Lincoln Road, Fifth Avenue of South

One of the most popular shopping, dining, and entertainment hubs in Miami Beach, Lincoln Road, was merely a mangrove forest a century ago. In 1912, a developer named Carl Fischer recognized the potential not only in Miami Beach, but also in Lincoln Road, the road that he came to call “the Fifth Avenue of the South.” By 1920, Lincoln Road had established itself as a social hub for the city.

Since its inception over 109 years ago, Lincoln Road has reinvented itself a number times, with its latest makeover happening in 2021. Extending from the Atlantic side of a barrier island to the Biscayne Bay, the road peaked in popularity in the 1930s and 1940s, when major department stores such as Cadillac, Saks Fifth Avenue, Elizabeth Arden, and Bonwit Teller drew visitors to the area, which extended from Washington Avenue to Alton Road.

The thoroughfare remained busy into the late 1940s. Unlike today, when it is common to see tourists and residents simply hanging out, a trip to Lincoln Road and the mall area was a special occasion, where everyone dressed in their finest gear.

While the rest of the island eventually experienced a boom in hotel construction, Lincoln Road and the mall area declined in popularity. But in the 1950s, city planners commissioned architect Morris Lapidus to redesign Lincoln Road, which led to the road experiencing a renaissance.

The architect created an outdoor marvel for the Miami Beach community. With a budget of $600,000, the road and new mile-long mall featured geometric patterns, shaded walkways, electric trams, piped-in music, animated fountains, and lush landscaping, complete with mounds and alcoves.

This new redesign quicky became popular. Images of the time show Miami Beach residents and visitors basking in the South Florida sunshine as they window shopped and dined at the restaurants on the road.

Unfortunately, this brief peak in popularity only lasted a few years because of a shift in local the demographic. As Jewish residents and transplants from New York moved out of Miami Beach and people from Latin America moved into the area, interest in the mall and the road waned for a season.

For much of the 1980s, this area of Miami Beach suffered from the impact of a drug war that took root in the city. Popular areas along Washington Avenue and Espanola Way became riddled with gang violence. Fortunately, the art community ultimately stepped in and saved Lincoln Road.

While the area was in a slump, not everyone chose to leave. Quaint restaurants and other small businesses remained on Lincoln Road. In 1989, Books and Books opened a store on the once popular road.

Sometime later, Miami City Ballet moved to Lincoln Road, attracting people back to the area. Dancers practiced in rooms with large windows where bystanders could watch, and this drew a daily audience.

By this time, visitors no longer had to worry about dressing to impress. Described as “America’s living room,” Lincoln Road became a place for everyone from models walking their dogs after photo shoots to artists and even in-line skaters who occasionally stopping for bottled water at local cafes that lined the road.

By 2015, Lincoln Road became restless again, in search of a new look, and one that connected with the times. Developers recognized the potential in the area as a business district, and began making plans. Already designated a National Register of Historic Places in 2011, Lincoln Road is expected to become a hub of offices for investment firms, media organizations, and law offices, according to a February 2021 article in the Daily Business Review.

Miami’s Collins Park Welcomes Renovated

Located at 334 20th Street in Miami Beach, the Berkeley Park Hotel is a new addition to the international MGallery Hotel Collection and the first Florida hotel for the brand. Opened in April 2021 after $18 million in building renovations, the Berkeley Park Hotel features a rooftop pool, a Mediterranean-themed restaurant, and proximity to some of the most sought-after attractions in South Beach.

The four-star boutique hotel offers 80 guest rooms in the Collins Park "Arts Corridor." Collins Park is known for its world-renowned art institutions and exquisite dining, all just a short distance from pristine white-sand beaches. Hotel guests enjoy convenient access to cultural institutions such as the Bass museum, Fillmore Miami performance venue, and Miami Beach Botanical Garden.

The building’s defining Mediterranean façade from the early twentieth century was preserved in order to retain the architectural history of the area. While staying true to its historic Mediterranean Revival elements, the Berkeley Park Hotel’s interior presents a creative contemporary aesthetic, which draws inspiration from Miami’s flora, deep-blue ocean, and vibrant cosmopolitan culture. The new tower is a notable architectural addition to the building that expands the property upward and increases occupancy. Meanwhile, the building’s inner courtyard makes the property feel like a respite from the outside world.

Another inviting feature of the Berkeley Park Hotel is its rooftop pool deck, which measures more than 2,000 square feet. Equipped with shady lounges around a refreshing pool, the deck offers regular entertainment programming as well as amazing views of Miami Beach. Just two blocks from the hotel doors, guests have access to an array of beach amenities and activities, including fully serviced beach loungers and paddleboard excursions through South Beach’s canals.

The wide array of guest rooms at Berkeley Park feature natural light and room to relax. The classic rooms measure at least 200 square feet, while the deluxe rooms are more than double the size at 450 square feet. The hotel has a variety of ADA-accessible rooms, including some for guests who are hearing impaired. Several of the guest rooms are poolside, while others have terraces that overlook the inner courtyard or vibrant Park Avenue.

The hotel provides all the amenities that business and vacation travelers have come to expect, including air-conditioning, a flat-screen plasma television with cable, high-speed wireless internet, a mini-refrigerator, a hairdryer, and an in-room safe. It offers the additional amenities of an iron and ironing board and beach towels to ensure guests have all they need to be comfortable, whether traveling for business or for pleasure.

The Berkeley Park Hotel joins the MGallery Collection of high-end hotels across the world, each featuring a unique personality expressed through its architectural and interior design and guest services. The MGallery brand operates under Accor, an international hospitality group that owns 5,000 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues in more than 100 countries. In addition to Accor’s luxury and premium brands, its portfolio encompasses midscale and economy hotels, entertainment and nightlife venues, shared accommodation properties, exotic life experiences, concierge services, and more. Explore the Berkeley Park Hotel at www.berkeleyparkhotel.com.