Living in Miami Beach: What to Know
Reviewed
This collection spans Miami Beach and nearby communities including Surfside and North Bay Village. Oceanfront condos, creek-side buildings and bayfront towers offer different waterfront experiences. Direct beach access is a specific feature, not something every water-facing building provides. Location also changes the trip to mainland Miami and the restaurants or shops close to home.
11 Miami Beach Apartment Buildings to Consider
1. Continuum South Beach
Continuum's two South of Fifth towers share direct beach access, pools, tennis courts and a substantial fitness and spa complex. Reviews praise the setting, views and amenities. Valet waits and uneven front-desk service also recur, making daily service a useful comparison alongside the apartment and its ocean exposure.
2. Arte Surfside
Arte Surfside is a small oceanfront condominium with just 16 residences, offering a much lower-density setting than the area's larger towers. Amenities include indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and beach access. Reviews highlight architecture, privacy and staff service. Rentals are individually arranged through owners rather than central leasing.
3. Blue and Green Diamond
Blue and Green Diamond combines two oceanfront towers with shared beach access, a clubhouse, pool and tennis facilities. Reviewers praise the views and long-serving staff, though valet and front-office experiences vary. The towers have separate associations, so rental rules and the apartment's condition deserve attention at the individual-unit level.
4. Fendi Château Residences
Fendi Château Residences is a smaller Surfside oceanfront condominium with two pools, a spa, private dining and a cinema. Reviews emphasize privacy, spacious residences and finishes. Valet conduct draws some criticism. Each apartment is individually owned, making the specific unit and its lease terms central to the decision.
5. 360
360 sits in North Bay Village, with a marina, waterfront promenade, pool and fitness facilities in a guarded island complex. Reviews praise staff and the setting. It offers bayfront living rather than an oceanfront address, and rental terms and apartment condition vary because units are leased by individual owners.
6. Eden House
Eden House overlooks Indian Creek in North Beach, with docks, a heated pool, fitness facilities and valet service. Reviews repeatedly praise management and staff. Its waterfront setting faces the creek rather than the ocean, a useful distinction when comparing it with buildings offering direct access to the beach.
7. Bentley Bay
Bentley Bay's two towers overlook Biscayne Bay on South Beach's western side, with a pool, spa, gym and marina. Front-desk staff and views receive praise. Parking relies on valet, and the building restricts ordinary pets in tenant-occupied apartments, a significant difference from many nearby rental buildings.
8. Akoya
Akoya is a tall oceanfront condominium with beach access, a heated pool, tennis, a putting green and fitness facilities. Reviews emphasize views and security. Parking arrangements matter for households with more than one car: the space assigned to a rental and any additional parking costs depend on the unit.
9. Murano Grande
Murano Grande sits on South of Fifth's bayfront, with a pool, two-story gym, spa, tennis and concierge service. Reviews praise staff and views. A 2026 account describes disappointing front-desk availability and responses. Its marina-side setting offers a different waterfront experience from buildings directly on the Atlantic beach.
10. Yacht Club at Portofino
Yacht Club at Portofino overlooks the marina in South of Fifth, with a bayfront pool, tennis and fitness facilities. Reviews praise the location, views and staff. Elevator reliability remains a recurring complaint in accounts from both 2024 and 2026, making access to the apartment an important practical consideration.
11. Oceana Bal Harbour
Oceana Bal Harbour combines two oceanfront condo towers with lap and relaxation pools, tennis, a spa and a poolside restaurant. Reviews highlight ocean views, the art collection and attentive concierge and valet staff. Some visitors describe inconsistent front-desk or security service. Apartments range widely in size and owner-set rental terms.
Rental Building or Condo?
Many buildings here are condos rented by individual owners. Compare the apartment's renovations, laundry, furnishings and parking allocation as well as shared amenities. Association approval, minimum lease lengths and tenant pet rules vary. A central rental building offers a more consistent leasing process, but a different range of apartments.
Comparing Rental Costs
Compare similarly sized apartments with the same lease length and furnishing level. Add electricity, internet, parking and any separate gym or club charges. For condo rentals, distinguish fees due at move-in from monthly costs and check which utilities the owner's rent includes.
Choosing a Beach Area
South Beach includes both Atlantic-facing buildings and quieter bayfront addresses. Mid-Beach has many established oceanfront towers. North Beach and Surfside provide alternatives farther north, while North Bay Village offers bayfront living rather than direct ocean frontage.
Other Areas to Consider
- Sunny Isles Beach has another concentration of oceanfront condo towers.
- Edgewater offers mainland bayfront living closer to Downtown.
- Aventura provides waterfront condo communities without an oceanfront address.