South Beach

Population

29,621

Amenity Access Index

100/100

Life & Practicalities

Est. drive to the airport: 30 minMiami International Airport (MIA)
Est. drive to the beach: 2 minLummus Park Beach access
Mean commute to work: 22.1 min
Public schools nearby: 2

Flood zoneX · AE · VE — the zone changes from parcel to parcel, so look up the FEMA designation of the specific property; inside an A or V zone, a federally regulated lender makes flood coverage a condition of the mortgage

Sources: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer · OpenStreetMap contributors · Urban Institute / NCES. Informational only, not a flood insurance determination. Amenity Access Index: our measure of dining, grocery, park and transit density inside the mapped area boundary, from OpenStreetMap data; it is not a walkability score. Census values apply only to the named municipality/CDP (ACS 2020–2024 5-year). This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

About

South Beach holds one of the largest preserved collections of Art Deco buildings anywhere. Pastel hotels line Ocean Drive and face the public beach, while a few blocks to the north the pedestrian-only Lincoln Road Mall serves as a shopping street. Buildings in the Art Deco Historic District stay low-rise and go through city historic-preservation review. At street level, Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue hold the dining, galleries and nightlife that shape real estate in South Beach.

historic, beachfront, nightlife

Highlights

The Art Deco stretch of Ocean Drive

Lincoln Road Mall

Art Deco Historic District

Collins Avenue eateries

Beach open to the public

Location

South Beach

Location

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about buying and investing in this area

What makes South Beach famous?

South Beach is Miami Beach's Art Deco heritage district. The big draws are the pastel hotels of Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road Mall (closed to cars) and the public beach just past those hotels.

What kinds of property can you buy in South Beach?

There are historic low-rise Art Deco buildings, a number of them converted to condos, and closer to the water, newer luxury towers and hotel-condos.

Which landmarks and amenities define South Beach?

Its main anchors are Ocean Drive's Art Deco Historic District, the Lincoln Road Mall promenade and a beach open to everyone, while restaurants and shops line Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue.

Before buying in South Beach, what should you check?

Two checks come before any offer: what the preservation rules allow on the exterior of an Art Deco building, and what both the building and the city ordinance say about short-term rentals.