Ocean Drive (South Beach)

Ocean Drive
Length 1.3 mi (2.1 km)
South end South Pointe Drive in South Beach, Miami Beach
North end 15th Street in South Beach, Miami Beach
Construction
Inauguration 1915

Ocean Drive is a major thoroughfare in the South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach.

Route description

The road starts at South Pointe just south of 1st Street, near the southernmost end of the main barrier island of Miami Beach, about a quarter mile west of the Atlantic Ocean. Ocean Drive continues north to 15th Street, immediately southeast of Lincoln Road.

Attractions

Ocean Drive is mostly known for its Art Deco hotels, many of which have been prominently featured in countless media. Among the most popular is the Colony Hotel, known as the most photographed art deco hotel, a 1939 boutique-inspired hotel that has made cameo appearances in scores of movies and TV shows including Dexter. The Sunray Apartments were featured in the movie Scarface (1983)[1] and the Carlyle Hotel served as the exterior for the Birdcage drag club in the 1996 comedy The Birdcage[2]. The 2002 video game, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City also based the look of it's eponymous city off Miami and has a replica of Ocean Drive with exactly the same name. Ocean Drive is also the location of the famed Casa Casuarina, the residence of Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace (now a boutique hotel), one of the most photographed houses in North America. Another popular art deco hotel is Clevelander Hotel, aside from its hotel services, it consists of an indoor sports lounge as well a dance floor and pool area on the ground floor and a complimentary roof-top lounge.

Culture

The street is the center of the Miami Art Deco District, which is home to about 900 preserved buildings. Streamline Moderne evolved from the Art Deco style, and dominates the street. The street has a magazine named after it, Ocean Drive magazine. British easy-listening duo The Lighthouse Family released a single entitled "Ocean Drive", which reached #11 on the UK Singles Chart.

Restaurants and Cabaret

One of the most famous restaurants on this strip is Mango’s Tropical Café, a Caribbean inspired restaurant where there are live performances by dancers and singers.

Known for its cabaret and drag queen shows, Palace Bar dedicates itself to the LGBTQ community.

References

  1. ↑ Garcia Roberts, Gues (8 December 2010). "Scarface Chainsaw Scene Location on Market for $9 Million". Miami New Times.
  2. ↑ http://www.off-on.co/bird-cage-miami/corner-bird-cage-miami-beach-art-deco-the-carlyle-as-king/
  • Florida, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, 2004, pgs. 58 & 59

Coordinates: 25°46′36″N 80°07′53″W / 25.776755°N 80.131434°W / 25.776755; -80.131434

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