ENTERTAINMENT
For hot days and sultry nights, these neighborhoods and hot spots will keep you entertained around the clock, seven days a week.
Fans of fine beers, ales, rums and more can enjoy local libations throughout the Keys. For the ultimate barhopping adventure complete with plenty of local music, Duval Street is party central in Key West. At the end of the stretch, Mallory Square is the perfect place to sip a tropical cocktail and watch street performers during the nightly sunset celebration. Tour the Key West First Legal Rum Distillery, located in a former Coca-Cola bottling plant and on the site of a former pre-Prohibition-era bar named Jack’s Saloon, and sample free rum. Eat Drink Discover Key West recently launched a new adventure blending food, libations, strolling and sailing. The “Tall & Crawl,” a pirate-themed land and sea tour, introduces visitors to the history as well as the present-day beauty and charm of Key West. The tour features a variety of food and rum tastings on land as well as refreshments served on board an 80foot pirate ship replica, the square-rigged Jolly II Rover. Passengers can help raise the vessel’s red sails, participate in a “firing” of the cannons, and view the Key West Historic Seaport, Sunset Key, Christmas Tree Island and Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.
Miami has so many popular entertainment districts you could spend weeks here and still not hit every hot spot. Two of the most famous areas are Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road on South Beach. Home of the Art Deco Historic District, renowned nightlife, luxurious hotels and tons of local eateries, both locations offer the ultimate South Beach experience. New in 2018 is the Time Out Market on Drexel Avenue just off Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, which features a curated mix of 17 kitchens, three bars, an art space and a demonstration kitchen. Clubs like LIV at the Fontainebleau and Hyde Beach at SLS South Beach draw the hottest DJs and late-night revelers. Back on Miami’s mainland, the Mary Brickell Village near downtown is a popular spot for locals to live, work and play, thanks to a bevy of skyscraper residences, rooftop bars and posh eateries. Both the Wynwood Arts District and Miami Design District have been drawing the cultural elite to hobnob over sophisticated cocktails, luxurious shopping and celebrity-helmed restaurants. Joining other trendy neighborhoods, there’s a resurgence of the MiMo Biscayne Boulevard Historic District, where you’ll find hip restored hotels and bars from the 1950s. MiMo, short for Miami Modern, describes a design aesthetic unique to Miami that was influenced by American fascination with futurism, jets and space exploration. Lush and tropical Coconut Grove is experiencing a resurgence with new restaurants and boutiques opening up on a regular basis. And in Little Havana, stroll down Calle Ocho to savor a taste of nostalgic Cuban culture where eateries serve authentic pastelitos and Cuban coffee that packs an impressive punch. Not to be overlooked, CityPlace Doral near the Miami International Airport is a recent development with new dining options, shopping venues and residences.
If casino-style fun is what you’re after, head west toward the Everglades and the Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, which includes non-stop thrills like high-stakes poker, jackpot games and a 1,000-plus-seat bingo hall. Catch year-round horse racing at the Village at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, home of the Florida Derby. Check out the 800 Vegas-style slot machines, poker tables, open-air mall, international restaurants, bowling alley and art galleries. There’s even a children’s entertainment center called Cool Corner, which keeps kids hopping. Also, in Hallandale Beach, the Mardi Gras Casino features slots, virtual table games, poker, live entertainment and dining venues. For more round-the-clock casino action and nightlife, head to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, where a 5,500-seat theater draws popular musicians and comedy acts. Check out the Dania Beach Casino and Jai Alai. This more than 60-year-old site of Dania Jai Alai has received a complete US$60-million renovation, including a full casino, slots, 21-table poker room, restaurants and a concert area. Or challenge Lady Luck at the nearby Isle Casino Pompano Park, featuring 1,500 slots, poker tables, six restaurants, harness racing and entertainment.
For a unique gaming experience, let the San Gwann, a 400-passenger cruise ship, transport you from the Port of Miami to Resorts World Bimini to enjoy non-stop
action in a 10,000-square-foot casino featuring popular table games, slot machines, a high-limit gaming salon, a Sports Book and a full indoor-outdoor restaurant.
In Southeast Florida, dining and entertainment collide on a variety of popular main drags. Stretching more than two miles along the ocean, Hollywood’s Broadwalk features panoramic beach views, a variety of outdoor restaurants and the very popular Margari- taville Beach Resort. Las Olas Boulevard offers plenty of dining options, plus many live entertainment and local music performances every weekend. Mizner Park in Boca Raton is the place to go for shopping, dining and fun.
The West Palm Beach Arts & Entertainment District (A&E) unites a fast-growing number of the area’s top cultural institutions and burgeoning art scene. This cultural corridor covers a one-mile city radius and encompasses more than 20 distinct and distinguished cultural venues including Palm Beach Dramaworks on Clematis Street and the Society of the Four Arts on the island of Palm Beach. Downtown West Palm Beach is also known for its eclectic mix of restaurants along Clematis Street and in CityPlace, a popular West Palm Beach destination for shopping, dining and entertainment.