They bring their entourages and cull from the top-name modelling agencies that have opened South Beach offices, drawing upon the exotic, multicultural talent pool. South of Fifth Street Falling outside the preservation area, this lower swathe of South Beach is in the thick of development that many believe will derail its intimate feel. Known worldwide for its succulent crab claws and key lime pie, the restaurant is a local institution. The Deco District A compact area easily navigable on foot and safe to walk day and night, the Deco District officially stretches north-south from Fifth Street to Dade Boulevard and from the Atlantic Ocean to Biscayne Bay. More than 800 buildings in the fanciful art deco style give the district its name.
Streets is the area's epicentre and an adequate sampler of the architecture.
On the eastern side of the street, the dunes and sports courts of Lummus Park front the Atlantic Ocean and the white sandy beaches that cost millions to refurbish after erosion binges. Six funky, campy, lifeguard stands decorate the beach. One of the district's most memorable views is in the evening, neck deep in the Atlantic, from where you can ogle the flesh parade and watch cars cruise the strip under the radioactive glow of the neon signs. Above 14th Street, apartment buildings give way to hotels. Both have had millions poured into renovation and bespeak class, style and grandeur.