Sightseeing in South Beach | Miami Beach, Florida

South Beach is one place in the United States where I literally feel as though I’m in another country, in other words, there is such a major Latin influence here that you may almost forget that you are still in the United States.  Being a lover of all things Latin, I absolutely love the vibe in Miami.  Beautiful palm trees, inviting beaches, gorgeous Latin men, shopping & strolling on Lincoln Road, kickass nightlife, and authentic Cuban food are among some of the highlights of my trip to South Beach. 

Contrary to popular belief, South Beach is NOT all about skinny women parading around in skimpy bikinis, in fact I happened to see a significant amount of locals who were full-figured while walking on Ocean Drive and Collins Ave, and these women walk around with the utmost confidence which I love.  Having said that, if you are staying in a non-family friendly hotel, you will see those skinny women parading around in skimpy bikinis, quite a few of them are part of the hotel staff while the rest of them are tourists.  In comparison to life in and around New York City, the pace in Miami is much slower.  While walking along Lincoln Road, I observed quite a few people walking painfully slow.  It certainly is refreshing to see the locals/tourists taking a leisurely stroll, but this was like OMG SLOW as I found myself overtaking small crowds.  In terms of cost, South Beach is very expensive!  Drinks at any major hotel bar will run you about $16 to $20, and they will include an additional 18% to 20% in tip.  In South Beach, you don’t just tip “whatever you want” at the bar… nope!  The prices here are very comparable to New York City, however I have yet to pay $20 bucks for a drink in NYC! 

While visiting South Beach, if you are looking for a overall fun experience that includes nightlife and easy beach access, I highly recommend staying on Ocean Drive or Collins Ave which are right along the beach.  Additionally, definitely check out the famous Delano for a drink at sunset, and look your best because a strict dress code is highly enforced.  For a quieter experience however, head over to the west side and find a hotel along the bay or in Miami Downtown.  Overall, I had a really fun time hanging with friends, clubbing, and enjoying some fabulous meals.  Just like New York City, Miami is one US city that will have me coming back for their mouthwatering food and vibrant nightlife, and the best part is, it is only a short 2 hour flight.

Recommended Days:
at least 3 nights.

Main Streets:
Ocean Drive – dining & near the ocean
Collins Ave – dining & clubbing
Lincoln Road – shopping
Espanola Way – historic Spanish Village
Washington Ave – shopping & clubbing

Here is a 4 day recap of our South Beach getaway…
Morning city view from our room!  Although there were rain predictions, I got super lucky with the weather.

A delicious Continental Breakfast at our hotel, simple and elegant.  Yes, I actually ate fruit in the morning. 

Our first day, succulent afternoon drinks by the pool, delicious, but pricy… a once in a while thang. 

Gorgeous private cabanas that appeared to me as very Moroccan inspired at the Mondrian where we stayed (details coming soon).

The pool scene… I’m glad there was eye candy for the women too and not just the men, haha!

And since I just came back from a vacation, I’ll share a few pictures of myself since I usually never do.  This is me hanging by the pool… I’m always so happy being around water and on vacation.

Strolling on Ocean Drive.

The Beach makes me happy, however I found the Miami Beach waters to be rough, not very shallow, and it contained a lot of seaweed.  As someone who can’t swim I didn’t go in, for now I’ll just have to stick to the calm Caribbean waters. 

My feet in the sand, classic me.

First Cuban meal at Puerto Sagua… Camarones de Enchilados… I love shrimp in Creole sauce!

Lovely city view from our room during twilight.

First night out!  I love pairing a white linen blazer with short shorts, so chic, and Miami! 

Strolling on the immaculately clean Lincoln Road… so relaxing and pretty.

I absolutely loved this Van Dyke Café building on Lincoln Road, it reminded of the architecture in Barcelona.

Lunching near the lovely Espanola Way, I fell in love with this street which looks like a Spanish Village, just lovely and somewhat European.

Lounging & Clubbing at the romantic Delano.  Love the sheer curtains.  If you ever visit Miami, you have to stop at the Delano for a drink, or at the very least just to scope it out, it is gorgeous! 

The night we had the most amazing drinks at the Delano also marked my late brother-in-law’s 8 month death anniversary, we all partied it up and celebrated his life because that is what he would have wanted us to do.  We also requested the Punjabi MC song “Beware of the Boys” featuring Jay-Z in his memory.  Being that he was such a crazy party animal, he would have loved it!

After a night of “too much fun” and a hangover later, all I wanted was coffee, bread, and an Advil.  It’s pretty sad that I ordered “bread” for Room Service, but the simplest things in life bring so much pleasure once you sober up.  At this point I can’t even look at alcohol. 

I think this may just be the BEST Mac & Cheese I’ve ever had, insanely delicious at Yardbird.

Meeting up with my blogger friend, Parita (myInnerShakti), at her favorite Gelato place, 4D.  As I was talking to Parita, I totally felt as though I’ve known her for a while, and this is probably due to the fact that I’ve been reading her blog for a couple years now.  It was so fun and nice to finally meet you, Parita, and I hope you visit the New York area soon.

Watching a gorgeous sunset while we talked and hung out by the pool.

The swanky Fontainebleau Hotel, I have my eye on this hotel for my next visit. 

Dinner at Hakkasan in the Fontainebleau Hotel, gorgeous restaurant, but so overrated.

Our last meal in Miami at Havana 1957, a restaurant with so much charm, character, and amazing Cuban food, absolutely adore places like that. 

Flying over Miami Beach.  This was such a horrible flight and a bumpy journey due to the storms in the Midwest.  When we landed, I started clapping {I SWEAR}, and everyone else followed.  Every pilot deserves an applaud for getting us home safe and sound regardless of weather conditions.  These guys are our true heroes, along with all those who risk their lives every single day to keep all of us safe.  Thank You!

More coming on South Beach… meals, drinks, and lodging!  Stay tuned!

TELL ME: Have you been to Miami?  What are some of your favorite sights or things to do?