first timer to south beach needs advice !!!!!!!!!

hi myself and my girlfriend are going to florida at the end of july we are staying in orlando for 2 weeks and then heading to south beach for 4 nights i have so many questions about south beach i dont know where to start !!!! firstly i am driving from orlando to south beach i looked at maps etc and they all seem to suggest i-95 but i was thinking of taking highway 1 instead we will be travelling on a saturday which would be the best ??? secondly we are staying in loews on collins ave and from the reviews i read its sounds great ca you suggest any good restaurants bars etc around this area with live music or bands preferably rock and if possible does any bar sell magners cider !!!!!!! i cant do without it on holidays !!!!!! any advice would be greatly appriciated as wea re only going for 4 nights we would like to really make the most of it

first timer to south beach needs advice !!!!!!!!!

I would advise you not to stay in Orlando for two weeks. It truely is a mediocre city.

You should take I-95 straight to Miami. 95 will run right into the heart of South Beach.

Many of the restaurants and bars have live music, but it is usually cuban/latino music. The bands are actually very good and the music will grow on you. I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll find very many good rock bands because that simply isn%26#39;t what Sobe is known for.

I have never heard of magners cider and I worked in a bar for 5 years in college. I wouldn%26#39;t be able to advise you as to where you could find some, but I would recommend bringing some with you from Ireland because I%26#39;ll doubt you%26#39;ll be able to find it at most American establishments.

Enjoy your holiday.

first timer to south beach needs advice !!!!!!!!!

louthmale%26gt;

Where to start?

The Clevelander is a party hotel at 10/Ocean - www.clevelander.com

Afternoon to sundown, the Clevelander pool bar is where you%26#39;ll ';warm up.'; It%26#39;s outdoors, low key, normal people... breezy and pleasant. Afterward, walk 2 blocks inland (that%26#39;ll be west) and north toward Washington Avenue and 14th Street. There is a picturesque little street called Espanola Way that%26#39;s got sidewalk cafes and bars to cruise. On weekends there is a little flea market worth checking out.

At the far west end of the drive you%26#39;ll find TAPAS Y TINTOS a genuine Spanish wine and tapas restaurant. You can sample the vino and order lots of little plates of garlicky treats to share. Also on Espanola is Oh Mexico and Hosteria Romana - a reliable Italian destination. Afterward, if you%26#39;re feeling frisky, you are steps away from LOST WEEKEND, a divey-good bar with pool tables that is ALWAYS fun and has no ';door attitude.'; All of this takes you just 2 blocks away from Ocean Drive.

Rock clubs? Rokbar is the best - check out www.cooljunkie.com for all club listings! Tommy Lee of Motley Crue is a part owner of RokBar. http://www.rokbarmiami.com/

Just to the north is Lincoln Mall which features bars and sidewalk cafes on either side of it. Check out SPRIS - 731 Lincoln - and the mussels at LeBon next door. Great Belgian Brews. Around the corner, due north on Meridian Avenue, which bisects Lincoln Road Mall at the midway point, pop up to the lounge BUCK 15 above Chinese hot spot Miss Yip%26#39;s for a cool after hours scene (707 Lincoln Lane - north on Meridian one block off the pedestrian mall). Finegans at Lincoln/Michigan is the Irish pub on the mall. Check out the rock and roll bowling bar ';Lucky Strilke'; at Lincooln north on Michigan too!

Nearby, mostly locals and worth checking out...

Abbey (home brews - 1115 16th St.), Purdy Lounge (local%26#39;s clubhouse - 1811 Sunset), Club Deuce (Tony Bourdain of the Travel Channel found this dive hahahaha! 222 14th St - ate tacos across the street w/stupid sauce afterward), Playwright Irish Pub (1265 Washington - Guiness, darts... perhaps your cider - the works!), Automatic Slim%26#39;s (1216 Washington - trailer park chic), Dewey%26#39;s (852 Alton - replaces the Irish House in our hearts), Joe Allen%26#39;s Restaurant %26amp; Bar (1787 Purdy Ave 305.531.7007 - where Miami Beachers eat and meet... comfort food, nice wait staff - insider vibe).

Football?

Hit the Parilla Liberty for grilled meat and nothing but football... All the South American soccer fans will be there cheering for the other team! Parilla Liberty 1925 Liberty Ave Miami Beach, FL 305-695-0099 The food is grilled the beer is Argentinian the crowd is boisterous and the atmosphere is friendly and casual. There is literally soccer on TV 360 degrees 24/7.

Other than the drink? Rent scooters, drive around like mad men. Take a Duck Tour (the coach turns into a boat and you%26#39;re off to sea... http://ticketing.ducktoursmiami.com/

Have a Great Trip!

AG

with regards to cider question I know how you feel. Not been to Miami before but you will need to look out for irish/english bars if you want cider. Just search on google for any suitable establishments!!!!

Louth%26gt;

If you are looking for the pub scene in South Florida, here is the list:

On the Beach%26gt;

I have to say the pubs are Irish - not English.

Try the Playwright 1265 Washington Avenue or one of the two Finegans (one on Ocean and the other on Lincoln Mall at Michigan Ave.)

The Abbey Brewing Company is famous because the owner makes his own brews. 1115 16th Street. (Please stop in and say HI!)

Miami%26gt;

Churchill%26#39;s English Pub -5501 NE 2nd Ave, - (305) 757-1807

Coral Gables%26gt;

The Crown %26amp; Garter, 270 Catalonia Ave., 305-441-0204

JohnMartin%26#39;s, 253 Miracle Mile 路(305) 445-3777

Fricken Frian Commodore Plaza Coconut Grove

Hollywood/Dania%26gt;

Kelly%26#39;s Pub, 1832 Harrison St., 954-929-7940

The King%26#39;s Head, 500 E. Dania Beach Blvd (954) 922-5722

Fort Lauderdale%26gt;

Lord Nelson Pub and Eatery 320 SW 2nd Street

Biddy Early%26#39;s 3419 N. Andrews Ave., Oakland Park

954-567-1990

Rose %26amp; Crown Pub, 3660-80 W. Commercial Blvd., 305-731-6245

The Tudor Inn, 5782 Powerline Road, 305-491-3697

George and Dragon, 4140 North Federal Highway

954-568 2207

The Field, 3281 Griffin Rd, 954-964-5979

The Frog %26amp; Toad Pub 5782 Powerline Road (954) 491-3697

Sally O Briens. 17 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd 954-522-4641

Brady%26#39;s Irish Pub, 986 S. State Road 7, 954-973-1390

Dice Riley%26#39;s, 217 SW Second St., 954-533-3303

Maguire%26#39;s Hill 16, 535 N. Andrews Ave., 954-764-4453

Murphy%26#39;s Law 300 SW 1st Ave 954-525-0044

Waxy O%26#39;Connor%26#39;s Irish Pub 1095 SE 17th St. Cswy., 954-525-9299

I hope this helps!

CHEERS!

AG

I lived in Orlando for 4 years and unless you are going to spend two solid weeks at tourist attractions, the city is a wasteland! People often make the mistake of thinking it is all like the Disney property (which is actually in Lake Buena Vista), but I assure you it is not! I might consider a few more days in South bech because it sounds like you are really excited about it.

That being said...

My favorite Orlando restaurant was Caffe Tu Tu Tango (between Pirates Park and Vito%26#39;s Steak House on I-Drive). It is a tapas restaurant, and if you go on Friday (early) they will be busy and have artists painting fast portraits, fire breathing belly dancers, and the food is incredible!

A little further down on I-Drive is a shopping center called the Mercado, hidden deep inside is a British Pub that seemed to be hopping day and night. I stumbled across it one day and was startled because suddenly Brits started popping out of the woodwork...needless to say there was a football game on the big-screen and we had an unexpectedly great time there!

Capone%26#39;s is a dinner theater in Kissimmee where the food and show are both mediocre, but I had A LOT of fun everytime I went! I think it is because they were having so much fun doing it all!

I would not bother much with the actual city of Orlando, you%26#39;d be better to hedge your bets in SoBe! I am flying into Orlando myself at the end of July to meet a friend there, but we are immediately leaving for SoBe the next morning! We are taking I-95, he says it is faster, but I%26#39;m taking his word for it.