Ocean Drive is the postcard strip of South Beach: a row of pastel Art Deco hotels and sidewalk cafes on one side, the palm-shaded grass of Lummus Park and the sand on the other. The buildings date mostly from the 1930s and 1940s, and the neighbourhood is a protected historic district, which is why the streamlined corners, porthole windows and "eyebrow" ledges are still standing.
It is at its best at the edges of the day. In the late afternoon the sky behind the hotels turns pink and orange, and after dark the neon comes on. Midday is hot, crowded and loud with restaurant promoters, so treat it as a place to walk through rather than to settle in.
Go if you
- You want the classic Miami Beach photo
- You like architecture and people-watching
- You have a couple of hours, not a whole day
Eat and drink
- Sidewalk cafes on Ocean Drive are priced for the view. Treat it as one drink, not dinner.
- Walk a few blocks inland to Lincoln Road or Española Way for better value and more local options.
- For a proper Cuban sandwich and a cafecito, head to a ventanita (walk-up window) away from the main strip.
Don't miss
- The Art Deco Welcome Center at 1001 Ocean Drive, run by the Miami Design Preservation League, which sells walking-tour tickets and explains what you are looking at.
- The colourful lifeguard towers along the beach opposite Lummus Park, each painted in its own design.
- A walk down the beach path at sunset, away from the traffic.
Know before you go
- Check the bill before you order at tourist-facing restaurants and ask whether a service charge is already included.
- Alcohol can be bought and consumed only in licensed venues; public drinking on the sand is not allowed.
- Weekends and event nights get crowded fast. Weekday evenings are calmer.
Hours, prices and conditions change. Confirm details with the venue before you travel.