Española Way

This is many peoples' favorite part of South Beach Miami. It's where desi Arnaz perfected Babalu, after all! It's a closed-off street lined with cobblestones, with Mediterranean-style buildings on either side and if feels rather like a small street in old Spain. It was actually built in the 1920s and was the center for Al Capone and his gambling syndicate. It was basically a flophouse area, a place to go for all sorts of adult entertainment. It must be the prettiest, most architecturally-interesting red zone ever known!

Today the street feels bohemian and visitors to South Beach Miami should take a stroll down the short street between Drexel and Washington, and 14th and 15th Streets. There's a good flavor here, and wonderful boutiques and cafes. Desi Arnaz and his conga drums frequented Española Way at a nightclub here in the 1930s. You can even buy handmade bongo drums in a tiny shop here! There's a great place for budget travelers here, and it's the Clay Hotel, which is a youth hostel. Cheapest rates in the area and a great lobby to boot. The Clay Hotel has in interesting history, having worn all sorts of hats in it history. Upstairs was the digs of Al Capone. In the 1980s Cubans from the Muriel Boat Lift were housed here during one of the largest influx of Cubans in the history of our country, after the 1950s.