South Beach: your real opinion please
 

I will be going to Palm Beach soon. Is it worth it to drive to South Beach for the day? Some say it ultra coll and some have told me it is seedy with tatoo joints and not so nice. If you have been there please tell me. Thanks.

I heard it is tacky, very tacky but have never been.

Don't waste your time. Go to Boca Raton.

Never been there. Seems crowded--where do you park? No big hotels there either--some hole in the wall places????

Florida is over run with old people and tourists. I think South Beach reflects this. Too many wannabes.

Anyone who says Sobe is not hip, has NO clue whatsoever, probably has never been there, or is dialed in from their geriatrics ward.<BR><BR>South beach is not called the American Riviera for nothing. It is the best place in the US to go and have fun, if you like the clubbing scene, fine dining in the so called &quot;jet set&quot; crowd.<BR><BR>If you like clubbing, ultra cool bars and hotels, then this is THE place. It is not for the (and you know the type I'm talking about) old geezer/geezer acting protentious type that sits around and comments about every person who walks by &quot;ohh did you see that Harold, doesn't she know that you don't wear beige after labor day!&quot;. <BR><BR>It is loud, none stop dancing, a total microcosm of society of ALL ages all races, all having fun.<BR><BR>if your the stuck up type who likes dark restaurants, or just plain cheap, or your a prude....then Sobe is not for you. This is the Versace crowd NOT the Polo crowd!<BR><BR>Granted it is a bit plastic, a little like LA where being fit, style, and cars are important.<BR><BR>It is not cheap but some of the hotels are on sale now, and drinks are equal to Manhatten prices, music has everything from Jazz, Salsa, R&amp;B to the best Trance, Dance and Progressive you will ever here this side of Ibiza!<BR><BR>Check this site out to get a better look.<BR><BR>www.oceandrive.com

Can you say &quot;Eurotrash&quot;?

Your too funny....whats wrong...they didn't let you in the clubs...booo hooo hooo!!<BR><BR>Because you are so misinformed, the Miami is a melting pot of every nationality in the world and recently voted as the # 1 party place for vacation.<BR><BR>

Who voted Miami the number one party sport? The geriatric society of America?

Miami is a superficial haunt of the very rich who have exploited and pilfered their native countries and have fled to the U.S.. It is also a cesspool teeming with the very poor who suffered under the despots remaining in those other countries and who will risk life and limb seeking asylum here. All flash and all trash pretty much sums it up.

Dear Sync,<BR>I travel to Palm Beach almost yearly and I once went to South Beach for the day. Yes, it is worth it. The art deco is something in itself to admire, and it certainly is fun to people watch. {I saw a really hot guy and girl posing/modeling for pictures while on a motorcycle, practicly naked!} I am not typically a 'club' type of person, and I am certainly not one who wants to wait until the party begins at 2:00 AM. But I encourage you to go and check it out for yourself... you will never know if you like South Beach if you never visit the area. I would like to return there someday, it's just that I am quite amused by other areas of Florida which appeal to my tastes more.<BR><BR>Happy Trails,<BR>Paul

Jealous perhaps that you do not have the means to enjoy the scene???<BR><BR>Something happened to you....I feel sorry for you and all your anger! If you don't like it, then don't go, but don't ruin someone elses fun, especially with such lies.<BR><BR>I'm sure if Fadors insisted on proper registration, people like you would not be so rude. <BR><BR>And for every incident that you ever came across where you felt you did not fit in, I will show you 10 in Boca or Cape Cod.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Paul,<BR><BR>Well said....I lived there for 10 years, and I had the most fun of my entire life. It is probably not a place you will want to live permanently, but if your an open minded type of person that likes to have crazy fun then it is a must do.<BR><BR>As for your comments about Art Deco, it gets better every year. The entire Sobe area is the process of renewal.<BR><BR>

My angry young David, what does thou mouth spout about?

I dont know... I've known 3 people who ended up in South Beach and all of them have never seemed happier, despite the humidity. My former neighbors are from there and seem to miss it. I always thought of South Beach as an art deco New Orleans.

If you like singles bars desperate under dressed people, you will love SoBe.

I agree with the last post, I used to live there. Meaby 8 years ago it was a bit of a trashy, eurotrash place, but not any more.<BR><BR>Your analogy to New Orleans is a good one. <BR><BR>South Beach is almost unrecognizable from 4 years ago. It is a fun place, very trendy and the women are beautiful!<BR><BR>Probably one of the more exciting, and exotic places togo in the US.<BR><BR>If your not the Ibiza type though, and are tight with your wallet, then you probably will want to pass.<BR><BR>If you do go, make sure you go for a drink at the Delano hotel! Absolutely amazing, it is one of Ian Schrager's hotels...ultra chic, and very sexy, very miami.<BR><BR>

Am amazed by people who have strong negative options of South Beach, but have never actually been there.<BR><BR>I happen to love it. Lots of trendy, newly renovated restaurants, clubs, bars and shops. Lots of beautiful young people in fabulous clothes. Lots of new money. <BR><BR>If you find yourself in a rundown area with tatoo joints, you aren't in South Beach.

Ya but don't worry about them, I know their type, in fact I have a friend who has the same opinion<BR><BR>Only problem is, that he is what you call a &quot;stick in the mud&quot; and who's idea of fun is sitting in a pretencious stuffy quite restaurant.<BR><BR>Unfortunately these are also the people that after time passes, they become (see above neg comments) more and more miserable thnking of how life has passes them by.<BR><BR>In the meantime, their wives are miserable too because the old codjer hasn't been any fun since the Eisenhower election party!<BR><BR>Very sad !!!!<BR><BR>Well see ya...time to go out to one of those trendy, noisy, flashy sobe bars with all those bad young beautiful girls!....beddie bye time for you!

There is no one who likes South Beach who could have a &quot;real&quot; opinion, just a fake one like their breasts, nose, and butt.

Vegas is actually a lot more fun and exciting than South Beach could ever hope to be! BUT -- the beach IS beautiful there (for Miami, anyway), but by the same token, there are far more beautiful people in Los Angeles than South Beach, period, in case that interests you!!

David, don't you think it is just a bit presumptuous of you to suggest that anyone who doesn't like someplace as plastic and phoney as South Beach is an old fogie who doesn't know how to have any fun in life?!? And believe me, not everyone wears Versace there either, as you suggest (far from it). And the Polo brand, whether you accept it or not, while mass produced, is still an upscale clothing brand!

I am neither young, rich, nor beautiful, but I enjoy spending some time in South Beach. The art deco architecture is fun to look at, and being from the cold midwest, I really enjoy being able to people watch from a vantage point outdoors at one of the many bars/restaurants along Ocean Drive. Fun place to spend a couple of days, but it would get old in a hurry.

Sync:<BR><BR>It is a very aesthetically pleasing place. I love the Art Deco hotels with bright colored exteriors - it is a worthwhile visit, however, parking in the area is difficult.

I've got no ax to grind and generally like beach resorts and places that try to be leading edge, but was very disappointed by So Be recently. The beach strip had vaguely pretty hotels, but at least in daytime offered almost no eating/shopping amenities to passersby - just sterile bed warehouses. In places access to the beach was needlessly long, indirect, and difficult.<BR><BR>Going back to the next main parallel street from the beach offered some amenities for eating, etc but not much of interest. Going to the next main drag inland was truely appalling, with disgusting dirty eateries, dirty streets, overrun by dirty homeless who seemed attracted into that lifestyle by bad city policies (I have some insight on these dynamics by similar situation where I live). Also on that Lincoln ped mall, it just seemed isolated attempts at contrived hip fakery amid descrepitude.<BR><BR>Maybe it's nicer at night or with alcohol/drug goggles, but I fail to see the attraction of this place. It reeks of bad city management like Manhattan 20 years ago. Reminds me of the old Times Sq sleaze, but I even preferred that. Drivers are extraordinarily hostile against walkers maybe due to the extremely long traffic light cycles that nobody wants to miss.<BR><BR>Beach not even great for people watching since its so darn big (wide and deep). Maybe it's a promising place, but not that much better than nearby places now. OK, now for the thought-police who can't stand honest criticsm to reply with cynical and personal attacks...

Well, I love Sobe. As for those who said there aren't any nice hotels, Hello? did you not see the Delano, the Tides, The Shore Club, Eden Roc, even the Loews for crying out loud? Fab hotels, fab restaurants, fab people. Okay, very hot looking people in skimpy outfits running up bar tabs higher than the GNP of a small country. How can that not be fun?<BR><BR>When we want to have a fun weekend, no kids, dance till we drop and try to forget our ages, we head to Sobe. Love it.

Used to fly down on a regular basis with girlfriends a couple years ago and got sick of it. If you've never been go but it can get old. Not that it is trashy but it can be too much.

Top it off

Besides the beach being nice, I thought the place was a pit. I'm not a club type person so I didn 't go to any. But that's where all the beautiful people must be that everyone talks about. Otherwise, I've never seen so many toothless, tatooed people in my life.

Can someone tell me what &quot;Trance&quot; music is?

So if Sobe is falling out of fashion, where is the next hip spot going to be? I remember when SoBe was still a retirement community, and had almost zero attitude. Maybe being hip ruins what made it cool in the first place.<BR><BR>

My husband and I travel to many small towns and cities in South Florida during the winter. For a long time we avoided Miami, but decided to give it a try a few years ago.<BR><BR>I immediately loved the Art Deco district! I love the fact that these buildings have been restored to their individual personalities, not like new and mass produced xeros copies. So much personality, potted palms on the marble floors, ceiling fans, insignias and quirky names...<BR><BR>I felt safe walking through the South Beach neighborhood. I remember thinking that I felt safer than I had in San Francisco &amp; (surprise) Vancouver, B.C. Both those cities had swarms of homeless, panhandling at tourist destinations in their town. In Vancouver we actually saw people smoking crack downtown, in plain view of everyone. No one in Miami Beach approached me for money, and no one made me nervous or uncomfortable. I've stopped by there the last three winters and have thoroughly enjoyed a few afternoons of sunshine and people-watching.<BR><BR>There is no reality, just perception. Each person may have a pre-conceived notion and may be &quot;looking&quot; for something that possibily is or isn't there. I'm just glad I dispensed of my pre-conceived notion and gave myself some time to actually explore the area. I ended up loving it.

South BEach is cool becaue of the people. Beautiful women in the clubs and on the beach. Can't go wrong with that.<BR>Those who trash SoBe prefer Opryland or Birmingham anyways so their opinion doesn't count.

Was there 2 weeks ago - yes some nice are deco buildings, and I thought overall OK, but chronically over rated. Far more cheap electronic stores than tattoo bars. They advertise South Beach as the most exciting 20 blocks in the world - pretty small world if you ask me. I have been to over 50 countries and a lot more cities and South Beach would certainly not be in the top 10 for excitement.

nick,<BR>did you like opryland? pretty cosmo isn't it?

&quot;isolated attempts at contrived hip fakery amid descrepitude&quot; <BR><BR>WOW- who would have thought a fodor's poster could come up with a gem like that?

Just my opinion after visiting.<BR><BR>Whether or not you like the place will depend on whether or not you lik the following:<BR><BR>1. Lots of hot scantily clad women <BR>2. lots of eurotrash<BR>3. Typical clubscene<BR>4. Pretentious wannabe hip that think they are special just because they are in SoBe<BR>5. Nice beach, warm water<BR>6. lots of people who don' speaka da ingles<BR>7. topless beaches<BR>8. sex on the dancefloor (literally)<BR>9. great renovated hotels<BR><BR>I tried to give an objective listing of my observations, if you think you might like some of those things, and could put up with the others then go and enjoy!

Just my opinion after visiting.<BR><BR>Whether or not you like the place will depend on whether or not you lik the following:<BR><BR>1. Lots of hot scantily clad women <BR>2. lots of eurotrash<BR>3. Typical clubscene<BR>4. Pretentious wannabe hip that think they are special just because they are in SoBe<BR>5. Nice beach, warm water<BR>6. lots of people who don' speaka da ingles<BR>7. topless beaches<BR>8. sex on the dancefloor (literally)<BR>9. great renovated hotels<BR><BR>I tried to give an objective listing of my observations, if you think you might like some of those things, and could put up with the others then go and enjoy!<BR><BR>If you are of the Palm Beach (not W.Palm) crowd, I am not sure it is the place for you, someone said it well up there, the polo crowd is not the versace crowd.<BR><BR>Madonna, Versace, Stallone, others love it there for a reason, are those reasons your reasons?

Hi there Sync,<BR> South Beach is certainly worth checking out. You will find tacky things and people everywhere, however, the clue is to know where the good places are to go. There are a few blocks on Ocean Drive that are seedy and cheesy...around the restaurant/club called Mango's. If you are going out at night, however, try not to go to the bad clubs...(the ones where people stand outside handing free passes is a good way to determine if its a bad club). Opium and Rumi (you must ask around as to where Rumi is b/c its not marked), Bed (a favorite J-Lo hangout) and Crow Bar used to be good too. The China Grill is also cool and the Living Room used to be a good spot also. If you go to the beach I'd suggest going to the beach in front of the Delano or the Lowes...do not sit in front of Mango's...as I said it is cheesy in that area and it does attract alot of trashy people. If you like Sushi there is a great place at the end of Lincoln Road...its Sushi on a conveyor belt. Its the best! Also on Lincoln road you can find tons of outdoor cafes of Spanish, Italian, Japanese etc..Gloria Estefan's restaurant also has great Cuban food ( I can't remember what it is called, but it is on Ocean Drive...past Mango's). I absolutely love South Beach and I'm not the seedy Tatoo type.

It seems the post is back front and center. I caught up on the new posts, and I just can't believe some of these people have been there!<BR><BR>No nice hotels, you gotta be kidding! In addition to the above add:<BR><BR>The National<BR>Astor Place<BR>Shore Club &lt;---- great bar!<BR>and MANY others that you would never know about unless you walk in. There is also one owned by Merv Griffen on Collins that is Stunning inside!<BR><BR>...and as for the Delano, if you go at night, be sure you check out the second open air bar at the beach.<BR><BR>I am sure that the polorized opinions are due to good/bad experiences. You can make whatever you want out of it. <BR><BR>The best way to observe Sobe, is to go and just have fun, observe the cross section of life, and laugh about the silly stuff that happens.<BR><BR>It truly is a microcosom of life, some people are rude, some people will kiss you just stnading there at the bar, some doorman will not let you in no matter who you are, and someone will treat you like a king no matter who you are.<BR><BR>Just go with an open mind, dance all night, don't drink too much, and don't take anything seriously, and you will have an absolute blast.<BR><BR>I have friends (all of whom are professionals) that either love the place, and we all party on a regular basis, or absolutely hate it and would never participate.<BR><BR>It all depends who you are. I even took my mother one time when she came to visit. Heck she is 58 years old, and ended up dancing until 2:00am at Opium!<BR><BR>That is the beauty of Sobe....no matter what age you are, you can have fun!<BR><BR>As someone said above, it is all about YOUR perceptions!<BR><BR>Now lets get out there and PARTY!<BR>