South Beach

Located near the southernmost point of the continental United States, South Beach is a small and popular beach with white sand, palm trees, and some gravel. This 200-feet long beach is situated near the Southernmost Beach Café. As an interesting fact, the famous playwright Tennessee Williams would often visit this beach for a swim while staying in Key West. A concrete pier named the Emma Carrero Cates Pier is also present on this beach. South Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities except some nearby drinking fountains and beach-chair rental facilities, so plan your trip accordingly. Getting to South Beach is easy - the beach is situated near the southern end of Duval Street, near its intersection with South Street. Metered parking spaces are also available near this beach. We recommend visiting this beach early as the parking spaces present near the beach often fill up quickly.

South Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, fishing, swimming, kitesurfing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, parasailing, snorkeling, and boating. The water near this beach is shallow and generally calm, which makes it ideal for beginner swimmers. If you are planning to go into the water near South Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents. Depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including manatees, sea turtles, and dolphins. If you are planning to fish in the water near South Beach, we recommend ensuring compliance with the local fishing regulations.

There are many attractions near South Beach. Key West’s Mallory Square offers a variety of exciting shopping stores and exhibitions. In addition, a local event is held on Mallory Square during sunsets named the Mallory Square Sunset Celebration - this event celebrates the magnificent sunset view from Key West and sees many interesting artists gather at Mallory Square for showcasing their talent including musicians, comedians, and stunt performers. Audubon House & Gardens are a local historical landmark - the Audubon House was constructed in the 19th century. This historical house has interesting antique furnishings and historical exhibitions. The house also has a collection of 28 first-edition works by renowned ornithologist John James Audubon. The lush gardens around the house also have many kinds of interesting trees including palms, orchids, and bromeliads. The Oldest House Museum is set in the oldest house of Key West and South Florida which was built in 1829. This historical house has interesting portraits, antique furnishings, ship models, and documents which offer a unique insight into Key West’s vibrant history. In addition, the house also has a spacious and tranquil garden with a cookhouse. Visitors can also explore this house’s amazing premises via docent-led tours. If you are looking for another attraction near South Beach, Key West Lighthouse is a lighthouse that was built in the 19th century. As an interesting fact, this lighthouse’s first light keeper was a woman, which was an extremely rare practice during that era. Visitors can now climb this lighthouse’s top, which has an observation area that offers amazing views of the Key West shoreline. This lighthouse and the nearby light keeper’s residence offer interesting historical exhibits.

There are many attractions near South Beach. Key West’s Mallory Square offers a variety of exciting shopping stores and exhibitions. In addition, a local event is held on Mallory Square during sunsets named the Mallory Square Sunset Celebration - this event celebrates the magnificent sunset view from Key West and sees many interesting artists gather at Mallory Square for showcasing their talent including musicians, comedians, and stunt performers. Audubon House & Gardens are a local historical landmark - the Audubon House was constructed in the 19th century. This historical house has interesting antique furnishings and historical exhibitions. The house also has a collection of 28 first-edition works by renowned ornithologist John James Audubon. The lush gardens around the house also have many kinds of interesting trees including palms, orchids, and bromeliads. The Oldest House Museum is set in the oldest house of Key West and South Florida which was built in 1829. This historical house has interesting portraits, antique furnishings, ship models, and documents which offer a unique insight into Key West’s vibrant history. In addition, the house also has a spacious and tranquil garden with a cookhouse. Visitors can also explore this house’s amazing premises via docent-led tours. If you are looking for another attraction near South Beach, Key West Lighthouse is a lighthouse that was built in the 19th century. As an interesting fact, this lighthouse’s first light keeper was a woman, which was an extremely rare practice during that era. Visitors can now climb this lighthouse’s top, which has an observation area that offers amazing views of the Key West shoreline. This lighthouse and the nearby light keeper’s residence offer interesting historical exhibits.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near South Beach. Latitudes Restaurant is an upscale restaurant which is situated on a small island near Key West. The restaurant, which is only accessible by boat, offers a rosy ambiance and a pleasant oceanfront dining experience. In addition, this restaurant offers a seasonal innovative menu featuring fresh seafood and tropical culinary influences. The restaurant has also been praised by Condé Nast Traveler. Santiago’s Bodega is a Spanish restaurant which serves amazing Tapas-style dishes. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near South Beach, Bien serves amazing dishes with Caribbean and Latin American culinary influences.

If you are looking for a hotel near South Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Southernmost Beach Resort offers many amenities including four bars, three pools, and a private pier. The hotel also offers beach chairs and towels and access to a fitness center for a resort fee. In addition, the beach offers spa services, and organizes fun lawn activities including bocce ball and croquet. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Key West which offers many amenities including a pool with poolside cabanas and fountains, a 24/7 convenience store, a tiki bar, a fitness room, coin-operated laundry facilities, and complimentary breakfast. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near South Beach, the 2-Star Ibis Bay Beach Resort offers many amenities including a pool with bar service, an activity desk, equipment rental facilities, a boat ramp (available for a fee), and a private beach area with lounge chairs.