While exploring Miami’s culture and cuisine, you must also see the amazing architecture paying homage to Miami’s glamorous past. Miami Beach’s Art Deco Historic District takes you back in time to the 1930s/40s when this building style swept the USA.
All the remaining buildings peppered across this part of Florida have leaned into the retro vibe, offering visitors a nostalgic look at how Miami used to look. Perfect pastels, geometric lines, neon signs, and vintage cars are waiting to be admired.
Did you know that Miami has the highest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world? Their preservation by a handful of activists in the 1970s saved South Beach from turning into a sea of condos. Thanks go to the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) for this.
Here is a selection of the best Art Deco buildings in Miami, including hotels, boutiques, and lifeguard towers!
The Colony Theatre dates back to 1935 and has been restored twice since then — in 1976 and just a few years ago. It is easy to spot on Lincoln Road, standing out with its Art Deco style against the other more modern buildings found in the rest of the outdoor mall. It shows films, dance performances, music, and opera.
Owned by the City of Miami Beach, it certainly ranks highly among the best Art Deco buildings in Miami. Every year in May, The Colony is used for the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Address: Colony Theatre, 1040 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL, USA.
The Carlyle was built in 1939. It has appeared in many movies, such as Scarface, Pronto, Random Hearts, and Bad Boys 2. It was also the location of the gay nightclub in The Birdcage.
It has striking vertical piers, horizontal lines, and curvaceous corners – a very camp example of Miami Beach Art Deco exteriors, appearing virtually unchanged since its initial build. With all its original charm, it sits on Ocean Drive just 100 yards from the Versace Mansion.
At Miami Culinary Tours, we have a South Beach food and Art Deco tour, perfect for immersing yourself in the diversity of the South Beach (or SoBe) area. From local favorites to the trendiest haute cuisine, there’s something tasty for all appetites with the pastels and neon colors made famous in the movies as the backdrop.
Address: The Carlyle, 1250 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL, USA.
The Avalon Hotel on Ocean Drive is well in keeping with the Art Deco vibe in both its architectural form and the vintage cars parked in front of it. It has a restaurant inside called A Fish Called Avalon – established in 1989 – serving fresh seafood including crab cakes, lobster, ceviche, and maple-glazed salmon.
Built in 1941, the hotel has a storied history featuring in movies and TV shows including Miami Vice. It was designed by world-renowned architect Albert Anis.
The Art Deco architecture dotted around Miami has made it into our blog post revealing some of Miami’s best kept secrets. Check out the other locations mentioned!
Address: Avalon Hotel, 700 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL, USA.
Ocean Drive is a busy place for architectural gems! The Breakwater is one of them, going strong since it opened in 1936. It has an emphasis on symmetry, a central tower (classic Art Deco) that protrudes into the Miami skyline, with touches of neon. It was designed by Anton Skislewicz.
Not only is the hotel located right at the beach, but it also boasts a very flashy rooftop pool giving incredible views over the area. It is a people-watching dream.
Are you a fan of authentic Cuban cuisine, or are you dying to try it while in Miami? Be sure to read our blog on the best places to try authentic Cuban food in Miami. The Little Havana area is excellent for experiencing this type of food and, as luck would have it, Miami Culinary Tours offers a Little Havana food and culture tour. Don’t forget to wash it down with a mojito…
Address: The Breakwater Hotel, 940 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL, USA.
Designed by architect Henry Hohauser in 1939, The Webster was transformed in 2009 into a luxury retail destination in the heart of Miami Beach’s Art Deco district. It has the original terrazzo floor as well as a geometric facade with classic neon accents.
Visitors can browse luxury designers such as Saint Laurant, Chanel, Celine, Loewe, and Rhude with many pieces only available at The Webster. The boutique also has a curated beauty and home selection.
There’s even a section on The Webster’s website where you can look at curated selections such as ‘Best Dressed Guest’.
Address: The Webster, 1220 Collins Ave at 12th St, Miami, FL, USA.
Miami Beach is now the home to 30 colorful Art Deco-inspired timber lifeguard towers, with five still in construction. The original towers were destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in the early 90s, and in 2015 the city of Miami Beach took on the project of rebuilding these striking towers.
If you have time on your hands, you can wander along the beach and see them all! Just like this (pictured) fun pink and orange lifeguard tower paying homage to the area’s historical design aesthetic.
Address: Miami Beach, FL, USA.
What’s not to love about the Marlin? The colors are perfection and they really stand out on Collins Avenue as only a handful of Art Deco gems still survive there. L. Murray Dixon designed this beauty in 1939, and renovations over the years have not altered its facade, even keeping its iconic ‘eyebrows’ above the windows. This was a trademark of Dixon’s making an appearance on other buildings he designed in the area such as The Tides Hotel.
The Marlin is also home to one of the city’s top recording studios, with musicians such as Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani, Kanye West, and Jay Z all using the space to create music.
Address: The Marlin, 1200 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL, USA.
Miami has something for everyone, and if you’re looking to balance exploring Miami’s past with its present, we also offer the Miami design district food and art tour with its sleek, sophisticated modernity.
Be sure to contact us with any questions about how we can guide you through this amazing city — showing you the real Miami.
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