Miami SoBe in January -- Recommendations

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

I'm taking a long weekend in January to thaw out. I'll have a couple of younger friends in tow and want to stay in SOBE in the middle of the action. Suggestions/recommendations sought on hotels and clubs.

 

Hotels under consideration are: Astor, Beacon, Cardozo, Chelsea, Clinton, and the Mercury. Recommendations for any of the above or others appreciated. What is the trade between night attractions convenience and location regarding 8th st, 12th st and 17th st areas in SOBE?

 

Which clubs are recommended for Thurs thru Sat.. nights? Recommendations for strip clubs in Miami and Lauderdale. W. Palm Beach seems a hike although I missed Cupids my last trip and promised myself I'd get there the next time.

 

Restaurant recommendations?

 

Price is a factor but not a deal breaker. Location and amenities are also important.

 

Thanks.

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

I'm taking a long weekend in January to thaw out. I'll have a couple of younger friends in tow and want to stay in SOBE in the middle of the action. Suggestions/recommendations sought on hotels and clubs.

 

Hotels under consideration are: Astor, Beacon, Cardozo, Chelsea, Clinton, and the Mercury. Recommendations for any of the above or others appreciated. What is the trade between night attractions convenience and location regarding 8th st, 12th st and 17th st areas in SOBE?

 

Which clubs are recommended for Thurs thru Sat.. nights? Recommendations for strip clubs in Miami and Lauderdale. W. Palm Beach seems a hike although I missed Cupids my last trip and promised myself I'd get there the next time.

 

Restaurant recommendations?

 

Price is a factor but not a deal breaker. Location and amenities are also important.

 

Thanks.

[Guest Utopia]

If this was SoCal instead of SoBe I could assist you TY . I am just surprised that no one here has done so yet. You are on of a small group of posters that have been so helpful and offered so much valued information over the years - so I guess this is just a "thank you" bump. Maybe because of the holidays everybody is a bit busy.

===

"You realize that life goes fast

It's hard to make the good things last"

[Guest Utopia]

If this was SoCal instead of SoBe I could assist you TY . I am just surprised that no one here has done so yet. You are on of a small group of posters that have been so helpful and offered so much valued information over the years - so I guess this is just a "thank you" bump. Maybe because of the holidays everybody is a bit busy.

===

"You realize that life goes fast

It's hard to make the good things last"

[Guest Merlin]

The Tides is the best hotel in the area. Cardozo is good. The Cleveland looks good--has a sports bar and attracts a lot of young guys. The rest are probably OK. All are older but refurbished. The are all in about the same area. The best strip club is the Twist, on Washington, two blocks in from Ocean drive, between 10th and 11th. Have strippers most nights. 8 guys or so will do a little dance than move around and around the room to be groped for a buck. More for a lap dance. Most escort but are straight so be specific what you want. The Score on Lincoln, running west from the beach at 17th, is also said to be good but I havent been there. Too many good restaurants to mention.

[Guest Merlin]

The Tides is the best hotel in the area. Cardozo is good. The Cleveland looks good--has a sports bar and attracts a lot of young guys. The rest are probably OK. All are older but refurbished. The are all in about the same area. The best strip club is the Twist, on Washington, two blocks in from Ocean drive, between 10th and 11th. Have strippers most nights. 8 guys or so will do a little dance than move around and around the room to be groped for a buck. More for a lap dance. Most escort but are straight so be specific what you want. The Score on Lincoln, running west from the beach at 17th, is also said to be good but I havent been there. Too many good restaurants to mention.

[Guest Tristan]

Tampa, I live in Lauderdale so I can't help you with Miami. I can tell you a few things which may be of help. The Boardwalk, next to the Gay Community Center on Andrews in Lauderdale, is a popular strip club. It was previously located in SoBe. The dancers are very aggressive in coming up to you at the bar, to the point of ad nauseum for my tastes. The place gets visiting porn stars. I saw Ashton Ryan there. That was really nice. I got to talk with him briefly. By law in Lauderdale (and I believe Miami) the strippers can't be totally nude.

 

The place I like is Cupids. I've only been to the one in WPB, a bit far for you. It's the only stripper bar in Florida where they can take it all off. Cleaner and nicer than most places with some cute dancers who gyrate around a pole in the nude (including upside down) and mingle with the crowd (wearing shorts) offering lap dances in public. There is a VIP room, but it is overpriced. Cupids just opened a place in SoBe, but I don't know anything about it. Well I'm sorry I couldn't help you more, but at least that's some additional info on stripper bars.

 

I hope you get more responses from members in SoBe.

[Scorpio]

I've stayed at both the Cardozo and the Mercury. Rooms at the Mercury are quite spacious and some even have two-person whirlpool tubs and separate showers. However, being south of 5th Street, it seems a little out of the center of action. The Cardozo is very nice but the rooms are a bit small. Amenities are somewhat lacking but it is directly across the street from the gay beach and the in house restaurant is decent. And it seems in close proximity to most of the action. At the Cardozo, there is often live music in the bar which could be heard from my room late into the night. But it's a nice place and I would stay there again.

 

I would recommend The Wish as place to eat, although it can be a bit pricey. I also like the Van Dyke Cafe on Lincoln Road. Good place to people watch and the food is pretty good.

 

There is a Cupids in Miami and is easily accessible from South Beach. I was there last August with Steven of Portland/San Francisco. Dancers seem friendly and I was approached by a few, but since I already had my company I declined. I've heard that use of the private rooms is kind of pricey $60-100 in addition to what the dancer charges, but that's just second hand information.

 

Have fun!

[Luv2play]

TY, just a few comments about SOBE. Don't know how familiar you are with the area but during the tourist season the parking is AWFUL. If you are staying in SOBE exclusively you don't really need a car as everything is within walking distance or a short cab ride. The gay beach is at 12th St. so if walking to the beach is important (and it may be for your younger guests) then choose a hotel around there. The hotels on Ocean Drive are close to the beach but NOISY all evening until the early hours of the morning, given the wall-to-wall outdoor restaurants/bars and music/traffic etc. There is no such place as "quiet" in SOBE, actually, although a few of the upper-end hotels north of Lincoln (17th) and close to the ocean are beyond the hubbub of Ocean Drive Blvd.

 

After Montreal, you will find the stripper bars a disappointment but Cupids comes close except for the expense (as has been noted). The one in Miami is not in SOBE but not too far by cab. WPB is over an hour away from SOBE, probably close to hour and a half and unless you want to cut three hours out of your evening in travel time, I would forget it (even Ft Lauderdale is 45 minutes away). Try to avoid the I-95 and Biscayne Blvd at rushhour, they are just awful.

 

For up-to-date info on the gay scene check out http://www.hotspotsmagazine.com and go to Florida section. It's updated weekly.

 

There is a lot of eye candy in SOBE, tho, so ENJOY.

[tedbear]

Last time I was there, I was very glad I was at the Cordoza. Being towards the end of the strip, it was quiter than just a block further down. I agree with the other remarks about the Cordoza--smallish rooms, directly across from the gay beach. However I don't remember live music in the house bar. Maybe the bar was under renovation when I was there.

 

 

>The hotels on Ocean Drive are close to the beach but NOISY all evening

>until the early hours of the morning, given the wall-to-wall

>outdoor restaurants/bars and music/traffic etc. There is no

>such place as "quiet" in SOBE, actually, although a few of the

>upper-end hotels north of Lincoln (17th) and close to the

>ocean are beyond the hubbub of Ocean Drive Blvd.

[ted]

Last time I was there I stayed at the Tides. It is in the heart of the action but it sits back a bit and the rooms were not noisy at all. My friend is very sensitive to noise and light when sleeping and would have raised the roof if it wasn't quiet. Of course its not cheap-think Delano prices. Its 1220 Ocean Drive. Looked like another hotel was getting ready to open in the 1100 block. Don't know if its opened yet or not. Sometimes you can get deals at the new places until they build a clientele.

[Traveler North]

Hey TY = Clubs not to be missed are TWIST and CUPIDS (formerly ZIPPERS) in Miami. In Lauderdale, enjoy the BOARDWALK. Been to all and had good time with hot guys. I usually stay at Holiday Inn Resort near 20th St. Like atmoshpere there. Enjoy your stay. :+ :+

[MiamiLooker]

By law

>in Lauderdale (and I believe Miami) the strippers can't be

>totally nude.

>

Cupids just opened a place in

>SoBe, but I don't know anything about it. Well I'm sorry I

>couldn't help you more, but at least that's some additional

>info on stripper bars.

>

>I hope you get more responses from members in SoBe.

 

Actually, the new(er) Cupid's is in Miami (79th St?), not SoBe. It's operated as a private club, so the guys can dance totally nude (and most do).

[Guest Tristan]

>Actually, the new(er) Cupid's is in Miami (79th St?), not

>SoBe. It's operated as a private club, so the guys can dance

>totally nude (and most do).

 

Thanks for the correction. Seems like Cupid's manages to find loopholes while the other places don't. I hope the one in Miami is as nice as the one in WPB, which has a more pleasant atmosphere than most bars and clubs.

[Traveler North]

Hey Guys -

know the Cupids on 79th was recently called Zippers. Was very nice place when I visited last spring. Do not know if new owners have redone it. But layout is fine.:7 :7

[stripfan]

I have been to both cupids miami and wbp and both are very nice and run very professionally. It is my understanding that cupids remodeled the zippers location and changed the stage area. I was never there when it was zippers so I can't say. I will say the cupids miami is very comfortable and plenty of bar space and the lap dances are much more private there than in wpb. Drinks are expensive as they are in straight strip clubs. I prefer cupids wpb but have fun at both locations. Love the totally nude and most dancers get hard and stay that way.

 

If you get to fort lauderdale be sure to hit boardwalk and i would recommend stopping by johnny's; the dancers there are hit and miss. check the Strip club FAQ for more on johnny's. They have updated their dancers on the web site and carlos is certainly a cute dancer.

 

There is another strip club in fort lauderdale called dudes. I have never been. Hopefully someone can give a report.

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

Thanks to everyone for the comments and suggestions. They have been quite helpful in my planning.

 

I will definitely forego a trip to WPB in favor of Cupids/Miami and I will hit Twist and Score and maybe another.

 

Comments on hotels are really appreciated. Spacious accommodations are more of a premium for me than quiet as we are in the habit if closing establishments. Quiet mornings through the early afternoon are nice though . The Tides looks great but at a rate of $500+ a couple of nice alternatives present themselves. In addition to some of the above, the Savoy Suites on Ocean Drive between 4th and 5th and the Nash around 1400 th block are in contention. Is anyone familiar with either of these establishments?

 

Once again, thanks to everyone for the help. And let me take this opportunity to wish you and everyone else in Hooville a Happy and Fun 2004.

 

[Scorpio]

I almost stayed at the Savoy last August, but changed my mind after reading these reviews regarding security issues (card locks not working). I don't know if that's been resolved. Based on the reviews, people either seem to love it or hate.

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34439-d217385-Reviews-The_Savoy_Hotel-Miami_Beach_Florida.html

 

Here's some comments about The Nash:

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34439-d217385-Reviews-The_Savoy_Hotel-Miami_Beach_Florida.html

 

 

The Mercury is definitely spacious and quiet during the during the day....it's just a little off the beaten path.

[Scorpio]

Another thing I've observed about SoBe hotels is that king-size beds are often in short supply and often the rooms only come with one bed (i.e., queen or full size).

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

We settled on the Cardozo, ocean view. A little smaller rooms it seems, but stylish with good ambience and well located wrt to the beach and the activities. Thanks again, everyone.

 

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

RE: Miami SoBe in January --Follow-Up

 

Thanks again for the comments and suggestions. We had a great if all too short 'long weekend'.

 

The Cardozo Hotel was very nice. What it lacked in some amenities it more than made up for with location, cool staff and a nice restaurant/bar. The location on Ocean Drive directly across from the beach and two blocks from Versace's mansion had us in the middle of a lot of hot eye candy action if you are into people watching... and sunrise over the Atlantic was a great way to end the day.

 

The hotel and restaurant staff were the best I have ever encountered. They were not only friendly and a helpful wealth of information, they also got us on the guest list of SOBEs hottest clubs: Crobar, Opium, Bed. Be prepared to drop some serious cash at Bed.

 

The Cardozo restaurant food and service was very good with friendly, helpful wait staff and, although unfamiliar with the 'French Martini', the bartender executed my companion's recipe flawlessly the first time out of the gate -- and upped it with an edible orchid floating on top.

 

While at Bed we opted to split a filet mignon with gorgonzola sauce for a little gnosh -- price equivalent of two appetizers. It was very well executed. If you are not on a budget, then the Tuscan Steak House on Washington around 4th or 5th is strongly recommended -- great food, great service if the wait was a little long. But the wait at the bar afforded more interesting people watching when I wasn't otherwise occupied. Nexxt on Lincoln road was hopping in the midnight hour on Thursday and has desserts to die for although I demurred except for a taste of heavenly chocolate something or other. Jerrry's Deli, open 24/7 around the clock was good. I introduced my companion to chocolate and cognac. I had already introduced him to coganc and c_b_n cigars although neither of us smoke cigarettes. (Yes, I know... I am a bad influence. }( )

 

We did Twist Friday and Saturday. Different atmosphere from the 'beautiful people' clubs -- basic club without the spacial design and lighting of the other clubs, but much more energy and better music overall to our tastes. Reasonable drinks at $5 to $6. Exepct to pay almost twice that at the 'chic' clubs. It is a laborynth of smaller rooms connected by long hallways and the lighting is nonexistent pretty much everywhere. It was packed with hot sweaty bodies both nights and some very hot guys, bartenders included. The go-go dancers are limited to one room, again very small and very crowded. We didn't hang there due to the crowd.

 

We wanted to try Cupids but when we arrived at 2:30 AM Saturday night we met four guys leaving that told us "dont bother wasting your cover charge". There were only 4-5 customers and a couple of dancers so we closed Twist again before packing and heading to the airport. (BTW, clubs in Miami close down at 5AM.)

 

It was a great respite from the nothern winter. I just wish we could have extended to ride out this next record breaking cold wave. I really didn't need that as an excuse but it would have been a nice added benefit. :7

[Top8]

RE: Miami SoBe in January --Follow-Up

 

Hey TY,

Sounds like you had a great time in SOBE!! I agree with all the things you said about Ocean Drive, bars, clubs, restaurants, and people watching. Your brightened my day with your post, I'm heading back there in March;) Thanks for the follow-up!