Nightlife in South Beach

By Teri Champigny

The ever-changing, ever-evolving nightlife in South Beach may be one of the most attractive reasons for the large tourist trade in South Beach. It also turns out, sometimes, to be one of the biggest disappointments of tourists.

There are a couple of clubs that have withstood the test of time, of course, and remain steady nightlife tourist attractions. The “Clevelander” and "The Deuce" have been tourist attractions for many years, for example. However, other clubs change names and owners so often that it is really difficult to know which ones will still be open today that were open yesterday. Not only is there a continuity problem but just being admitted to a ‘hot’ club can be more than a little difficult especially for tourists.

The local government of Miami Beach is trying hard to address this problem by making it more difficult to open an establishment. They are really trying hard to prevent these fly-by-night clubs from ever opening in the first place. Most clubs that open in the Miami Beach area only last one season or less.

Here are just a few of the places that might be of some interest to tourists in South Beach and Miami but there is no guarantee that the clubs that are mentioned will still be open:

Overtown is one of Miami’s oldest African-American neighborhoods and it is on the upswing. It is revitalizing an entertainment district dominated the Lyric Theater which is considered an historical monument.

Calle Ocho is Little Havana's main street. It is lined with restaurants and places where sounds of salsa and merengue can always be heard.

Coconut Grove is south of the downtown area. It is the New Year’s home of the King Mango Strut political spoof parade...always a highlight. There are restaurants, movie theaters and bookstores.

Lovely Coral Gables is awash with top dining establishments and galleries presenting the very best of art. It is not surprising that Miami always ranks at the top for singles scene action and Latin beats.  Nowhere is this more apparent than in the hot clubs of the moment like Prive, Mansion and Mynt, where DJs spin the latest house music.

Tourists, locals and celebrities can all be found at Hoy Como Ayer enjoying the sounds of DJ Le Spam and The All Stars and among the hot live music clubs in Little Havana. The live music spots like Churchill's and the elegant places like Rumi, Tap Tap, and Tantra, makes South Beach glitter with excitement.

Nightlife attractions are always an important component of the tourist trade for all areas and South Beach is, of course, not the exception to that rule. During the daylight hours, tourists love to lie out on sun drenched beaches and shop at world class boutiques. They love to look for the famous faces that can always be spotted in South Beach. But when the sin sinks in a blaze of glory into the Gulf of Mexico and the street lights come on, it is time to party!