• Portofino Yacht Club vs Sunset Harbour condo

Sunset Harbour is located in a great new and vibrant neighborhood. This neighborhood just popped up on the scene 3-4 years ago. Great restaurants, small trendy stores and of course Publix and Fresh market make this neighborhood very cozy and enjoyable all year round. If you want to meet “locals” that where you hang out. Plus it’s walking distance to Lincoln road and Trader’s Joe.  So those are all assets for Sunset Harbour. Both lobbies, elevators and hallways of both towers have been remodeled. Where I feel we are at an advantage is in terms of views and distance to the beach. On the East side of the building you barely see the ocean from Sunset Harbour whereas from our East facing units the ocean is right under your nose.

Then in terms of distance to the beach it is day and night. Nobody would walk from Sunset Harbour to the beach because it’s very far. However from the Yacht Club at Portofino it’s a short distance. You can even take the more scenic route thru the boardwalk.

• Portofino Yacht Club vs the Floridian condo

Architecture and floor plans are very similar in these two condos. The assets of the Floridian are its see thru balconies and the remodeling of their lobby and hallways which has been very successful. On the downside the neighborhood is not as great as South of Fifth since there are not many restaurants or retails in the area. Plus it’s not walkable to the beach. However views are mesmerizing if not better than at the Yacht Club since you don’t see the port of Miami but instead the beautiful mansions of Star island.

The amenities are similar since the Floridian has a tennis court and a similar gym (although not on the bay) but I feel the pool area is very small at the Floridian.

In terms of prices they are definitely more affordable than at the Yacht Club since on average the Floridian condos are $100/sqft less than the ones of the Portofino Yacht Club.

• Portofino Yacht Club vs the Waverly condo

I think the two buildings don’t even compare but some clients have asked me to see both so here is my analysis.

First the Waverly sits vertically to the bay so the condos which have a sweeping view of the bay or the ocean are more limited. The 01 and 02 line are the best of the building.

The location of the Waverly is kind of convenient since you can walk to Whole Foods and to Lincoln road. However you cannot walk to the beach.

The one thing I dislike about the Waverly is that the balconies are made of concrete which means that when you sit on your couch you don’t see anything except your balcony furniture. Plus I think there is lost space with these foyer which would be great in a spacious mansion but are unnecessary in a 1,000sqft condo.

• Portofino Yacht Club vs South Pointe tower

The South Pointe tower is the only comparable building in the neighborhood. Prices are much higher but it’s all worth it. First the building is closer to the beach and then it’s amenities and porte-cachere are shared with the Portofino tower which gives it a touch of luxury. You can find bigger units than at the Yacht Club so that’s a plus as well. The only downside of that building is the gym since it’s in the basement so doesn’t give you the kick to exercise on a daily basis!

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2. Restaurants walking distance to the Portofino Yacht Club

I’ll describe more in-depth the restaurants in the neighborhood in my next blog. However, I am going to give you a recap of the best ones here.
First, if you are looking to eat meat you cannot miss Prime 112 or Smith and Wollensky. I feel like the meat is better in the first one but the scenery is outstanding in the latter.
Then for fish, you can try Milos or Prime fish.
If you are looking for casual Italian food my favorite of all is Call me Gaby. La Locanda has also great food but the outdoor scene is not comparable.
Let’s not forget to mention the best breakfast at Pura Vida and Prima Classe or the 4D ice cream parlor.

3. Dog parks close to the Portofino Yacht Club

There are 3 dog parks in the neighborhood. The best is the south pointe park but if your little fur friend has some freedom issues then there are 2 gated ones along 2nd street between Washington and Collins.

4. Kid parks
The South Pointe Park is the biggest but there is also one called Marjory Stoneman on Ocean Drive between 2nd and 3rd street.

5. Library in front of the Portofino Yacht Club
Did you know there is a library right in front of the Yacht Club at Portofino? There is also a pharmacy and a property insurance broker next to it.

6. Grocery shopping
The closest is our Italian bistro in the lobby but if you need to do serious grocery shopping then Publix or Whole Foods are respectively on Alton and 5th and Alton and 10th.

7. Night time in the neighborhood
If you play hard then Story nightclub is the place to party. Nikky beach is also great on weekends. On the softer side, there is the South Pointe Tavern, the minibar or the cigar lounge.

The post The ins and outs of the Yacht Club at Portofino neighborhood appeared first on Yacht Club at Portofino.

7 am: breakfast on the balcony overlooking the South Pointe Marina. My friend has a 1 bed which faces the bay so it has an East view. It looks like this in the morning. Peaceful since everyone still sleeps in South beach at this time…When you buy a condo at the Yacht Club at Portofino it’s like owning a piece of serenity as you escape the hustle and bustle of the city (even if Miami is a city you never feel the stress).

8am:  Let’s take care of our body and go to the gym like everyone in Miami. Of course, the gym has a magnificent view of the marina so it motivates you to run even faster on the trade mill. To relax her muscles she then goes to the sauna right adjacent to the gym. A little 30 min of relaxation before a beach day.

11am: Time for some sun! The great feature about buying at the Yacht Club at Portofino is that you are walking distance to the beach. We have time for a stroll to the beach by the awesome boardwalk which encompasses all the south pointe neighborhood from the marina all the way up to Ocean Drive.

2pm: Let’s grab some lunch at our favorite restaurant Call me Gaby. You could also grab a quick sandwich or salad at Lilikoi or at Pura Vida if you want to stay healthy.

4pm: Let’s enjoy the Yacht Club at Portofino pool which enables us to do some laps to digest are more than fancy lunch.

6pm: The great thing about condo living is that you could spend all day in this building without being bored. You are not buying a condo, you are buying an entire quality of life. At this time we can go to play tennis while watching a cruise ship getting out of the Port of Miami! I would prefer to have a clay court but let’s try to win the game instead of envisioning a better paradise!

7.30 pm: Happy hour at Smith and Wollensky! That’s where you meet all your neighbors from surrounding building such as the Apogee, the Portofino, the Icon….

8.30pm: The South of Fifth neighborhood caters to a wealthy cosmopolitan clientele so you can find a restaurant for every palate. The best ones I would recommend are of course Milos, Texas de Brazil and Prime One Twelve. What I really like about the Yacht Club at Portofino is its location since if you want to dine in other neighborhoods you know that in a second you can hop on to The Mac Arthur causeway to Brickell, Wynwood or the Design District and get there in 15 minutes or less.

The post A day in the life of a Miami resident living at the Portofino Yacht Club condo- in the best neighborhood in South beach appeared first on Yacht Club at Portofino.