Miami Beach for a Single Guy (South Miami, Belle Isle: spring break, mover, headhunters)

[go-getta-J]

Hello everyone,

I'm a 26 year old single guy looking to live/work in Miami, Florida. I just recently visited Miami to meet up with headhunters and do a little scouting on which area I'd want to live in.

Miami beach, particularly South Beach, appeals to me due to its walkability, close proximity to the beach and nightlife, and of course the gorgeous women.

Some of the key things I'm looking for:

-Rent budget is flexible: 1200-1600 month for a 1 bedroom
-Walking distance to a grocery store and gym
-Adequate parking for my commute to work, which will most likely be on the mainland so good access to the expressway is desirable
-Reasonable access to non-touristy nightlife; I would much rather mingle with the locals. Doesn't have to necessarily be walking distance but I also don't want to shell out $20 for a cab ride.


Most of the tourist activity was between 5th and 16th street at Collins and Washington Ave. Should I just avoid that area? I was thinking north of 16th but not so far up where everything I want is inaccessible. What about South of 5th?

Look forward to hearing your suggestions!

[FlyMIA]

Did you check out Brickell/Downtown. If you want to stay away from tourist nightlife Miami Beach is not the spot. Brickell is just as walkable, if not even more due to having good public transit, has a good nightlife which is mostly locals and is filled with young professionals. Locals go out to Miami Beach, but if you are in a club or a bar on Miami Beach chances are 60-70% of those people are tourist unless you are at a small more local and off the Main Street type of place. In Brickell it would be 70% locals. There are decent places in the $1500-1600 range. And anything you need it walking distance or a short and free peoplemover ride away. Most of the buildings in Brickell have gyms. Sme might not be big set ups but still a gym.

[go-getta-J]

FLYMia,

Thanks for the input. I did in fact visit Brickell. It's very nice and clean. Almost everyone I've spoken to has recommended that area.

The reason I'm hesitant about the place is it feels a little too corporate and pretentious for me. I work a 9-5 office job so I feel like being able to live and play on the beach will be a good counterbalance to my routine work week.

I'd like to give the beach a try at first and if it doesn't suit me I could move into Brickell. I know north of 20th and south of fifth the touristy stuff wanes a bit and it becomes more residential so those may be a good fit.

I can deal with a little craziness but I certainly can't stand dead silence and quiet.

[FlyMIA]

Well the two spots you mentioned are the spots to be at. North of 20th and South of 5th. Just be aware the nightlife almost anywhere on Miami Beach will be majority tourist. There are a few spots where that is the expedition like on Purdy Ave.

As for the commute South of 5th is right there near I-395. North of 20th you would go North to I-195. Traffic getting into Miami Beach and in Miami Beach does get horrible during long holiday weekends and during any special event and Spring Break season. Won't be bad in the morning but getting into Miami Beach is not easy sometimes but it's just someothing to deal with lots of the city has its traffic problems.

[CityScape0322]

If you do Miami Beach just go on the West side of the island by the bay (Alton Road or West Avenue). There it wont matter if your between 5th or 17th because its all residential and local. I personally live on Belle Isle, the first Venetian Island and I can walk to Lincoln Rd in 20 min. As for local bars, theres Purdy Ave, Foxxhole and a few others sprinkled about. I personally like the big clubs and house music, so Im at the tourist spots often, but lots of locals do that too. somewhere between 30% to 40% of the population is locals. You just gotta get in good with the crowd and you will feel like home.

[mbspfbpff]

dude..i am thinking about moving to miami too...I considered Brickell too, but then i thought "If I am moving to new place and if I am looking to experience the Miami lifestyle, then a beach has to be within walking distance to home"...This thought made me eliminate Brickell and Downtown as my considerations..so I zeroed in on South Beach...As for non-touristy nightlife, I donno much about it. I am yet to decide - whether I would be maximizing my experience in SB by 'not' visiting the touristy places.

[richzimme]

Originally Posted by mbspfbpff

dude..i am thinking about moving to miami too...I considered Brickell too, but then i thought "If I am moving to new place and if I am looking to experience the Miami lifestyle, then a beach has to be within walking distance to home"...This thought made me eliminate Brickell and Downtown as my considerations..so I zeroed in on South Beach...As for non-touristy nightlife, I donno much about it. I am yet to decide - whether I would be maximizing my experience in SB by 'not' visiting the touristy places.

I live in northeast Miami-Dade and go to South Beach every now and then. South Beach is kickin' big time right now. Tourists and beautiful gals are everywhere. I'm quite sure any single guy living down there would enjoy the environment. South Beach IMO is way, way, way more touristy/beachy than the Brickell area. Brickell is where Miami's young professionals live. If you want the beach atmosphere outside your front door, then rent/buy on South Beach. As someone else said, SOBE is quieter south of 5th and north of 20th streets, and also anywhere on the West side of the island (Miami Beach). But a single person would likely enjoy living in the heart of the action two or three blocks west of the ocean between 5th and 20th streets.

[himain]

Sobe is touristy. All the locals avoid it and go to Brickell or South Miami

[ace587]

Originally Posted by richzimme

I live in northeast Miami-Dade and go to South Beach every now and then. South Beach is kickin' big time right now. Tourists and beautiful gals are everywhere. I'm quite sure any single guy living down there would enjoy the environment. South Beach IMO is way, way, way more touristy/beachy than the Brickell area. Brickell is where Miami's young professionals live. If you want the beach atmosphere outside your front door, then rent/buy on South Beach. As someone else said, SOBE is quieter south of 5th and north of 20th streets, and also anywhere on the West side of the island (Miami Beach). But a single person would likely enjoy living in the heart of the action two or three blocks west of the ocean between 5th and 20th streets.

my thoughts exactly. Both Brickell and SoBe has young professionals but for night life and interacting more SoBe would be a better option. Its hard to interact in Brickell when a lot live in high rises

[CityScape0322]

The West side of South Beach is mostly high rises as well, but it is just as quiet as Brickell, but without the expensive taxi ride. Most folks I know in Brickell come over to South Beach every weekend. I recommend saving money and just living on the beach. I like the variety of people that it has to offer.