Amenities

The Building

There is valet parking for guest cars in a completely enclosed garage. The concierge - located in the lobby - is an incredible resource able to help with everything from restaurant to helicopter tour reservations. The front desk will greet guests and hold delivered packages.

Dry Cleaning

Provided by Sudsies. Yellow bag in one of closets. Leave at front desk before 11am. Returned 24 to 36 hours later.

Food Delivery

Everyone delivers. See guide in Kitchen.

Mail Services

The main Post Office is on Washington and 13th. There is a self service machine there where you can buy stamps for cards and letters. (NB: when asked for a country, the UK is listed as Great Britain).

For more urgent mail, you can send a Fedex from Kinkos (Alton Road and 16th)

Kinkos also provides photocopying, faxing and printing services.

Practicalities

Spare keys at security, mail after 3pm.

The closest post office is on Lincoln Rd and West St.

Hertz has an Alton Road office and there are scooter and bike shops on Washington and Fifth and up and down Collins.

There is a Fedex Kinkos on Alton near Lincoln and an Office Depot near the Publix.

Epicure on Alton Road at Lincoln is the high-end food store, Whole Foods is coming to Alton Road (at writing this was still a Wild Oats) and there are two Publix (the big South Florida chain) supermarkets.

Leisure

The building's modern gym and pool are accessed by fob. The pool looks over Biscayne Bay and has a jacuzzi and shower facilties.

The building has its own tennis court and there are also public courts nearby which can be rented by the hour. There are basketball courts acoss the street, a kids' playground on ocean drive and a large park within walking distance.

Right next door sits the local marina where boats and jet skis can be hired by the day or fishing trips organised. A number of different tours of the bay can be found across the causeway at the Bayside shopping complex.

South Beach & Miami Beach

Maps

For online directions, use www.mapquest.com. Enter the address for the apartment here as above, and it will give you accurate directions.

Shopping

The two main shopping areas nearby are at Collins and 8th, and the Lincoln Road Mall on Lincoln Road (effectively 17th Street).

For more exclusive designer clothes shopping, you can go the Bal Harbour Mall or Merrick Park in Coral Gables.

For a larger selection of shopping, including Best Buy for consumer electronics, go to the Aventura Mall.

Eating and Drinking

Restaurants

There are many choices. They are often expensive and hard to get into so check them out first. Remember that they will get very busy during the season, so best to book early, especially for reservations at the weekend. The concierge can book most restaurants on South Beach for you.

  • Breakfast - Big Pink, Jerry's, Balan's, 11th St Diner, News Café.
  • Italian - Ago, Macaluso's
  • Steak - Prime 112, S n W, The Forge,Tuscan Steak
  • Sushi - Shoji, Nobu.
  • Mexican - Lime
  • Thai/Asian -
  • Pizza - Rustica, Bufala

Cafés

There are now several Starbucks on the beach, most notably at 14th and Ocean Drive as well as 2nd and Ocean. La Panizza is a fab Argentinian spot just north of Alton with great breakfast pastries, empanadas and lunch time pies. Books And Books on Lincoln is the Beach's best (read 'only') book store but doubles as café and casual restaurant.

Bars

  • Hotels - Delano, Shore Club, Raleigh, Marlin
  • Local - the Abbey, Ted's, the Room