One of the most famous streets in Miami is Lincoln Road: a real open-air shopping mall in a pedestrian area where you can find everything from bargains not to be missed to the big luxury brands, from the most famous brands, to collections that will be released only in the United States. Not to mention the restaurants and bars that can satisfy any culinary craving you have. In about 10 blocks there are more than 200 stores and restaurants: if you love shopping and social life this is really a place not to be missed during your vacation in Miami.
A word of advice: if you choose Lincoln Road to go shopping then it is better to go in the morning when it is not very crowded. If, on the other hand, you want to get a taste of the nightlife between shopping and cocktail bars then go in the late afternoon and you won’t be disappointed.
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Where is and how to get there
Lincoln Road is located north of Ocean Drive between 17th Street to the north and 16th Street to the south, bordered by Washington Street to the east and Alton Street to the west. The entire area is closed to traffic and was one of Florida’s first pedestrian zones thanks to the idea of its architect Morris Lapidus in the 1950s. Morris Lapidus is also the architect of the Fountainebleau Hotel and the Eden Roc Hotel and his style is known as MiMo, Miami Moder Architecture.
Most of the stores on Lincoln Road are open daily from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm.
The Lincoln Road shopping area is easily accessible and well connected by public transportation to other areas of Miami Beach and Miami in general.
- If you are already in Miami Beach take the MB-SBL South Beach Loop A or B bus line, known as the trolley. If you take the SoBe you can get off at Washington Avenue & Lincoln Road, Meridian Avenue & Lincoln Road or Alton Road & Lincoln Road.
- If you are in Downtown Miami you can take bus number 119 and get off at 17th Street & Jefferson Avenue or 120 and get off at Lincoln Road & James Avenue. In either case the route is approximately 40 to 45 minutes.
If you are driving, there are several paid parking lots where you can leave your car safely and then stroll quietly among the stores of Lincoln Road. The Lincoln Road Mall website lists the nearest parking lots with rates, number of spaces and addresses of each. The 17th Street Garage and the Pennsylvania Avenue Garage, for example, are among the most convenient and cost $2 per hour for the first 4 hours.
Things to Do along Lincoln Road: not only stores
Certainly the area is famous for its bustling commercial life, but the road also offers churches, art galleries and theaters to admire between visits to stores.
Miami Beach Community Church
Miami Beach Community Church stands at 1620 Drexel Avenue. Built in 1921, it is the oldest church in Miami Beach. In 1925, Miami Beach’s first radio station, WIOD – Wonderful Isle of Dreams – began operations and also broadcast homilies that were held in the Miami Beach Community Church. In 1926 the church was flooded during the hurricane called the Great Miami Hurricane: several books, the piano and the organ were destroyed. You’ll be struck by the church’s white appearance: on the outside, in fact, it’s all white and seems reminiscent of Hispanic architecture.
Art Center South Florida (Oolite Arts)
Right on Lincoln Road, at number 924, is the Art Center South Florida. Founded in 1984, it is a non-profit organization that promotes contemporary art and culture through meetings, exhibitions and performances open to the public. Admission is free, and you can visit Monday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
1111 Lincoln Road
The parking lot located at 1111 Lincoln Road is not just a place to park your car, but a true work of architecture that is meant to resemble a house of cards in its appearance. The architects of Herzog & de Meuron were chosen by the building’s owner Robert Wennet to build something unique. Work began in 2008, and at a cost of $65 million, the new parking lot opened in 2010. Today it is a destination for architects, photographers and tourists visiting Miami. The parking lot can accommodate up to 300 cars, as well as stores, offices and some apartments.
New World Center
The New World Center is located at 500 17th Street and is a concert hall that can accommodate up to 756 people. Opened in 2011, it is home to the New World Symphony orchestral academy. The architect in charge of the work was Frank Gehry. The adjacent park, however, was designed by the company West 8. At the moment there are no tours to visit the New World Center, but there are always many concerts and events on the calendar. Check the official website to see what nights are scheduled during your stay in Miami.
Lincoln Theater
The Lincoln Theatre stands at 541 Lincoln Road. Today it houses a store, but in the past it was a movie theater and the home of the New World Symphony before moving to the larger New World Center. The Art Deco-style Lincoln Theater opened in 1936 as a movie theater. In the 1980s it was closed and, after a few years, the New World Symphony invested several million dollars to renovate it and turn it into its headquarters. In 2010, Clifford Stein bought the building and for several years now this beautiful historic building has housed a store.
Colony Theater
Another historic theater in Miami Beach is the Colony Theater. It is located at 1040 Lincoln Road and can seat 415 people. It opened as a Paramount Pictures movie theater on January 25, 1935 and recently the building has been renovated both to bring back its Art Deco beauty and to renovate the stage and technical equipment. If you are fascinated by the architecture of the latter two buildings I recommend reading our article dedicated to Miami’s Art Deco.
Romero Britto Gallery
Vibrant colors and a unique art style convey vitality and optimism. Don’t miss a visit to the art gallery of Brazilian-born artist Romero Britto, who has lived in Miami for years. On Lincoln Road you can find the Britto Central gallery at 1102, the BRITTO gallery at 546 and the store at 532 with items for every budget: from a few dollars for prints to thousands of dollars for works signed by the artist himself.
Lincoln Road Shops and Restaurants
The star activity on Lincoln Road is shopping sprees. There are plenty of stores along the way, from low to mid-priced brands like H&M and Zara to stores like Guess, Desigual, Diesel, Victoria’s Secret, Pandora, Armani Jeans, and Lacoste. Of course, an Apple Store can’t be missed in Miami Beach either. You can find a full list of stores here.
Foodies will not be disappointed either: from Doraku Sushi to Eat Greek Souvlaki, from La Provence South Beach to CVI.CHE 105, as well as places whose names evoke Italy, Aroma Espresso Bar, Cantinetta, Dolce Italian, Groovy’s Pizza, Montalcino, Pizza Rustica. The full list of restaurants is here.
