Art Deco district.
Miami Beach's Art Deco District Illuminated After Dark
Miami Beach’s Architectural Historic District, more commonly known as the Art Deco District (Travel Guide), is the first 20th-century neighborhood to be recognized by the National Register of Historic Places and one of the earliest listings to recognize the importance of the architecture of this period. With as many as eight hundred structures of historical significance, most built between 1923 and 1943, the Miami Beach Art Deco district contains the largest concentration of 1920s and 1930s resort architecture in the United States. The majority of structures built in the 1920s were designed in the Mediterranean Revival style, while those built in the 1930s and early 1940s are in the Art Deco, International, or Miami Modern styles.
Architectural Historic District Attractions
Miami Beach’s Art Deco district stretches east to west from the Atlantic Ocean to Alton Road and north to south from Dade Boulevard to 6th Street. Many of the finest examples of Art Deco style can be found along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue. The best way to tour the architectural historic district is on foot.
The Historic Avalon Hotel in South Beach
Begin on the southern edge of the district at 6th Street and Ocean Drive. The Park Central Hotel (Travel Guide) dates back to 1937 and was the first property to undergo renovations back in 1987. The hotel was popular among Hollywood stars such as Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, and Rita Hayworth.
Cross over to the 700 block of Ocean Drive. On the corner you’ll see the Avalon Hotel (Travel Guide) with its signature 1950s Oldsmobile parked in front of the lobby entrance. A few doors down and resembling a wedding cake is the Beacon Hotel (Travel Guide) and the not-to-be-missed Colony Hotel (Travel Guide) with its prominent neon sign.
Walk one block west to Collins Ave. where you’ll find The Hotel (Travel Guide), formerly the Tiffany Hotel, with its aluminum and neon spire and the Essex House Hotel (Travel Guide). Designed by Henry Hohauser in 1938, the Essex House Hotel is a prime example of Maritime Deco style.
Originally constructed in 1938, the Clevelander (Travel Guide) has been a South Beach landmark for over 70 years. This luxury boutique Art Deco hotel recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation. Today, the Clevelander is a favorite among professional athletes, models and Hollywood types. It’s the place to see and be seen in South Beach. One block north is the 1930s Spanish-style mansion Casa Casaurina (Travel Guide). Once home to Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace – and the site of his untimely death in 1997 – today it’s the neighborhood’s most infamous residence.
Along the 1200 block of Ocean Drive be sure to check out The Tides (Travel Guide) designed in 1936 by L. Murray Dixon, the yellow-hued Leslie and the stylish Carlyle. The Cardozo Hotel (Travel Guide) on the corner of 13th and Ocean Drive is owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan.
A few blocks north you’ll find the Delano (Travel Guide), the tallest building on Miami Beach at the time of its construction, and the Raleigh Hotel (Travel Guide) known for its oceanfront Art Deco pool. End your walking tour of the Art Deco district on Lincoln Road, a pedestrian-only street lined with boutiques, restaurants, cafes and a variety of art and antique shops.
Tours of the Architectural Historic District
The Miami Design Preservation League offers a variety of guided and self-guided walking tours through Miami Beach’s Art Deco District. These tours provide an introduction to the architectural styles found throughout the district and are conducted by historians, architects and trained guides. All tours last 90 minutes and depart from the Art Deco Welcome Center (1001 Ocean Drive). Tours depart daily Friday-Wednesday at 10:30am and Thursday evenings at 6:30pm. Self-guided tours are available daily between 9:30am and 5pm. Participants are provided with an iPod and detailed map. It’s also possible to access the self-guided tour from your cell phone. Customizable private tours, bike and Segway tours are also available. Bike tours depart daily at 10:30am and 2:30pm. Segway tours depart daily at 10am and 2pm. Purchase tickets at the start of the tour, no reservations are required.
Visitors to South Beach also have the option to tour the Art Deco district in a small yellow three-wheeled vehicle. GoCar operates self-paced GPS guided tours of South Beach including the Miami Beach Art Deco district. Tour commentary is available in English and Spanish. The cost to rent the vehicle is $49 for one hour, $99 for three hours and $150 per day. Reservations can be made online.
Where to Eat and Drink
There are an extraordinary variety of dining options in South Beach. Many of the local restaurants, bars and cafes – whether due to their history, location or ownership – are attractions in their own right. They’re touristy, but for good reason and well worth a visit.
Jerry's Famous Deli in South Beach
Front Porch Café (Travel Guide) Known for serving some of the best breakfasts in South Beach, this restaurant located in the Penguin Hotel is a great place to start the day.
News Café (Travel Guide) A South Beach institution, the News Cafe is the place to practice the art of people-watching. Open 24hrs.
Jerry’s Famous Deli (Travel Guide) Designed in 1940, this excellent example of Miami Modern style architecture originally housed Hoffman’s Cafeteria. Worth a visit to check out the restored interior. Open 24 hours.
A Fish Called Avalon A South Beach tradition for over 20 years, this highly-recommended seafood restaurant is located in the lobby of the Avalon Hotel.
Larios on the Beach (Travel Guide) Owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan, this popular restaurant and bar serves authentic Cuban cuisine in a tropical Art Deco setting.
Photos: Ocean Drive by wyntuition on Flickr; Avalon by adamnsinger on Flickr; Jerry’s famous Deli by iJammin on Flickr
