South Beach style

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16 MARCH 2005
Nightlife and shopping
Like Los Angeles, South Beach is a temple to the body beautiful and Ocean Drive is the perfect catwalk for an endless procession of impressive six-packs, buffed beefcakes walking their chihuahuas, rollerbladers and bikini-clad babes. But unlike LA, this is a town that doesn’t sleep. The list of bars and clubs here is endless and the party scene legendary.

Top of the pile is the Mynt Ultra Lounge, still holding on to its claim to be the hippest place in town. The door policy is ruthless, but once inside you’ll wonder what all the hype is about, as the potent apple martinis are the best thing about the place. Head instead for space-age Pearl, bar-restaurant-club Rumi or the Skybar with its funky Moroccan vibe - all beds, scattered floor cushions and lanterns.

Another super trendy option is the poolside bar at the Delano Hotel which, with its illuminated pool lined with towering palm trees, is the sort of place where you expect Christian Troy from TV’s Nip/Tuck to pull up a barstool. It may not be new, but this is Miami at its best; glamorous and ultra-sleek.

If you’re really embracing the celebrity lifestyle, no trip to South Beach is complete without some retail therapy. Bal Harbour is just a 30-minute drive away and home to every designer store under the sun. This is where Jennifer Lopez heads to splash her cash, but if you’ve blown your budget on cocktails then head a little further north to Aventura Mall where you’ll find Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, as well as all the favourite chain stores.

Shopping in South Beach itself is also good – Collins Avenue, between 5th and 10th streets, houses Versace, Barney’s New York and designer department store Intermix. Pedestrianised Lincoln Road is home to boutiques and fashionable homeware stores as well as trendy restaurants, cafes and bars and a weekend market selling everything from jewellery to flowers, a place to see and be seen. On Sundays, you’ll hardly be able to move for locals either Rollerblading, dogwalking or window shopping – and, because this is South Beach, often all three.

REPORT: JILL CRAWSHAW