Lincoln Road: The Traveler's Guide
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Shoppers at the Sterling Building on
Lincoln Road |
Great cities throughout the world have one thing in
common—that one street which draws
both locals and visitors to all the best shops and restaurants. While there are a number of attractive avenues you'll want to visit
in Miami Beach, the pedestrian mall known as Lincoln Road is considered the
true heart and soul of South Beach.
Ocean Drive attracts tourists looking for a quick fix of "Miami Vice"
neon
and retro-deco styling; it's the place locals take out of town
guests to show them the sights. But, Lincoln Road provides a more
authentic experience where just about everyone gathers to shop and
dine under a brilliant Miami sun. With little resemblance to Small
Town USA, Lincoln Road is a tropical Broadway, homey yet hip, with
a sex appeal all its own. No other avenue in the City is as popular 24
hours a day. While television shows like
"Cheers" and "Friends" fictionalize cozy neighborhood
places where
everyone knows your name, the sunny sidewalk cafes along
Lincoln Mall are frequent meeting places for friendly
neighbors and social groups who gather to catch up on shared
interests.
Newcomers will find it difficult to tell where
one cafe ends and another begins. This open plan design is
deliberate. Some venues favor boundaries, but not South Beach. The
sports bar, the gay bar, the coffee shop and the deli all share
tables and customers. Simply find an empty seat at a sunlit table to
join the community. Folks who skateboard, rollerblade or bicycle
meet on Lincoln. New parents bring overwrought toddlers to the
Euclid Circle to barrel around and blow off steam. Ex-pats from
cities around the globe find fellow countrymen to discuss world
events, football matches and the goings-on back home. If America is
indeed a melting pot, Lincoln Road is the red-hot burner in South
Florida.
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Nexxt Cafe on Lincoln Road in
Miami Beach |
Let's Get Started...
The Sunday Antique and Farmer's Market get the week off to a great
start. Morning joggers, earnest home cooks and casual shoppers join the
crowd of collectors up at sunrise hoping to find a bargain. While there
is no big box home store on the island, local nurseries bring in
apartment-friendly houseplants for porch and patio. Many residents
furnish their homes, fill their pantries and decorate their balconies at
the weekly markets.
In the past few years, clever
New York decorators and fashion stylists have boasted to national
publications about the treasures they've unearthed at the Lincoln
Road Flea Market. Suffice to say, those used to getting rock-bottom
prices now meet the antique dealers' trucks the moment they start to
unpack. Competition is fierce! (Alternate Sundays October through
May)
On holiday nights, families gather on the mall
after dinner to check out the local revelers and catch up with old
friends. Halloween is a particularly popular time of year. Local
merchants encourage kids to trick or treat in all of their shops.
Meanwhile, local drag queens parade in full regalia up and down the
avenue hoping for cheers of encouragement from those lucky enough to
score a table at a sidewalk cafe. Elaborate costumes created for
local competitions or worn simply to provoke the crowd are
everywhere you look. Everyone cheers, everyone takes photos; it's a
big party.
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Neon Surfer at Alvin's Island Beach Shop on
Lincoln Road |
The weekends before and after Halloween are some
of the busiest of the year. October kicks off the official holiday
season. Temperatures might creep into the 80s, but the holiday
lights twinkle in all of the palm trees along the mall. Holiday
shopping at the quirky boutiques, art galleries and chain stores is
always a bit more fun than at a traditional shopping center. New
Year's Eve is also intensely popular before and after the midnight
fireworks at the beach. Black tie dressed couples and flip flop
wearing teens compete for a place to hang out and celebrate. By
accident or by design, there is always something to do on Lincoln
Mall.
We've wandered from Bayside to Seaside along Lincoln Road and even
explored the cross streets to help you navigate the incredible
dining scene on this popular promenade. Whether you want a quick
bite before the theater, a casual lunch while shopping, or a
romantic dinner just for two, you'll find a dazzling array of
options all along Lincoln Mall. Since no cars are permitted from
Washington Avenue through Alton Road, you'll need to do a bit of
walking to find the perfect spot. To make everything easier to find,
we've organized our guide based upon the cross streets shown on this
map so you can get where you're going just a little bit quicker. Are
you ready?
Let's eat!
One block west of Alton Road at West Avenue, savvy locals make
frequent visits to
Altamare Seafood Restaurant and Panizza Cafe, an
Argentinean bakery specializing in empanada pocket pastries. While a significant portion of Lincoln Road is closed to
cars, the last few blocks on the west side are busy with families
getting their shopping done and buzzing around the residential
district. Travelers who want to discover a quieter restaurant or
glimpse local city life should venture west of Lincoln Mall. One of
the few hotels on the west side of town, The Standard Spa is just a
short walk away. This hipster hideout is all about rest and
relaxation, but if you decide to venture out, the hotel provides
transport to Lincoln Road and the busier tourist areas of South
Beach. Visitors find the west side of town has an entirely different
rhythm than Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue.
Dinner and a Movie...
Just under the Lincoln Road movie theater marquee,
Piola Pizza's
wood-burning oven produces thin crispy pizzas in the manner most
popular in Italy. Panfiore Sandwich Shop makes it easy to grab a
quick bite just before or after a film. Just north of
the cinema, Epicure Market packs up deli sandwiches, take out
entrees, fresh-squeezed juices and gourmet treats 7 days a week.
Epicure is a great resource for an upscale picnic lunch, fresh
produce and just-baked pastries and cakes. If your hotel room
includes kitchen facilities and you want to stock up on a few
specialty items and a good bottle of wine, definitely make a quick
trip to Epicure.
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Colony Theater lobby, street art and
architecture on Lincoln Road |
At
Segafredo Espresso at the western edge of the
Mall, it's possible to hear 4 different languages before you
recognize one you understand. Serving panini sandwiches, giant
cocktails and espresso to a huge crowd all day and night; this
open-air cafe spreads randomly around a mosaic fountain in front of
the Cameo Theater on Lenox Avenue. Perched between the dancing
waters, the Pottery Barn and the newly renovated theater, this is an
ideal spot to join friends before a movie at the multiplex, during a
casual day of shopping or for an after-dinner cocktail. Expect to
see pampered pooches and exhausted toddlers elbow-to-elbow with
European Playboys and dewy young models. That guy who looks like the
Mayor probably is Hizzoner having coffee and chatting up a Big Wig.
While it might be possible to pull on sweat pants and run to most
malls to make a quick purchase, you surely do not want to hit
Lincoln Road in anything short of your best new look.
Rock and Bowl...
At the intersection of Lincoln and Michigan, Finnegan's Two attracts
European Football Fans by day and local rock musicians by night.
While some nightclubs on South Beach have a strict velvet rope
policy, this is not the case at most of the bars along Lincoln Mall.
Finnegan's posts pub specials on a chalkboard by the door including
happy hour drink prices and the name of the band performing that
night. Just a few steps south on Michigan, The Frieze Ice Cream
Factory dreams up exotic flavors for some of the top restaurants in
town and also serves cups and cones at the counter.
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Matt Hein interviews models at
the opening of Journelle on Lincoln Road |
The Ice Box Cafe
is a popular local bakery for modern brides seeking one-of-a-kind
cakes. When Oprah Winfrey lived in the area, she discovered this
tiny storefront and declared it the home of one of the Best Cakes in
America. As you might guess, a nod from Oprah put Ice Box on the
map! The sidewalk tables are often full and the restaurant's kitchen
works tirelessly 7 days a week.
On rainy afternoons,
Lucky Strike
Lanes is a favorite hangout for visiting families looking for a
quick lunch and a little friendly competition. Bowling lanes are
opened to everyone until 9pm when the place turns to an over 21
nightspot. Music, videos and cocktails rev up the sports bar
atmosphere as the party starts to roll.
On a Budget? Ask a Local...
Balans Restaurant enjoys a fierce local following and rewards their
fans with weekday $2 discounts for breakfast, happy hour and dinner
entrees. While prices at many South Beach eateries skyrocket, it's
always nice to find good food at a good value. Balans eggs benedict
are particularly popular, and at $2 off - a real deal!
Tiramesu and
Spris also attract a steady stream of eager diners by
offering sundown dinner prices before 7.30 pm. Spris bakes thin, crispy
pizzas and Tiramesu features light Italian dishes. As a plus, their
wine list is discounted in the early evening as well.
Zeke's Roadhouse is a special favorite for locals
and bargain savvy tourists. While the menu offers little more than hot
dogs, there is no other spot on Lincoln Mall offering ample sidewalk
seating and over 100 draft and bottled beers for just $3. This immensely
popular cafe attracts spring breakers, young families and a friendly
happy hour crowd who like to see-and-be-seen without breaking the bank.
For home-style cooking away from a hot stove, South
Beach natives flock to Rosinella Cafe where you'll feel like
"a regular" as soon as you arrive. What drives this tiny Italian kitchen is surely
"Mama" Rosinella Doino who oversees the preparation of light
pasta entrees and delicious nightly specials.
An ideal spot for a casual date, a family dinner or
an impromptu snack, Rosinella makes a great pairing with the New World Symphony
just next door.
At Jefferson Avenue, you'll find one of the most
popular dining spots -
Van Dyke Cafe. Opened early for those hoping
to score a table at a very busy sidewalk cafe, the second level of
the restaurant also features live jazz every night of the week. If
you find the wait at Van Dyke daunting, nip across the street and
sample the fresh Mediterranean treats at
Pasha's. Vegetarians will
delight in the wide variety of street foods from the airy open
kitchen. Gyros, falafel and crispy pide pizzas will win you over.
Looking for something more robust? One of the newest additions to
the eclectic dining scene, Hofbräu München has just
started serving hearty German fare and giant steins of imported beer
on the sidewalks just across the way. If you notice happy drinkers
feasting on soft pretzels, you'll know you've found our newest beer
hall.
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1111 Building on Lincoln Road |
Dining by Design...
While many national booksellers have expanded their services to
include a coffee bar, Miami's favorite Books & Books now has a full
menu and a tapas and drinks list as well. Oddly, most of the steady
stream of sidewalk patrons seems to have little interest in the
shelves of best sellers.
Competition for a spot at the tables lining the atrium is
fierce since the dinner menu was introduced. The reason? The bookstore,
BASE
boutique, Design Within Reach and the dazzling new BASE Annex attract the
who's-who of the Miami design community.
From Pizza to Pasta to Panini...
Meridian Avenue is the center point of South Beach and runs directly
through the city end-to-end. At the busy intersection on Lincoln Road, Starbucks
Coffee gives way to the popular Tropical Cigar Bar, the Ghirardelli chocolate
shop and a tiny sandwich shop serving pressed paninis and gourmet salads. Paninoteca might be missed with
the blink of an eye, but is well worth a second look. Just next
door,
da Leo Trattoria will make you feel like family. Friendly
service, Italian classics and nightly specials make this cafe a
local favorite. Oddly, there are more Italian restaurants on South
Beach than any other cuisine. Diners can choose from simple pizza
and pasta shops like Rosinella, Spris, Piola and Pizza Rustica, the
more upscale
Locanda Sibilla and da Leo Trattoria, and the pricey
Piedmontese
Quattro Gastronomia Italiana. Quattro is one of the
top-dollar doors on Lincoln Mall, so make reservations to sample the
hip, culinary pyrotechnics of these twin-brother chefs. If the
prices seem daunting, just stop in and let bartender "Capri" mix you
a perfect cucumber martini. Grab a book of matches and say you were
there...
For a more casual evening out, head north of the
mall on Meridian to sample classic Cuban dishes at
David's Cafe II. What sets this friendly eatery apart is their 24/7
service, incredibly low prices, and the great people watching at the
busy walk-up coffee window. Whether you need a quick pick me up or a
full course dinner, David's is ready to serve you day and night.
From Asia with Love...
Asian Restaurants on Lincoln Mall encompass Sushi, Thai, "Asian
Fusion," and Chinese. Among the best are
Sushi Samba Dromo,
a Brazilian-accented Sushi Bar that's a nightclub after hours,
Doraku, which has a popular weeknight happy hour, and
Sushi Siam,
a Thai and Japanese combination (both done well). World Resources
Cafe is an intimate sushi bar inside, a large sidewalk cafe on the
mall and a menu that ranges from Indian curries to Japanese and Thai
classics. Miss Yip's Chinese is a Hong Kong style teahouse and Yummy
Chinese at the west end of the mall adjacent to the movie serves
both Chinese and sushi. Yummy is the place to call for free home
deliveries all over South Beach.
Kid-Friendly Options...
Euclid Circle is a unique spot of grass at the center
of Lincoln Mall. Because there are few green spaces to
congregate in the area, kids and dogs are drawn to
this tiny island surrounded by cafes and ice cream
shops. Italian import Gelateria Parmalat scoops fresh
fruit flavored gelato to long lines of patient
customers.
Nexxt Cafe encompasses the southern side of
the street with umbrella-shaded tables filled with
hungry diners. Portions are big enough to share at
this popular cafe serving giant breakfasts, main plate
salads and towering sandwiches. Across the way, one of
three branches of
Pizza Rustica offers pies
by-the-slice perfect for a quick bite or a hungry
toddler. If your brood craves burgers and friendly
singing servers, Johnny Rockets 50's style diner
provides helium balloons and a family friendly
atmosphere day and night.
Now HEAR This!
At Pennsylvania Avenue, Sushi Samba Dromo faces the
first concept store HEAR Music by Starbucks. South
Beach music fans can enjoy some cake and a latte at
one of the video listening stations. Using a free,
magnetized card, it is possible to program all of your
favorite songs into a modern mix tape and have one of
the Starbucks baristas burn you a souvenir CD of your
new vacation soundtrack. While there are many
Starbucks locations in the area, HEAR music is by far
the most popular. Just south of the mall, El Rancho
Grande is a friendly Tex-Mex eatery best experienced
at a sidewalk table on a breezy night. Feast on
still-warm chips, spicy salsa and a hearty margarita
and you're soon to believe you're south of the border.
Stick with reliable classics from the taco and burrito
menu and you're in for an inexpensive evening.
Dining and Dancing...
The Lincoln Road Supper Club Scene is active every
night of the week. While some nightspots have a
daunting door policy, others provide a night of dining
and dancing simply by calling to reserve a table.
Sushi Samba Dromo offers an interesting fusion of
Japanese and Brazilian cuisine by day and transforms
into a popular nightclub after hours. A sexy South
American crowd flocks to the sushi-ceviche bar to sip
sake and sambatinis while dressed in trendy "cosplay
attire" Tuesday nights. Cosplay is a Japanese club
phenomenon combining costumes from manga, anime and
pop culture. Enjoy local DJs, taiko drummers,
professional dancers and sexy geisha girls. Cash
prizes are awarded to the best-dressed partygoer. While the
Lincoln Road sidewalks just off Washington Avenue are
strictly Starbucks by day, nighttime is the right time
to hit this red-hot nightspot.
For a night that moves to a Miami beat,
Yuca
Restaurant has long attracted diners seeking a modern
approach to Cuban cuisine. While the downstairs dining
room twinkles with candlelight and crystal, the second
floor lounge is a Friday night favorite for new and
improving salsa dancers. The friendly hosts at salsamia.com teach traditional Cuban dance moves and
then open the floor for a high energy Salsa Party
Fridays and Sundays. After hours, dancers flock to
nearby D'Vine Hookah Lounge to enjoy Mediterranean
tapas and sample the fragrant water pipes circulated
by the capable wait staff.
See you there...
Lincoln Road pulses with all of the energy of South
Beach. Whether you're up early and need a jolt of
coffee and a hearty morning meal or you're looking for
a romantic place to while away a hot Miami night,
there is something for everyone on this busy
pedestrian mall. While hot summer days often seem
overwhelming, these breezy cafes welcome thirsty
travelers and busy locals around the clock. Check
theater, symphony and gallery listings to help you
plan a great night out on Miami Beach's Main Street.
You're sure to feel like a part of the scene once you
experience the great shopping, friendly bars and
delicious ethnic restaurants all along Lincoln Road Mall.
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Businesses
mentioned in this guide: |
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Altamar Restaurant, 1223 Lincoln
Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 532-3061 |
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Balans, 1022 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach,
FL (305) 534-9191 |
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Cafe At Books & Books, 927 Lincoln
Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 695-8898 |
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Da Leo Trattoria, 819 Lincoln Rd,
Miami Beach, FL (305) 674-0350 |
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Davids Cafe II, 1654 Meridian Ave,
Miami Beach, FL (305) 672-8707 |
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D'vine Hookah Lounge, 445 Lincoln
Road Miami Beach, FL (305)674-8525 |
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El Rancho Grande, 1626 Pennsylvania
Ave, Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-0480 |
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Epicure Market, 1656 Alton Rd,
Miami Beach, FL (305) 672-1861 |
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Finnegan's Too, 942 Lincoln Rd, Miami
Beach, FL (305) 538-7997 |
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Frieze Ice Cream Factory, 1626
Michigan Ave, Miami Beach, FL (305) 538-0207 |
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Gelateria Parmalat, 670 Lincoln Rd,
Miami Beach, FL (786) 276-9475 |
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Ghirardelli Chocolate, 801 Lincoln
Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 532-3451 |
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Hofbräu München, 941 Lincoln Rd,
Miami Beach, FL (305) 538-8066 |
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Icebox Cafe, 1657 Michigan Ave,
Miami, FL (305) 538-8448 |
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Johnny Rockets, 1025 Lincoln Rd,
Miami Beach, FL (305) 531-6585 |
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Locanda Sibilla, 833 Lincoln Rd,
Miami Beach, FL (305) 695-1654 |
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Lucky Strike Lanes, 1691 Michigan
Ave, Miami Beach, FL (786) 433-2641 |
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Nexxt Cafe, 700 Lincoln Rd, Miami
Beach, FL (305) 532-6643 |
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Paninoteca, 809 Lincoln Rd, Miami, FL
(305) 538-0058 |
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Panizza, 1229 Lincoln Rd, Miami
Beach, FL (305) 695-8800 |
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Pasha's Restaurant, 900 Lincoln Rd,
Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-3919 |
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Piola Pizzeria, 1625 Alton Rd, Miami
Beach, FL (305) 674-1660 |
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Pizza Rustica, 667 Lincoln Rd, Miami
Beach, FL (305) 672-2334 |
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Quattro Gastronomie Italiana, 1691
Michigan Ave, Miami Beach, FL (305) 531-4833 |
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Rosinella, 525 Lincoln Rd, Miami
Beach, FL (305) 672-8777 |
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Segafredo Espresso, 1040 Lincoln
Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-0047 |
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Spris Pizzeria, 731 Lincoln Rd, Miami
Beach, FL (305) 673-2020 |
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Starbucks HEAR music, 605 Lincoln Rd,
Miami, FL (305) 534-5120 |
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Sushi Doraku, 1100 Lincoln Rd, Miami
Beach, FL (305) 695-8383 |
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Sushi Samba Dromo, 600 Lincoln Rd,
Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-5337 |
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Sushi Siam, 647 Lincoln Rd, Miami
Beach, FL (305) 672-7112 |
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Tiramisu Italian, 721 Lincoln Rd,
Miami Beach, FL (305) 532-4538 |
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Tropical Cigars of Sobe, 741 Lincoln
Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-3194 |
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Van Dyke Cafe, 846 Lincoln Rd, Miami,
FL (305) 534-3600 |
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World Resources Cafe, 719 Lincoln Rd,
Miami Beach, FL (305) 535-8987 |
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Yuca Restaurant, 501 Lincoln Rd,
Miami Beach, FL (305) 532-9822 |
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Yummy Chinese & Sushi Bar, 1671 Alton
Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 531-1880 |
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Zeke's Roadhouse, 625 Lincoln Rd,
Miami Beach, FL (305) 672-3118 |
photographs: Joseph Brown | |
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