How to See the Best of Art Deco Miami in One Day

Miami South Beach’s Art Deco architecture is world famous. I had the chance to spend one day in Miami at the end of a family visit to the Gulf Coast of Florida in February.

I always say that a short trip is better than no trip at all so I definitely made the most of my time in the Miami Beach Art Deco Historic District by scheduling a strategic 24-hour stopover before my flight out of Miami Airport.

It’s easy to fill a day in Miami South Beach with fun things to do and places to eat. Read on for my recommendations for a one-day architecture-focused visit to South Florida.

Vibrant photo of Miami's pastel-colored Art Deco buildings and modern skyscrapers rising against a brilliant, clear blue sky with palm trees below.

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Arrive in Miami South Beach at Night and Stay in an Art Deco Hotel

A full-length vertical shot of a silver, mirrored mannequin statue posed in a dramatic walking stride. The figure wears a shiny blue sequined bodysuit with a white floral pattern, standing in a brightly lit corner of an interior space.

An interior shot of a bright lobby showcasing mid-century modern (MiMo) design. A silver, spiky Sputnik-style chandelier hangs prominently, and a wall is decorated with a large, geometric arrangement of mirrored squares.

When I say that I “did” the Miami Art Deco District in a day, I really mean 24 hours. To truly experience Miami South Beach, you’ll want to arrive at night. Check out the cool neon signage all around town.

Stay in a classic Art Deco hotel. I stayed at Kasa la Flora Hotel which was situated centrally on Collins Avenue in the heart of South Beach.

The lobby featured a sparkly statue in a blue jumpsuit and Art Deco accents including chrome chandeliers and a geometric mirror. The hotel really set the stage for my 24 hours in the Miami South Beach Art Deco Historic District.

Admire Art Deco Architecture on the Way to Breakfast at Shepherd Artisan Coffee

A street-level view of The Webster (formerly Webster Hotel), a white and pale blue Henry Hohauser-designed Art Deco building with a flag flying from the roof, framed by palm trees and featuring two classic, two-tone vintage cars parked in the foreground.

Start the day with a light breakfast at Shepherd Artisan Coffee. An iced coffee and a bagel will hit the spot. Admire that awesome Miami South Beach Art Deco architecture on your walk to the cafe. You may even spot a classic car or two to add to the ambiance.

Take the Miami South Beach Art Deco Historic District Walking Tour

I find that guided walks are a great low-effort way to deep dive on a city.

A low-angle exterior shot of the white Essex House hotel, a classic Streamline Moderne building with rounded corner windows, horizontal banding, and a distinctive vertical neon sign spire on the roof, framed by palm trees against a clear blue sky.

Miami South Beach Art Deco Walking Tour Price and Logistics

The Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) leads a daily Art Deco walking tour departing from Miami South Beach’s Art Deco Welcome Center and focusing on an area of a few blocks between Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue.

Tours of Miami’s Art Deco District deep dive on famous architects like Albert Anis, Henry Hohauser, and Murray Dixon. Tickets cost $40 for a 2-hour guided tour. The short and sweet format was ideal for fitting a dose of history and culture into our tight fami-leisure vacation schedule.

A close-up of the simple, modern white facade of the Art Deco Welcome Center in South Beach, featuring silver metallic lettering and large, dark-tinted rectangular windows segmented by thin silver mullions.

Meet Joel, our Knowledgeable Guide

Our tour guide, Joel, was incredibly knowledgeable. In fact, his collection of Art Deco televisions is on display at the Art Deco Museum in Miami South Beach. Joel retired to Miami from Brooklyn, New York and was a fount of information about South Beach, its history, and its evolving architectural style.

A straight-on view of the white Congress Hotel on Ocean Drive. The Art Deco facade features a prominent central fin with vertical "CONGRESS" lettering and large "HOTEL" lettering above the entrance, with palm trees framing the symmetry under a deep blue sky.

We quickly learned how some of the original Art Deco buildings were meant to be cheap and cheerful accommodation for visiting servicemen on holiday.

Joel told us that the most characteristic element of the Art Deco style in Miami South Beach was “eyebrows” above the windows to offer shade. In the era when many of these buildings were erected, there was no air-conditioning to combat that fierce South Florida heat.

What is the Art Deco style, really?

A close-up of a white building section, possibly a restaurant or bar (La Baguette), featuring a Streamline Moderne style with bold blue-trimmed porthole windows and a horizontal window frame, with a palm tree trunk running vertically across the image.

Art Deco actually describes a variety of architectural styles and the term Art Deco was not in use when the buildings were originally created.

The styles include: Mediterranean Revival (1920-1935), Tropical Art Deco (1934-1950), Streamline Art Deco (1936-1950), Nautical Art Deco (1936-1950) featuring iconic porthole windows, and MiMo (Miami Modern, 1950-1965). The building above (now housing La Baguette) is an example of the MiMo style.

Barbara Baer Capitman

A close-up of the upper facade of The Carlyle Hotel, showing its distinctive red neon script signage above bright yellow awnings and umbrellas, emphasizing the white vertical fluting characteristic of the building's Art Deco style.

An upward-angled close-up of the large, white, dimensional lettering of the "CARDOZO" sign against the hotel's pink marble-accented facade, showing the classic Art Deco curves and white stucco of the famous building.

For a time, Miami South Beach fell into decline. Barbara Baer Capitman is credited with saving Miami South Beach’s Art Deco heritage architecture and turning things around.

She bought some prominent buildings along the waterfront and turned them into mixed-use bars and beach hotels. She showed that the enterprises could be profitable and enticed others to invest.

A close-up of a weather-worn, blue-green bronze bust sculpture of a woman with curly hair, mounted on a white pedestal, framed by the dark green fronds of palm trees under a sunny sky in a public park.

A Stylish Turnaround Thanks to Versace and Miami Vice

After years of decline, Miami South Beach eventually achieved a cool resurgence. Miami Vice hit TV screens across the U.S. in the 1980s, airing from 1984-1990. Joel told us that Miami Vice had one of the highest costs to produce of any TV show in history, but the sleek image that the show served up, thanks in part to designers like Versace, influenced what the region has become today.

Did you know that Miami Vice had a color scheme and that color scheme is now prevalent all around South Beach? Bleached whites, pinks, peaches, and yellows feel right at home in the Miami South Beach Art Deco Historic District.

Modern Miami South Beach Architecture: Compatible But Not A Copy

A vertical shot of the Fairwind, a white and pale yellow Art Deco building, featuring prominent rounded corners, banded window eyebrows, and a vertical fin displaying the hotel name, with a lush palm tree in the foreground.

Today, there are rules that govern what can and can’t be built in Miami South Beach. The guiding principle is “compatible but not a copy.”

Any new buildings in the Miami South Beach Art Deco Historic District must blend in with the period originals but should not replicate the historic buildings. In this way, the architecture blends and evolves toward the future. I found this principle fascinating.

Cuban Lunch in South Beach at Puerto Sagua

A high-angle view of a rustic wooden table set with two plates of Cuban food. The foreground plate holds a quarter of roasted chicken, white rice, and fried sweet plantains (Maduros). The other plate holds Tostones and a glass of red sangria is also visible.

A close-up food shot of a white oval plate featuring a stack of three golden-fried, flattened plantains (Tostones) next to a small white dipping dish filled with Mojo sauce (a savory garlic, oil, and citrus dressing).

I recommend trying Cuban food for lunch. There are plenty of great Cuban places to eat in Miami South Beach often run by Cuban immigrants or their descendents.

I opted to try Puerto Sagua, an unassuming family-owned place tucked away at the far end of Collins Ave. I love plantains and so ordered up roast chicken with maduras (sweet plantains) and rice.

I also couldn’t resist ordering a side of tostones (savory plantains that taste a bit like potatoes) washed down with a glass of sangria. Definitely go hungry.

Check out the Funky Lifeguard Stations along the Miami South Beach Promenade

A whimsical beach food kiosk with a layered, stepped pyramidal roof, entirely covered in a bright yellow and white checkered or "pixelated" geometric pattern, suggesting a stylized Art Deco/MiMo influence, standing on the sand.

After lunch, walk off your meal on the Miami South Beach Promenade. I particularly loved the funky lifeguard stations along the water. They were definitely on-theme for the Miami South Beach Art Deco Historic District!

A bright, scenic view of the beach featuring an iconic orange and red life guard station designed in the distinct, whimsical Art Deco/Nautical Moderne style, set against the turquoise ocean with a few people scattered across the sand.

Cuban Dinner at Havana 1957 on Española Way

A warm-toned, close-up photo of a dining table at a Cuban restaurant. In the foreground, a basket holds tall, rustic fried plantain strips (mariquitas or plantain chips) wrapped in printed paper, next to a glass of red sangria garnished with an orange slice.

Finish your one day in Miami South Beach with dinner on Española, Way which runs for a full block and is pedestrian-only. Browse restaurants serving cuisine from all over the world.

I absolutely love Cuban food, so decided to do a reprise over dinner. I had a small meal of appetizers, fried plantains, and sangria at the bar at Havana 1957.

Española Way is really popular. Expect to wait for a table at the more popular restaurants. Havana 1957 had a long wait, but I was able to short circuit most of it by agreeing to sit at the bar.

Map of Points of Interest in the Miami South Beach Art Deco Historic District

I hope you’ve enjoyed this 24 hour tour of Miami South Beach. Whether you are an architecture buff, a foodie, or a beach person, there is something for everyone on a short trip to Miami. Embracing these efficient 24-hour itineraries is how we master the art Part-Time Travel, ensuring we maximize every chunk of paid-time off.

While a short trip is definitely worth doing in its own right, there is no reason not to plan a layover in Miami en route to points of interest in the Caribbean like Nickelodeon Resort in Punta Cana; at the start or end of a trip to Costa Rica, or on the way to South American destinations like Santiago or Buenos Aires.

Click on the image of the map below to open up an interactive version in Google Maps to help you plan your trip.