Life moves at a leisurely pace in North Beach, the relaxed Miami Beach neighborhood that runs from 60th Street up to the town of Surfside. In this largely residential area, you won’t see the Art Deco buildings that characterize South Beach. Instead, the striking architectural style is Miami Modernism (MiMo) architecture. The broad beach is just as alluring – and chances are you’ll have fewer people with which to share it.
A highlight of this family-friendly district is North Beach Oceanside Park, and this nine-block green space is a great place to begin your neighborhood exploration. Little ones can play games under a canopy of shade trees near grassy dunes, or wade in warm waves mere steps away. There’s convenient parking, several barbecue grills and picnic benches for meals al fresco, and a pair of dog runs for visiting pups. The park is also a convenient place to pick up the oceanfront Beach Walk, a flat paved path that connects North Beach with Mid Beach and South Beach, eight miles away.
Greater Miami’s year-round warm temperatures encourage outdoor activities, and North Beach’s amenities make pursuing them easy. Tee off at Normandy Shores Golf Club (you’ll be in good company; Arnold Palmer played here) or enjoy a few sets at the tennis center opposite the landmark Miami Beach Bandshell, an amphitheater that’s been a hub of this community for more than half a century. North Beach Public Skate Park is a good place to perfect your pop shove-its, but less nimble visitors will be happy simply to stroll North Beach streets, admiring the swooping curves and striking lines of its iconic MiMo buildings.
In North Beach, your palate can embark on a trip around the world in just a few blocks. Many restaurants are centered around the historic Normandy Fountain. Jewish delis and Italian trattorias speak to the communities who settled here first, and restaurants serving a variety of Latin American cuisines – Colombian, Peruvian, Argentinian and Mexican, among them – add flair. The satisfying result is a delectable taste of modern Miami Beach.
