Accommodations
Building Name: Moxy Hotel South BeachArchitect: Kobi Karp / Design Firm: Rockwell GroupDate of completion: 2021Location: 915 Washington Avenue, Miami BeachWake up in the new Moxy Miami South Beach Hotel along Washington Avenue, loaded with tons of style & sass.This is a rare newbuild property in the historic Art Deco District and the first resort style property created for Marriott’s Moxy Lifestyle brand. The hotel’s design blends a number of styles that feels true to its tropical Miami location.These include elements that highlight the presence of great year-round weather, the exotic landscape, the art scene, Latin-American and Cuban influences, and splashes of color everywhere. Rooftop bars and dining options make for a great meeting place as unique and unexpected as the guests that visit the destination.
Breakfast
Name: Puerto Sagua RestaurantOwner: The Rivero Family since 1968Operating Since: 1962Location: 700 Collins Avenue, Miami BeachWalk to nearby Puerto Sagua Restaurant and enjoy a traditional Cuban Breakfast with delicious Cuban toast and Cuban coffee. Check out the three-dimensional art paintings by Miami Beach’s own Scull Sisters, famous for their creativity in capturing Old Havana Cuba, and sizzling South Beach.The restaurant is a no-frills, truly authentic Cuban restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating that has consistently served its delicious, traditional Cuban dishes for 60 years.Located at the corner of 7th Street and Collins Avenue, you can sit at an outside table and people watch or mix it up with the locals at the breakfast and lunch counter. Individual tables are also available inside for those looking for air conditioning.
Art Deco
Name: Barbara Capitman, founder of the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL)Architect: N/AFounded: 1976 (MDPL)Location: 10th Street and Ocean Drive, Miami BeachWalk to 10th Street and Ocean Drive and buy a ticket to the MDPL’s historic walking tour as you visit some unforgettable Art Deco Gems. Here, the guide will tell you the amazing story of how a group of dedicated volunteers led by Barbara Capitman saved these 800 tropical Deco buildings from demolition.MDPL runs an Art Deco Gift Shop, an Art Deco Museum, hosts events year-round, conducts tours, lectures, shows and exhibitions as well as their yearly Art Deco Weekend usually held in January or February each year. The MDPL is an unparalleled resource for all things Art Deco.Art Deco Weekend was started in 1977 by MDPL to celebrate, raise awareness, and educate the public on this national treasure found in Miami Beach. Events generally take place on Ocean Drive and Lummus Park from 5th to 12 Streets plus a few key venues that hold special events including the Wolfsonian Museum among others.
Miami Beach Lifeguard Stands
Name: Miami Beach Lifeguard standsArchitect: William LaneDate of completion: Circa 2015Location: On the ocean from South Pointe Park through 73rd Street, Miami BeachHead to the beach where you can take a walk and dip those toes in the ocean and create a montage with your cell phone of the iconic lifeguard stands created by local architect, William Lane. The lifeguard stands dot the beach from 1st street to North Beach and 73rd street.There are 36 lifeguard stations in all. The project, that began with just 5 in 1995, was recommissioned 20 years later by the City of Miami Beach to complete the remaining houses. The later houses were created as a result of design competitions by local artists. They represent something truly unique for the City of Miami Beach embracing colorful, stand out designs that are both functional and memorable.Each house is designed in the Art Deco style and painted in vibrant colors that are consistent with those found on Ocean Drive and elsewhere in Miami Beach. All represent a City that stands out in its own way, reminding visitors of yet another unique feature of this world-class destination.
More Art Deco
Building Name: The Fontainebleau HotelArchitect: Morris LapidusDate of completion: 1954Location: Millionaire’s Row, from 44th to 46th Streets, Collins Avenue, Miami BeachOnce in North Beach, walk to Ocean Terrace & 73rd street to choose a lunch spot in one of the Art Deco gems that are about to get their close up-again as they are slated for a major revival. Take the recently completed Beachwalk that will take you south past the world-famous Fontainebleau hotel (named after famous spots in France) both designed by Morris Lapidus whose motto was “too much is never enough” and walk into their spacious lobbies to enjoy those over-the-top details from the 1950s that are still iconic today.Just for fun, the Fontainebleau’s 17,000 square foot lobby features Lapidus’ only signature - black bowties set against the white marble flooring. Formal gardens and beautiful furnishings exude glamour and elegance throughout.Built on the original grounds of the Harvey Firestone estate, this hotel has played host to numerous celebrities for almost 70 years. Having undergone a $1 billion expansion in 2008 it now has over 1,500 rooms over multiple buildings and features bars, nightclubs, spa, and 12 restaurants for every taste and occasion. The hotel has been featured in numerous TV shows and movies including Scarface, The Bodyguard, Goldfinger and most recently, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Miami Modern (MiMo)
Building Name: Miami Beach EditionArchitect: Melvin Grossman (original architect of the Seville) Nichols Architects, EditionDate of completion: 2014 (Edition)Location: 2901 Collins Avenue, Miami BeachThe history of this newly imagined resort begins in 1925 when the Pancoast Hotel was built at this site.Thirty years later, Architect Melvin Grossman would create the Seville Hotel there. Grossman had collaborated on several Miami Beach properties with Morris Lapidus including the Nautilus, the DiLido and Deauville hotels.Wishing to preserve some of the historic elements of the Seville including the glowing red clock, the circular dining rooms and fin shaped diving board, the Miami Beach Edition, is Ian Schrager’s new take on creating a new hotel personality by adding major sizzle to the world-famous brand of South Beach.
Miami Modern (MiMo)
Building Name: Delano HotelArchitect: Robert SwartburgDate of completion: 1947 (Delano), remodeled 1990, CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONLocation: 1685 Collins Avenue, Miami BeachContinue South to the Delano Hotel, named after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s maternal side of the family. His son Elliott came to live on Miami Beach and became its 24th mayor. The hotel is known for its whimsical art deco style and has been known as a preferred destination for the celebrity set only adding to the world-famous brand of South Beach!Note: Originally built in 1947, the Delano Hotel is currently closed for renovation under new ownership and management.
Musical Interlude and the Deconstructivism Architectural Style
Building Name: New World CenterDesign: Architect: Frank Gehry, Acoustics: Yasuhisa Toyota, Construction: Facchina Construction, LLC.Date of completion: 2011Location: 500 17th Street, Miami BeachStop at your hotel to borrow some of their swagger and then visit the New World Symphony-America’s Orchestral Academy, and lounge on the great lawn to hear a live concert, see a movie or a previously taped concert on the WallCast, in a building designed by Master architect, Frank Gehry.The center’s 2.5-acre public park includes this area that regularly features free “wallcasts” of movies as well as projections of performances held within including Art Basel events.The Center’s seating was made intentionally small and stacked to allow the audience to be as close to the musicians as possible. The exterior gives away nothing of the design elements held within what Gehry is known for – primarily numerous curved forms that defy categorization. The interior however is pure Gehry – magnificent in every way.
Movie Nostalgia and Pop Art
Building Name: The Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason TheatreArchitect: Morris Lapidus renovationDate of Completion: Originally in 1950; Renovated in 1970Location: 1700 Washington Avenue, Miami BeachCross the street and see the original theater where Jackie Gleason worked and performed skits featuring characters from “The Honeymooners”, part of “The Jackie Gleason Show”, that was filmed at today’s Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason! Take an Instagram moment and pose with a metal cast of “The Great One” set in the grass in front of the building.The theatre sits across from the New World Center and a block north of Lincoln Road. Along the south side of the theatre near the Box Office you will also find a “Walk of Fame” - 30+ handprints from a number of entertainers that have graced the stage there.Take another pic with Roy Lichtenstein’s “The Mermaid”, a colorful outdoor art mermaid, bathing on the side of the Theater! This outdoor sculpture was funded through the City of Miami Beach’s Art in Public Places initiative and plays into the whimsical mystique prevalent throughout Miami Beach.
New Architecture
Building Name: Miami Beach Convention CenterArchitect: Architectonica and Fentress ArchitectsDate of Completion: Originally built in 1957; Redesigned in 2020Location: 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami BeachWalk along the brand-new architectural wonder, the $500 million Miami Beach Convention Center where Cassius Clay, also known as Muhammed Ali, fought against, and defeated, Sonny Liston in 1964, and is now home to the super bowl of Art Fairs, Art Basel Miami Beach!The building’s renovation was completed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and, post renovation, it currently stands as the most technologically advanced event and meeting space in the US. The renovation included the addition of 263,000 square feet of space, additional meeting rooms, huge ballrooms, along with an LEED Silver certification.Design features include significantly improved use of natural sunlight, shaded by a louvered façade that resemble ocean waves. Additional plans include the building of an 800-room Convention Center Hotel just next door. Groundbreaking is currently slated for 2023.
Shopping
Building Name: Lincoln Road MallArchitect: Morris LapidusDate of completion: 1950’sLocation: Between 16th and 17th Streets, from Collins Avenue to Alton RoadNext, walk over to one of America’s first outdoor walking malls, Lincoln Road, and shop till you drop at any of its nationwide brands and quirky local shops.About the pedestrian mall, Lapidus was quoted,” I designed Lincoln Road for people, a car never bought anything.” And so, it was built, featuring beautifully lush landscaping, fountains, gazebos, and shaded sidewalks. Virtually all these elements remain today where some of the best people watching can be had from its many sidewalk and center walk cafes and restaurants.Farmer’s markets and other walking fairs and exhibitions, along with street musicians and assorted entertainment are also found regularly along the east to west 1 mile stretch.
Innovative Architectural Style
Building Name: Lincoln Road Parking GarageArchitect: Herzog & De MeuronDate of Completion: 2010Location: 1111 Alton Road, Miami BeachWalk towards the west end and view the most famous parking garage in the world designed by Swiss architects, Herzog and De Meuron. The design resembles what has been called a “house of cards” with no exterior walls and varying floor heights ranging from 8 to 34 feet.Aside from the parking garage, the structure includes office space, retail storefronts, residential space, and a rooftop restaurant with spectacular views.The building has been used for everything from exercising to wine tastings, events, art exhibitions and celebrity parties. It is featured in the American Institute of Architect’s Florida Architecture – 100 Years 100 Places list.
Dining
Building Name: 1111 Lincoln RoadArchitect: Herzog & De MeuronDate of Completion: 2010Location: 1111 Lincoln Road Rooftop, Miami BeachClose your evening with dinner on the rooftop restaurant Juvia, where you can have your architecture breath taken away by seeing all of Miami Beach’s architectural wonders spread out before you!This rooftop restaurant can very well be said to set a new standard for rooftop dining. The menu features French, Japanese, and Peruvian cuisines, blending the creative flair of three very talented chefs. If offers indoor and outdoor seating as well as private event space.It is only fitting that this perfectly Miami restaurant be found at the top of the 1111 Lincoln Road building.
