1616-55 NYTimes-SoBe action migrates South 4 TR THE NEW YORK TIMES,SUNDAY,JANUARY 9,2005
SURFACING ) MIAMI BEACH
The SoBe i AcMigrateston
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Barbara P.Fernandez for The New York Times
Clubgoers hoping to get in at Prive,one of the new hot spots in SoFi,south of South Beach.
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Portofino complex and seeing potential in D.J.'s who inspire the occasional pole dance
By KAREN ROBINOVITZ the neighborhood. Today, he ownspfour res- by the likes of Paris Hilton. 5.1
taurants in this part of town. SoFi hotels are typically smaller than I
very year — or is it every three1E
Nemo, 100 Collins Avenue, (305) 532-4550 their counterparts a little farther north,and
months? — there seems to be a re- —an always-packed hangout with fabulous most lack the loud lobby scene you'll find up
birth of Miami Beach, with a new people-watching — was his first endeavor. on Collins Avenue. And there may not be a
crop of clubs/bars/restaurants/ Next came Big Pink, 157 Collins Avenue, suntan butler by the pool—SoFi is not about
shops/hotels emerging as the places (305) 532-4700, a comfort-food palace that such gimmicks.(At least not yet.) ;
to see and be seen. Until recently,all of the serves up large plates of spinach dip and The Century Hotel,140 Ocean Drive,(305) i
activity has been on South Beach proper, hulking hamburgers in a pink and silver, 674-8855, with rates from $95 to $300, re- 1
that strip of coolness that stretches from retro diner space and delivers (with a baby ceived a glossy renovation in 2001 to restore
Fifth to about 23rd Streets.But now,some of pink Volkswagen bug),then Shoji Sushi,100 its 1939 Art Deco glory. Favored by fashion 1
the action is migrating south, to the neigh- Collins Avenue, (305) 532-4245, a Zen-like photographers and models, the Century is i
borhood known as SoFi(pronounced so-fee). place known for its Spanish bluefin tuna. next to Joia Restaurant, 150 Ocean Drive, ,
This 210-acre enclave south of Fifth Street And last year,M.r. Chefetz opened Prime (305)674-8871,a light and airy Italian boite. 1
and bounded by Biscayne Bay,Government 112,112 Ocean Drive, (305) 532-8112,a sleek The Bentley, 510 Ocean Drive, (305) 538- I
Cut and the Atlantic was once ridden with steak house and the home of the $30 Kobe 1700,a six-year-old all-suite hotel with rates
graffiti and panhandlers. Now, the palm- beef burger, in the historic Brown's Hotel, from$310 to$1,200,has evolved into such a
tree-lined neighborhood bustles with multi- (305) 674-7977.M.r.Chefetz bought Brown's, success that its owners have just opened a
million-dollar condominiums,a major night the first hotel in Miami Beach, and trans- sister property a few blocks away. The
life scene and a well-heeled international formed it into a hip B&B with eight cozy Bentley Beach, 101 Ocean Drive, (305) 938-
crowd—albeit one that is perhaps a bit old- rooms that go for$350 to$1,200 a night. 4600,is an all-suite hotel and condo develop-
er than the 20-somethings desperately try- Across from Big Pink, two hot spots re- ment (rooms are $380 to $7,000) that will
ing to get past the velvet rope at Skybar. side in a large Art Deco space at 136 Collins also house the Caroli Health Club and Spa,a
"It's a different world than the rest of Avenue,(305)531-5535.Opium Garden,open European wellness center with organic
South Beach,"says Suzy Buckley,an editor since 2001,is a huge bilevel nightclub featur- beauty products and lavish treatments.
at Ocean Drive magazine,who has been liv- ing four bars,huge Buddha sculptures,Chi- While the Bentley and the Bentley Beach
ing in SoFi for two years."The crowd is a bit nese lanterns and a V.I.P. list. In late 2002, both have beach access, the Nikki Beach
older and very sophisticated.And there are its owners, Eric Milon,his brother Francis Club,1 Ocean Drive, (305)538-1111,is an ac-
so many more parking spaces." and Roman Jones,the son of Mick Jones of tual beach club.By day,the Nikki gives off a
There are also quaint restaurants emerg- Foreigner fame, opened Prive, a smaller champagne-at-noon kind of vibe; at night,
ing, and charming hotels that are slightly lounge with ultra-contemporary design ele- the place seems populated by men who are
more intimate than the SoBe megahotels. ments like Lucite,Helmut Newton photogra- twice the age of their scantily clad female
The restaurateur Myles Chefetz first yen- phy, 50's-inspired tapered sofas and $10-to- companions.All very South Beach.
tured into SoFi in 1995 after moving into the $12 cocktails. Both clubs bring in hip-hop Even if it's not. ■
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