Mid-Beach Summary
Pros
- Sunny beach weather most of the year, especially from March to June
- Huge, soft, white-sand beach
- Most hotels have a pool
- Most hotels have direct beach access
- Less crowded beach than in South Beach
- Beautiful wooden boardwalk -- great for jogs, biking, and people-watching
- 8 great restaurants at the Fontainebleau mega-resort
- Less foot traffic and street noise than in South Beach
- 5- to 10-minute, $5-$10 cab ride to South Beach
Cons
- No happening nightspots outside the Fontainebleau
- No museums
- No designer shopping
- Far fewer dining options than in South Beach
- Occasional chilly days from December to February
- Sweltering humidity in the summer, especially from August to September
- Slight hurricane potential from June 1 to November 30
What It's Like
Low-key Mid-Beach is a quiet change of pace from the at-times chaotic South Beach, thanks to a thinner field of booming clubs and booze-pushing outdoor cafes. The beach is less crowded, and jogs or strolls on the wooden boardwalk are a great way to take in the coastal scenery. Drinking and dining options are few, and much of the area is nothing but a dull stretch of high-rise condos. But the Fontainebleau mega-resort -- famed for its $1 billion renovation in 2008 -- is home to eight famous restaurants and a stunning nightclub, and a number of new luxury spa resorts in the area are following suit. Plus, you're not entirely cut off from South Beach -- getting to the heart of the action is just a five- to 10-minute commute by cab.
Where to Stay
Exchanging South Beach's smaller Art Deco boutiques for larger high-rise resorts, Mid-Beach trades South Beach's prime party location and small-scale charms for the comforts of a self-sufficient resort. Rooms are bigger, pools are standard, and guests -- mostly families, conventioneers, and retirees -- can sleep a bit more soundly. Among the standouts, there's the iconic Fontainebleau and the Eden Roc next door, but more affordable options like the multilingual Riu and Holiday Inn Miami Beach are still close by. For longer stays, the Churchill Crown Suites offers apartments with full kitchens.
Facts
| Languages: | English, Spanish |
| Airports: | |
| Peak: | January-April |
| Off-Peak: | June-September |
| Visa: | No, for nationalities included in the Visa Waiver Program |
| Vaccines: | No |
| Hurricanes: | June-November |
| Currency: | |
| Electricity: | 120 V, 60 Hz |
| Tipping: | 15-20% at restaurants |
