South Beach restaurants (and bagels)
 

My husband and I are going to South Beach this coming weekend - we will be there Sat, Sun and Monday nights. We're staying at The Raleigh. Two questions: (1) Can you please suggest a range of restaurant choices? I'm interested in Wish, Tantra, Pacific Time, but want to eat at a more moderately priced restaurant at least one night. Maybe Macerena (we love tapas) or Balans? Also, atmosphere at BED looks interesting but not sure I can convince my husband to try it - he is a 30-something lawyer, need I say more :) (2) Do you know of a place w/i walking distance of the Raleigh (located on Collins Ave, looks to be b/w 18th St and Lincoln Rd) where we can grab bagels or other quick breakfast food in the mornings? Much thanks!

Bagels: Jerry's Deli (NY Kosher style). Open 24 hours and they deliver. It is on the corner of either 14th or 15th and Collins which is 3 blocks from the Raleigh.

For the best reasonable Cuban in South Beach, my sis turned me on to Davids or Davids II. Both excellent and inexpensive compared with the rest of South Beach. For four people with drinks and appitizers, the bill was under $100. At Tantra, Wish, or Pacific Time, your bill would easily be $400-$800.

The News Cafe is very moderately priced, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is a great place to people watch.

BED is very expensive and kind of weird. You eat in strange lighting on a bed. This is okay in my bedroom at home but not when I'm spending that much money.

In addition to GoTravel's great advice (Hi, Go!), I would add another coupla places:

-- Front Porch Café, in the Penguin Hotel (Ocean Drive between 14th and 15th). Best breakfast on Ocean.

-- Cardozo Café, in the Cardozo Hotel, Ocean Drive at 13th. They have a new head chef, and the food is quite good and not too expensive.

-- La Sandwichérie, Collins and 12th (I think), next to an Amoco station. You're eating in an alley, but the sandwiches are truly fantastic, and the passing freak show is worth it.

-- Puerto Sagua, Collins around 7th or 8th. Authentic Cuban grub in a diner. No atmosphere whatsoever, and it helps to speak Spanish, but the food's great and there's lots of it.

-- A Fish Called Avalon, Avalon Hotel (Ocean Drive). Great seafood, not too pricey.

Wish is my favorite eatery in Florida, no question. It is really expensive-- Go's estimate is just about right (I ate there twice with my honey last time I was in South Beach-- $200 each time, and worth every single penny!).

Have fun!

Spent the week of New Years in South Beach and tried many restaurants. Our absolute fav was Wish - great food and loved the romantic feel to it. Other restaurants we tried - Sushi Samba - great food and fun place; Van Dyke Cafe - very nice for lunch and great prices; Smith & Woolensky, typical S&W menu with a great outside area for lunch and people watching; A Fish Called Avalon, great food, would definitely return; Bal Harbour Cafe in the mall, overpriced and just not that good; The Forge, good steaks, beautiful place but just wouldn't go back; Nemo's - fun place, spent New Years Eve there and had lots of fun and even though it was extremely crowded the food was still excellent. Have a great time!

How could I leave the Forge off my list? It is my favorite restaurant in Miami.

rjw, as usual, you've given some great restaurants!

Hi Go! Thanks! I do try to get to new places, but always end up back at the few I list. I also hit Carnevale and Tiramesu on Lincoln Road for reliable Italian food-- not life-altering, just consistent and good.

I'd love to do Tantra, just to say I did. I walked in with a would-be conquest several years ago, but then we looked at the menu; neither of us felt like paying those prices, so we sneaked out. Now, I make more money, so this trip I'm going for sure...!

A would be conquest?
rjw... you dawg you!

Thanks to all for the tips - we will try as many as possible (yum). If deciding b/w Wish and Tantra which would you choose? I previously was leaning toward Tantra b/c it seemed different than any restaurant I can experience in my hometown of Wash DC, but the reviews on this site all point to Wish as a "must". Also, 2 unrelated questions - (1) looks like it may rain a lot in Miami this coming weekend so any tips on low-key, indoor things to do (we had planned on mostly reading by the pool and taking some walks around town to take in the sights), and (2) I've seen the #s on avg day and evening temps in Miami this time of year, but what does that translate to w/r/t clothing - typically can one wear shorts and bathing suit during the day or too cold for that? at night skirt w/ bare legs and light sweater or likewise too cold for that? thanks again in advance!

I'm thinking of staying at the Raleigh soon (best I've been able to come up with is approx. $300/nt for "city view"), but there seem to be some conflicting reports regarding the stage of construction it is currently in. To lakers or anyone else who has recently stayed at the Raleigh: what's the story there now? Is the pool area still being refurbised? Have all of the rooms been completed? This place looks great, as it is right on the beach and has that amazing pool (and seems to be just slightly away from - but within an easy walk to - the middle of the action, which is for me a good thing), but obviously I don't want to spend that much money to be in a construction zone.

We're also flying in this weekend, and want to go dancing. What are some gerat places on or near Ocean Avenue?

For dancing, check out Level and Crobar.

Be forwarned that these places don't open until 10PM and aren't really busy until after 1AM. They stay open until around 5 or 6AM.

For earlier in the night, Sky Bar at Shore Club (11PM-1AM), Mojitos outside at Delano for early evening, Wet Willies upstairs outside to watch the action, The Clevelander to get the party started early, and Nikki Beach just about any time.

I always leave something off my list but do a South Beach search and you should find all kinds of things.

Do not miss: Mojitos outside at the Delano and a walk through the lobby.

Do not miss: Sky Bar at the Shore Club.

Outside on the roof at The Hotel for a Mojito. The rooftop pool is way cool.

Norris, forgot to add, bring your patience with you. This weekend will be packed with the boat show, Valentines and President's week. It is one of the big three South Beach area/city wide conventions. The other two are Urban/Hip Hop (Memorial Weekend) and Art Basal.

Many thanks!!! I'm taking your idea with me. This is my partner's christmas present to me, a few days in SoBe. Cannot wait!!

Norris, Ocean Drive Magazines annual nightclub list:

http://www.oceandrive.com/hybrid/fea...ars/index.html

In addition to the website Go (hey there!) cites, please see this one:

http://www.southbeach-usa.com

It has a pretty up-to-date list of the clubs in South Beach, along with thumbnail descriptions. Always bear in mind that the District is quite small (maybe 1.5 to 2 square miles), so everything is a quick walk or cab ride away (depending on time of night and the sobriety of the travelers). ;)

rjw, did you see the write-up South Beach-USA had on the new RC? I can't wait to check it out!

Couldn't get down for the boat show but will be back by April at the latest.

Hi Go! I did see that blurb-- and I'm certainly going to visit next time I get to South Beach (I'm trying to go around the time of my 40th b-day). Who knows? Maybe I'll get to stay there...!

Anyone have any info on The Colony at 140 Ocean Drive? Booked there.

Hey, BTW, you guys are great about your tips on SoBe. Most responsive bunch I've ever seen. I'll drink a cool one or two you all of you.

Have a big fat ice cold Mojito for me at the Delano out by the pool and one at The Hotel on the roof top pool bar watching the sun set!

Don't forget!