Celebrities South Beach

Hotel Impala
Cozy and comfortable, the boutique-hotel Impala is set off the beach and away from the chaos of Ocean Avenue, just right for paparazzi-dodging celebs. Many dine at Impala’s Spiga Restaurant, which serves trattoria-style Italian cuisine. Among the big names spotted there are Dennis Glover, Mick Jagger, Julia Roberts, Lauren Hutton and P. Diddy.

The Setai
Exceptional and expensive, the Setai is on the beach in the center of the SoBe buzz. Residents Sheryl Crow and Lenny Kravitz are regulars there. Others seen on the scene include Jessica Alba, Hilary Duff and Heidi Klum. And you can land your helicopter right on the roof before settling into your $6,000-a-night penthouse suite.

Delano Hotel
The oceanfront Delano is still cool more than a decade after Philippe Starck and Ian Schrager set the white-on-white style tone that’s been copied countless times. To globetrotting trendsetters, this hotel may feel like a has-been, but its magnetic charm still draws plenty of glitterati. A-list guests have included Russell Simmons, Lindsay Lohan, Jamie Foxx, Drew Barrymore and Matt Damon.

Shore Club Hotel
The ultra-hip Shore Club, sibling to the Delano, teems with celebrities. See them at Nobu, Robert DeNiro’s restaurant serving Latin-influenced Japanese cuisine. While getting a massage, you may run into supermodel Christy Turlington, who owns the spa. In the high-style Skybar, you could be partying next to P. Diddy, Lindsay Lohan, Christinia Milian, John Mayer and Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez or Mick Jagger.

Canyon Ranch Spa & Resort
This health-focused resort, with a promise to merge Miami style with natural tranquility, doesn’t open until September 2008. But it will surely gain status quickly as one of the top luxury properties in SoBe, attracting scores of celebrities. Canyon Ranch locations in Tucson and Lenox have a huge following of the ultra-rich and famous.

Cardozo Hotel
Owned by singer Gloria Estefan and producer and husband Emilio Estefan Jr., this art-deco gem is a surefire winner when it comes to celebrity sightings. Check out the restaurant Oriente for an elegant, exotic dining treat where you can be assured you’ll be in the company of elegant, exotic people, too.

Gansevoort South
Styled after sibling Hotel Gansevoort in New York, Gansevoort South is the newest star on the shining South Beach scene. It was a hangout for the rich and famous in the 1920s and promises to be again. Kevin Federline reportedly was a recent guest. Be sure to head up to the 18th floor for sunning, swimming and seeing and being seen on the rooftop.

China Grill & Dragon
This is a great place to see and be seen while dining on delicious international cuisine served in generous family-style portions. It’s still one of Miami’s hot spots, so don’t go expecting fast and attentive service, unless, of course, you’re one of the celebrities everyone is hoping to see.

Devito
This restaurant belongs to—whom else?—Danny Devito. The pasta here is awesome, as you would expect, and you can dine alfresco while watching Devito movies. Among the reported regulars here are Paul Newman, Diana Ross, Michael Bolton, Andre Agassi, Liza Minnelli, Paris Hilton and many others.

Larios on the Beach/SOBE Bongos
In addition to the Cardoza Hotel, singer Gloria Estefan and her husband also own Larios on the Beach, located in a prime people-watching spot on Ocean Avenue. The food is Cuban, hip and plentiful, and the scene is loud, crowded and fun. If it's good enough for Halle Berry, it's good enough for us.