Art Deco District

Although the majority of the buildings date from between 1925 and 1940, they've been carefully renovated to retain that glamorous Miami feel.

What is Art Deco?

Art Deco is an artistic movement dating from the 1920s, which reached its peak during the great depression when Americans looked for an architectural style which would lift the mood of the nation - leading to the fantastic style of the Art Deco movement.

These buildings are centred on basic geometric shapes (cubes, spheres and straight lines) and are characterised by their heavy ornamentation, being more decorative than strictly functional.

Terrazzo floors, moulded ceilings, tropical and pastel colours, straight lines, relief moulding and, above all, neon lighting are some of the most famous characteristics of Miami's Art Deco style.

Miami Art Deco District Itinerary

If you want to know more about this architectural style, you might like to head to the Miami Art Deco district welcome centre, to reserve 90 minutes with a volunteer guide, or even book an audio guide. Or of course, you can also wander the area at your own pace.

If you want to see the most important buildings in the area, we recommend starting to the very south of Ocean Drive, between 6th and 7th street.

• Park Central Hotel (630, Ocean Drive).
• Colony Hotel (736, Ocean drive) .
• Waldorf Towers Hotel (860, Ocean Drive).
• Breakwater Hotel (940, Ocean Drive).
• Edison Hotel (960, Ocean Drive).
• Art Deco District Welcome Center (1001, Ocean Drive).
• Victor Hotel (1144, Ocean Drive).
• Leslie Hotel (1244, Ocean drive).
• Carlyle (1250, Ocean Drive).
• Crescent Hotel (1400, Ocean Drive).
• Mc Alpin Hotel (1424, Ocean Drive).

Then, turning left on 15th street:

• Haddon Hall (1500, Collins Avenue).

Walking south down Collins Avenue then right onto 13th street.

• Miami Beach Main Post Office (1300, Washington Avenue).
• Astor Hotel (956, Washington Avenue).

Returning along 10th street to Collins Avenue.

• Essex House (1001, Collins Avenue).
• The Hotel (801, Collins Avenue).

The Soul of Miami

Locals know that the Art Deco district is the jewel in Miami's crown. It's practically impossible to find another place with quite so many buildings in this style, and even more so in such a fantastically preserved state even after almost a century. This colourful part of the city also extends along a large section of Ocean Drive, one of the tourist centres and liveliest areas of the city.