Visit to Miami

[Tamiami Trail]

Hello-  I will be visiting Miami this week and would like to know if anyone has any addresses for some points of interest related to the show? Would love to see some buildings, restaurants, houses, etc... used on set. Or, does anyone know of guided tours for same? Thanks!

[Dadrian]

1 hour ago, Tamiami Trail said:

Hello-  I will be visiting Miami this week and would like to know if anyone has any addresses for some points of interest related to the show? Would love to see some buildings, restaurants, houses, etc... used on set. Or, does anyone know of guided tours for same? Thanks!

Hello. There are many locations listed/discussed in the Filming Locations forum here. 

Also these links give addresses for almost every location in Miami Vice by season:

1: http://www.miamivicelocations.org/page3.html

2: http://www.miamivicelocations2.org/page3.html

3: http://www.miamivicelocations3.org/page3.html

4: http://www.miamivicelocations4.org/page2.html

5: http://www.miamivicelocations5.org/page3.html

If there’s a particular location you can’t identify, please ask away. Someone will be able to help you. 

[miamijimf]

Due to your handle, you seem to be interested in the Tamiami Trail.  The first still existing location on US41 that comes to mind can be seen in the episode Indian Wars.   I'm pretty sure it is still there and they still have airboat rides like the one Tubbs went on.  The Reservation has probably changed since Vice filmed there.

Miccosukee Indian Village, US 41, the Tamiami Trail about 25 miles west of the Florida

      Turnpike (Tubbs arrives at Indian village in the Everglades)

Edited December 6, 2022 by miamijimf

[Tamiami Trail]

Awesome! Thank you for responding, We will definitely check these out. 

 

[Dadrian]

Also you can check out my 2016 and 2019 threads if that helps:

 

[airtommy]

Miami Restaurants & Bars:

https://miamiviceonline.com/index.php?/topic/12738-miami-restaurants-bars/

 

[Dadrian]

8 minutes ago, airtommy said:

Miami Restaurants & Bars:

https://miamiviceonline.com/index.php?/topic/12738-miami-restaurants-bars/

 

If you’re not going for the food, you’re not going right.   

[Tom]

@Tamiami TrailMaybe these copied location tour lists including a rating how much there is to see still from my MV book help?

 

Location rating - current state of locations as of end of 2022:

*=hard to recognize (e.g. heavy renovation, blocked view, but still somehow recognizable)

**=well recognizable (some changes, but clearly recognizable and accessible)

***=like in original state (fairly unchanged, e.g. only facade color changes, easy to see at least from outside, looks like on TV)

D/1. Miami Beach Location Tour

D/1.1. South Beach (South Pointe Park up to 19th Street)

This is the must-see tour for all VICE fans in most dense location territory, starting at the southern tip of Miami Beach. Unlike other VICE tours, this one bristles with some unknown/hidden locations, not just with the obvious ones on Ocean Drive, because the Deco drive ones you can find yourself by just walking along there! For a rest, I recommend dining at Lincoln Road Mall (e.g. great Cuban cuisine!)

1. South Pointe Park** and Southpointe Towers 400 Southpointe Drive***, Miami Beach (“Love at first sight”: crime scene on the beach and video dating club in the Towers lobby, “Vote of confidence”: several scenes in pool area and on south side of building)

2. 227 1street*** and Nemo*** 116 Collins Ave (“Red Tape” teaser, “Good collar”: drug house, “Miracle Man”): great Art deco still there!

3. Savoy/Ex-Woody´s*** 455 and 425 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach (“Too much, too late”: crack house, coffee table scene, some exterior shots, also used in “Hard Knocks”, “Baseballs of Death”)

4. Clevelander*** 10th Street/Ocean Drive (“Miracle Man”, “Viking bikers from hell”)

5. Gina´s apartment*** 1201 Meridian Ave (“Give a little, take a little”, “Bought and paid for”)

6. Apartments*** 701 14 Street (“Hell hath no fury”: Ellen´s flat, “Over the line”: cops get killed)

7. Carlyle*** 1250 Ocean Drive (“Pilot”: first scene, “Theresa”, “Back in the world”, “to have and to hold”)

8. Bathroom and Winterhaven** at 13th Street/Ocean Drive (“Bushido”: teaser): bathroom changed but still holy ground!

9. Miami Beach Post Office*** 1300 Washington Ave (“El Viejo”, “Down for the count”)

10. Espanola Way & Clay Hotel*** Espanola Way/Collins Ave (“Pilot”, “Cool Running”, “Everybody´s in Showbiz”, “Borrasca”, “Freefall”)

11. Drexel Ave/Espanola Way** (“Good Collar”: teaser, “Miracle Man”)

12. Cameo Theater 1445 Collins Ave*** (“Miami Squeeze”) – outside unchanged, inside completely changed.

13. Zito´s apartment*** 734 10th Street (“Down for the count 2”)

14. Miami Beach Police*** 1100 Washington Ave (“Knock knock…who´s there”, “Everybody´s in Showbiz”, “Too much, too late”, “Asian Cut”)

15. Royal Palm Hotel*** 1585 Collins Ave (“Victims of Circumstance”)

16. Miami Beach City Hall*** 1700 Convention Center Drive (“Leap of Faith”: final scenes)

17. 1745 James Ave*** (“Buddies”: Robbie´s club exterior)

18. Raleigh Hotel* 1777 Collins Ave (“Over the line”: Izzy selling snake oil) - under heavy reconstruction, pool area destroyed

19. Public beach behind the Raleigh Hotel*** 1777 Collins Ave (“Mirror Image”: Crockett´s dream sequence)

20. The Standard Spa Hotel** 40 Island Ave, Venetian Island (“Shadow in the dark”)

 

D/1.2. Mid- and North Miami Beach (20th Street up north – North Bay Village - mainland)

This tour covers the upper part of Miami Beach where most locations around 20-22 street have been destroyed completely since then (Wolfie´s, Sasson hotel, the 20th Street/Gayety Burlesque stretch, building where “Club Nu” was, …), thus we have to stick with what´s left and easy to see. But then we head up north on Miami Beach and turn west over the 79st Street/JFK causeway to the mainland where we conclude with pizza at Noogie´s favorite place and one of the best locations, the Pink House)

1. “Free spirit” Bar 100 21st Street** (“Leap of faith”: Kitchen club in teaser)- interior changed

2. Collins Park Hotel* 2000 Park Ave (“Down for the count 2” – Zito´s funeral) – heavy renovation

3. Traymore Hotel*** 2445 Collins/Miami Beach Drive (“Victims of circumstance”)

4. Sheraton Hotel 4343 Collins Ave**, ex-Barcelona hotel (“Definetely Miami”, “El Viejo”, “Lombard”)

5. Fontainbleau Hotel** 4441 Collins Ave (“Rites of passage”), heavily changed since 1980s

6. Alexander Hotel** 5225 Collins Ave (“Prodigal Son”, “Everybody´s in Showbiz”, “Back in the world”, production offices of MV)

7. Switek´s apartment***, 7615 Harding Ave (“Made for each other”, “Hard Knocks”, “Too much too late”) – renovated but clearly recognizable

8. 940 71st Street, Miami Beach** (“Blood and roses”: shooting at restaurant) – restaurant gone but recognizable

9. 1830 S. Treasure Drive, North Bay village** (“Love at first sight”: Sundown apartments in teaser)

10. Pelican Harbor Park Marina on NE79 Street Causeway** (“Jack of all trades”: final scene, “Mirror image”: Burnett kills at shoreline) – great view towards Miami downtown!

11. East Side Pizza*** 731 NE79th Street, Miami (“Golden Triangle”: Switek/Zito/Noogie at pizza stand)

12. The famous Pink house from Architectoniqa*** at 9325 N. Bayshore Drive (“No exit: Bruce Willis=Amato home, “Mirror Image”: gallery and final scenes. Great view from outside.

 

D/2. North Miami Tour (Studio, Aventura, Golden Beach)

Unfortunately, Greenwich studios are defunct now. But starting there, looking at the former home of OCB interior scenes from outside you can do a great tour of the surrounding areas with a great mix of hidden private homes and public locations.

1. Greenwich Studios** 12100 NW16 Ave - closed but buildings can be viewed from outside. Also some scenes (“Bad Timing”, “Leap of faith”) filmed outside the studio walls on the street side.

2. Margolis Community Center*** 1590 NE123 Street (“Bushido”: Castillo is tailed by CIA)

3. Ross house** 12635 NE Miami Place (“Golden Triangle Pt.1”)

4. First scene with Castillo* end of NE105 Street/NE10th Place (“One eyed Jack”: Barbara Carrow is found). You cannot access the last end but you can see it close

5. 5000 Towerside Terrace and 1003 Quayside Terrace, Miami Shores** Restaurant (“One way ticket” marriage, “Like a hurricane” dinner, playground in “World of Trouble”, “Cuba Libre”: golf club)

6. Ronald Book Athletic Stadium*** 2555 NE151 Street (“Child´s Play”: Crockett&Billy in car)

7. North Miami Justice Building*** 15555 Biscayne Bvd (“Line of Fire”, “Fruit of the poison tree”) – great architecture from Architectoniqa!

8. Spanish Monastery*** 16711 West Dixie Highway (church in “Forgive us our debts”): unchanged!

9. Caroline´s Atlanta home** (“Childs Play”) 3073 NE 183 Lane condo#73 on the corner, Aventura: easy view from NE183 Street onto parallel NE183 Lane which is part of a private condo complex.

10. 19056 NE29 Ave*** (“Phil the Shill”: Big Splash building in teaser)

11. Gina´s cover house*** 20151 NE 25 Ave, Aventura (“Fruit of the poison tree”)

12. Turnberry Marina and Condo/Pool area** 19735 Turnberry Way, Aventura (“Score”, “Phil the Shill”, “Junk Love”) – recently some changes on balcony façade, otherwise well recognizable

13. Golden Beach villa and “flowerstand”** 191 and 399 Ocean Bvd, Golden Beach (“Free Verse”, “Blood and Roses”: Mosca villa and public building at beach access)

 

D/3. Far North of Miami Tour (Hollywood - Dania - Lauderdale - Hillsboro Mile)

This rewarding tour has few locations over quite a stretch of distance, as VICE rarely filmed outside Miami Dade County. But there is some scenic driving along the coast as well as visiting many Phil the Shill locations and the famous long lost location of the beach hotel in the pilot. I recommend to start in Hollywood and go up via Lauderdale to the northernmost location ever used in the show, Phil´s house on Hillsboro Mile.

1. 811 South Surf Road, Hollywood*** (“Yankee dollar”: Sarah´s apartment)

2. Dania Beach Marina** 101 N. Dania Beach Road (“Lombard” shooting, “Red Tape”: final shootout)

3. Beach in front of Elbo Room**, intersection Las Olas Bvd/A1A, Ft. Lauderdale (“Whatever works”)

4. Las Olas Marina** 240 Las Olas Circle (“Whatever works”: marina scenes)

5. Museum of Modern Art Fort Lauderdale*** 1 East Las Olas Bvd, Fort Lauderdale (“Free Verse”)

6. Galleria in Fort Lauderdale** 2414 E.Sunrise Bvd, Ft. Lauderdale (“Phil the Shill” shopping)

7. Plunge Beach Resort** 4660 El Mar Drive, Lauderdale by the Sea (“Pilot”: killing of Leon at beach hotel) – can go inside too. Well recognizable.

8. Phil the Shill house***, 971 A1A/Hillsboro Mile, Hillsboro Beach – can be viewed from streetside and from the beach

 

D/4. Downtown Miami Tour (Bayside - Flagler – Brickell – Miami River - Calle Ocho)

Great mix of buildings of all styles with scenic views on Brickell Key and around Miami River plus some Cuban flavour around Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street). You can conclude with a great Cuban coffee at still existing La Libertad café on West Flagler where Crockett&Tubbs used to go too! Start at Bayside marina ….

1. Marina at Bayside 400 Biscayne Bvd*** (Crockett´s marina and final scene of the series)

2. Courthouse*** 73 W Flagler Street (“Pilot”, “Hit list”, “Contempt of Court”, “Lombard”, “No Exit”)

3. 101 W Flagler Street*** (“Contempt of Court”: Mosca walks with Sid Shanker)

4. Seybold Jewelry Building 36 NE 1 Street** (“The Maze”: teaser shooting)

5. Ingraham Building 25 SE 2nd Ave*** (“Baseballs of Death”, “Heroes of the Revolution”)

6. Olympia Theater 174 E Flagler Street*** (“Freefall”: secret meeting with Baker).

7. Brickell Key Bridge** (“Smuggler´s Blues”, “Fruit of the poison tree”, “Red Tape”)

8. Greenberg Traurig Building*** 1221 Brickell (“Rising Sun of death”, “Hard Knocks”, “Stone´s war”) – outside and partly inside (bank, lobby)

9. Miami River locations** e.g. 1884 N. River Drive (boat yard “Miami Squeeze”, “Badge of dishonour”, “Red Tape”), NW22Ave bridge (“Borrasca”), railway bridge near NW38 Ave/NW N River Drive (“Pilot”, “Cowboys of October”), under NW12 Ave bridge (“Victims of circumstance”, “Cell within”), 1710 NW 22 Court: rehab center in “Duty and Honor”)

10. Calle Ocho** 3632 and 3600 SW 8 Street (“Heart of Darkness”: La Carreta restaurant, “Give a little, take a little”, “Hard Knocks”: Club Ocho)

11. Evan gas station** 1240 W Flagler Street (“Evan”) – not a gas station anymore

12. La libertad café*** 701 W Flagler Street (“Killshot”, “The big thaw”) 

13. Watson Island** (marina in some season 3 and 5 episodes, final shootout in “Freefall”)

 

D/5. Coconut Grove

Tour for one of the most used location areas in Greater Miami. You can do dozens of locations per day if you like due to proximity of locations. Here is my favorite list and I would start at Viscaya in Northeast and then work myself to the Southwest:

1. Villa Viscaya 3251 S. Miami Ave*** (“Heart of night”, “Rising sun of death”, “Whatever works”)

2. 2800 Emathla Street*** (“Duty and Honor”/”The savage”) – outside view on street corner

3. 2424 South Dixie Highway*** (“Forgive us our debts”: Waldman´s office)

4. 3067 Jefferson Street*** (“Nobody lives forever”: Brenda´s home, “Shadow in the dark”: home where Shadow is caught) Great streetview on the driveway where Crockett stood!

5. 2538 Lincoln Ave*** (“Deliver us from evil”: Blatt´s house)

6. Mayfair 3390 Mary Street/3000 Florida Ave*** (“French Twist”, “Jack of all trades”, “Too much…”)

7. Elizabeth Virrick Park 3255 Plaza Street *** (“The Fix”, “Too much, too late”)

8. 110 Oak Ave** (“Good collar”: Archies home) – newly renovated

9. Church 3481 Hibiscus Street and 3447 William Ave*** church & priest´s house from “God´s work”

10. Shadow in the dark locations*** 3834 and 3840 Utopia Court (teaser)

11. 4001 and 4020 Hardie Ave*** (“Bad Timing”: house of Scotty, house of Doc) – outside view

12. 3765, 3635, 3579 Stewart Ave**/* (“World of Trouble”: Rita´s home, “Leap of Faith”: Baines villa, “Like a hurricane”: safe house) – good streetside views of three VICE villas in a row!

 

D/6. Coral Gables

Tour of an area that was only used in the last 3 seasons due to its style, but good mix of different location types along a quite short stretch of territory. I would start at the Hyatt with lots of locations within and move then to Miracle Mile (Coral Way) and west to the Biltmore area before concluding on the way south to South Dixie Highway where you can find restaurants to charge up your batteries.

1. Hyatt Regency Hotel*** 50 Alhambra Plaza (“Rock and a hard place”): driveway, reception, pool area, Presidential Suite, base level hallways

2. Colonnade Hotel*** 180 Aragon Ave (“Lost Madonna”) – rotunda, pool area

3. Books&Books*** 265 Aragon Ave (“Cell within”)

4. 218, 317 Miracle Mile and NW corner of Salzedo/Miracle Mile*** (“Rock and a hard place”)

5. Biltmore Hotel*** 1200 Anastasia Bvd (“The afternoon plane”, “Line of Fire”, “Vote of confidence”)

6. Church of the little Flower***, 2711 Indian Mound Trail (“To have and to hold”: wedding)

7. Intersection Taragona Drive/Alhambra Court*** (“To have and to hold”: ambush)

8. Miami Children´s hospital 3100 SW 62 Ave (“Knock knock…who´s there?”: hospital)

9. Miami Art Central*/** 5960 SW 57 Ave (“Baby blues”, “World of Trouble”) – interior changed

10. 5813 SW68 Street, South Miami*** (“Rites of passage”: consulate, “Rock and a hard place”) – façade colors changed but still looks the same, good street accessibility!

 

D/7. South of Miami Tour (Pinecrest/Kendall/Gables by the Sea/Cutler/Palmetto)

This very interesting tour starts in South Miami and Kendall around South Dixie, but then leads east along SW127/128 street and then southbound on Old Cutler Road. It has lots of stylish private homes – those hidden ones that can be quite easily viewed from streetside! - and architecture built between 1984 and 1987 but also a great tourist spot with many locations at the end (Deering Estate). One of the most interesting and versatile tours for me and my favorite pick! Involves lots of recently discovered hidden locations!

1. 5813 SW68 Street, South Miami*** (“Rites of passage”: consulate, “Rock and a hard place”) – façade colors changed but still looks the same, good outside accessibility!

2. JJs Diner and jewelry store** 5850 and 5818 Sunset Drive (“Home invaders”, “Nobody lives forever”) – outside+inside of restaurant changed

3. 6600 SW 98 Street, Pinecrest** (“Rites of Passage”: party house) – good streetview

4. Crockett´s and Caitlin´s home*** 10900 SW 83 Court, Kendall (“Rising sun of death”, “Love at first sight”, “Rock and a hard place”) – façade color changed, but good street view at dead end street!

5. 7777 SW 127 Street, Pinecrest*** (“Love at first sight”: Carol´s and Tracy´s villa) – perfect view!

6. 6070 SW 128 Street, Pinecrest* (“Jack of all trades”: Soliz villa) – not much streetview but en route

7. Duddy´s home*** 842 San Pedro Ave, Gables by the Sea (“Lend me an ear”, “Leap of Faith”) – good street view at end of island street

8. Alexander Montessori school*** 14400 Old Cutler Road, Palmetto Bay (“Hell hath no fury”: kindergarten): good outside view from Old Cutler and SW72 Ave circled dead end!

9. Deering Estate*** 16701 SW 72 Ave (“Freefall” Borbons palace, “Bushido” house&palm alley, “Cuba libre” teaser villa, “The afternoon plane” lots of locations) – tourist location and visitor´s office, most interior rooms can be visited!

 

D/8. Everglades and around tour

This tour is a quite short one as there are not many locations in this area (and one, the Gators Saloon close by on SW8 Street, was razed long time ago), but it can be easily combined with visiting the Everglades. You start either at SW8 Street/Krome Ave or at the nearby Miami Free Zone and end up at the Miccosukee Village for an airboat tour but hopefully without any explosions and drugs like in “Indian Wars”!

1. Miami Free Zone* 2305 NW 107 Ave in Doral (“Milk Run”: airport, “World of Trouble”: weapon demonstration) - heavily changed its outside appearance

2. Dade Corners gas station*** 17696 SW 8 Street and bike scene** vis a vis at NW corner of SW 8th street/Krome Ave (“Bad timing”): two locations on just one intersection!

3. Miccosukee Village** follow SW 8th Street/41 westbound, on mile marker 36, approx. 25 miles west of Florida Turnpike (“Indian wars”: beware that you visit the right village, please refer to www. miamivicelocations.org as a visual reference of exact location, if needed!)

 

D/9. Key Biscayne

This last tour covers whole Key Biscayne, a compact bridge-connected island southeast of downtown and often used for filming. Very versatile from heavy jungle on Virginia Key to Crockett´s house in first season to luxury villas on Harbor Drive, but unfortunately icon location Jimbo´s on Virginia Key was bulldozed and the famous sand dunes are overgrown with vegetation now. But still lots to see in a small area. You simply start on Rickerbacker Causeway in Downtown going over to Key Biscayne (but no speeding like Tubbs who was sent to jail!) and work yourself from north to south. On the way, you can stop at Miami Seaquarium to rest.

1. Rickenbacker causeway and its underpass*** (“Definetely Miami”: scene on new bridge, “Freefall”: last scene filmed of the series, “Walk alone”: Tubbs´ arrest, “Blood and roses”: car drive)

2. Rusty Pelican*** 3201 Rickenbacker Causeway (“Walk alone”, “Yankee Dollar”)

3. Virginia Key** (“Glades”, “Bad Timing”, “When Irish eyes are crying”, “Viking bikers from hell”, “One way ticket”: Rum Key beach, …) – sanddunes overgrown, Jimbos´s demolished, otherwise good.

4. Crandon Park Marina** 4600 Crandon Bvd (“Mirror Image”)

5. Rosenstiel Marine School** 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway (“Leap of Faith”)

6. Crandon Beach Park*** (“Viking bikers”, “Leap of Faith”, “Golden Triangle”, “Heart of Night”)

7. Crockett´s house 119 Harbor Drive** (“Hit list”): easy streetview

8. 241 Harbor Drive*** (“When Irish eyes are crying”, “Lombard”): good streetview

9. Helipad/ex-Nixon villa*** 485 W. Matheson Drive (“Back in the world”, “Yankee Dollar”, “Miami Squeeze”, “Golden Triangle”): streetview

10. Shopping Center 260 Crandon Bvd*** (“Golden Triangle”): public place, easy recognizable

11. 730 Harbor Drive** (“Golden Triangle”: May Yings house) – some façade changes

12. 710 Harbor Drive* (“Redemption in blood”: Burnett´s house) - not much to see from streetside, but en route

13. 655 N. Mashta Drive** (“World of Trouble”: Lombard´s hideaway) – good streetview on driveway

14. Island Drive/Knollwood Drive** (“Heart of night”: May Ying gets abducted)

15. No Name Harbour** (“Big Thaw”, “Junk Love”, “When Irish eyes are crying”)

16. Florida lighthouse and side building at the southern end*** (“Hostile takeover”, “Redemption in blood”, “Hit list”): you can go inside too!

Edited December 7, 2022 by Tom

[Tamiami Trail]

We appreciate all the feedback and after reading through it, we are even more excited about the visit. We are coming down from Tampa for the RM Sothebys auction and plan on touring the sites with our kids ranging in age form 21-33, who are also fans. Does anyone know of any set used or show memorabilia for sale? Rumor has it that one of the Testarossa's is owned and lives in Tampa, trying to line up a visit with the car. 

[Tom]

vor 14 Stunden schrieb Tamiami Trail:

We appreciate all the feedback and after reading through it, we are even more excited about the visit. We are coming down from Tampa for the RM Sothebys auction and plan on touring the sites with our kids ranging in age form 21-33, who are also fans. Does anyone know of any set used or show memorabilia for sale? Rumor has it that one of the Testarossa's is owned and lives in Tampa, trying to line up a visit with the car. 

AFAIK, the original MV Testarossa is displayed at a swap shop in Ft. Lauderdale, not Tampa. @Dadrianwas there a few years back and mentioned this in one of his Miami travel posts. 

[Dadrian]

3 hours ago, Tom said:

AFAIK, the original MV Testarossa is displayed at a swap shop in Ft. Lauderdale, not Tampa. @Dadrianwas there a few years back and mentioned this in one of his Miami travel posts. 

They sold it to that “Curated” guy on YouTube a year or so ago. I think he sold it, also. 

[TylerDurden389]

I'm actually going down to Ft. Lauderdale later today and was thinking of stopping by there to see the car. Disappointed but I've lived here 4 years now and had plenty of time to get around to it, lol.