MIAMI BEACH

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

Lincoln Road Map

(Click to Enlarge)

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.

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 Altamar 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.

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 Too 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. 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! Le Bon, Tiramesu and Spris also attract a steady stream of eager diners by offering sundown dinner prices before 7.30 pm. Le Bon is the first and only restaurant in the area with a Belgian menu featuring steaming pots of mussels and hearty imported ales. Locals boast that Le Bon has the best french fries in town. 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.

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. Just across the street, Miss Yip's is also a popular destination for lunch and dinner. Local workers start calling early to take advantage of the $10 lunch specials and then flock to the tropical lounge area for happy hour drinks. The dim sum menu makes an exotic weekend brunch and service until midnight feeds happy hipsters who frequent the second level Buck 15 lounge late 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, Sushi 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. Finally, the two-in-one O Asian Grill offers a quick bowl of noodles to stand-up diners downstairs and a late night kushiyaki supper club upstairs. While the street level of O Grill is deceptively simple, the Noodle Shop gives way to a really impressive double height lounge space serving grilled Japanese meat and veggie skewers for the table to share.

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.

Those in the know seek out the inner reaches of Santo where haute cuisine meets high concept nightclub. In the news recently for their off-the-radar Wednesday night parties, Santo features a late night DJ, a superb house band and some Grammy Award winning unannounced performers crooning to pro athletes, entertainment industry insiders and a lucky few patrons who make it past the velvet ropes. 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.

West of Jefferson Avenue, enjoy dinner and a late night lounge vibe at Touch where a dinner reservation assures your entrance. This sensual and sensory restaurant is designed to stimulate your taste buds, your eyes, your ears... every part of you. While the sidewalk tables are very popular, step inside to experience rich silk and lamb suede upholstery, a DJ at dinner, and performances by belly dancers and flame jugglers. Chef Sean Brasel's menu features lush lobster, foie gras and oysters served by a pampering staff. This tropical supper club will delight adult diners seeking a chic respite from the velvet rope attitude.

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.

—Alice Dreer photos: Joseph Brown

Businesses mentioned in this guide:

Altamar Restaurant - 1223 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 532-3061

Balans 1022 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 534-9191

Cafe At Books & Books 927 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 695-8898

Da Leo Trattoria 819 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 674-0350

Davids Cafe II 1654 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, FL (305) 672-8707

D'vine Hookah Lounge 445 Lincoln Road Miami Beach, FL (305)674-8525

El Rancho Grande 1626 Pennsylvania Ave, Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-0480

Epicure Market - 1656 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 672-1861

Finnegan's Too 942 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 538-7997

Frieze Ice Cream Factory 1626 Michigan Ave, Miami Beach, FL (305) 538-0207

Gelateria Parmalat 670 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (786) 276-9475

Ghirardelli Chocolate 801 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 532-3451

Hofbräu München 941 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 538-8066

Icebox Cafe 1657 Michigan Ave, Miami, FL (305) 538-8448

Johnny Rockets 1025 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 531-6585

Le Bon 723 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-3266

Locanda Sibilla 833 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 695-1654

Lucky Strike Lanes 1691 Michigan Ave, Miami Beach, FL (786) 433-2641

Miss Yip Chinese Cafe 1661 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, FL (305) 534-5488

Nexxt Cafe 700 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 532-6643

O Asian Grill 330 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 531-2811

Panfiore 1627 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 674-0930

Paninoteca 809 Lincoln Rd, Miami, FL (305) 538-0058

Panizza 1229 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 695-8800

Pasha's Restaurant 900 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-3919

Piola Pizzeria 1625 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 674-1660

Pizza Rustica 667 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 672-2334

Quattro Gastronomie Italiana 1691 Michigan Ave, Miami Beach, FL (305) 531-4833

Rosinella 525 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 672-8777

Santo 430 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. FL (305)532-2882

Segafredo Espresso - 1040 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-0047

Spris Pizzeria 731 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-2020

Starbucks HEAR music 605 Lincoln Rd, Miami, FL (305) 534-5120

Sushi Doraku 1100 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 695-8383

Sushi Samba Dromo 600 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-5337

Sushi Siam 647 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 672-7112

Tiramisu Italian 721 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 532-4538

Touch 910 Lincoln Rd. Miami Beach, FL (305) 532-8003

Tropical Cigars of Sobe 741 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 673-3194

Van Dyke Cafe 846 Lincoln Rd, Miami, FL (305) 534-3600

World Resources Cafe 719 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 535-8987

Yuca Restaurant 501 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 532-9822

Yummy Chinese & Sushi Bar 1671 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 531-1880

Zeke's Roadhouse 625 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL (305) 672-3118