Updates
The Locals Guide to
South Beach
Walking Tours and Guidebook
Things can change quickly in South Beach - especially in the world of restaurants and clubs. This page is updated monthly, and below are the updates to the first edition of 'The Locals' Guide to South Beach' (Note: the updates are added in order - so the most recent updates are at bottom and the oldest at the top):
- Wings souvenir shop (page 40) is renovating and moving across the street - no opening date available yet. Alvins Island took over the former Wings space and also sells souvenirs.
- Opium and Prive closed late February 2009 (page 44).
- Casa Casuarina (Versace's former mansion, p. 25) has stopped it's tours and is closed temporarily pending the opening of a new restaurant by Barton G (p. 28), rumored to be in February of 2010. When it re-opens, it will continue to be run as a boutique hotel with the new restaurant being early awaited by all Barton G fans.
The Mondrian opened (p.14) and is one of the newest hot spots and best places to see the sunset with your pricey cocktail.
South Pointe Park is FINALLY open (page 32). This is one of the best places for walks and views in all of South Beach.
Marimekko (page 16) moved from Lincoln Rd to the Design District in Miami. - The W Hotel is now open (page 19).
- Table 8 closed summer 2009 (page 29, 48)
- Art Deco Welcome Center (p.25) has moved back to it's newly renovated location at 1001 Ocean Dr. All Art Deco tours start here.
- The South Beach Local Bus (p.13) has added a few new stops and now stops at the Standard (p. 38). For an updated map, go to: http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=47508
- Another new bus service just started in December 2009 called the Airport Flyer with trips from South Beach to the Miami International Airport approximately every 30 minutes. For details go to: www.miamidade.gov/transit
Miami Beach Botanical Gardens (p.17) is closed on Mondays and open 9-5 the rest of the week. Free admission with donations welcome.
A great new place opened for bike rentals called 'Bike and Roll' at 210 Tenth St. (305.905.2055). Nice, new bikes, good maps and tours available. - A new edition to places to eat in 'North' South Beach (p.20) in the 'cheap to moderate' category is Books & Books Cafe. The chef is born and raised in Miami and the menu is geared to local, organic and healthy food. Great people watching on Lincoln Rd from your table at 927 Lincoln Rd.
Another night club casualty - The Fifth (p. 44) is now Club Play. The new owners include Aseni Samuel of the Philadelphia Eagles. The space has been extensively renovated and is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights 11pm to 5am. Phone: 786.525.9012. - SoBe Gyro closed it doors (p. 27) in the fall of 2009.
The Miami Beach Cinemateque (p. 27) is closed and moving to a new location in Fall of 2010 to: Historic City Hall, 1130 Washington Avenue, South Side Ground Floor (305) 67-FILMS (673-4567) www.MBCinema.com - An interesting new restaurant opened at Casa Casuarina (formerly the Versace Mansion, p.25). It is called The Villa by Barton G and provides tasty (and expensive) meals in one of the most glamorous settings in South Beach. Barton G has run a well loved restuarant for years in South Beach listed on p.28.
- Another favorite spot hit the dust...Cafe Maurice (p.35) is no more, and word is the new establishment specializes in high end burgers and has an interesting beer selection.
