Espanola Way, Miami
Espa帽ola Way鈥攖he slim, sun-splashed pedestrian alley in Miami Beach鈥攊s stretching between 14th and 15th Streets, from Washington Avenue to the western edge of Drexel. Born during the 1920s land boom, it was conceived by developers N. B. T. Roney and William Whitman who hired architect Robert A. Taylor to stage a theatrical 鈥淗istoric Spanish Village.鈥� Dressed in full Mediterranean Revival 鈥渃ostume鈥� (featuring pastel stucco fa莽ades, clay-tile roofs, wrought-iron balconies, and intimate courtyards sized for gossip), it deliberately evoked Spanish and French seaside towns, creating a curated Old World ambiance for strolling, dining, and people-watching.
When it opened (around 1925), the street quickly gained a reputation as a bohemian enclave. Antique shops, tea rooms, salons, little hotels, and arcaded passages turned it into a fashionable promenade with just enough glamour to make national headlines. Eventually, the tastes shifted, and from the 1930s through the 1950s, Espa帽ola Way鈥檚 sheen diminished, acquiring a raffish reputation associated with gambling (at the Clay Hotel) and brushes with underworld figures.
Preservation activism in the late 20th century, notably led by Barbara Capitman, reversed the decline. In 1986, the city stamped Espa帽ola Way as a historic district, protecting its Mediterranean character and enabling careful rehabilitation of fa莽ades and courtyards. Fast-forward a few decades: stone pavers, cohesive lighting, and thoughtful streetscaping arrived, and in May 2017, a $2.5-million makeover formalized the alley as a pedestrian area.
Today, the street does exactly what its founders imagined, working like a human-scaled stage set for mingling, dining, and delightful eavesdropping under palm fronds and string lights. Long-running favorites鈥攍ike the A La Folie caf茅 that has been dishing out homey French dishes (such as tartiflette made with Reblochon cheese) since the early 2000s鈥攌eep the vibe grounded. Beyond eating and drinking, the programming keeps things lively with Saturday morning yoga, Thursday night salsa classes, and Friday flamenco outdoor shows.
Step through and you鈥檙e moving through a curated slice of the Old World fantasy that learned a few new dance steps鈥攈eritage intact, energy fully contemporary...
When it opened (around 1925), the street quickly gained a reputation as a bohemian enclave. Antique shops, tea rooms, salons, little hotels, and arcaded passages turned it into a fashionable promenade with just enough glamour to make national headlines. Eventually, the tastes shifted, and from the 1930s through the 1950s, Espa帽ola Way鈥檚 sheen diminished, acquiring a raffish reputation associated with gambling (at the Clay Hotel) and brushes with underworld figures.
Preservation activism in the late 20th century, notably led by Barbara Capitman, reversed the decline. In 1986, the city stamped Espa帽ola Way as a historic district, protecting its Mediterranean character and enabling careful rehabilitation of fa莽ades and courtyards. Fast-forward a few decades: stone pavers, cohesive lighting, and thoughtful streetscaping arrived, and in May 2017, a $2.5-million makeover formalized the alley as a pedestrian area.
Today, the street does exactly what its founders imagined, working like a human-scaled stage set for mingling, dining, and delightful eavesdropping under palm fronds and string lights. Long-running favorites鈥攍ike the A La Folie caf茅 that has been dishing out homey French dishes (such as tartiflette made with Reblochon cheese) since the early 2000s鈥攌eep the vibe grounded. Beyond eating and drinking, the programming keeps things lively with Saturday morning yoga, Thursday night salsa classes, and Friday flamenco outdoor shows.
Step through and you鈥檙e moving through a curated slice of the Old World fantasy that learned a few new dance steps鈥攈eritage intact, energy fully contemporary...
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Espanola Way on Map
Sight Name: Espanola Way
Sight Location: Miami, USA (See walking tours in Miami)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Miami, USA (See walking tours in Miami)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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